Racing at Culbertson Speedway No April Fool’s Joke
By Darin Racek

CULBERTSON, NE (April 1, 2007) - Despite the rain earlier in the week, the conditions at Culbertson Speedway were dry and sunny on Sunday afternoon, April 1, and racing was a go. The show ran pretty smooth, with few cautions and only one vehicle requesting aid back to the pits. John Fabrizius of Colby, Ks., Lloyd Meeske of Champion, Aaron Koch of Cambridge, Duke Ebert of Culbertson, and Josh Bopp of McCook showed they were no fools, either, winning the afternoon’s A Feature events.

IMCA Modified heat race winner David Murray, Jr. of Oberlin, Ks., drove to the lead at the original start of that class’s A Main, but during a caution period, Murray went in with a brake line trouble. That opened the window of opportunity for Robby Haines of Benkelman, who took off with the lead at the restart. John Fabrizius started in the rear of the field after some heat race woes, and began working his way forward using a higher line to get by drivers. On corner two of the last lap, John went to the high side of corner two and snuck by Haines for the lead. Unfortunately for him, there was a car spun in out in corner four, which set up a two lap shootout, with Haines out front. On the restart, Fabrizius went to the top again, got by Haines, and drove on for the win. Haines was followed at the line by Jeremy Frenier of Fort Morgan, Co., Mike Saathoff of North Platte, and Caleb Peters of Oberlin, who normally runs IMCA Stock Car, but may run a Modified on a limited basis.

The IMCA Stock Car A Feature featured the most new drivers of any class. However, it was veteran Stock Car drivers Lloyd Meeske and heat winner Bob Chalupa of McCook at the front early on. After Chalupa bobbled, former Classic Modified driver Larry Pollmann of McCook inherited second spot, and began to close in on Meeske. Although he got a look at the lead with one lap to go, Pollmann could not deny Meeske his second Sunday win in as many weeks, winning the week before in Norton, Ks. Ritchie Wickizer of Palisade took the third place finish, ahead of Chalupa and former IMCA Hobby Stock driver John Huffman of McCook.

The IMCA Hobby Stock A Feature had to have a complete restart, but then went their twelve green flag laps without stoppage. Aaron Koch started on the front row and was never worse than first. Michael Brunswig of Benkelman started back in row three, but found his way to second place by the end of the race. He led fellow Benkelman drivers Austin Davis, Leland Stute, and Cody DeWester to the finish line. Stute was the winner of the IMCA Hobby Stock heat race.

The Classic Modified showed all the classes how it is to be done, putting on a good show during their caution-free main event. Mike Brenning of Culbertson paced the race most of the way, looking to perhaps earn his first hometown A Feature win. On lap seven, Duke Ebert found a way by to the lead, bringing Max Pollmann of Trenton and Karl Wickizer of Palisade with him. Pollmann started the race in the back, but with a couple of laps to go, began applying some pressure. “The Duke of Culbertson” remained calm, and held his line to take the win. Pollmann and Wickizer were followed by Loren Pollmann of Trenton and Brenning to round out the top five. Ebert also took the qualifying race win.

The Mini-Truck heat race gave the crowd a surprise when Justin Day of Lebanon took the win in only his second time in a truck. Day replaced his uncle Bud Wasson of Lebanon in his truck after Wasson decided he needed to take some time off from driving. The A Feature was the Josh Bopp show, as Bopp led every lap in his truck that garnered a for sale sign. His sales technique worked as he sold his truck after the races. Day finished the race in second place, with Delbert Ridenour of Culbertson finishing in third. Robin Runge of Palisade and Jake Sahm of McCook were credited with fourth and fifth places.

The next race at Culbertson Speedway will be on Friday night, April 6. The gates open at 6 PM, CDT, and the races will start at 8 PM, CDT.


April 1 results
IMCA Modifieds
Heat
97M-David Murray, Jr.
29S-Mike Saathoff
9R-Robby Haines

A Feature
42-John Fabrizius
9R-Robby Haines
17J-Jeremy Frenier
29S-Mike Saathoff
36-Caleb Peters
23-Royce Clapp (DNF)
97M-David Murray, Jr. (DNF)

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat
24-Bob Chalupa
413-Larry Pollmann
32-Lloyd Meeske

A Feature
32-Lloyd Meeske
413-Larry Pollmann
4C-Ritchie Wickizer
24-Bob Chalupa
3-John Huffman
05-Brandon Anderson
50-Charley Brown
20B-Brandon Clough (DNF)
IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat
3L-Leland Stute
88-Michael Woodhead
20-Cody DeWester

A Feature
70KO-Aaron Koch
32M-Michael Brunswig
22-Austin Davis
3L-Leland Stute
20-Cody DeWester
88-Michael Woodhead
20J-John Groshans (DNS)

Classic Modifieds
Heat
56E-Duke Ebert
41A-Devin Allen
K2-Karl Wickizer

A Feature
56E-Duke Ebert
P82-Max Pollmann
K2-Karl Wickizer
P83-Loren Pollmann
29B-Mike Brenning
41A-Devin Allen
1S-Donny Sailors

Mini-Trucks
Heat
73-Justin Day
34B-Josh Bopp
86-Jake Sahm

A Feature
34B-Josh Bopp
73-Justin Day
69-Delbert Ridenour
12J-Robin Runge (DNF)
86-Jake Sahm (DNF)