The Blue Devil Power Drive team participated in the 2024 Big Red Invitational on April 20, hosted at the UNL Tractor Test Lab in Lincoln.
After a strong finish the weekend before in Pacific Junction, Iowa, the students and cars were ready for competition after a week of preparation.
"New tires, change of gear ratios, bearing replacements, and even paint and decals were added to make us look and perform our best," said Advisor Tony Cantrell.
The 60 minute rally started off with all three Wayne cars in the front of the field. Unfortunately, shortly after taking an early lead, car A107 headed to the pits to repair a chain issue. Students inspected and corrected the issue and sent the A107 back to the track, losing four laps to the new leader.
Braden Adams, driver of the A107, kept a calm head and stuck to the plan and shortly erased the deficit, becoming the Advanced class leader at the 18 minute mark of the race. From that point on, the A107 created and maintained a large lead over the rest of the Advanced class cars. Car A107 finished the race with a 19 lap (8 mile) lead over second place. This is back-to-back wins this season for car A107.
The A107 pit crew was awarded the Best Pit Crew award for their efforts of getting the car back on the track, and for a very quick scheduled pit stop for a driver in-and-out. A107 Pit Crew members include Mason Blickenstaff, Wyatt Hawkins, Tyler Johnson and Allen Brenner.
In Exhibition class competition, cars E22, driven by Nina Hammer, and E39, driven by Josh Doring, were locked in a close battle with two cars from Friend. With very similar lap times throughout the race, all four cars were on the same lap count for the last 25 minutes of the race.
Car E22 held the lead for most of the race, until being passed at the 52 minute mark. Car E22 finished in second place with 77 laps. Car E39 had a similar fate, holding the third place spot until being passed at the 58 minute mark. Car E39 finished in fourth with 77 laps.
The Wayne and Friend Exhibition class cars finished the race with less than a half mile between all of them.
"It was a very close and fun race to watch. Very rarely do you have four cars competing that closely throughout the entire race," Cantrell said.
Next up for the Blue Devils is a one mile road course at Motorsport Park Hastings in Hastings on Saturday, April 27.
Wayne will be hosting the 2024 Power Drive State Championships on Saturday, May 4 at the First National Bank of Omaha Call Center (1100 East 10th Street in Wayne). Admission is free, and racing starts at 1 p.m.
