No question about it: Trauernicht tops Spring Nationals IMCA Modified feature

BEATRICE, Neb. (March 18) – Dave Trauernicht agreed that some people might have questioned his think ing when he gave up a guaranteed spot in the IMCA Modified main event at Beatrice Speedway’s Spring Nationals special.

A lot of those same people were congratulating Trauernicht after he won Sunday’s 25 lap feature, pocketing $5,000 along with a berth on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals.

“I can’t race from the back,” admitted Trauernicht, also the Spring Nationals winner in 2003, who passed on a seventh row start earned on Friday and then topped Saturday’s pole dash to line up
outside Ricky Alvarado on the front row of the 14th annual main
event. “I figured I had a real good chance if I could just get going. The car took off, I cleared everybody, stayed on the bottom of the track and protected the lead.”

Fellow Beatrice pilot and four time race winner Johnny Saathoff made it close at the finish after the front pair got into lapped traffic with four to go. Saathoff tried for a pass on the high side, but Trauernicht held on to win by a car length.

Alvarado, Kyle Berck and Dan Nelson rounded out the top five.

Trauernicht shot ahead of the 28-car field going into the first turn. Saathoff passed Alvarado for second on lap five; the only caution in the contest came when Robert Hellebust broke two laps later.

Saathoff, Alvarado, Berck, Nelson and Dave Hardesty followed the quicker lower line to no avail, as Trauer nicht stretched his advantage to six car lengths by midway. Saathoff began making up distance, pulling behind the leader as the two negotiated through the back of the field, but couldn’t find a way around in the race to the checkers.

Repeating his flag to flag performance from the Saturday pole dash, Andy Gregg led the distance in the inaugu ral $600 to win IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock Challenge.

Kent Husted dogged Gregg from the start, pulling alongside several times before third running Luke Wan ninger broke with three laps left.

B.J. Dauer was in the top three before mechanical problems of his own came on the last lap. Husted was on Gregg’s tail coming across the line, with Bill Bonnett, Aron DeWalt and Max Harder close behind.

Austin Kurtzer topped Friday’s IMCA Sport Compact feature. The victory was good for $200.

IMCA Modified Feature Results –
1. Dave Trauernicht, Beatrice;
2. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice;
3. Ricky Alvarado, Denton, Colo.;
4. Kyle Berck, Marquette;
5. Dan Nelson, Beatrice;
6. Dave Hardesty, Minneapolis, Kan.;
7. Chris Alcorn, Lincoln;
8. Randy Brands, Boyden, Iowa;
9. Lance Borgman, Beatrice;
10. James Slawson, Spencer, Iowa;
11. Eric Rempel, Palmyra;
12. Marlyn Seidler, Minot, N.D.;
13. Vern Jackson, Waterloo, Iowa;
14. Jeff Jones, Council Bluffs, Iowa;
15. Jeremy Frenier, Fort Morgan, Colo.;
16. Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa;
17. Bob Zoubek, Dorchester;
18. Denny Johnson, Sioux City, Iowa;
19. Ricky Stephan, South Sioux City, Neb.;
20. Brian Foote, Essex, Iowa;
21. Steven Pfeifer, West Fargo, N.D.;
22. Jeremy Mills, Garner, Iowa;
23. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa;
24. Jason Schoenberger, Gorham, Kan.;
25. Robert Hellebust, Kenmare, N.D.;
26. Chris Mills, Sioux City, Iowa;
27. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice;
28. Ronnie Wallace, North Platte.

IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock Feature Results –
1. Andy Gregg, Hastings;
2. Kent Husted, Sioux City, Iowa;
3. Bill Bonnett, Knoxville, Iowa;
4. Aron DeWalt, Waterville, Kan.;

5. Max Harder, Beatrice;
6. Chad Borgman, Beatrice;
7. Ryan Roschewski, Beatrice;
8. Kevin Vanlaningham, Beatrice;
9. Adam Armstrong, Beatrice;

10. Nyle Godwin, Redfield, Iowa;

11. Jim Buss, Superior;
12. Chris Langdale, Beatrice;
13. Bill Parde, Beatrice;
14. Michael Murphy, Jefferson, Iowa;
15. Brian Hilbert, Solomon, Kan.;
16. Kenneth Hansen, Audubon, Iowa;
17. Tony Spunaugle, Blue Rapids, Kan.;
18. B.J. Dauer, Marquette, Kan.;
19. Devin Smith, Lake City, Iowa;
20. Luke Wanninger, Jefferson, Iowa;
21. Kyle Bond, Kearney;
22. Robert Tippery, Council Bluffs, Iowa;
23. Travis Runcie, Beatrice;
24. Jesse Vanlaningham, Beatrice;

IMCA Sport Compact Feature –
1. Austin Kurtzer, Nebraska City;
2. Corey Burch, Junction City, Kan.;
3. Will McConnell, Omaha;
4. Scott Parde, Beatrice;
5. Josh Wiens, Beatrice;
6. Alex Loveless, Lincoln, Kan.;
7. Janie Fralin, Beatrice;
8. Jason Sand, Beatrice;

9. Willy Moore, Exira, Iowa;
10. Seth Ambrose, Jansen;
11. Peter Kruse, Deshler;
12. Jacob Harms, Beatrice;
13. Steve Swarthout, Fairbury;
14. Joshua Schlotfeld, Omaha;
15. Rusty Hodges, Beatrice.