(from Travis Johnson) The Carpetland Nebraska 360 Sprint Car Series presented by Malvern Bank returned for night #2 of the Bugeater Bash at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska for the $2500 to win show. Thirty-eight of the midwest’s best 360 sprint car drivers checked in for the show.
Heat #1 was lead to the green flag by the #98 of J.D. Johnson in the 10 car heat. Lap #1 saw Matt Juhl jump to the front followed by Sawyer Phillips in tow. A great battle for 3rd showcased the first several laps between “T-Mac” Terry McCarl and Canada’s Thomas Kennedy. Lap 5 came to a red flag as Terry McCarl lost a right front wheel in turn one launching him into the air and tumbling to rest between turns one and two. Terry was able to crawl out of the car ok. On the restart, J.D. Johnson was able to hold off Sawyer Phillips for the win. Thomas Kennedy finished 3rd, Carson McCarl in 4th, and Lee Grosz in 5th. Terry McCarl ended his night with a torn up race car.
Clint Garner and Jon Agan were your front row starters for heat race #2 in the 10 car heat. The 2016 Malvern Bank/ Carpetland Nebraska 360 Sprint Car Series champion of Jack Dover started the heat race in 8th but jumped 3 sports to 5th coming out of turn 2. Clint Garner was your leader after two laps as Dover moved to 4th moving Shayle Bade back to 5th. Shayle Bade retained the lead for another lap as Dover and Bade swapped spots before giving Dover the sport back on lap #5. Joey Danley and Dover continued a two lap battle for 4th as Dover took over 3rd place with 1 lap left. Clint Garner took the win followed by Jon Again, Jack Dover, Joey Danley, and Shayle Bade.
The 9 car, 3rd heat race, was lead to the green flag by Chris Martin and 2nd place starter Dusty Ballenger. Ryan Roberts, on lap #3, took over the 2nd place spot of Ballenger as he was the fastest car on the track by two tenth’s of a second over the next fastest car. Roberts continued to reel in Chris Martin but was unable to get the job done as Martin took the win followed by Roberts, Wade Nygaard, Jordan Boston, and Ballenger.
Heat race #4 saw TJ Artz lead the field to the green flag but the field was reset after a jumped start by one of the drivers. The field was re-stacked and the field took the green but Cody Ledger and Stuart Snyder banged tires putting Ledger to the pits with a flat tire. Jamie Ball lead the way as he jumped to a half a straightaway lead over 2nd running Jason Martin. Jay Russell, on lap #4, took over the 4th place spot from Tj Artz. Jamie Ball continued his dominance and took the win followed by Jason Martin, Stuart Snyder, Jay Russell, and Tj Artz.
The first of two B features were lead to the green flag by the front row starters of Tasker Phillips and Joey Danley. On the first lap Joey Danley spun in turn 3 towards the front of the field and was some how able to avoid contact with any of the the remaining field. On the restart, the field was called back to restart by an early jump by Cody Ledger. The 3rd restart allowed Cody Ledger to jump 7 spots to 3rd as he gained an amazing start coming down the front stretch. Seth Brahmer led the field on lap #4 but a yellow was brought out due to a spin in turn #2 by Todd Holliman. Blaine Petersen spun in turn #2, on the restart, bringing out the 4th yellow of the feature. Seth Brahmer was able to put the pedal to the metal as he floored his car to a big lead on the restart. In tow, Don Droud Jr. retained 2nd place followed by Tasker Phillips as 3 cars moved onto the A main. With one lap left, Droud gave Brahmer all he could on the last turn but Brahmer was able to retain and take home the feature win followed by Droud and Phillips.
The 2nd and last B feature had Brant O’Banion and Shayle Bade leading the field to the green flag. Shayle Bade had her car on cruise control to take the lead over O’Banion but the battle was for 3rd as Tommy Barber battled John Klabunde for the 3rd place transfer spot. Barber had a lot of pressure from 2 other cars as he jumped the cushion in turn 4 and allowed Klabunde and Jason Danley to go by. John Klabunde, running in 3rd, had a lot of pressure from Ryan Bickett and Bickett was able to take over 3rd place and moving on to the A main. Shayle Bade took the win followed by O”Banion and Ryan Bickett.
The 25 lap Speedway Motors and Malvern Bank A Main featured 22 cars. The front row starting spots had Clint Garner and Sawyer Phillips followed in tail by Jamie Ball and defending series champ, Jack Dover. Clint Garner shot out of cannon on the start to take the lead as they headed down the front stretch. Thomas Kennedy, in 3 laps, came from 16th to 6th place. Kennedy began his venture to the front to give Jack Dover a run for his money. The battle up front saw Sawyer Phillips real in Clint Garner. The duo battled and put on a display of their talents for the fans for several laps. After 5 laps Kennedy had moved to second and set his eyes on Phillips who commanded the lead now for a few laps. Lap traffic has allowed Kennedy to push closer to Phillips and the pressure had gotten to Phillips as he tagged the wall 3 times in 2 laps in turn 4. On lap 12, Kennedy had taken over the lead in turn 2 over Phillips. Jamie Ball pushed up several positions to 3rd in just a few laps as he now began a hunt for Phillips but it wasn’t enough. Meanwhile, Kennedy from Canada, dominated the feature to take the 2nd win in a row and sweep the weekend. He also bagged $2500 for his win. It was an absolute dominate showing from the man up north. Sawyer Phillips finished second, followed by Jamie Ball, Jack Dover and Wade Nygaard.
Thomas Kennedy picked up the Speedway Motors $200 hard charger award.
The Electrical Systems Engineering podium draw had Sawyer Phillips bring home an extra $300.
Speedway Motors presented by Malvern Bank A Feature Finish (25 laps)
Thomas Kennedy
Sawyer Phillips
Jamie Ball
Jack Dover
Wade Nygaard
Clint Garner
Matt Juhl
Jason Martin
Ryan Roberts
Lee Grosz
Jon Again
Chris Martin
Jordan Boston
Tasker Phillips
Carson McCarl
Ryan Bickett
Shayle Bade
Don Proud, Jr.
Stuart Snyder
Brant O”Banion
Jay Russell
Seth Brahmer
The next stop on the series takes us to Jefferson, South Dakota to Park Jefferson International Speedway, as we join forces with the Midwest Sprint Touring Series for an April 22nd show.
For our schedule, please visit www.nebraska360sprintseries.com and visit our Facebook page to stay up to date on live results as they happen.
Sent from my iPhone