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NORTH PLATTE, NE (May 7, 2011) - The 2011 season got underway at Lincoln County Raceway, and the terrific weather helped herald the start of the year. The track started off a little wet, but as the water worked in, the track was in good shape for the four classes. Ronnie Wallace of McCook, Charley Brown and Corey Cruzan of Maxwell, and Colton Osborn of Cozad were heralded as the opening night winners. Ronnie Wallace, who lived and worked in the Maxwell area for many years, jumped to the lead of the IMCA Modified A Feature on the opening lap. During a lap ten caution, the race was stopped as the rescue unit was called to tend to someone on the grandstand side of the fence. After the delay, Cole Hodges of Ogallala aligned behind Wallace, but would not get any closer to the top spot, which Wallace held for all 20 laps. Jay Steffens won the battle for third place. After the fourth place car failed tech due to not having the required rpm limit chip, the spot was given to Andrew Dillenburg of North Platte. Don Hagan, Jr. of McCook then rounded out the top five. The top two also won the Modified heat races. The IMCA Stock Cars again showed why they are one of the most popular classes around. Brandon Clough of Wallace just barely passed Jesse Taylor of Fort Morgan, Colorado at the scorning line on lap two of the race. That benefited him because a caution on lap two after many cars made contact and the car of his brother Kyle Clough was disabled on the track, gave him the top spot on the restart. Taylor was tenacious, and regained the lead on lap four. Three laps later, Charley Brown charged by him for the position. In corner two, Taylor spun, bringing out the caution and sending him to the rear of the field. Brown stayed at the head of the field for the remainder of the race, ahead of many battles for position. With a lap to go, Casey Werkmeister of Maywood passed Clough to take the second spot. Cash dash winner Colton Osborn finished in fourth place, while Casey Woken finished in fifth place. Brown, Taylor, and Osborn were all heat race winners. Colton Osborn also drove his IMCA Northern SportMod for the night, which is built by Charley Brown and crew of Dirt Boss in Maxwell. After winning his heat, Osborn started in row two of the feature. It was former Late Model driver Rodger Morash of North Platte who pulled to the lead on the opening lap. On lap three, Osborn found a way by, and began to check out, lapping several cars before a lap nine spin by Tim Cooper of North Platte. After the restart, Bryan Herrick of Curtis was in second, but it appeared his motor expired on lap fourteen, and he pulled into the pits. Shane Stout of North Platte had moved into second place by that time and tried to chase down Osborn, who again hid himself with lapped traffic and earning the win. Heat winner James Libra of Overton finished in third place. Morash settled for forth, and Matt Caudillo of North Platte finished the race on the lead lap, in fifth place. The IMCA Hobby Stock class was nearly decimated by broken axles in the heat race, leaving the starting lineup for the A Feature a little bare. Heat winner Austin Davis of Benkelman and Corey Cruzan made up for the lack of cars by putting on a show up front. The two swapped the lead twice during the first four laps, which put Davis out in front. His car would push in corner four unless he hit the corner just right, and missed his marks a couple laps later, allowing Cruzan to move to the lead. For awhile, it looked like Corey was on cruise control, and maybe got a little too relaxed, which allowed Davis to close back in. With a lap to go, Davis was able to get his car along the side of Cruzan’s, and made a desperate shot out of corner four on the last lap to get underneath him, but Cruzan put his foot in it and beat him to the finish line. Scott Gibson of North Platte finished the race in third place. Lincoln County Raceway will be back in action next Saturday, May 14. Race time will be 7 p.m., Central Time.
Lincoln
County Raceway Heat 2 A Feature
IMCA Stock
Car Heat 2 Heat 3 Cash Dash A Feature
IMCA Hobby
Stock A Feature
IMCA
SportMods Heat 2 A Feature
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