Justin Haase
Entered the race: September 27, 1985
Crossed the finish line: November 30, 2007
Justin loved the races............he was born into a racing family. His dad raced at Eagle Raceway and his mom raced at Kearney Speedway. Justin loved the sprints............he thought that someone should bottle the smell of alcohol exhaust from a sprint car and sell it for cologne........he loved that smell that much....
Justin practiced driving sprint cars on the computer and on video games so he would be a great driver on the day he would own one. He was fortunate to have friends like Stu Snyder of SLS Motorsports and Mikey Gabelhouse of Gabelhouse Racing, who Justin got to "wrench" for. After his daughter was born, Justin sat in the stands with his family. When the racers prayer would start, he would stand and recite it word for word. That prayer meant alot to Justin and now it means the world to his family. Justin loved being in the pits on race day. Nothing made him happier, unless of course you talk of his daughter Maddi and his fiance' Amanda. He loved them so. Justin also loved his mom, his sister, his brothers, his nieces and his grandma and grandpa "B" and his dad and step-mother. He was a friend to everyone and everyone loved his laughter and his sense of humor. He always made everyone laugh. Justin was the life of any situation. Justin also loved to snowboard and Christmas. He was always like a little boy himself when Christmas came around. He is greatly missed by all who know him. He is our Guardian Angel and a co-pilot to those who welcome him. He lives on in the hearts of those he touched!
Terry Golder
May 8, 1961 - March 21, 2007
On March 21, 2007, Terry Golder of Hooper, NE passed away from complications due to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Terry followed in his father’s footsteps and started racing Late Models in 1980 at the age of 18. Over a 23 year racing career, Terry raced weekly at Shelby CountySpeedway, Sunset Speedway, Riviera JeffersonSpeedway and Blackbird Bend Speedway. Among his racing accomplishments was finishing 2nd in point at Park JeffersonSpeedway in 1992 and at Eagle Raceway in 2000 and 2001. Due to ALS, Terry’s last season of racing was in 2003. Terry also enjoyed racing against his father, Jack, for much of his racing career. Raceway, Park
Terry was a machinist at the family business, Jack’s Automotive and Machine in Hooper, NE. There he built engines for all types of race cars, pulling tractors and dragsters. Even though Terry loved racing, he also gained satisfaction from having his engines win, even if it was against him!
Terry is survived by his wife Chandra and 7 year old son Trevor, along with many family and friends. Terry’s family would like to thank Midwest Racers Autograph Day for this recognition.
Crystal Labbe
Oct. 16, 1985 - January 31, 2008
Crystal Labbe died January 31,2008 as a result of a automobile accident. She is the sister of Sean Manning the driver of number 52 Modified racing team! Crystal loved being at the track every weekend working on Seans car and hanging around with her other favorite drivers and friends. Crystal was a true fan and loved racing she is greatly missed!
Russell "Unc" Jurgens
Christie Hansen
Dennis Bahr
If you would like add someone to the list, please email Suzanne Wright at creative.edge@att.net
Kennon Schwartman
November 6, 1973 - March 15, 2008
Ken Schwartman cut his racing teeth at the age of 8 attending Mid-West Speedway and Eagle Raceway with lots of his family members. His favorite drivers growing up were sprint pilot Steve Grossenbacher, Kenny Kovar who drove the 'Gone Banana's' Late Model and IMCA Modified driver Tony Acksmith.
Ken continued to attend weekly races and at the age of 16 was able to join Eagle Fire and Rescue and became a member of the Eagle Raceway safety crew. Weekly Ken could be seen behind the wheel of '21', the white fire truck that sits in between corners 3 and 4.
During 1995 to 1998 Ken crewed for his brother-in-law Dana Deeke on his #36 Friday Nite Flyer and then on his #36 Limited Late Model.
