By Greg Soukup
EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 4, 2026) — Jake Bubak and Tyler Drueke traded the lead in the closing laps Friday night at Eagle Raceway before three-time event champion Bubak prevailed in the qualifying feature during night two of the 14th annual RaceSaver Nationals.
The 25-lap feature set the first three rows of the three-wide starting grid for Sunday’s Big Dance, with the top nine finishers earning their places in the championship finale.
Bubak took off from the pole to put the No. 74B in front on lap one, with Drueke, Trevor Serbus, and Tyler Knight hot on his push bumper. Colby Stubblefield passed Knight on lap two to move into fourth before a lap-six red flag slowed the action.
Serbus passed Drueke for second on lap eight as Joey Danley moved into fourth. Serbus fell back rapidly the following lap, moving Drueke back to second and Stubblefield to third, while Danley advanced another position on lap 10.
Drueke got around Bubak for the lead on lap 12, but Bubak reclaimed the spot the following circuit.
The battle wasn’t finished.
Drueke managed to pass Bubak again with just two circuits remaining but tagged the backstretch slightly, allowing Bubak to retake the lead and grab the win. Drueke finished second, Stubblefield third, Joey Danley fourth, and Serbus fifth.
Jason Danley finished sixth, John Carney II seventh, Gunnar Pike eighth, and Gaige Weldon ninth as all nine secured starting positions in Sunday’s Big Dance.
Markham Rockets to Second Eagle Hobby Stock Win
Hunter Wergin led the opening lap of the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Zach Gimpel second, Robert Salts third, and Dan Markham fourth. Markham got past Salts on lap two before a caution the following circuit brought out the Eastep Wheels Choose Cone.
Markham made the most of the restart, getting a great start and passing both Wergin and Gimpel to snag the lead. Another incident slowed the action on lap five, but Markham remained out front as the battle continued behind him.
The Plattsmouth driver held the point to the checkers for his second B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season, with both coming at Eagle. Gimpel finished second, Neil Pella third, Wergin fourth, and Trenton Dowty fifth.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 3 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.