It started with a mascot, a banana, and it started fast. From it became Bananas Racing, a crowd favorite and front runner. Ken Kovar first started racing at Beatrice Speedway in 1979 driving his yellow 1977 Nova. He would drive it all the way to a Top 10 in the point championship. Just one year later, Kover would take his new Peterson Camaro to his first track championship. In 1981, in the same car, Kovar posted a runner-up in the point championship, losing out to fellow Beatrice Speedway Hall of Fame Inductee Stu Vavra. Kovar would continue to race and win races at the Beatrice Speedway through 1985 when Beatrice eliminated the Late Model Sportsman division. One of Kovar's best memories was the 1984 season. Kovar would win Beatrice's biggest race, the Coors Cup 50 Lap Silver Bullet Race. This win would also help pust Kovar over the top to win him the 1984 Omaha World Herald Late Model Driver of the Year Award. All this while competing against the top competition including John Gerloff, Kent Tucker, Greg Larson, Bill Baldwin and Tom Svoboda.