eagleraceway Archives

Opportunity knocks, Zoubek answers at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 13, 2023) – Opportunity knocked and Bob Zoubek answered with three laps to go in the Saturday Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Eagle Raceway. The Dorchester driver was running third when the front pair of Dustin Andersen and Johnny Saathoff got caught behind lapped cars. Zoubek sailed around both to take the lead and eventually his first win of the year ahead of Saathoff, Andersen and Terry Hurt. “Dustin and John got together down low behind those lappers, I went around the high side and I honestly had no idea that I was leading it, Zoubek said following career win number 37 in the division. “It all ended up pretty good. The track was racy, with a high groove and a low groove. That’s all that you can ask for.” Adam Gullion led from lap nine to the checkers in winning the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature in front of Jay Russell and Tyler Drueke. Kyle Vanover parlayed a restart into the lead and the IMCA Sunoco Stock [Read More]

Junior Fan Club Night crowd cheers Wade’s Eagle win

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 6, 2023) – Youngsters vied in the Sam’s Club Kid’s Money Grab at intermission, then cheered Michael Wade onto his career first IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature win during Saturday’s Junior Fan Club Night program at Eagle Raceway. Wade, a direct descendant of local racing legend Smokin’ Joe Wade, who graced local tracks for many years, took the lead on lap two and outran Adam Wasserman and Kyle Gannon to the checkers. “I have to thank Adam for racing me cleanly. He always does. I think everybody had an amazing night,” Wade stated. “The track has been really good, as always. I like what they did to it this winter. The weather was great tonight. Thank you to all of the track crew, the safety crew and all of the competitors. Thank you to everybody who helps me out; you know who you are.” Gary Saathoff made a much anticipated return to the winner’s circle after leading every lap of the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod headliner. “It’s been [Read More]

Big fields pay off for IMCA drivers at Eagle

EAGLE, Neb. (May 5, 2023) – As it was announced in the pit meeting on April 22, effective immediately, Eagle Raceway will start adding a minimum of $1,000 bonus spread throughout the field of a class of cars if there are 30 or more cars that show up and race at any single event in that class (includes non-qualifiers). This will be in effect from April 22, 2023 to May 27, 2023. If this works out, the track will continue to offer this bonus for the rest of 2023. “As most of you already know, we already offer a reward when ‘A’ features run caution free by giving those drivers a free pit pass the following week. Now we would like to start rewarding the drivers who are showing up and racing in classes against a large number of cars,” said Eagle’s Racine Hadan. “Take the SportMod class for example. They had 40 cars here last week on opening night. They deserve to have a reward. You guys are awesome!” “Thank you so much for showing [Read More]

Wayman follows IMCA Modified win with Sprint second at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (April 29, 2023) – Cole Wayman had a whale of a night Saturday at Eagle Raceway. The Lincoln speedster won the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at America’s Home Track, then hopped into his IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car and ran second to veteran Adam Gullion in the nightcap. He topped the Modified feature in front of Shawn Harker, Anthony Roth and Jaxon Saathoff, then took charge early in the Sprint show with Gullion in tow. Clint Benson passed Josh Riggins for third on lap two. Gene Ackland also got past Riggins, putting the 14G in fourth. There were nine laps left when Benson passed Gullion for second, only to lose the spot back to him the following circuit. There were five to go when Tyler Drueke passed Ackland to move the no. 12 into fourth before advancing to third the next time around. Gullion also made a big move that lap to take the lead for good. Gullion took the win, Wayman was second, Drueke held third and Ackland was fourth [Read More]

Danley starts Eagle title defense with RaceSaver win

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (April 22, 2023) – Joey Danley began his IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car title defense with the checkers on a chilly 60th season opener at Eagle Raceway Saturday night. Danley started eighth, swapped the second and third spots early and made what proved to be the winning pass when he caught Trevor Grossenbacher for the lead on lap 11. “I got a really good start, getting up to I think fourth in the first couple of laps and just picked them off one by one after that,” Danley said. “The track held up great and ended up nice and wide for the feature. I had a real blast in the ‘A.’” Runner-up honors went to Stuart Snyder and Grossenbacher ended in third. Jesse Sobbing borrowed Johnny Saathoff’s car, then parked the 96J in victory lane after winning the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature with a flag-to-flag run. Defending track, regional and national champion Jordan Grabouski was second and Chad Andersen took third. Another driver with multiple Eagle titles on his resume was [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods headline Ice Breaker Challenge shows

