Track champs crowned at Beatrice Speedway (2024)

By John Willey/Daily Sun contributor

Championship night was held at Beatrice Speedway ending the regular season and crowning five season champions.

It was an evening where Mother Nature gave fans a preview of weather more typical of a Friday night Fall football games with temperatures in the low 70’s. Dayna Noojin of Holmesville kicked off the evening with a live performance of the National Anthem.

Eighty race cars were on hand to provide action to a solid crowd in the grandstand. The Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame Beatrice Women for Racing's 50/50 raffle gave one race fan and Blue Valley Community Actions $351 each.

The WFR also gave out kid’s trophy and in a special gesture, Beatrice driver Ian Roschewski donated a set of racing flags signed by drivers, fans, and track officials to a lucky youth in attendance.

“When I was a kid, I was always in the stands waving race flags," Roschewski said. "I wanted to give them away last week, but it didn’t work so I thought I would do it this week.”

Point standings heading into the GT Midwest IMCA Stock Cars had Benji Legg and Lance Borgman tied with 375 points each. In the first heat, Borgman darted out to an early lead, but a late caution allowed Jaxson Saathoff and Fairbury driver Taylor Huss to make a run for the win. Coming out of corner four, the win was up for grabs, but Borgman held on to win by a half a car length. In the second heat, Kyle Vanover took the lead on the third lap and held on for the win.

In the feature event, Jaret Wood of Jensen, a 16-year-old junior high school student, grabbed an early lead and a seven-car battle took place behind him with side-by-side action as drivers battled for position. At the halfway point, Borgman was in second place applying pressure on Wood while Legg was in seventh place.

Legg then battled to move into the fourth spot with two laps to go. On the final lap, Legg made one strong move in corner one but was not able to make the move stick and Wood held on for the win.

“This means a lot for me and also my Father, Brother, Mother and Grandpa," Wood said.

Grandpa Bill Wood was a long-time area race car driver and was quick to congratulate Jaret in victory lane.

Borgman emerged as track champion. According to Race Promoter Tommy Denton. This was Borgman’s 12th season point championship.

“I just had to finish races and stay out of the crashes," Borgman said. “It has been all good and now I get to enjoy all of it.”

The Twin Rivers Ford IMCA Sport Compacts were up next. The point championship was already decided as Johnny Thomas held a 17-point lead over Wymore driver Kaylee Richards, but in the National point race, Kaylee sits in the top spot leading Thomas by 35 points in the race for the national championship.

In the first heat, Rian Fiester took the lead from his pole position but Carson Black closed into to challenge. With two laps to go, contact took place with Black taking the lead, but officials ruled Black initiated the contact and penalized him, giving Fiester the win. In the second heat, Kayden Murray took the lead but with three to go, Richards grabbed the lead and Thomas finished third.

The feature had a tough going early as it took three restarts before the feature got the green flag, which was then followed by a lap one caution. At the halfway point, Richard had the lead followed by Jackson Black and Thomas.

With two laps to go, the caution flag was displayed for a spin. Black pressured and challenged Richards for the win, but had to settle for the second spot and Thomas finishing in third.

“This is my 20th win of the season,"Richards said. "I just have to try to come out on top to win the national crown. I really must thank my husband (Dillion Richards) for pushing me to be the best I can be and win this championship."

Thomas, reflecting on his season championship, said it is really pretty special.

"I was just a little boy when I started coming to this track and then was just a helper," Thomas said. "When a guy like Dillion Richards takes a chance on you and supports you, it really means a lot.”

The IMCA Mod Lites first heat was a three-car battle between Lincoln driver Rob Wagner, Carter Lake, Iowa driver Scott Naggatz and Justin Kinderknecht of Salina, Kan. Wagner was able to stretch out enough for the win. In the feature event, Naggatz grabbed the early lead while Wagner and Kinderknecht battled for second place. With seven laps to go, Kinderknecht pulled up to Wagner’s back bumper and then grabbed the lead and the win.

“I love this place," Kinderknecht said. "This is really my first time out this year. I tore the car up in a wreck in a big race in Arkansas and have spent most of the year rebuilding the car. It is always a good time to come here and race at Beatrice.”

