Wallace Repeats, Smidt, Koch and Leonard Win At Dawson County Raceway
By Darin Racek

LEXINGTON, NE (May 28, 2006) -  Despite a very hot and windy day, a good crowd came out to watch the races May 28 at Dawson County Raceway, and they were treated to some good racing. Ronnie Wallace of North Platte, Jason Smidt of Minden, Jason Koch of Cambridge, and Robert Leonard of Gibbon survived the wind and heat to take the A Feature victories.

Jay Steffens started on row three of the IMCA Modified A Feature, but had the lead by lap one, closely followed by heat winner Chuck Stryker of Eddyville. Ronnie Wallace had moved from the fifth row to third place when the caution came out on lap ten. On the restart, Wallace started better than Stryker, who was down on power, and set his sights on Steffens. Another caution a few laps later allowed Wallace to use another restart to make another pass, this one for the lead. He would hold on for his second win in two weeks. Steffens and Stryker held onto second and third places. Vince Leibert of Lexington, who had to restart in fifteenth place on lap two, followed Dave Jeffres of Upland to the front on the high line, then got by him for fourth place. Scott Blessing of Kearney stayed ahead of Jeffres for fifth place. A cash dash was run by the IMCA Modifieds, and it was won by Robby Haines of Benkelman.

The IMCA Stock Cars had a difficult time lining up after a first lap caution, but once they did, they went the rest of the race unabated. David Kirby, Jr. of Grand Island jumped to the front at the start of the race. About three laps into it, a tire went flat on his car, and his night ended. The lead was handed over to Jason Smidt. Smidt, a heat race winner, enjoyed the lead at the front so much, he held it to the end. Dan Walker of Eddyville finished in second place. Jim Hagan of Eddyville had to start in the back of the field, but drove hard to finish in third place. Brady Koch of Cambridge was bumped near the end of the race, but was credited with fourth place. Shane Stout of North Platte was unable to start the A Feature, but did enjoy winning the other heat race.

Fourteen IMCA Hobby Stocks started that particular A Feature. Kyle Bond of Kearney, a heat winner, took the lead at the start of the race. After a caution, Jeromy Wagner of Kensington, Kan., was able to sneak by, bringing Jason Koch with him. After cleaning up the pieces of a four car pileup that involved Bond, Koch was able to work by Wagner and gain himself a win. Wagner was able to hold onto second place. Derek Thiem of Columbus made a late charge towards the front, but it got him to third place. Brett Hagan of Gibbon borrowed his dad Bruce Hagan’s car to run the A Feature, and it got him to fourth place. Greg Hoing of Johnson Lake rounded out the top five. Aaron Koch of Cambridge was a heat race winner in the class as well.

The Grand National Late Models came to run at Dawson County Raceway. Unfortunately for them, the ambulance was called away from the track during their race, and because of the time, the race was called before lap ten. Robert Leonard had some issues in his heat race, but kept it straight in the A Feature to be the leader at the end. Chris Avery of Minden was having the race of his life and hated to see the race end when he was closing in on the lead. He still finished in second place. Heat winner Robby Leonard of Gibbon also ran out time trying to catch his son, so he settled for third place. Grand Island drivers Mike Hetrick and Tim Hans finished in fourth and fifth places. Josh Leonard of Gibbon made it a Leonard sweep of the Grand National Late Model races, as he won the other heat.

Dawson County Raceway will be back in action on June 3, with race time being 7 PM CDT. The Mini-Sprints are expected to join the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Hobby Stocks.

May 28 results
IMCA Modified
Heat 1
19-Chuck Stryker
3RW-Ronnie Wallace
9R-Robby Haines

Heat 2
12-Gene Smith
7R-Vince Leibert
12J-Jay Steffens

Cash Dash
9R-Robby Haines

A Feature
3RW-Ronnie Wallace
12J-Jay Steffens
19-Chuck Stryker
7R-Vince Leibert
1X-Scott Blessing
41J-Dave Jeffres
87D-Chad Dolan
94H-Don Hagan, Jr.
4C-Charley Brown
2C-Brandon Hagan
20-Jeremy Herbst
12-Gene Smith
9R-Robby Haines
35-James Libra
9-Brian Cash

IMCA Stock Car
Heat 1
5S-Shane Stout
24-Dan Walker
7A-Steve Aitken

Heat 2
18-Jason Smidt
9-David Kirby, Jr
72H-Jim Hagan

A Feature
18-Jason Smidt
24-Dan Walker
72H-Jim Hagan
25KO-Brady Koch
7A-Steve Aitken
9-David Kirby, Jr.(DNF)
2-Tim Cahoy (DNF)
28-Alex Silos
5S-Shane Stout (DNS)

IMCA Hobby Stock
Heat 1
00K-Kyle Bond
17-Derek Thiem
22-Austin Davis

Heat 2
70KO-Aaron Koch
29-Jeromy Wagner
74KO-Jason Koch

A Feature
74KO-Jason Koch
29-Jeromy Wagner
17-Derek Thiem
3H-Brett Hagan
00H-Greg Hoing
22-Austin Davis
3-John Huffman
9-Robert Donaly
00K-Kyle Bond (DNF)
3T-Thomas Lower (DNF)
20-Hunter Cantrall (DNF)
53-Tyler Easterday (DNF)
72H-Kevin Hagan (DNF)
70KO-Aaron Koch
23H-Bruce Hagan, Sr. (DNS)

Grand National Late Models
Heat 1
85-Robby Leonard
22-Chris Avery
92X-Randy Petersen

Heat 2
85J-Josh Leonard
85Jr-Robert Leonard
0-Mike Hetrick

A Feature
85Jr-Robert Leonard
22-Chris Avery
85-Robby Leonard
0-Mike Hetrick
03-Tim Hans
99-David Easterday
92X-Randy Petersen (DNF)
85J-Josh Leonard (DNF)
74W-Doug Warner (DNS)