EAGLE, Neb. (April 11, 2023) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods are on both race night cards, with bonus money waiting for drivers in either division who can sweep Eagle Raceway’s Ice Breaker Challenge Weekend. Modifieds run for $1,000 to win on Friday, April 14 and for $2,000 to win on Saturday, April 15 while Northern SportMods chase $500 top checks both nights. A Twice is Nice Challenge bonus of $1,000 goes to the driver(s) who can win both their main events. Modified winners earn Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility as well. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars run for $2,000 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational eligibility, while IMCA Sunoco Late Models vie for $600 to win on Friday. Top checks on Saturday are $1,000 for the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars and $400 for the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central, EQ Cylinder Heads Northern and Big Daddy Race Cars Northern regional, and Nebraska State points will be awarded each night. [Read More]

Grabouski soars to Topless Nationals win at Eagle

EAGLE, Neb. (April 2, 2023) – New car, same results. Jordan Grabouski made his first start in a new JGR Chassis a winning one, topping the Sunday feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Eagle Raceway’s inaugural Topless Nationals. The five-time and defending national champion battled Jeremy Mills in the late going before capturing the $1,000 victory, his career 278th in the division. “I was a little nervous. This is a new design and Justin Clark, Josh Houseman and Robert Brinkman have spent hundreds of hours in the shop,” Grabouski said. “Winning the first night out is always your goal but you don’t always achieve that.” Mills, the Saturday winner at RPM Speedway’s Mike Hughes Sunflower Classic, had the fastest car much of the night while Grabouski worked his way up from fifth starting. The two traded sliders before Mills’ engine expired late in the race. Grabouski went on to get the W ahead of Ryan Jenkins and Cole Wayman. “One hundred percent, it’s tough to win at Eagle,” said Grabouski, already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, SportMods go Topless to open 60^th season at Eagle

EAGLE, Neb. (March 24, 2023) – Promoter Roger Hadan wasn’t fooling when he said he wanted to do something that hadn’t been done for a long time to start the 60th anniversary season at Eagle Raceway. The first green flag of the season at Eagle flies for the inaugural Topless Nationals Saturday, April 1. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Late Models and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods all race for $1,000 to win that evening and as the name of the event indicates, they’ll do so topless. The Modified winner becomes eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and Nebraska State points will be awarded in all three divisions; Modifieds also earn Jet Racing Central Region points. “We wanted to try something that we haven’t done for a long time,” Hadan said. “After I retired from driving I did four topless events (headlined by two-barrel late models, at Eagle and three other area tracks) in my first shot as a promoter. The next year I was promoting [Read More]

Bubak is best in RoC, championship show at 10th annual IMCA RaceSaver Nationals

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 4, 2022) – Now that was the way to finish the biggest RaceSaver Sprint Car event in the world, as Jake Bubak added two trophies from the 10th annual IMCA RaceSaver Nationals to his hardware collection. Bubak won the Precise Racing Products Race of Champions for the third time on Saturday night, then raced to a second RaceSaver Nationals crown and $3,000 on Sunday at Eagle Raceway. Also the 2020 champion, Bubak took his final win of the weekend ahead of John Carney II, defending race winner Tyler Drueke and Chase Brewer. “We really enjoy coming here. It helped that we had a really good car this week. Starting on the front row didn’t hurt any, either, and starting outside was a big advantage,” he said following the 35-lapper. “John (Carney) got a little bit stuck down on the bottom on the start and that allowed us to get away from him and the pack.” “I felt like I was getting through traffic really well,” he continued, [Read More]

Qualifying starts tonight at RaceSaver Nationals

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 1, 2022) – The first night of the 10th annual IMCA Racesaver Nationals went off without a hitch Thursday evening at Eagle Raceway. Mother Nature cooperated, giving us a beautiful afternoon and evening with a nice breeze as the fans watched several sets of hot laps to allow the out-of-towners a chance to get reacclimated with the high-banked 1/3-mile oval. After hot laps were done there were five heats of IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars attempting to be a part of Saturday’s Race of Champions. Plenty of Sprints were on hand, with a good deal more expected on site as quite a few of the regulars at America’s Home Track will join them in the house beginning on Friday. Tonight’s action kicks off with hot laps at 5 p.m. and racing to start at 6 p.m. to set the front three rows of three cars for Sunday’s Big Dance. Front gates open at 4 p.m. with adult admission $18, children 6-12 $5 with kids five and under free. Pit gates will [Read More]