Saathoff, Struckhoff, Buss take Speed Bowl opener
By Mike Hughes

RED CLOUD, NE (April 20)—After a one week delay due to weather, the season opener for the 2007 racing season took place at The Speed Bowl in Red Cloud, NE, Friday evening, April 20.

Johnny ‘The Jet’ Saathoff of Beatrice led all 20 laps of the caution filled IMCA Modified feature. Saathoff took the lead at the drop of the green, closely pursued by Brandon Blochlinger, Darrick Klima and Brian Calhoon. Saathoff was able to pull away from the field after the first four restarts, but after the fifth and final restart on lap 12, Klima hounded Saathoff in a race for the lead. But Klima’s bid for the checkers came to an end with 2 laps to go when he got high in turn 2 and fell back in the field. Blochlinger then followed Saathoff to the checkers, followed by Loren Dauer, Lonnie Schriner and Jason Schoenberger. But Dauer was disqualified in post-race tech for an illegal flywheel, moving everyone else in the field up one spot. Heat race winners were Troy Johnson, Wade Cross, and Klima.

The IMCA Stock Car feature went caution free all 20 laps and Cory Struckhoff of Kensington picked up his first win of the season. Jared Remus led the opening lap, followed closely by Struckhoff, Matt Streit and heat two winner Wayne Walker. Streit and Walker would both fall by the wayside during the race, Streit going up in smoke and Walker with a flat tire. Struckhoff finally got past Remus on lap 15 and held on to the wire for the win. Lance Borgman, Josh Hudson, Brett Behrends and Brent Drohmen rounded out the top five. Remus got a flat with 2 laps to go and finished 9^th. Martin Newlin won the other heat race.

Jim Buss of Blue Hill squeezed under Jerry Hudson in turn four coming to the white flag in the 14-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature to score the win. Buss chased Hudson from the opening lap, and stayed close thanks to four caution flags. The defending track champion then made his move on lap 12 for the win. Hudson finished second, followed by Wade Wagenblast, Jared Lewis and Rocky Zimmerman. Buss and Mike Schriver were victorious in the two heat races.

Defending track champions Adam Sidlo & E.J. Kothe took the lead on lap 2 from Drew & Ethan Barry to win the Cruiser feature. Terry Gradig & Jeremy Teselle finished third. Sidlo & Kothe also won the heat race.

Racing action returns to The Speed Bowl next Friday night, April 27. Race time is 8:00 p.m.

RESULTS

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat 1: 1. Mike Shriver, 2. Jared Lewis, 3. Joe McDole, 4. Jerry Hudson.

Heat 2: 1. Jim Buss, 2. Rocky Zimmerman, 3. Pat Hersh, 4. Michael Lauber.

Feature: 1. Buss, 2. Hudson, 3. Wade Wagenblast, 4. Lewis, 5. Zimmerman, 6. Lauber, 7. Dillon Thompson, 8. Hersh, 9. McDole, 10. Delbert Selvage (DNF), 11. Andrew Lovegrove (DNF), 12. Shriver (DNF), 13. Jim Lang (DNS), 14. T.C. McKain (DNS), 15. Roger Crouse (DNS).

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat 1: 1. Martin Newlin, 2. Jason McCartney, 3. Matt Streit, 4. Jared Remus.

Heat 2: 1. Wayne Walker, 2. Brent Drohmen, 3. Brett Behrends, 4. Lance Borgman.

Feature: 1. Cory Struckhoff, 2. Borgman, 3. Josh Hudson, 4. Behrends, 5. Drohmen, 6. McCartney, 7. Newlin, 8. Brant Beam, 9. Remus, 10. Walker, 11. Streit (DNF), 12. Troy Attwood (DNF), 13. Chad Wulf (DNS), 14. Jason Smidt (DNS).

IMCA Modifieds

Heat 1: 1. Troy Johnson, 2. Tim Watts, 3. Lonnie Schriner, 4. Josh Maier-Lester.

Heat 2: 1. Wade Cross, 2. Larry Sutton, 3. Brian Calhoon, 4. Micaah Johnson.

Heat 3: 1. Darrick Klima, 2. Loren Dauer, 3. Johnny Saathoff, 4. Brandon Blochlinger.

Feature: 1. Saathoff 2. Blochlinger, 3. Schriner, 4. Jason Schoenberger, 5. Calhoon, 6. Watts, 7. Johnson, 8. Devon Housh, 9. Sutton, 10. Scott Smith, 11. Lonnie Veteto, 12. Klima (DNF), 13. Caesare Linner, 14. Jeff Linner (DNF), 15. Maier-Lester (DNF), 16. Johnson, (DNF), 17. Cross (DNS), 18. Dusty Blake (DNS), DQ – Dauer.

Cruisers

Heat: 1. Adam Sidlo/E.J. Kothe, 2. Drew Barry/Ethan Barry, 3. Terry Gradig/Jeremy Teselle, 4. Chris Graczyk/Josh Graczyk (DNF).