8/4/2019
I-80 Speedway
Super Late Model double features highlight Autograph night
By Anthony Ainslie
8/2/19
It was another night of racing action at I-80 Speedway Friday as the battles toward the track championships continue to wind down.
Friday night was the third to last night for points for six of the speedway’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly racing classes. Both late model classes had tight point battles going into the night while the leaders in the other four divisions had more room to give. Nonetheless, every position matters in the run to the championship.
The super late models had twin 16-lap features on Friday. The first of the two was led flag to flag by Omaha’s Josh Krug. He started on the front row and held off a hard-charging Ben Schaller to pick up his first feature win of the season. Schaller had to settle for second while Bill Leighton Jr, Andrew and Brian Kosiski rounded out the top five.
In the second feature, Robbie Andersen led the majority of the way. In the closing laps however, Andersen had major pressure coming from Josh Leonard. Leonard followed Anderson on the high side for multiple laps. Then, with four laps remaining, Leonard made the go-ahead move for the lead coming off turn two.
The Gibbon, Nebraska native went on to score his second win of the 2019 season with Leighton taking second and Andersen getting his best finish of the year in third. Brian and Andrew Kosiski again finished out the top five.
The modified feature was a thriller in the closing laps. The race went caution-free for all 20 laps. Past I-80 Speedway track champion Mark Leiting dominated the first half of the race, but as the race kept going, Jacob Hobscheidt closed in on Leiting for the lead.
The big moment happened with three laps to go as Leiting’s car broke down while leading. That gave the lead to Hobscheidt who went on to score his second consecutive victory at I-80. Point leader Ryan Jenkins took second while Justin Gregg, Jeff Jones and Mike Densberger rounded out the top five.
In the Bragging Rights late models, things took a little while to get going. On lap two, a pileup in turn one collected six cars, and on the ensuing restart, Brian Barrett went for a wild ride as his car climbed the back stretch wall before riding it and coming back down on all four tires.
When racing resumed, Robbie Jorgensen was head of the class. The Elkhorn native started on the pole and ran away with the show picking his first win of the year at I-80 and his second career win at the track. Sterling Perkins and Andrew Tilley took second and third while the top two in the point standings, Jake Bridge and Jacob Brown, made up the top five.
In the sport mod feature event, Devyn Peterson was on top of things. The Milford native took the lead on the opening circuit and dominated the 18-lap race.
Bad luck struck Brian Osantowski as his engine let go while battling for the fourth position. He finished with a DNF in 17th.
Meanwhile, Peterson went on to score his second career win at I-80 Speedway and his second win in the past three weeks at the track. Point leader Shawn Harker took second while Kevin Zeitner, Matt Andrews and Eric Wolf Jr. finished out the top five.
The stock car feature provided plenty of excitement. To start things off, point leader Shane Stutzman hit the wall on the backstretch on the first lap causing him to cut a tire. He got a new one put on, but the car was hurt bad enough to where he could not continue.
Meanwhile, Dan Jackson led the way while defending track champion Scott Carlson and Jed Williams applied the pressure.
Jackson fought with every ounce he had, but with just six laps left, the motor went up in smoke, and Jackson’s chances for victory had been dashed. That misfortune gave the lead to Williams.
A late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish, which Williams was able to hold off Carlson for the win. It was Williams first time winning at I-80 Speedway after coming so close to victory during numerous weekly and special events. Carlson took second while Nick Woodard, John Kinser and Eric Remple rounded out the top five.
The compacts had an unlikely finish to their feature. Bobby Key dominated the race leading every single lap in route to the checkered flag. Point leader Dustin Grout took third, but during the post-race tech inspection, both Key and Grout were disqualified for altered sway bars.
The feature win was awarded to Erica Krichau. It was her first career win at I-80 Speedway. Defending track champion Steffen Oaks took second after inspection while Tammy Clark, Bryce Walker and Bruce Cross finished out the top five.