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Labor Day weekend is always busy for racers, and this year is no exception. Things kick off Friday night with the state championship races. Because of the closing of the State Fair Speedway, Johnny Saathoff has moved the 18th annual Nebraska State Kenny Parde Memorial Championship races to Beatrice Speedway. The race is named this year in honor of the late Kenny Parde, a driver and promoter.
The event will pay $1,000 to win for the IMCA modifieds, $400 for IMCA sport mods, $250 for IMCA hobby stocks and $100 for IMCA sport compacts. Last year at the final race at the State Fair in Lincoln, the winners were Dylan Smith in modifieds, Tyler Frye in sport mods and Kevin Anderson in hobby stocks. For more information, go to www.jetracinginc.com.
Music, racing at Eagle
Eagle Raceway has canceled its regular Saturday night show, but on Sunday night, things really get going with the Eagle Shootout and the Endless Summer Beach Party. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. with all five classes racing. NASCAR driver Ken Schrader will be on hand to race a modified and sign autographs (Schrader won a USMTS modified feature about a month ago in North Dakota). Then at 9 p.m., it’s a concert featuring Al Jardine of The Beach Boys and Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean.
General admission tickets are $20 if ordered ahead of time. They’re $25 at the gate. Or, you can pay $50 per carload (maximum of six people to a car) for the whole night — just like going to the old drive-in theater. For more information, go to www.eagleraceway.com.
Lots of action at I-80
On Friday night, I-80 Speedway will host the return of the MLRA and NCRA late models along with the ASCS Midwest Sprints. While Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo., has dominated the NCRA late models this season, the MLRA point chase has been a battle. With his win in Missouri Saturday night, Denny Eckrich of Oxford, Iowa, has taken the lead by just four points over seven-time and defending champion Al Purkey. Brad Looney trails Eckrich by just 16 points.
On Sunday, I-80 will return to action with championship night for the NASCAR late models, modifieds, B-Mods, pro-ams, hobby stocks and hornets. The Blood, Sweat and Tears modifieds will race for Nebraska points at I-80 on Sunday night. David Murray of Oberlin, Kan., is a perfect five for five in BST Nebraska point races. Murray is a four-time national IMCA modified champion and is on his way to a fifth title. For more information, go to www.neracewaypark.com.
Iowa races
Two tracks in western Iowa — the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan and the Adams County Speedway in Corning — will feature racing Saturday night. It’s the season championships at Harlan along with the Good Ole’ Time Racing Association.
If you still haven’t had enough racing, head over to the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa, for the 28th annual Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals. Racing takes place from Monday through Saturday of next week. There are usually 800 or more cars participating throughout the week. You have to see it to believe it. For more information, go to www.IMCA.com.
Contact the writer:
444-1201, acker00@aol.com
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