Buckeye Bandit Heists HOSS Hawkeye Bonanza

Joe Rebman of Mansfield, OH, made the long trip from central Ohio to Iowa for Friday night’s Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series event under threatening skies. Saturday, the Buckeye Bandit headed back to Ohio with his first HOSS/Marathon feature win and the Iowa Pavement King with Wings title. The Rebman Truck Service, PC Automotive, Craft Racing Products Beaberbuilt/Kistler pilot crossed the line 1.1 seconds ahead of Jimmy McCune in Tiffin Hair Academy number 19, splitting winner Rebman and his teammate Doug Berryman. Tim Cox returned the D&B Racing number 40 sprinter in fourth just ahead of Julian Construction Hard Charger award winning Greg Wheeler who started 13^th.

Cedar Rapids and Hawkeye Downs Speedway see the winged sprint cars on pavement one time every year and the fans who flock to the half mile bring their pure energy and excitement for the fastest night of racing of the season. Promoter Jim Amstutz works tirelessly with associates, sponsors, media, and the fans to bring the best racing to the only asphalt track in Iowa. Storm Steel and Abrasive Jet sponsored this year’s night of HOSS racing along with the people of Banner Valley also on hand.

The Friday afternoon weather showed temperatures in the mid 80’s with a persistent wind from the East, courtesy of a large low pressure area set to barrel into Iowa from the Southwest. Bands of rain repeatedly threatened the evening’s card and show was completed, albeit without extensive pageantries.

Qualifications took place at 6:45 and the sun was still high enough the affect the track’s grip as many of the early times were close together but marginally higher than Kevin Feeney’s scorching 15.539 second score at this event last year. The track record was shaken briefly as Denny England turned a 15.626 lap and Jimmy McCune marked a 15.709 second pass. England, the 2003 HOSS points champ won the Indy RV Center fast qualifier award for his efforts.

Three eight lap heat races each produced interesting results. The first heat race had polesitter Ed Kenens’ red 35 beside the red and white 7 car of Greg Wheeler. At the green flag, Wheeler pulled away and won convincingly over Sondi Eden in the Batts 6 and fast qualifier England’s 84. The second heat paired Tom Paterson in the 11 with rookie Dale Wood’s 46. At the start Wood shot into the lead followed by 2004 current point leader Ron Koehler and Joe Rebman. Jimmy McCune, clearly among the fastest five drivers this night, had trouble getting through early traffic and scored a third place finish in the heat behind Koehler and Dale Wood. Wood, collecting his first HOSS heat race win, demonstrated excellent poise and control despite being hounded by the veteran and 2001-2002 HOSS champ. The third and final heat found Ted McKibben and Roger Anderson ahead of the field. Doug Berryman would come from his sixth strting spot to take the win, but behind him the best battle was between Burlington, Iowa native Roger Anderson and Rick Baker for third. Anderson rebuffed Baker time and again until entering turn three on the final circuit Rick put the 4B way under Anderson’s black 17. Excellent racing throughout as no caution flag laps were run in the heats.

The 30 lap Storm Steel Abrasive Jet HOSS/Marathon feature was fired off early against the threat of rain and with a monster 8 car inversion, Ron Koehler’s black 10 was on the pole beside the 6 of rookie Sondi Eden. Koehler started on the front row last week at Mansfield and almost walked away with a win before being overhauled by Jimmy McCune. After the 4 wide salute to the fans , it was time for the ’Main Event’. Koehler indeed led the field into turn one but after one time around had already seen the future as Joe Rebman completed the pass and drop Koehler to second with Eden third. Doug Berryman eclipsed Eden for third on the second lap as the field began to separate. Caution appeared on lap four as Sondi Eden took a big slide across the exit of turn four toward the finish line, and after a quick push rejoined the tail of the field. At the restart it was the Joe show with the field trailing behind like the leash on a loose puppy. By lap 6 Berryman and Jimmy McCune were around the now fading Koehler, with Tim Cox moving Koehler to fifth on lap seven. Coming through the pack was Greg Wheeler, already seventh on lap seven after starting thirteenth. Wheeler would pass Rick Baker for sixth on the ninth lap and on lap eleven bested Koehler for fifth. Fast qualifier England, still mired in eighth, would later reveal an ill handling racecar combined with decreased grip in his preferred upper lane hindered any chance for the G&K Well Drilling, Pro-Strip, Tri Star Trucking driver to challenge for the win on this night. The second half of the race was HOSS racing at its best as leader Rebman encountered lap traffic at near every corner. His teammate Berryman closed on lap twenty one after Rebman hesitated in tight quarters, nearly surrendering the lead in turn two. However in the closing laps Rebman was not to be challenged. McCune caught and passed Berryman’s bright yellow 1R for second and set off after Rebman only to see the white flag come out. McCune worked the late race strategy last week in Mansfield to get the win but this week came up a couple of laps short. The fans roared as Rebman flashed under the checkered flag. In victory lane, announcer Mike Neeley congratulated the Rebman team on their first and third place finishes as team owner Bruce Rebman came out to celebrate his son’s first 410 win and first win with the HOSS.

Results 7-3-04

Qualifying: 84-Denny England 15.626, 19-Jimmy McCune, 1R- Doug Berryman, 40- Tim Cox, 77- Joe Rebman, 4B-Rick Baker, 6-Sondi Eden, 10-Ron Koehler, 27-Chris Jagger, 75c-Jerry Caryer, 9-Michael Tarlton, 28-John Witter, 7-Greg Wheeler, 46-Dale Wood, 17-Roger Anderson, 35-Ed Kenens, 11-Tom Paterson, 38-Ted McKibben.

Heat 1: 7-Wheeler, 6-Eden, 84-England, 75c-Caryer, 40-Cox, 35-Kenens

Heat 2: 46-Wood, 10-Koehler, 19-McCune, 77-Rebman, 11-Paterson, 9-Tarlton

Heat 3: 1R-Berryman, 27-Jagger, 4B-Baker, 17-Anderson, 28-Witter, 38-McKibben

Feature: 1. 77-Rebman, 2. 19-McCune, 3. 1R-Berryman, 4. 40-Cox, 5. 7-Wheeler, 6. 84-England, 7.10-Koehler, 8. 4B-Baker, 9. 75c-Caryer, 10. 9-Tarlton,11. 6-Eden, 12. 28-Witter, 13. 27-Jagger, 14. 11-Paterson, 15. 46-Wood, 16. 35-Kenens, 17. 17-Anderson, 18. 38-McKibben.