In the Budweiser Sport Modifieds, Lance Borgman entered the night with a slim one-point lead over Dorchester driver Tyler Nerud and Fairbury driver Lee Horky. In the first heat, Crete driver Brandon Spanjer jumped out to a big lead and the win. In the second heat, David Sherwood took the early lead in the race but with two laps to go, Nerud and Trevor Noonan closed in to challenge. Nerud won by a bumper at the flag with Noonan taking the second spot.

In the feature event, Spanjer bolted to an early lead. Tight and fierce racing took place in positions two through seven as cars battle in side by side and three abreast racing. Spanjer held on for the win and the new father was excited about the win.

“It is always awesome to win here, the fans are great and the competition is awesome," Spanjer said. "The track was great and it was fun racing around the rim of the track to take the win.”

In the race for the track championship, Nerud and Borgman both finished in the top four and ended tied in points. In the tiebreaker, Nerud won the championship as he had three feature wins to Borgman’s two.

“After a DNF in week three, I never thought I would have a shot at this," Nerud said. "We just kept working hard every week to get closer and closer to Lance. It was awesome entering the night with such a tight point battle. I really thought Lance was going to get by me in the feature. This is great.”

The MHC Kenworth of Lincoln IMCA Hobby Stocks first heat, Fairbury driver Brandon Stigge proved too strong as he held off the competition for the win. In the second heat, Roy Armstrong took an early lad and the win. In the third heat, Adam Armstrong took the early lead, but Dillion Richards began to use the bottom line of the track to get to Armstrong’s back bumper. Armstrong was able to hold on for the win.

Entering the feature event, Onaga driver Nick Ronnebuam had a three-point lead over Richards, who also sits in fifth place in national points. The start of the race began in dramatic fashion as the Pickrell driver got loose at the green flag causing a five-car pile up with Chad Borgman’s car left sitting on the turn one retaining wall and Ian Roschewski to the pit area. Amazingly, both would rejoin the field and Roschewski placing fourth and Borgman fifth.

In the race for the championship, Richards and Ronnebaum both made their way to the front of the field. Ronnebaum chased Richards for the second half of the feature but ultimately, Richards took the win and the track championship.

“It was a three-point battle and it doesn’t get much better than that," Richards said. "I really appreciate the win and the championship.”

In the Twin Rivers Jeep Chrysler Dodge IMCA Modified first heat, Denton driver Terry Richards Jr. jumped out to the lead and was not challenged. In the second heat, Bob Zoubek of Dorchester grabbed the early lead and the win.

In the feature event, it was Bellevue driver Clint Homan who was able to build a big lead, but lap after lap Grabouski was able to close in before taking the lead with five laps to go. From there, Grabouski cruised to the win and the track championship.

“The track was awesome and I was able to get through the field," Grabouski said. "The real excitement might be in the mechanic’s races coming up.”

Up next were the Mechanic’s races. Grabouski vision was to come true in the Stock Car mechanic’s race. Father Benji Legg was visibly nervous as son Garret took the track for the first time.

“I could be on the pole position of a $50,000 to win feature and not be this nervous” Benji said prior to the green flag dropping.

As Garrett made his way to the front of the field, Benji said: “I told him he was not going to win and to just take it slow. Now he is gassing it!"

Another nervous car owner, Matt Fralin, whose uncle Shawn VanLanningham returned to racing after a many years absence, saw Shawn spin wildly into corner number one.

"I thought he was going out of the park backwards," Fralin said. "I thought it was a gone one."

After contact with Josh Hausman driving a Jordan Grabouski race car, Legg pulled into the pit area. Hausman went on to win the race. After the victory Hausman stated: “It was good until I got into Garrett. He looked a little upset, so I guess I will have to go help them fix the car this week.”

In the compact class, Daron Williams of DeWitt took the win.

“I’ve been involved in racing for 24 year, and this is my first and only win," Williams said.

In the Sport Modifieds, the driver of the Lee Horky car took the victory. Shawn Slezak made his return to the track after a lengthy absence to dominate the Hobby Stock race. Steve Swarthout moved up a class to win the Modified race in Grabouski’s car.

Racing will take a break at the speedway before the Elmer Saathoff Memorial Sprint car races, featuring both the Racesaver 305 and 350 Malvern Bank Sprints cars. They will take to the track on Friday Sept. 6.