By Greg Soukup
EAGLE, Neb. (July 23) – Gunnar Pike motored to the NAPA IMCA Northern SportMod feature win and 108 kids went home with new bicycles on Kids’ Night Saturday at Eagle Raceway.
Terry Callender was first back to the stand after one lap with Jeremy Noonan, James Hines and Sean Manning rounding out the top four. Joe Schidler vaulted all of the way into second the next time around as Noonan grabbed the lead.
Pike put his ride into third on lap three and Brian Ostantowski took over fourth. Schidler grabbed the lead the next circuit. Pike took over second on lap seven and Ostantowski moved to third after another lap.
James Roebuck cracked the top four the next time around. Pike managed to pass Schidler with five laps to go. Ostentowski and Roebuck also got past Schidler in the closing laps to make the final top four Pike, Ostentowski, Roebuck and Schidler.
This was Pike’s initial victory at Eagle Raceway, and came from the inside of the fourth row on the starting grid.
“It took me awhile to get close to the front, but when I saw Schidler I knew I had a chance,” he said. “The track was nice and racy tonight, with three lines.”
Chevy Hadan’s first Kaplan University IMCA Modified feature win of the season came from inside row three on the starting grid. Jack Dover won for the second time in his last three IMCA EMI RaceSaver Sprint Car starts.
Adam Armstrong started 12th and finished first in the Valentino’s IMCA Hobby Stock main event. Dillon Richards led the last two laps in winning the Mountain Dew Kick Start IMCA Sport Compact feature.
New bikes were donated by racers, fans and Eagle Raceway.