I-80 Speedway
Hampel earns $3,000 at I-80 Cornhusker Classic
From track and series reports
GREENWOOD, Neb. (Sept. 22) — Returning to glory at a track where he's had some of his biggest victories, John Hampel overtook race-long leader John Anderson in the final laps of the Cornhusker Classic at I-80 Speedway for a victory worth $3,000.
"We was beginning to wonder if we was ever going to get around him," said an elated Hampel in victory lane. "With about five laps to go I told myself 'I better get going' and we did. I would like to really thank my folks and Ernie, Rod, my boy James and everybody else. This is great!"
Anderson, whose car had engine problems in the final laps, finished second in the event, which was co-sanctioned by the O'Reilly National Championship Racing Association and O'Reilly Topless Outlaw Racing Association. Seventh-starting Bryant Goldsmith, Al Humphrey and Leon Zeitner rounded out the top five.
NCRA points leader Kelly Boen and Anderson started on the front row for the caution-free 35-lapper with Anderson jumping out front as the green flag fell. Anderson paced the opening laps and opened a comfortable eight-length lead by�lap two as Chris Spieker, Boen, Goldsmith and Hampel gave chase.
By lap seven, Anderson opened a half-straightaway lead over the field while behind him, Hampel had worked his way into second. Lap 14 saw the leaders reach lapped traffic with Anderson now clinging to a 10-length advantage over Hampel. Goldsmith, Al Humphrey and�Spieker�battled in the top five.
Anderson appeared to have the race in hand, but with about 10 laps remaining, his car's engine began sputtering on the straightaways. Hampel began to close the distance and by lap 28 began pressuring for the top spot as he searched for a way around Anderson on the 4/10-mile oval.
With�three laps remaining, Hampel drove low entering turns one and two and took the lead from Anderson down the backstretch. He led the rest of the way.
"We broke a rocker arm or something in the motor," Anderson said. "We've just got to take it apart and see. Our Shop Quick Convenience stores-sponsored car worked great and we had them covered, (but we) just couldn't get it done."
Notebook
Hampel is sponsored by Predator Trailers. ... The event drew 47 cars. ... Boen, Anderson, Humphrey, Goldsmith and Spieker won heat races. ... Mike Collins and Al Zeitner won consolation races. ... The two-day event drew more than 280 total race cars. .... In an unsanctioned feature on Sunday, Spieker overtook Kyle Berck on the white-flag lap for the victory.
Cornhusker Classic: (1) John Hampel, (2) John Anderson (3) Bryant Goldsmith, (4) Al Humphrey, (5) Leon Zeitner, (6) Kelly Boen, (7) Chris Spieker, (8) Joe Kosiski, (9) Delbert Smith, (10) Billy Leighton Jr., (11) Al Zeitner, (12) Mike Collins, (13) Kyle Berck, (14) Mike Wiarda, (15) Jerry Warner, (16) John Kuchar, (17) Jay Stewart, (18) Jeff Tilley, (19) Jason O'Brien, (20) Steve Kempt, (21) Craig Preble, (22) Greg Larsen, (23) Ryan Rairden, (24). Chad Humston.
