I-80 Speedway Greenwood, Nebraska (May 3, 2018)— The annual Bobby Parker Memorial at i-80 Speedway has become a staple to the 4/10 mile facility located between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska. The race honors not only our series president’s late father, but a man who won more than 300 features in midgets throughout the midwest as well as the first modified stock car championship at Sunset Speedway in 1957 and 1958. Parker was also inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2000.
It was the South Dakota driver of, Matt Juhl, who picked up his 2nd win with the series this year after winning the first night of the Bugeater Bash, at I-80 Speedway, just a few weeks ago. Matt Juhl was able to out-maneuver Terry McCarl, in lapped traffic, and take the lead, on the last lap, coming out of turn 4. “The first couple laps I didn’t have any good laps and then I got rolling there half-way through and got going around the top really well. It was good to see the #4 car in front of me and that pushed me a little more. We will be back for the Bill Smith Memorial, in August, to go after that $20,000. It’s not going to be easy but we will be back. I love this track and the car is working well. I just want to thank A&W Trucking, David Spoo Construction, Octane Ink, Dan Miller Group, my crew guys and parents.”
Twenty-seven cars checked into the pits ready to do battle for the $2500 to win and $500 25 lap A feature. Three heat races made up the preliminary events with Wayne Johnson, Chris Martin and Cody Ledger. Tonight Matt Juhl became eligible for the $20,000 I-80 Speedway Sprint Car Bonus presented by Kosiski Auto Parts. He must win the final 2 races at I-80 with that being the Bill Smith Memorial in August and the Casey’s General Store’s Midwest Fall Brawl. If he wins the final two races and they’re not cancelled due to weather, he will pocket $20,000. If either of those final two events are cancelled, the bonus will not be paid.
The Saldana Racing Products pole sitter of Terry McCarl brought the field to the green flag with Ryan Roberts to his outside. McCarl got a great start and Roberts was in tow. Don Droud Jr. took over the third spot with Chris Martin tagging along in fourth. McCarl took on a front-stretch lead on Roberts 5 laps into the A feature. Ten laps in still had McCarl with the front-stretch lead over Roberts followed by Don Droud Jr, Matt Juhl and Chris Martin rounding out the top 5. With 10 laps togo, Jack Dover had moved up 6 spots to 4th as he was running some of the fastest laps in the field. With 4 laps togo, Ryan Roberts, tagged the backstretch wall shuffling him back several positions. With the field spread out, there was a ton of action happening up front as McCarl’s demons of lapped traffic plagued him the final two laps. Matt Juhl who was running second and Jack Dover third, were nose and tail hunting McCarl and it was in turn four where McCarl went low and Juhl went high, that allowed Juhl to pull off the upset and pass McCarl for the win. Matt Juhl is not eligible for $20,000 if he can win the final 2 events here at I-80 Speedway.
Heat Race #1 Results (8 Laps)
Wayne Johnson
Ryan Roberts
Lee Grosz
Jack Dover
Jason Martin
Tommy Barber
Stuart Snyder
Eric Lutz
Ryan Bickett
Heat Race #2 Results (8 Laps)
Chris Martin
Matt Juhl
Terry McCarl
Jake Bubak
Seth Brahmer
John Klabunde
Tyler Drueke
Zach Blurton
Mark Chisholm
Heat Race #3 Results (8 Laps)
Cody Ledger
Don Droud Jr.
Gregg Bakker
Shayle Bade
Brian Brown
Jody Rosenboom
Dylan Opdahl
Dusty Ballenger
Tadd Holliman
B Feature Results (12 Laps)
John Klabunde
Jody Rosenboom
Tyler Drueke
Eric Lutz
Stuart Snyder
Ryan Bickett
Zach Blurton
Mark Chisholm
Dylan Opdahl
Dusty Ballenger
Tadd Holliman
A Feature Results (25 Laps)
Matt Juhl
Terry McCarl
Jack Dover
Chris Martin
Gregg Bakker
Cody Ledger
Lee Grosz
Jake Bubak
Brian Brown
Jason Martin
Don Droud Jr.
Tommy Barber
Eric Lutz
Shayle Bade
John Klabunde
Ryan Roberts
Seth Brahmer
Tyler Drueke
Jody Rosenboom
Wayne Johnson
Contingency Awards
Saldana Racing Products Pole Award- Terry McCarl
Speedway Motors Hard Charger $200- Jack Dover
Electrical Systems Inc Podium Draw $300- Jack Dover
Hard Luck Midwest Land Developers Rear Tire Award- Tadd Holliman
Hard Charger 3D Auto Transport Tire Award- Jack Dover
openwheel101.com High Heat Points Winner $100- Matt Juhl
Points (As of May 4, 2019)
Pos Driver Points Gap
1 Matt Juhl 430 -
2 Jack Dover 383 47
3 Jason Martin 355 75
4 Jake Bubak 348 82
5 Seth Brahmer 316 114
6 Ryan Roberts 314 125
7 Lee Grosz 305 130
8 Jody Rosenboom 300 135
9 Cody Ledger 295 146
10 Justin Henderson 284 149
Next Saturday on May 11, we will trek north to South Dakota and make our first appearance of the season at Park Jefferson Speedway for a North vs South shootout. This is a co-sanctioned show with the Property Solutions of America Midwest Sprint Touring Series. Pit Gate Opens: 4:30; Spectator Gate Opens: 5:00, Hot Laps: 6:15, Heat Races: 7:00. Tickets are Adults $18/Seniors 65 & up, $15/Children 6-16, $5/Children Under 6 Free. Pit Passes: Adults $30, Minor Pit Passes $15, Clubhouse Ticket: $12. For more information please visit parkjeff.com
To stay up to date on news and information with the series, please visit our website or find on us on Facebook at “Carpetland Nebraska 360 Sprint Series presented by Malvern Bank.
Article Credit: Travis Johnson