eagleraceway Archives

Andersen Stuns Eagle Crowd with Last-Lap Modified Thriller

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 23, 2026) — Eagle Raceway delivered another wild night of racing action on Saturday, highlighted by a dramatic Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature that saw Chad Andersen charge from 11th starting position to steal the victory on the final lap. The feature opened with chaos as a massive pileup erupted at the initial green flag when Sean Manning spun in turns one and two, collecting multiple cars. Once racing officially got underway, Shawn Harker paced the early laps ahead of Clint Homan, Jaxon Saathoff, and Riley Ruisinger. Saathoff moved into second on lap two while Andersen steadily carved his way through the field. Several cautions kept the field tight, including a stoppage for Nate Thompson on lap eight and Lance Most with a flat tire late in the race. Andersen used each restart to his advantage, climbing into third with nine laps remaining before advancing to second in the closing laps. With three laps to go, the final caution set up a dramatic sprint to the finish. Andersen slipped past [Read More]

Shayle Bade: A Mother’s Day to Remember

By Ben Deatherage LINCOLN, Neb. (May 21, 2026) — Northwest of Lincoln, the pavement eventually gives way to open Nebraska countryside. The towns get smaller. The nights get quieter. And when race day comes around, the traffic starts heading in one direction. Toward Eagle Raceway. For Shayle Bade, those roads have led to dirt tracks for most of her life. What started as an eight-year-old climbing nervously into a go-kart she had never even seen race before, eventually turned into a career spent chasing speed in go-karts, Micro Sprints, and RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars. There were wrecks. Tears. Victories. And eventually, one of the best Mother’s Day gifts a racer could ask for. Built Into Racing “Long story short, racing runs through my family,” Bade said. Her cousin Tom raced go-karts years earlier, while another cousin, Billy Alley, competed in Sprint Cars. But it was Tom who helped spark everything. “One day in 2000 my dad just asked me, ‘Hey Shayle, do you want to race a go-kart like your cousin Tom?’” she said. At the [Read More]

Pillar Restaurant Group Stan Cisar Speedweek Set for June 17-20 Across Nebraska

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 19, 2026) — The inaugural Pillar Restaurant Group Stan Cisar Speedweek is set to bring four straight nights of RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car action across Nebraska from June 17-20, honoring one of the region’s longtime supporters of racing while offering strong nightly payouts and a lucrative overall points fund. The tour opens Wednesday, June 17 at Boone County Raceway in Albion before heading to US 30 Speedway in Columbus on Thursday, June 18. Beatrice Speedway hosts round three on Friday, June 19, with the finale scheduled for Saturday, June 20 at Eagle Raceway. Each night will pay $1,547 to win, with a consistent nightly format, support from Four Corners Fire and Safety, a dedicated race director, and a dedicated tech official throughout the week. Drivers who qualify for the feature will earn a minimum of $300 to start, while those unable to transfer to the main event will still receive $200 in tow money. Nightly feature payouts include $1,000 for second, $800 for third, $750 for fourth, and $700 for [Read More]

Grabouski Charges to $2,000 Eagle Raceway Modified Score

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 14, 2026) — A beautiful spring Thursday evening greeted fans at Eagle Raceway for the High Banks Heist Weekend. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature paid $2,000 to win and saw Ricky Stephan lead the opening circuit, followed by Johnny Saathoff, Cameron Thompson, and Josh Most. Saathoff passed Stephan on lap three to grab the lead. Jordan Grabouski steadily worked his way forward from the eighth starting spot, moving into fourth on lap four before advancing to third on lap six. One lap later, Grabouski passed Stephan for second and then slipped past Saathoff two laps later to take command. Stephan also moved around Saathoff the following lap to claim second. The final shuffle among the top four came on the last lap when Adam Wasserman drove to fourth place. Cameron Thompson completed the top five in fifth. Grabouski, of Beatrice, collected the $2,000 payday for his fifth Jet Racing Central Region victory of the season and sixth overall Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified triumph of 2026. It was also his [Read More]

Wayman Goes from 16th to Win SportMod Feature at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 9, 2026) — The most electrifying run of the night at Eagle Raceway came in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, where Cole Wayman stormed from 16th to score a dramatic victory. After an early multi-car incident shuffled the field, the Lincoln driver methodically worked his way forward, cracking the top five before charging into second with seven laps remaining. He completed the pass for the lead with four to go and never looked back. Gary Saathoff held on for second, while Mary Hahn finished third. Jacob Swanson advanced from 10th to fourth, and Matt Andrews completed the top five. Wayman, the defending track champion, picked up his fourth win of the season and second at Eagle Raceway in 2026. The RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars delivered one of the most intense finishes of the night. Lincoln’s Shayle Bade led the charge and held off heavy pressure from Tyler Drueke in the closing laps of a feature that saw multiple flips and stoppages. Despite the chaos, the Lady Eagle racer stayed [Read More]

