eagleraceway Archives

RaceSaver Nationals Set for Sept. 3-6 With $14,000 on the Line; 2025 Finale Makeup to Open Weekend

By Ben Deatherage EAGLE, Neb. (July 27, 2026) — The 14th annual RaceSaver Nationals returns to Eagle Raceway over Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3-6, and it’s shaping up to be another unforgettable edition. With a total purse exceeding $150,000, the weekend culminates in Sunday’s RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car championship feature, paying $14,000 to win and $1,700 to start. A dramatic 27-car, three-wide grid will once again launch into battle for one of grassroots racing’s most prestigious prizes. RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car competitors from across the country will converge on Eagle Raceway for four days of competition and entertainment. The weekend begins Thursday with an open practice session, pre-tech inspection, and RaceJugs Race of Champions qualifying. Also on Thursday’s schedule is the completion of the postponed 2025 RaceSaver Nationals championship feature following practice. After the on-track action, fans and teams can kick off the weekend with a DJ, karaoke contest, and the opening night of the Melon Bar. Friday and Saturday feature complete RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car qualifying programs, with the top nine finishers from each night’s [Read More]

Harker Steals Modified Thriller on Final Corner at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (July 18, 2026) — Oppressive heat pushed the start of Saturday’s Duel in the Dirt at Eagle Raceway back one hour, but the wait proved worthwhile as Shawn Harker used a last-corner slider to win the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature by just 0.04 seconds. Brandon Verbeek led the opening six laps before Nate Thompson moved past him for the top spot on lap seven. Adam Wasserman continued his march toward the front, taking third on lap 10 and then moving around Verbeek for second. Wasserman wrestled the lead away from Thompson with five laps remaining while 12th-starting Harker continued working forward. Harker moved into fourth with three to go before a pair of late cautions set up a green-white-checkered finish. Harker passed Thompson on the first restart before another caution restacked the field. Bob Zoubek moved into third when racing resumed, but all eyes were on the battle for the win. Coming through turn four for the final time, Harker threw a slider on Wasserman and beat him to the [Read More]

Drueke Charges from 11th to Sprint Car Victory at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (July 11, 2026) — Tyler Drueke thrilled the Eagle Raceway crowd Saturday night, charging from the 11th starting position to win the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature after surviving a wild late-race crash and celebrating with a headfirst belly flop into the mud. Jay Russell led the opening laps before Drueke steadily worked his way toward the front. Following a spectacular four-car pileup on a restart with 10 laps remaining, Drueke restarted in contention and wasted little time taking command. He drove away from there to score the victory. The Eagle driver earned his second RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car victory of the season, with both wins coming at Eagle Raceway. Adam Gullion raced from 12th to second, Russell held on for third after leading the early laps, Jason Danley finished fourth, and Dylan Waxdahl completed the top five. Woken Rallies Late for First Stock Car Victory Casey Woken worked his way through the field before making the winning move in the closing laps of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. Dana [Read More]

14th Annual RaceSaver Nationals Returns to Eagle Raceway Sept. 3-6

By Ben Deatherage EAGLE, Neb. (June 30, 2026) — One of the biggest weekends in RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car racing returns to Eagle Raceway on Sept. 3-6 as the 14th annual RaceSaver Nationals once again boasts one of the richest purses in the division. Sunday’s championship feature for the 14th Annual RaceSaver Nationals pays a whopping $14,000 to win and $1,700 to start, while more than $150,000 in total prize money will be awarded throughout the four-day event. The weekend begins Thursday, Sept. 3, with an open practice session followed by Race of Champions qualifying. Another highlight of Thursday’s program will be the completion of the postponed 2025 RaceSaver Nationals 27-car championship feature after practice. Friday and Saturday will each feature complete RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car programs, with the top nine finishers from each night’s qualifying feature locking directly into Sunday’s 27-car championship main event. The ‘A’ Feature for the RaceJugs Race of Champions will also be completed on Saturday after the regular evening’s events. Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks will join the program on Friday, while [Read More]

Weldon Charges From 11th for Last-Lap Eagle Sprint Victory

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (June 27, 2026) — Gaige Weldon completed an incredible charge from 11th on the starting grid, throwing a race-winning slide job on Brandon Horton coming to the checkered flag to capture a thrilling RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature Saturday night at Eagle Raceway. Nathan Weiler paced the opening lap before Monty Ferriera raced into the lead on lap two. Horton worked his way forward and grabbed the top spot with seven circuits remaining, but Weldon was slicing through the field. The Hinton, Iowa, driver climbed to second after passing both Tyler Drueke and Horton with just a handful of laps left, then threw a perfectly timed slider entering the final corners to steal the victory on the final lap. It was his first win of the season. Horton settled for second, Drueke finished third, Ferriera crossed the stripe fourth, and Weiler completed the top five. Thompson Reclaims Lead for First Modified Victory of 2026 Nate Thompson regained the lead following a late restart and held off a charging Dustin Andersen to [Read More]

Drueke Charges from 14th to First at Eagle Raceway

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (June 13, 2026) — Strong winds greeted fans Saturday night at Eagle Raceway, but the action on the track was even stronger as Tyler Drueke turned in the drive of the night, charging from 14th starting position to capture the 25-lap RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature at the Heartland Hustle. After working his way through traffic and surviving multiple cautions, the Eagle driver grabbed the lead on lap 15 and drove away for his first victory of the season. Trevor Grossenbacher advanced from 10th to finish second, Gunnar Pike raced from 11th to third, Adam Gullion was fourth and Billy Alley completed the top five. Pella Charges from 14th for Fourth Eagle Hobby Stock Win Neil Pella put together another impressive performance in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock main event. The Adams driver started 14th and steadily worked his way through a race slowed by multiple cautions and a red flag. Pella took over the lead with seven laps remaining and drove away for the victory. The win was his fourth [Read More]

Alley Scores First Win of Season in Thrilling Sprint Car Main at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (June 6, 2026) — The RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars kicked off the feature action during the Battle of the High Banks at Eagle Raceway and delivered one of the most eventful races of the evening. Cameron Thompson paced the early circuits before multiple cautions and red flags reshuffled the field. Brad Schreiner flipped on lap two after bicycling over the cushion, while Shayle Bade suffered a spectacular rollover on lap nine. Both drivers were uninjured. Billy Alley steadily worked forward from his eighth starting position and grabbed the lead from Thompson on lap 12. Cole Wayman followed Alley through the field after starting 11th and climbed into second with 11 laps remaining. A pair of late cautions kept the pressure on the leaders, but Alley remained composed and held off the challengers to earn his first victory of the season. The Bennett driver was followed by Wayman, Joey Danley, and Tyler Hendrickson. Adam Gullion completed the top five. Vanover Charges to Stock Car Win The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars produced another [Read More]

Mills Masters Eagle Modified Main as Memorial Weekend Crowd Salutes Heroes

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 24, 2026) — Before Sunday evening’s racing program began at Eagle Raceway, fans and teams gathered under the glow of light sticks for an emotional Memorial Day weekend tribute honoring both fallen service members and loved ones lost too soon. Names submitted through donations were read aloud following a moment of silence in one of the night’s most touching moments. Jeremy Mills then delivered a memorable performance of his own in the $2,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, racing from third to score his first Jet Racing Central Region victory of the season and his third overall win of 2026. The Memorial Madness finale was also a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, placing Mills on the eligibility list for the event to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Chad Reid led the opening lap before Mills charged to the front on lap two. Several cautions throughout the event repeatedly tightened the field, including incidents involving Zack Olivia, Clint Homan, Josh Most, [Read More]

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]