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Kosiski and Leighton; The Changing of the Guard at I-80

by Lee Ackerman

Omaha, Neb. - Time moves on so they say, and there is a continuous evolution to things. Racing is no different and changes continue to occur. This is certainly true in the eastern Nebraska late model world. For years, first at Sunset Speedway and then at I-80 Speedway, fans cheered for their favorite drivers and the names pretty much stayed the same. There was the Kosiski’s, Joe, Ed and sometimes Steve plus a couple of brother in laws (Jason Hobscheidt and Scott Koskovich), Al, Mel, Leon and Dale Zeitner, Al Humphrey, Bill Leighton, Sr., Mark Wyman and several Jorgensens, just to name a few.

While some of those drivers are still competing, most are in the later part of their racing career and compete in touring series and not the weekly NASCAR racing series. The next generation (literally) has arrived on the scene. In many cases the last names remain the same but the first names do not. The changing of the guard now includes names such as Andrew, Kortney, Brian and Robbie Kosiski, Cory and Justin Zeitner, Bill Leighton, Jr. They will be joined by more new faces moving up from the Crate Late Model Series. Of course there are drivers who have been around for awhile in the weekly racing series including defending I-80 point champion Todd Hipnar, Mike Wallace, Clint Benson, Dave Cook, Dave Livingston, and Tom Svoboda. Seeing this changing of the guard so to speak, we chose to profile Bill Leighton Jr. and Andrew Kosiski.

Bill Leighton, Jr. is a second generation racer (his dad Bill Leighton Sr. raced for years), who has quickly established himself as a strong runner in Nebraska Late Model Racing. He grew up watching his dad race at Sunset Speedway in Omaha , Denison and Harlan , Iowa and a few other tracks. After racing and winning in go-karts for a number of years, Bill moved up to late models and in 2003 he was the Grand National Late Model Rookie of the Year at I-80. The next year he was the Grand National Late Model Track Champion.

Bill Leighton, Jr. (28) - Chad Ebel/Race Day Prints

In 2006 Bill won the newly established Crate Late Model Track Championship at I-80 and was the runner-up in NASCAR Division 4 points. In 2008 he stepped it up another notch by winning the NASCAR Nebraska State Championship as well as a track championship at the Junction Motor Speedway and finished second in points at I-80. Bill was also in the thick of the battle in the new Spec Late Motor Racing Series until a bad wreck dropped him to a 4th place finish for the season. Leighton’s goal is to be a consistent top five runner every night out in 2009.

Bill will be campaigning 2 cars in 2009, a 2002 Warrior for weekly racing at I-80 and the Junction Motor Speedway and a 2006 Mastersbilt in the Spec Late Model Racing Series. Bill’s crew includes; his dad Bill Leighton, Sr., Chad Hubbard, Wayne Leighton, John Kempkes, and Brady. Sponsorship and support is provided by Scott VanKeppel Volvo Construction Equipment, Ray’s Quality Towing, Commercial Seeding Contractors, Odeys Field Experts and J&J Grading.

Andrew Kosiski is a fourth generation racer and has some mighty big shoes to fill. His great-grandfather Joe Kosiske (yes its spelled right) was an excellent mechanic for his son and Andrew’s grandfather Bob. Bob was the Sunset Speedway track championship 11 times, ran in the Daytona 500 and dominated Nebraska Late Model racing for years. Andrew’s father Joe hasn’t had to bad a career either winning over 400 races, a NASCAR national championship, many track and regional championships and most recently being inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.

Andrew Kosiski (2X) - Chad Ebel/Race Day Prints

Andrew started racing in Soap Box Derby and was a 2004 national champion. He has ran go-karts and in 2005 moved into the full sized cars running crate late models at I-80. In May, 2007 Andrew won his first feature at I-80 and came back a few weeks later and won the prestigious I-80 Race of Champions. “My biggest win so far would have to be the Race of Champions,” says Andrew. “I drew the poll and started in front of some of the best racers in the Midwest . Chad Simpson started right next to me and that gave me butterflies. I knew they were coming hard but I only screwed up once, when I let Jason Hobschedt get along side.”

Andrew nicknamed “Gus” is a senior at Omaha Bryan High School , and his crew reflects that youth as well with Cory Dempsey, Korey Collins, Joey Sparano and Rob Kosiski. Andrew will be campaigning a 2008 Mastersbilt. Sponsors on the familiar number 2x (a number grandfather Bob raced for sometime) include Patrick M. Pinney Contractors, Quaker Steak & Lube, Smoke Pit BBQ, O’Keefe Elevator and Kosiski Auto Parts.

The youthful team will be campaigning in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series again this year. Last year Andrew picked up two wins and finish 3rd in points at the Junction Motor Speedway, 6th at I-80 and 4th in NASCAR State points. They will also be running in the Spec Late Model Series (new in 2008) and will be running some events with the MLRA, NCRA and WDRL.

Both Bill and Andrew have proven to be winners off the track as well as on the track. They both participated in the 3rd Annual Holiday Horsepower Drive (More on that next month) which provides toys for the children of Children’s Hospital in Omaha . The drive also donates a check to the hospital to purchase needed supplies or equipment. So while both young men are tough to beat on the race track, they have proven to be fine young ambassadors of the sport off the track.

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Kosiski and Leighton; The Changing of the Guard at I-80

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