Pella Powers Through Mayhem to Claim Eagle Hobby Stock Victory

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 2, 2026) — After a bout of liquid sunshine forced the cancellation of what was to be the season opener at Eagle Raceway last Saturday, this Saturday greeted teams and fans with a beautiful spring day—and the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks made sure the wait was worth it, delivering the wildest race of the night that remained unpredictable to the very end. The initial start attempt saw a five-car pile-up in turns three and four that eliminated several contenders before a lap could even be completed. After another caution on the restart, a lap was finally made official with Dan Markham leading, followed by Neil Pella, Trenton Dowty, and Jason Hansen. From there, the race began to take shape as drivers worked through changing track conditions and traffic. Pella, from Adams, who started fourth, took over the top spot on lap four and never relinquished it, navigating the chaos to score his first win of the year in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Brayden Hurley made an impressive charge [Read More]

Laney Charges Late to $2,000 Eagle Icebreaker Modified Victory

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 18, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds closed out the final night of the Icebreaker Challenge at Eagle Raceway on Saturday with $2,000 on the line. Josh Most led early, followed by Jared Eckrich and Jace Whitt, while Cody Laney quickly moved into contention and climbed to second by lap four. A series of restarts shuffled the running order as Jaxon Saathoff and Jordan Grabouski entered the mix. Laney and Saathoff traded the runner-up position before Laney powered to the lead with eight laps remaining. Behind him, Grabouski and Shawn Harker battled for position as the laps wound down. Laney held strong over the closing circuits to secure the win, followed by Most, Saathoff, Grabouski, and Harker. It was Laney’s second victory of the season and his first in the Jet Racing Central Region. The race served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier to be ran at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The Torrance, California native is already on the eligibility list to [Read More]

Grabouski Dominates Modified Icebreaker Challenge Opener at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 17, 2026) — Grabouski Dominates Icebreaker Modified Main at Eagle The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds capped opening night of the 2026 Icebreaker Challenge at Eagle Raceway on Apr. 17 with a $1,500-to-win main event. Josh Most led early, followed by Brandon Verbeek, Chevy Hadan, and Jordan Grabouski. Grabouski moved into second on lap two while Drew Janssen worked his way to third shortly after. The race’s turning point came on lap five when Most jumped the cushion in turns one and two, nearly flipping and surrendering the lead. On the restart, Grabouski took control as battles continued behind him, with Janssen, Cody Laney, and Izac Mallicoat all moving forward through traffic. From there, Grabouski pulled away to a straightaway victory. Janssen finished second, followed by Laney, Mallicoat, and Dustin Andersen. It was Grabouski’s third win of the season and his second in the Jet Racing Central Region in 2026. The race was a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, and the Beatrice driver is already on the eligibility list to [Read More]

Racine Thompson Takes the Reins at Eagle Raceway

By Ben Deatherage EAGLE, Neb. (Feb. 12, 2026) — Eagle Raceway, long known as “America’s Home Track,” has officially been passed down to the next generation of the Hadan family, as Racine Thompson has been named the new promoter of the famed Nebraska 1/3-mile oval. Roger Hadan, who has owned Eagle Raceway since 2007 after leasing and promoting the facility in 2006, formally handed over day-to-day leadership to his daughter with the goal of continuing the track’s long-standing success and family legacy. Racetrack promotion runs deep in the Hadan family. Roger’s grandfather, Albert Hadan, built the historic Sunset Speedway in Omaha, embedding the sport into the family’s foundation. With a desire to ensure racing remains strong in Eagle for years to come, the transition to Racine represents both continuity and evolution. Thompson has spent her entire adult life at the raceway. Since her parents took over operations, she has worked in virtually every role imaginable at the facility. “When my parents purchased the track in 2007, I’ve worked there since then,” Thompson said. “I started off [Read More]

Harker Completes Five-Race Sweep, Clinches Eagle Modified Crown

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 23, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature capped the night with one of the most dramatic runs of the season. Cameron Thompson led early before cautions reshuffled the field. Bob Zoubek and Hunter Weber each worked into contention, while Shawn Harker steadily picked his way forward. In the closing laps, contact and spins between Thompson and Zoubek opened the door for Harker, who powered to his fifth straight win at Eagle Raceway. The victory secured him both the track championship and the combined Eagle–Beatrice points bonus. John Saathoff finished second and Chad Andersen third. Harker’s win was his sixth Jet Racing Central Region triumph of the year, all at Eagle. Vanover Returns to Victory Lane in Stock Cars; Andersen Claims Title The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature delivered a wild story with championship implications. Jeremy Down led early while Kyle Vanover charged through the pack. A string of cautions kept the field tight, and points contenders Mason Richards and Chad Andersen both saw their title bids end with [Read More]