McCook Speedway hosts final points race

The final night of points Friday snuck up on everyone at McCook Speedway, so some drivers worked hard to give it their best effort for their last effort for points.

Troy Bayne and Charley Brown of North Plate, Brady Koch of Cambridge, Larry Pollmann, Jason Stephens and Josh Bopp of McCook and Jeff Wignall of Alliance made the most of their efforts, getting the 40 points drivers receive for winning their A Features.

The drawing was also made for the IMCA Supernationals Getaway Sept. 4-6 in Boone, Iowa, which was sponsored by McCook Speedway, and the name drawn out was Les Janousek of Trenton.

Rookie Dave Jeffres of Upland took the lead from Oberlin driver Jeff Williams on the opening lap.

Despite three caution periods in the first seven laps, he was able to get back into his rhythm and maintaining his lead.

Heat race winner Troy Bayne had been running in second place for quite a while but was a distance behind Jeffries.

On the 10th lap, Jeffres pushed up the track, allowing Bayne to sneak underneath him.

Bayne would hold the reins on his car for the remaining laps to take the win.

Jeffres did earn his best ever finish of second place, followed by Chuck Stryker of Eddyville and North Platte drivers Jay Steffens and Kenny McCarty, who was also heat race three winner.

David Murray of Oberlin was driving a borrowed car after his car was damaged in Jetmore, Kan., but did win his heat race, and his sixth place finish in the A Feature sealed the deal on the IMCA Modified track championship.

The IMCA Stock Car class showed they could get through a race caution-free, first with heat winner Shane Stout of North Platte at the front, then with Brady Koch showing the way. Koch would remain out front once he got there to earn his first track win of the year. Stout held on for his IMCA Stock Car best runner-up finish.

Heat winner Charley Brown and fellow North Platte driver Todd Chrisman got by Bill Matson of McCook on the last lap for third and fourth places.

Dustin Small of North Platte did not fare well in the feature, but needed only to start to clinch the track Stock Car championship for the second straight year.

Early in the IMCA Hobby Stock main event, it was the battle of the 8's, as No. 8 Keith Miner of McCook closely followed the No. 8R of Brent Riley of Indianola.

Heat winner Miner would fall back as Jason Stephens and Kent Davis of McCook began to move through the field.

Riley nearly had the win in his grasp, only to let it slip with a couple of laps to go as Stephens and Davis got by him. Stephens held off Davis for the win, while Riley settled for third.

Chris Cuellar of Indianola finished in fourth spot, ahead of heat winner Austin Davis of Benkleman.

Richie Wickizer of Palisade took home the point championship in the IMCA Hobby Stock class.

Larry Pollmann was the only driver to double up as the A Feature winner and point champion for his class.

Dave Werner of Palisade was hoping to get his first ever Classic Modified A Feature win, as he had the lead early and kept everyone at bay.

The face of the race began to change after Gerald Halouska of North Platte spun in corner two and collected John Berry of McCook, who then got whacked hard by Matt Fletcher of North Platte.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the wreck. It did help Pollmann gain a couple of spots, then drive around Werner for the lead on lap eight to take the victory.

Werner still had a satisfying second place, having held off Erick Farmer of Yuma, Colo., Karl Wickizer of Palisade, and Halouska.

Jeff Wignall earned some retribution in the Mini-Sprint A Feature.

On June 13, he was leading the main race when his car overheated and his night ended. Greg Billings of Frederick, Colo. had the lead of this night's race when he had a poor restart, getting passed by fellow heat race winner Darren Berry of McCook and Wignall.

Berry would lead until he looped his car in front of Wignall, bringing out the caution and causing the last change for the lead. Wignall held Billings off for the win.

Arden Myers of McCook finished in third place, which sealed the deal on his first ever McCook Speedway track championship. Berry raced back to fourth place.

Jim Hoatson of North Platte finished in fifth.

The Mini-Truck point race for the championship went into the night with McCook driver Leelan Bieker just three points in front of David Wimer of Trenton.

Wimer, along with Jay Alberts of McCook, showed early power by winning the heat races.

Josh Bopp took the lead of the A Feature on lap three from Bryan Smotherman of McCook, closely followed by A.C. Werner of Palisade.

Werner scared his mom and the rest of his family when he drove the truck hard off of corner four and rolled it off the track.

The truck was tough enough to keep him from harm, and it was returned to the pits on the hook.

Bopp had Wimer and Bruce Hagan Sr. of Culbertson breathing down his neck, but neither former winners could keep Bopp from winning his first ever A Feature.

Dean Kerbs of Wray, Colo., finished in fourth place, while Bieker finished in fifth. At the end of the night, Wimer and Bieker were tied for the top in points.

The tie was broken by number of wins, and Wimer had the advantage. Dave announced after the races it was his final truck race, as he had sold the truck.

Racing has not ended in Southwest Nebraska, nor has it at McCook Speedway. Culbertson Speedway will run Friday night.

McCook Speedway will have it's next race during the Red Willow County Fair Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. CDT.

Tickets that night will be $10 for adults and $5 for children, unless they are bought in advance at the Red Willow County Fair office, where tickets will be at the normal price, $8 for adults and $4 for children 6-12.

Friday, July 11 results

IMCA Modified

Heat 1

2-Troy Bayne

Heat 2

97M-David Murray Jr.

Heat 3

1-Kenny McCarty

A Feature

2-Troy Bayne

41J-Dave Jeffres

19-Chuck Stryker

12J-Jay Steffens

1-Kenny McCarty

97M-David Murray Jr.

34H-Doug Holzmeister

31-Jim Arnold

07S-Jay Schilling

20-Gary Herbst

94H-Don Hagan Jr.

33G-Tyson Garrison

26X-Jeff WIlliams

3-Anthony Hernandez

8EZ-Brice Riley

IMCA Stock Cars Heat 1 5S-Shane Stout

Heat 2

4C-Charley Brown

A Feature

25KO-Brady Koch

5S-Shane Stout

4C-Charley Brown

11-Todd Chrisman

2M-Bill Matson

6-Jason Schoenberger

24S-Dustin Small

25H-Bryan Hagan

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat 1 8-Keith Miner

Heat 2 22-Austin Davis

A Feature

2-Jason Stephens

57K-Kent Davis

8R-Brent Riley

01-Chris Cuellar

22-Austin Davis

8-Keith Miner

25W-Richie Wickizer

14-Les Janousek

74KO-Jason Koch

(DNS) 48-Dewayne Jesse

Mini-Trucks Heat 1

66-Dave Wimer

Heat 2

68-Jay Alberts

A Feature

34-Josh Bopp

66-Dave Wimer

25-Bruce Hagan Sr.

18-Dean Kerbs

33-Leelan Bieker

68-Jay Alberts

65-Bryan Smotherman

21-Jake Sahm

36-Brett Hagan

69-DelbertRidenour

10JR-Loren Roberts

59-A.C. Werner

70-Bud Wasson

Classic Modifieds Heat 1

20-John Berry

A Feature

413-Larry Pollmann

54-Dave Werner

18-Erick Farmer

K2-Karl Wickizer

66-Gerald Halouska Jr

20-John Berry

44-Matt Fletcher Mini-Sprints Heat 1

12-Darren Berry

Heat 2

66-Greg Billings

A Feature

4-Jeff Wignall

66-Greg Billings

42-Arden Myers

12-Darren Berry

54-Jim Hoatson

31X-Brett Hazlett

81-Rob Henry

11-Bill Berry

22-Bob Swedeen

23-Kevin Ruppert

(DNS)18-Bob DeRouchey

(DNS)8W-Matt Wyatt

(DNS)8-Larry Davis