By Travis Johnson (McCool Junction, NE) -- Junction Motor Speedway McCool Junction, Nebraska (June 9, 2018)— The Carpetland Nebraska 360 Sprint Series presented by Malvern Bank returned to Junction Motor Speedway for the first time in 2018. With what should’ve been, stop #2 of 3, became stop #1 of 2 after a rainout from last month cancelled the May show leaving only 2 races at the gorgeous 3/8 mile oval south of York, Nebraska.
It was the Springfield, Nebraska driver, Jack Dover, who got by last season’s series champion, Ryan Roberts, to claim his second win of the season on a “blistering fast & hammer-down” speedway! Why do I say “blistering fast?” If you would’ve seen Jack’s right rear tire, it was pretty blistered as the cars were lightning fast on a well prepared speedway thanks to JMS owner, Delmar Friesen.
“A fast racetrack,” was Jack’s response when he was told that he “never slows down.” “I just got telling these guys, when I got to victory lane, that I never lifted once going around this place. It shows how good this track was tonight and I just can’t thank the fans enough for coming out because if it wasn’t for you guys up there, we wouldn’t be racing. I hope we put on a good show for you and I have to thank Steve, Dave, Alex, Ben, my girlfriend Lauren, my parents are here tonight, and my niece and nephews are here. I want to thank my sponsors Liquid Trucking, Backlund Plumbing, Certified Transmission, SSS Motorsports, Speedway Engines, and Spike Chassis. Man, things are rolling really good right now!”
Heat Race 1 (Results) 6 Laps
Jason Martin
Jack Dover
Tadd Holliman
Don Droud Jr.
Shayle Bade
Heat Race 2 (Results) 6 Laps
Seth Brahmer
Ryan Roberts
John Klabunde
Cody Ledger
Mark Burch
Heat Race 3 (Results) 6 Laps
Jack Dover
Tadd Holliman
Shayle Bade
Don Droud, Jr
Jason Martin
Heat Race 4 (Results) 6 Laps
John Klabunde
Cody Ledger
Seth Brahmer
Ryan Roberts
Mark Burch
Ryan Roberts was the Saldana Racing Products pole sitter for the 20 lap A feature with Jack Dover starting on his out side. Jason Martin was unable to make the A main in time due to an accident in heat race #3. Ryan Roberts took the lead into turn one as Jack Dover fell back about 5 car lengths as the cars took the green flag. Shayle Bade was a rocket who maneuvered up 5 positions in just 2 laps. After 5 laps down, Roberts still led with Dover, Don Droud Jr,, Seth Brahmer and Bade in the top 5. Dover began to close the gap on Roberts by lap 7 to about 2 car lengths as his hunt for the lead was on. Midway through, Roberts still held the lead over Dover by 4 cars as Roberts put a lap down on Tadd Holliman but made contact allowing Dover to get by. With 7 togo, Dover had extended his lead by half a straightaway over Roberts with Droud in 3rd followed by Brahmer and Shayle Bade. With two laps togo, Cody Ledger pulled into the infield will smoke coming from the car due to overheating the engine. As the race went nonstop, it was Jack Dover who picked up his second win of the season with Ryan Roberts finishing in 2nd, Don Droud Jr. in 3rd, Seth Brahmer 4th and Shayle Bade rounded out the top 5.
A Main (Results) 20 Laps
Jack Dover
Ryan Roberts
Don Droud Jr
Seth Brahmer
Shayle Bade
John Klabunde
Tadd Holliman
Cody Ledger
Mark Burch
Jason Martin
Contingency Awards
Saldana Racing Products Pole Award: Ryan Roberts
Speedway Motors Hard Charger $200 Certificate: Shayle Bade
Keizer Race Wheels Certificate: Shayle Bade
Electrical Systems Inc $300 Podium Draw: Seth Brahmer
Points (As of June 10, 2018)
Pos Driver Points Gap
1 Jack Dover 929 -
2 Jason Martin 878 51
3 Shayle Bade 739 190
4 Cody Ledger 720 209
5 Seth Brahmer 597 332
6 Ryan Roberts 489 440
7 Ryan Bickett 478 451
8 John Klabunde 463 466
9 Gregg Bakker 392 537
10 Don Droud Jr 384 545
The series will be off until June 22 when we head back to Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minnesota in a $2500 to win show. The following night, on the 23rd, we will make our first of two stops to the racy speedway in Norfolk, Nebraska, the Offroad Speedway.