Nebraska State Championships report

LINCOLN, NE-(August 27, 2001)-In thrilling finishes for both divisions, Steve Kosiski and Jim Buss each won their second state championship, at Nebraska State Fair Park Raceway, as the Nebraska State Racing Championships began on Monday night.

Kosiski stalked Mike Collins in the Grand National Late Model division for the first three laps before making his move to the top spot. Collins had other ideas, however, as he never let Kosiski get more than a two car length lead. As the lead duo came to line on the 18th lap, Collins made his bid to retake the top spot, just barely. For the reaminder of the 25 lap event, they ran side by side, with Collins on the inside, and Kosiski in the outer lane. At the end of the 23rd lap it was a virtual dead heat, but Collins gained a half car length as they came around forthe white flag. Kosiski gained the inside as they rolled through turn one, and held off Collins for a one car length victory. It was Steve's second straight State Championship in the Grand Nation division. Close in third was Steve's younger brother, Ed Kosiski, followed by Roger Hadan and Chris Roberts.

The 20 lap feature for the Street Stocks was just as close, although Jim Buss led the entire distance. Dave Trauernicht was never more than a car length off the lead and at several stages of the race seemed poised to jump into the top position. Buss used a lapped car to his advantage coming down for the checkered flag to save the victory by less than a car length. Ron Pettit, Joel Carlson and Lonnie Grouter rounded out the top five. This was the second State Championship for Buss as well, with this first coming in 1999.

Street Stock heats were won by Buss, Nick Opfer, Carlson, Micheal Reams and Pettit. The two last chance races were taken by, Kent Behmer and Scott Boyer. Grand Nationals heats went to S. Kosiski, Jeff Fallon, Kevin Hamele, Roberts, Pat Krug and Collins. Last chance races were won by Russ Hadan and Travis Roth. <pre>

Street Stock results: 1st Heat-1. Jim Buss; 2. Nick Cautrell; 3. Ryan Rhode; 4. Shawn Harker. 2nd Heat-1. Nick Opfer; 2. Josh Carpenter; 3. Randy Weaver; 4. Don McCown. 3rd Heat-1. Joel Carlson; 2. Edd Huxoll; 3. Scott Krohn; 4. Ryan Hoeshe. 4th Heat-1. Dave Trauernicht; 2. Scott Lee; 3.Roger Eaton; 4. Brain Wagner. 5th Heat-1. Micheal Reams; 2. Jim Kimmel; 3. Neal Milar; 4. Travis Kracl. 6th Heat-1. Ron Pettit; 2. Allen Haite; 3. Brad Kunz; 4. Shawn Keeshan. 1st Last Chance Race-1. Lonnie Grouter; 2. Krohn; 3. McCown; 4. Kracl. 2nd Last Chance Race-1. Scott Boyer; 2. Rhode; 3. Kunz; 4. Haite. A Feature-1. Buss; 2. Trauernicht; 3. Pettit; 4. Carlson; 5. Grouter; 6. Opfer; 7. Cautrell; 8. Milar; 9. Paul Jergensen; 10. Huxoll; 11. Rhode; 12. Kimmel; 13. Boyer; 14. Reams; 15. Kracl; 16. Kunz; 17. Krohn; 18. Behmer; 19. Eaton; 20. Cal Wratten; 21. Lee; 22. Haite; 23. McCown; 24. Keeshan

Grand National Lat Model results:

1st Heat-1. Steve Kosiski; 2. Bill Leighton; 3. Jay Burke; 4. Brain Kenkel. 2nd Heat-1. Jeff Fallon; 2. Mike Fegter; 3. Joe Kosiski; 4. Virgilee Haase. 3rd Heat-1. Kevin Hamele; 2. Ed Kosiski; 3. Matt Myers; 4. Kevin Safranek. 4th Heat-1. Chris Roberts; 2. John Kinney Jr.; 3. Russ Hadan; 4. Marc Peters. 5th Heat-1. Pat Krug; 2. Roger Hadan; 3. Mike Wallace; 4. Brian Whitehead. 6th Heat-1. Mike Collins; 2. Mark Henery; 3. Dave Cook; 4. Mike Kelley. 1st last Chance Race-1. Russ Hadan; 2. Rick Stolley; 3. Mike Danberg; 4. Brian Kenkel. 2nd Last Chance Race-1. Travis Roth; 2. Dave Livingston; 3. Ed Moore; 4. Travis Dickes. A Feature-1. S. Kosiski; 2. Collins; 3. E. Kosiski; 4. Roger Hadan; 5. Roberts; 6. Wallace; 7. Fallon; 8. Leighton; 9. J. Kosiski; 10. Stolley; 11. Moore; 12. Cook; 13. Kelley; 14. Dickes; 15. Fetger; 16. Roth; 17. Krug; 18. Danberg; 19. Russ Hadan; 20. Livingston; 21. Hamele; 22. Kenkel; 23. Henery; 24. Kinney Jr.

-nahof