Runquist grabs victory at U.S. 30

COLUMBUS -- After five weeks off because of rain, racing returned to U.S. 30 Speedway Thursday night.

A total of 90 cars competed in the races.

Starting up front was important because of tough track conditions.

Joe Runquist of Duncan wasted no time in taking control of the Open Street Stock feature. He jumped off to a quick lead and never looked back.

Runquist lead all 15 laps in dominating fashion. York’s Andy Wilkinson finished a distant second, and Troy Bergman of Columbus came in third. Doug Adamy of Columbus finished eighth

“It was really helpful to start up front,” Bergman said. “The track was rough, and it was tough to find a good line.”

But starting in the front didn’t guarantee success.

Eric Cerny of Rogers started first in the Hornet feature, but spun out on the second lap. That opened the door for Rich Enevoldsen of Grand Island and Shannon Pospisil of Norfolk.

The two battled it out for the remainder of the race, with Pospisil edging Enevoldsen by two car lengths. Austin Brauner of Osceola was third. Jeremy Shanahan of Columbus finished fifth.

The Hobby Stock feature provided the wildest finish of the night.

Monroe’s Anthony Melcher led the first seven laps, but spun out on Lap 8 and was T-boned by Columbus’ Allen Houdersheldt.

Nick Topil of Rising City looked to be in control of the race with two laps to go, but his car suddenly slowed. Shane Hiatt of Rising City took advantage of Topil’s misfortune to grab the victory.

Nelson Vollbrecht of Stanton finished second, and Tiffany Bittner of Norfolk was third.

Brandon Kresha of David City came in fifth, and Topil was sixth. Columbus’ Nick Eaton and Brent Vandiest were eighth and ninth. Josh Gembica of Silver Creek finished 10th.

Chris Lavicky of Bee only led one lap in the Good Ol’ Time Racing Association feature, but it was the most important final lap.

Lavicky edged Jim Mills of Webb, Iowa by a nose, while Ken McKown of Norfolk came in third. Columbus’ Mike Ganskow and Carroll Behlen finished fourth and seventh respectively.

Finally, Chris Alcorn of Lincoln led 22 of 25 laps in the I.M.C.A. Modified feature and took the victory.

Jordan Grabouski of Beatrice, who transferred to the race by winning the B Feature, finished second. Dylan Smith of Osceola came in third.

David City’s Scott Styskal and Tom Svoboda finished fifth and sixth respectively. Michael Stearns of Rising City came in seventh, and James Kleinheksel of Columbus finished 10th.

Perhaps the key to success Thursday night was staying sharp during the long layoff.

“I have been running at Boone County Raceway in Albion the past few weeks,” Bergman said. “It gave me some seat time, which really helped tonight.”

U.S. 30 SPEEDWAY

Thursday’s Results

I.M.C.A. Modifieds

• FEATURE A -- 1. Chris Alcorn, 3, Lincoln; 2. Jason Grabouski, 30, Beatrice; 3. Dylan Smith, 95, Osceola; 4. Johnny Saathoff, 96J, Beatrice; 5. Scott Styskal, 26, David City; 6. Tom Svoboda, 16, David City; 7. Michael Stearns, 2X, Rising City; 8. Chad Andersen, 8C, Omaha; 9. Mark Kaspar, 2EZ, Prague; 10. James Kleinheksel, 7W, Columbus.

• FEATURE B WINNER -- Grabouski.

• HEAT WINNERS -- Jason Gaver, B18, Columbus; Saathoff; Svoboda; Alcorn.

Open Street Stock

• FEATURE -- 1. Joe Runquist, 60, Duncan; 2. Andy Wilkinson, 15, York; 3. Troy Bergman, 31B, Columbus; 4. Dave Freudenburg, 24, Norfolk; 5. Dusty Possnecker, 22P, North Bend; 6. Jason Wilkinson, 52, Neligh; 7. Mike Goldfuss, 07, Dwight; 8. Doug Adamy, 93, Columbus; 9. Herb Slough, 15S, Doniphan; 10. Don Mohr, 24X, Fremont.

• HEAT WINNERS -- Roger Eaton, 25X, Bruno; Freudenburg.

Hobby Stock

• FEATURE -- 1. Shane Hiatt, 21H, Rising City; 2. Nelson Vollbrecht, 11X, Stanton; 3. Tiffany Bittner, 95B, Norfolk; 4. Jon Langenberg, 97B, Norfolk; 5. Brandon Kresha, 21, David City; 6. Nick Topil, 7T, Rising City; 7. Michael Mass, 40, Ralston; 8. Nick Eaton, 33JR, Columbus; 9. Brent Vandiest, 4B, Columbus; 10. Josh Gembica, 10, Silver Creek.

• HEAT WINNERS -- Vandiest; Hiatt; Anthony Melcher, 15, Monroe

Hornets

• FEATURE -- 1. Shannon Pospisil, 00X, Norfolk; 2. Rich Enevoldsen, 13, Grand Island; 3. Austin Brauner, 10A, Osceola; 4. Chuck Wergin, 61, Milford; 5. Jeremy Shanahan, 10, Columbus; 6. Dana Pospisil, 02, Aurora; 7. Brenda Wheatley, 96, Norfolk; 8. Eric Cerny, 00, Rogers.

• HEAT WINNERS -- Cerny; Pospisil.

G.O.T.R.A.

• FEATURE -- 1. Chris Lavicky, 77L, Bee; 2. Jim Mills, 11M, Webb, Iowa; 3. Kenn McKown, 20, Norfolk; 4. Mike Ganskow, 2M, Columbus; 5. Tom Nissen, 27, Wayne; 6. John Orlowski, Jr., 1, Madison; 7. Carroll Behlen, 55, Columbus; 8. Larry Aldrich, 33, Dwight; 9. John Ferguson, 31, Fremont; 10. Chad Aldrich, 99, Wahoo.

• TROPHY DASH WINNER -- Ganskow.

• HEAT WINNERS -- Aldrich; Nissen; Rich Anderson, 9, Columbus.