Culbertson Speedway Get Championship and Hagan Memorial Races Completed
By Darin Racek

CULBERTSON, NE (Oct. 15, 2006) - Almost two months after the original start date, Culbertson Speedway finally was able to get in the last race of the season on October 15. The day included heat races, feature races, and the annual Ruth and Don Hagan, Sr. Memorial Challenge races, where each class had a special race open to all drivers that paid money and trophies to be in the top two spots. The Hagan Sportsmanship Trophy was also presented. The winners this year were IMCA Modified driver Robby Haines and his father Kenny, both of Benkelman; given to them for their efforts in helping others and the tracks in Southwest Nebraska.

David Murray, Jr. of Oberlin, Kan., continued his Sunday dominance, winning his third A Feature in three Sundays at three different tracks. On this particular Sunday, Murray won his heat and the Hagan Cash Dash. He took the lead of the 20 lap A Feature on lap five, and never looked back. Jay Schilling of McCook didn’t know if he had a second place car or a second place driver in his car, but spent all day finishing directly behind Murray in all three races they ran together. Brandon Hagan of Culbertson finished in third place, ahead of fellow heat winner Brice Riley of Indianola. Robby Haines finished the main event in fifth place. Nick Tubbs of Colby, Kan., finished in seventh place, just enough to secure the IMCA Modified track points championship.

Heat race winner Lloyd Meeske of Champion paced the early part of the IMCA Stock Car A Feature. The cars were jockeying for second spot behind him when second place Randy Tipton of Weskan, Kan. stalled on the track. This allowed Caleb Peters of Oberlin, Kan. to restart on his tail. With three laps to go, Peters, the Hagan Dash winner for the Stocks, got by Meeske and capped off his track championship with the A Feature win. Meeske held onto second place. Shawn Bigham of Imperial came from the back to finish in third place, ahead of Bill Matson of McCook and Stew Holmes of North Platte.

The IMCA Hobby Stock A Feature went caution-free, and had good racing throughout the field. Cody DeWester of Benkelman was a heat race winner, and looked to be following that up with a feature win, showing the way for the rest of the drivers. Austin Davis of Benkelman finished second to DeWester in that heat, but with three laps to go in the A Feature, took advantage of a DeWester bobble to jump to the lead and drive away to victory. DeWester did hold onto second place. Justin Wagner of Culbertson finished third place, but had the Hobby Stock points title wrapped up by starting the race. Hagan Dash runner-up Todd Pankonin of Benkelman took fourth place in the A Feature, ahead of Hagan Dash winner Michael Brunswig of Benkelman.

Larry Pollmann capped his stellar year at Culbertson Speedway by winning not only the Classic Modified Hagan Dash, but also the A Feature. The feature win secured the points title for him. Max Pollmann, the Classic Modified heat winner, took the second place spot in the main event. Karl Wickizer, runner-up in points and the Hagan Dash, finished third in the feature, ahead of Mike Brenning and Duke Ebert, both of Culbertson.

The Mini-Truck A Feature had great racing throughout the run up to the last lap. Josh Bopp of McCook drove his truck to the front of the field at the start of the race, only to be passed by Cindy Murray on lap three. However, he did not let her drive away from him. Points champion and Hagan Dash winner David Wimer of Trenton reeled in the two a few laps later. Heat winner Leelan Bieker of McCook must have thought they were having so much fun racing for the top spot, he joined the fray, making it a four truck race for the lead. Bieker maneuvered his way from fourth to the top spot as the trucks took the white flag. However, Murray made a move on the backstretch to retake the lead. Murray and Bieker made contact going into corner three, which sent Murray’s truck into a roll. She was able to walk away from the wreck. Officials ruled Bieker was the cause of the wreck, and awarded the win to Murray. Bopp was given second place, and Wimer third. Dennis Wasson and Bud Wasson of Lebanon rounded out the top five.

Promoter Jim Lewis thanks the fans, sponsors, and drivers for their support for the 2006 racing season.


October 15 results
IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1
8EZ-Brice Riley
9R-Robby Haines
10T-Todd Hartley

Heat 2
21H-Brandon Hagan
12J-Jay Steffens
11-Garrett Sporhase

Heat 3
97M-David Murray, Jr.
07S-Jay Schilling
2X-Jeremy Herbst

Hagan Memorial Race
97M-David Murray, Jr.
07S-Jay Schilling

A Feature
97M-David Murray, Jr.
07S-Jay Schilling
21H-Brandon Hagan
8EZ-Brice Riley
9R-Robby Haines
94H-Don Hagan, Jr.
73-Nick Tubbs
2-Justin Wagner
11-Garrett Sporhase
10T-Todd Hartley
1XS-Dan Schwartz
24JT-Jeff Linner
12J-Jay Steffens (DNF)
2X-Jeremy Herbst (DNF)
41J-Dave Jeffres (DNF)

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat
32-Lloyd Meeske
8-Shawn Bigham
25W-Ritchie Wickizer

Hagan Memorial Race
36-Caleb Peters
2M-Bill Matson

A Feature
36-Caleb Peters
32-Lloyd Meeske
8-Shawn Bigham
2M-Bill Matson
18-Stewart Holmes
9X-Randy Tipton
05-Brandon Anderson
25W-Ritchie Wickizer

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat
16D-Todd Pankonin
2-Justin Wagner
33-Shane Klockman

Heat 2
20-Cody DeWester
22-Austin Davis
32M-Michael Brunswig

Hagan Memorial Race
32M-Michael Brunswig
16D-Todd Pankonin

A Feature
22-Austin Davis
20-Cody DeWester
2-Justin Wagner
16D-Todd Pankonin
32M-Michael Brunswig
20J-John Groshans
33-Shane Klockman
00-Chad Brenning
98-Roger Bolio
14M-Martha Newman
38-Michael Woodhead (DNF)

Classic Modifieds
Heat
P82-Max Pollmann
413-Larry Pollmann
K2-Karl Wickizer

Hagan Memorial Race
413-Larry Pollmann
K2-Karl Wickizer

A Feature
413-Larry Pollmann
P82-Max Pollmann
K2-Karl Wickizer
29B-Mike Brenning
56E-Duke Ebert
P83-Loren Pollmann
1T-Troy Wentz

Mini-Trucks
Heat
33-Leelan Bieker
34B-Josh Bopp
97-Cindy Murray

Hagan Memorial Race
34W-Dave Wimer
34B-Josh Bopp

A Feature
97-Cindy Murray
34B-Josh Bopp
34W-Dave Wimer
52-Dennis Wasson
73-Bud Wasson
33-Leelan Bieker
25-Delbert Ridenour (DNS)