Schilling Wins Thrilling Feature at Culbertson Speedway
By Darin Racek

CULBERTSON, Ne. (June 9, 2006) -  It was a very hot day June 9 in Culbertson, but the racers were hotter at Culbertson Speedway, and getting it done in under 2 hours and 15 minutes. Jay Schilling of McCook, Brady Koch of Cambridge, Justin Wagner of Culbertson, and McCook drivers Larry Pollmann and Josh Bopp had the hottest shoes, as they gained the A Feature wins.

IMCA Modified driver Jay Schilling had a fuel pickup problem in his heat race and had wonders how the car would run for the feature. Robby Haines of Benkelman had no trouble in his heat race and cash dash, and needed the A Feature win to claim a bonus. Schilling started on the front row and got out to a fair lead when the Benkelman driver caught him before the half way point. The two were never more than three car lengths apart from that time on, and Haines took three good runs at the lead. The two had a drag race down the front stretch on the last lap, with Schilling driving across the finish line first. Haines settled for second place, ahead of Jay Steffens of North Platte, heat race winner Darren Pollmann of McCook, and Don Hagan, Jr. of Culbertson.

Lloyd Meeske of Champion took a win in his IMCA Stock Car heat race, and early in his class’s A Feature, it looked as though he might take the feature win as well. However, Brady Koch was running faster times and got by on lap eight. He would drive away from the Meeske and the field. Meeske would stay in front of a good battle for the rest of the top five positions, which was won by Nick Tubbs of Colby, Kan. Caleb Peters of Oberlin, Kan., finished in fourth place, and Tony Schultz of North Platte rounded out the top five. Bill Matson of McCook was the other IMCA Stock Car heat race winner.

Justin Wagner took the lead from Todd Pankonin of Benkelman on lap six, then shoed his car around the track fourteen more times to the finish line in first place. Pankonin worked hard to stay ahead of heat race winners Jason and Aaron Koch of Cambridge to hold onto the runner-up spot. John Huffman of McCook finished in fifth place, despite smoke coming from his car.

Larry Pollmann of McCook got the bugs worked out of his Classic Modified car after an accident two weeks ago. He got by nephew Max Pollmann of Trenton on lap four and drove away with the win. Heat winner Max maintained second place. Mike Brenning of Culbertson held off Karl Wickizer of Palisade for third place. Duke Ebert of Culbertson was credited with fifth place.

A spring came out of Josh Bopp’s Mini-Truck before he pulled out of his pit for hot laps. He and his crew worked to get the front realigned for the heat race, and he rewarded everyone with a win. The A Feature was more of the same, as he got out front early and stayed out front for his first win of the year. David Wimer of Trenton followed his teammate to the finish line, while Mike Schrader of Benkelman powered his way to third place. Bud Wasson of Lebanon passed Delbert Ridenour of Culbertson on the last corner of the last lap to take the fourth place.

Culbertson Speedway will race next on Friday night, June 30 at 8 PM CDT. Next weekend will be the “Thunder On The Plains” at McCook Speedway, with a complete show on each night. The Friday night race will start at 8 PM, while the Saturday night events start at 7 PM.

June 9 results
IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1
P38-Darren Pollmann
21H-Brandon Hagan
12J-Jay Steffens

Heat 2
9R-Robby Haines
94H-Don Hagan, Jr.
73-Nick Tubbs

Cash Dash
9R-Robby Haines

A Feature
07S-Jay Schilling
9R-Robby Haines
12J-Jay Steffens
P38-Darren Pollmann
94H-Don Hagan, Jr.
73-Nick Tubbs
4C-Charley Brown
10-Don Geist
21H-Brandon Hagan
10T-Todd Hartley
8EZ-Brice Riley (DNF)

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1
32-Lloyd Meeske
24-Bob Chalupa
36-Caleb Peters

Heat 2
2M-Bill Matson
9-Nick Tubbs
25KO-Brady Koch

A Feature
25KO-Brady Koch
32-Lloyd Meeske
9-Nick Tubbs
36-Caleb Peters
55-Tony Schultz
5S-Shane Stout
24KC-Casey Werkmeister
2M-Bill Matson
7-Jeremy Halouska (DNF)
24-Bob Chalupa (DNF)

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat 1
70KO-Aaron Koch
3L-Leland Stute
16D-Todd Pankonin

Heat 2
74KO-Jason Koch
2-Justin Wagner
14-Les Janousek

A Feature
2-Justin Wagner
16D-Todd Pankonin
74KO-Jason Koch
70KO-Aaron Koch
3-John Huffman
14-Les Janousek
3L-Leland Stute
20-Cody DeWester
85-Bryan Smotherman
22-Austin Davis (DNF)
00-Chad Brenning (DNF)
55-Barry Brush (DNS)
5-Jim Huffman (DNS)

Classic Modifieds
Heat
P82-Max Pollmann
413-Larry Pollmann
29B-Mike Brenning

A Feature
413-Larry Pollmann
P82-Max Pollmann
29B-Mike Brenning
K2-Karl Wickizer
56E-Duke Ebert (DNF)
P83-Loren Pollmann (DNS)

Mini-Trucks
Heat
34B-Josh Bopp
34W-Dave Wimer
05-Mike Schrader

A Feature
34B-Josh Bopp
34W-Dave Wimer
05-Mike Schrader
73-Bud Wasson
69-Delbert Ridenour
12J-Robin Runge