Koch, Pollmann, and Fisher Repeat at Culbertson Speedway
By Darin Racek

CULBERTSON, NE (June 15) - While other areas of Southwest Nebraska were hammered by rain, Culbertson received a minimal amount, which made it a hot spot for racing on June 15. The track surface was as good as it has been this year, and the drivers responded by having only one caution period during the five A Features. John Fabrizius of Colby, Kan., Ritchie Wickizer of Culbertson, Aaron Koch of Cambridge, Max Pollmann of Trenton, and Royal Fisher of Oberlin, Kan. responded with the A Feature wins.

Rookie Caleb Peters of Oberlin, Kan. took the win in the IMCA Modified heat race despite troubles at the end of the race with the rear end of the car. At the start of the A Feature, he again assumed the top spot. John Fabrizius got by him on lap four and left him to battle with Jay Schilling of McCook. While Peters and Schilling were putting on a good race, Fabrizius drove away from them, and won the race by nearly a straightaway. Schilling finally got by Peters with two laps to go and held him off for second place. Brandon Hagan of Culbertson took home fourth place, while Don Geist of Loveland, Colo. finished in fifth.

The IMCA Stock Car A Feature was paced at the start by hometown driver Ritchie Wickizer, but Lloyd Meeske of Champion worked on him once he got to second place. There was a time when Wickizer bobbled and opened the door for Meeske, but he regained his composure. Meeske had a bobble of his own with two laps to go that got him out of rhythm and out of touch with Wickizer. Wickizer kept the car straight and drove it straight to the finish line ahead of Meeske. Heat race and cash dash winner Shane Stout of North Platte was not too far behind them in third place. The fourth and fifth place finishers were Casey Werkmeister of Maywood and Cozad’s Colton Osborn.

The IMCA Hobby Stock A Feature was again a pretty good race. Michael Brunswig of Benkelman survived a crunch in the heat race to earn that win, and then set the pace for most of the A Feature. Aaron Koch found himself racing Brunswig with a handful of laps to go, and the two worked each other hard. With about two laps to go, as Koch was taking another shot at the front spot, Brunswig developed a flat tire and dropped out of the race. Koch stayed out front two win his second A Feature in a row. Cody DeWester of Benkelman finished in second place. Newcomer Kyle Bond of Kearney took home third place, ahead of Leland Stute and Austin Davis, both of Benkelman.

Royal Fisher drew the royal flush in the Mini Truck division, as he took the heat race win and the A Feature win, also his second in a row. Delbert Ridenour of Culbertson put up a good fight with Dalton Dolan of Oberlin, Kan., as Delbert and Dalton were dueling for second place. Ridenour was able to get to the finish line ahead of Dolan. Justin Day of Lebanon finished in third.

All of the Classic Modified were within 6 car lengths of each other for most of the first half of the Classic Modified main event. Loren Pollmann of Trenton was showing the way, while his son Max was battling with Mike Brenning of Culbertson, who himself was battling Loren for the lead. The high side seemed to fail Brenning, so he moved to the low line, allowing Max Pollmann to try the high side. His car worked well up there, and he zipped by Loren at the half way point. Once Max took the point, he extended his lead and let the rest of the field race for second. Loren Pollmann was able to finish in second, ahead of heat winner Brenning, Duke Ebert of Culbertson, and Matt Matson of McCook.

The next racing in Southwest Nebraska will be at McCook Speedway on Friday and Saturday, June 22-23, for the annual “Thunder on The Plains”. Culbertson Speedway will be back in action on Tuesday night, July 3. The gates will open at 6 PM, and the racing will start at 8 PM, Central Time.


June 15 results
IMCA Modifieds
Heat
36-Caleb Peters
42-John Fabrizius
07S-Jay Schilling

A Feature
42-John Fabrizius
07S-Jay Schilling
36-Caleb Peters
21H-Brandon Hagan
10-Don Geist
25K-Mike Keiter
2J-Jim Gronewald
23-Royce Clapp (DNF)

IMCA Stock Cars
Heat
5S-Shane Stout
32-Lloyd Meeske
3-John Huffman

Cash Dash
5S-Shane Stout

A Feature
25W-Ritchie Wickizer
32-Lloyd Meeske
5S-Shane Stout
24KC-Casey Werkmeister
50-Colton Osborn
42KC-Kyle Werkmeister
24-Bob Chalupa
413-Larry Pollmann
3-John Huffman (DNF)

IMCA Hobby Stocks
Heat
32M-Michael Brunswig
3L-Leland Stute
20-Cody DeWester

A Feature
70KO-Aaron Koch
20-Cody DeWester
0-Kyle Bond
3L-Leland Stute
22-Austin Davis
8C-Corey Cruzan
59-David Werner
32M-Michael Brunswig (DNF)

Classic Modifieds
Heat
29B-Mike Brenning
98-Matt Matson
1S-Donny Sailors

A Feature
P82-Max Pollmann
P83-Loren Pollmann
29B-Mike Brenning
56E-Duke Ebert
98-Matt Matson
1S-Donny Sailors
2-Trent Jollensten (DNS)

Mini-Trucks
Heat
14F-Royal Fisher
3D-Dalton Dolan
73-Justin Day

A Feature
14F-Royal Fisher
69-Delbert Ridenour
3D-Dalton Dolan
73-Justin Day