Murrays Are Back, So is Zach at McCook Speedway
By Darin Racek

MCCOOK, NE. (June 23, 2006) - The weather was much more suitable for racing on June 23 at McCook Speedway than the previous weekend, and the racers came out to put on a show. David Murray, Jr., and Cindy Murray of Oberlin, Kan., Zach Schultz of North Platte, and John Huffman and Jay Alberts of McCook put on the fastest shows of the night, as they were the winners of the A Features.

The drivers from the back of the start of the IMCA Modified A Feature quickly made their way to the front. Nick Tubbs of Brewster, Kan. started in row six, but had moved past Darren Pollmann of McCook for the lead by lap five. Tubbs was passed by heat winner David Murray a couple of laps later, who had started on the fifth row. Tubbs tried to get back past Murray, but something in the rear end broke in his car, and his night ended. Murray would stay ahead of the field for the win. Robby Haines of Benkelman was left to battle with Cash Dash winner Jay Seffens of North Platte, Don Hagan, Jr. of Culbertson, and Jay Schilling of McCook. Haines stayed in front of them for second place, but Schilling had to make a late run to end in third. Hagan beat Steffens to the line for fifth place.
Charley Brown of Maxwell was the other heat race winner.

The action was close in the IMCA Stock Car A Feature. It was too close on lap six when Shane Stout of North Platte, Lloyd Meeske of Champion, and Brent Riley of Indianola tried to put their three cars in one spot. Stout and Meeske spent time in the pits changing tires. Up front, Zach Schultz had close company in Brady Koch of Cambridge, Jason Davis of Norton, Kan., and Todd Chrisman of North Platte. On the restart after the accident mentioned above, Koch lost two spots to Davis and Chrisman, and that allowed Davis to apply the pressure for the lead. Koch then found the high line to his liking and got back to second spot with a lap to go. He ran out of time in denying Schultz his first win of the year. Davis and Chrisman were followed at the line by Stout. Meeske and Schultz were also the winners of the IMCA Stock Car Heat races.

John Huffman won his first ever A Feature race in winning the IMCA Hobby Stock A Feature. Driving his father Jim’s car, he jumped to the lead on lap three. Jason Koch of Cambridge found his way to second place and applied the pressure to Huffman until he spun with two laps to go. On the restart, Justin Wagner of Culbertson became the antagonist, but could not deny the youngster the win. Todd Pankonin of Benkelman took home third place, ahead of Austin Davis of Benkelman and Eric Picquet of North Platte. Huffman, Wagner, and Bruce Hagan, Sr. of Culbertson were the heat race winners.

Heat winner Matt Caudillo of North Platte did not have the luck in the Classic Modifed A Feature he had in the heat. He spun in corner one on lap two, hit the dirt berm, and rolled his car. He was able to walk away.
Jay Alberts took the lead from Brandon Anderson from McCook on lap two and never looked back. Larry Pollmann of McCook finished in second place, not far back from Jay. Anderson held onto third place, while Mike Brenning of Culbertson and Karl Wickizer of Palisade rounded out the top five.

The Mini-Truck A Feature had a lot of side-by-side racing. It got to be a little much on lap five when Josh Bopp of McCook and heat race winners Sara Murray of Oberlin, Kan., and Leelan Bieker went three-wide racing for second place, while also trying to go by a slower truck. Bieker and Murray would have to pull out of the race. Out front was Cindy Murray, who finished out ahead of the field similar to the way her dad did in the IMCA Modifieds. David Wimer of Trenton finished in second place, ahead of Bopp, Jake Sahm of McCook, and Dennis Wasson of Lebanon.

McCook Speedway will be back in action on Friday, July 7, at 8 PM.
Culbertson Speedway races next Friday, June 30, at 8 PM.


IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1
4C-Charley Brown
19-Chuck Stryker
73-Nick Tubbs

Heat 2
07S-Jay Schilling
29S-Dewain Coleman
9R-Robby Haines

Heat 3
97M-David Murray, Jr.
12J-Jay Steffens
P38-Darren Pollmann

Cash Dash
12J-Jay Steffens

A Features
97M-David Murray, Jr.
9R-Robby Haines
07S-Jay Schilling
94H-Don Hagan, Jr.
12J-Jay Steffens
10-Don Geist
21H-Brandon Hagan
29S-Dewain Coleman
4C-Charley Brown
P38-Darren Pollmann
14-Jason Gallentine
20K-Kyle Clough
73-Nick Tubbs (DNF)
19-Chuck Stryker (DNF)
8EZ-Brice Riley (DNS)

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat 1
32-LLoyd Meeske
76-Jason Davis
7-Jeremy Halouska

Heat 2
55Z-Zach Schultz
5S-Shane Stout
25KO-Brady Koch

A Feature
55Z-Zach Schultz
25KO-Brady Koch
76-Jason Davis
11-Todd Chrisman
5S-Shane Stout
32-LLoyd Meeske
8R-Brent Riley
25W-Ritchie Wickizer
18-Stew Holmes
7-Jeremy Halouska (DNF)
24-Bob Chalupa (DNF)

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat 1
3-John Huffman
74KO-Jason Koch
22-Austin Davis

Heat 2
23H-Bruce Hagan, Sr.
70KO-Aaron Koch
00-Chad Brenning

Heat 3
2-Justin Wagner
14-Les Janousek
16D-Todd Pankonin

A Feature
3-John Huffman
2-Justin Wagner
16D-Todd Pankonin
22-Austin Davis
X5-Eric Picquet
55-Barry Brush
14-Les Janousek
85-Bryan Smotherman
24-Brian Peyton
70KO-Aaron Koch
23H-Bruce Hagan, Sr.
74KO-Jason Koch (DNF)
00-Chad Brenning (DNF)
3TX-Jebb Tally (DNS)
3L-Leland Stute (DNS)
68-Audie Bundy (DNS)

Classic Modifieds
Heat 1
34-Matt Caudillo
P82-Max Pollmann
05-Brandon Anderson

A Feature
20-Jay Alberts
413-Larry Pollmann
05-Brandon Anderson
29B-Mike Brenning
K2-Karl Wickizer
P82-Max Pollmann
34-Matt Caudillo (DNF)

Mini-Trucks
Heat 1
97S-Sara Murray
97-Cindy Murray
69-Delbert Ridenour

Heat 2
33-Leelan Bieker
33R-Curtis Richards
34W-David Wimer

A Feature
97-Cindy Murray
34W-David Wimer
34B-Josh Bopp
86-Jake Sahm
52-Dennis Wasson
14F-Royal Fisher
69-Delbert Ridenour
97S-Sara Murray (DNF)
33-Leelan Bieker (DNF)
33R-Curtis Richards (DNF)
12J-Robin Runge (DNF)