In 1998 Ken purchased an 'A' class mini sprint that was first the #15 driven by Dana Deeke and is currently the #54 driven by Nick Bogdanovich. The team races at Wavelink Raceway Park as well as the Jayhusker racing series. Ken and Dana were the 1999 Jayhusker Sportsman champions.
Excited does not begin to describe how Ken felt about the upcoming 2008 race season. Not only racing his own car but attending weekly races at Knoxville Raceway, a few shows at Eagle, and all the local Outlaw and ASCS shows!
Ken completely tore his mini sprint down to the frame and rebuilt it over the winter. He was only a few days away from an appointment with Harris Graphics for lettering when he passed away tragically on March 15th due to brain injuries sustained in an auto accident. Unfortunately Ken never got to finish his car to completion. However it was finished in time for his funeral, where it was proudly on display outside the church. As Ken was escorted to his awaiting ride to the cemetery, his mini sprint was fired and it rang out so beautifully. Such a wonderful tribute to such a wonderful guy. If Ken was with us here today I'm sure he would like to remind everyone to keep the hammer down and their elbows up!!!
Russell "HOWG" Cairns
Took the Green Flag March 4, 1982
Took the Checkers October 25, 2001
Russell loved all types of cars, but his pride and
joy was his 68 Chevey Step-side Pick-up. He lowered the truck then removed the original 6 cylinder engine and manual transmission and replaced it with an automatic transmission and a engine that was built from several parts that came out of a Modified race car engine. His family still has this truck and is planning on restoring it in the near future.
He raced with The Jayhusker racing organization in the mini-truck class for a year then moved on the next year to the 750cc 3/4 Midget Class. In the fall of 2001 he captured his first A feature win in the #1C car provided by Chad McDaniel. This was his first time driving this car which made the win all the more special. He was really looking forward to the 2002 season racing the family Owned #12 being provided by his dad Richard Cairns.
He was a friend to everyone and would help out anyone in need. The following is quote from one of his friends in need; "I remember that in the middle of a snow storm him digging Rob's car out of the ditch in the middle of the night, that was just the kind of person that he was."
Russell Cairns perished in a Automobile Accident Oct. 25, 2001. He is missed by his friends and family and will never be forgot.
Kevin D. Snyder
July 28, 1962 - May 13, 2007
Kevin D. Snyder, 45 years of age, Beatrice, died Sunday, May 13, 2007. He was born on July 28, 1961, at Beatrice and graduated from Beatrice High School in1979. Kevin married Tammy Lynn Young, his high school sweetheart, on Aug. 17,1979, at Beatrice. Tammy and Kevin would have celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary this year. They have two wonderful children, Melissa and Jeremy.
Kevin worked at Store Kraft Manufacturing for 20 years, achieving the status of number one welder. In 1995, he was able to turn his love of building race cars into a livelihood at Jet Racing. In 2005, Kevin moved on to be a welder with Kawasaki Manufacturing in Lincoln, Neb. Kevin didn't paint paintings; his art was building race cars. Kevin Snyder started building race car, at the age of 15. Using any magazine or book he could find on the subject, he taught himse lf how to build winning race cars. In 1984, he won dual championships at both Beatrice Speedway and Jefferson County Speedway and placed second in the state to Alton Gotulla. Because of his love for racing. Kevin built cars for others in his spare time, many of which went on to win multiple races and track championships.
Kevin got great joy from helping the little guy with less money succeed in racing. In 1995, he began fabricating and building the "Jet Mod" race cars with Johnny Saathoff, which was the beginning of Jet Racing. The ingenuity and technical skill Kevin put into building cars was essential in Jet Mods winning five IMCA National Championships. As Kevin's career progressed, his goal in racing was making others better. If you won with a car he had built or one of his set-ups, he felt like he had won the race with you even if you beat him in the process.
Kevin enjoyed fishing, camping, building fires and spending time with friends and family, especially his grandchildren, Nicholas and Madison, at all of their activities.
He was loved by all.
Memorials
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This page is dedicated to those in our racing family who have reached life's checkered flag.
