Story By: JEREMY PETERS / COLE VANDERHEIDEN RACING – PAPILLION, NE – Cole Vanderheiden added his third win of the 2024 campaign over the weekend with a $1,200 United Rebel Sprint Series victory on Saturday night at Thayer County Speedway aboard his BradCo Companies / Twister Thunder Fireworks No. 15V Electric Express Sprint Car.
The 17-year-old youngster took command of the lead of the fourth circuit and ran away with the $1,200 top prize.
“I really felt like the top here wasn’t suitable to run for the 305, but it might be in a 360,” Vanderheiden said in his post-race interview. “That was so much fun. I saw Danley slip up there and then Huish, and I knew we had a shot. Big thanks to my family and all the sponsors that help us out.”
A busy weekend competing in two divisions kicked off for Cole Vanderheiden on Friday afternoon with a visit to Beatrice (NE) Speedway for the Sprint Car Challenge.
With starts with the United Rebel Sprint Series (URSS) and the Malvern Bank 360 Sprints lined up, Vanderheiden opened his weekend with a ninth-place finish in the 360 feature aboard the Zach Davis Racing No. 3z Sprint Car.
In his BradCo Companies No. 15V Sprinter, Cole backed up a heat race win with a fifth-place finish in the 20-lap RaceSaver A-Main.
At Thayer County Speedway (Deshler, Neb.) on Saturday, Vanderheiden lost brakes during the 360 main event, forcing him to pull off.
In the URSS feature, Cole made his move to the front early as he powered underneath Jeremy Huish on the fourth circuit and paced the remainder of the 20-lap affair.
The $1,200 payday marked his third win of the season.
A mechanical failure in his driveline on Sunday at Eagle (NE) Raceway ended his weekend early.
Vanderheiden is now preparing for what’s expected to be his last event of the 2024 season. The team will invade US 30 Speedway on Friday evening for the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint portion of the Abe Lincoln Memorial.