By Travis Johnson
The Carpetland Nebraska 360 Sprint Series presented by Malvern Bank returns for race #4 of the 2017 season. We make our way to the very fast 4/10 mile at I-80 Speedway.
Current points leader and the winner of all three of our races this season, Thomas Kennedy, seems unstoppable at this point. The man from Canada has served a notice to the American 360 sprint car drivers that his 2017 campaign looks to be one for the history books. Kennedy contributes all of his success so far to his family, Mark Smith, and Jaymie Moyle. "For the past 9 years that I've been racing Sprint cars, I've always ran an Eagle.. A couple years ago my dad and I were both racing an ascoc race at Bubba Raceway when we discovered Mark Smith and His Mach-1 Chassis'.. since my dad retired June 2016 I finished off the year with my eagle chassis, (with 3 shows in the mix under the Mach-1 chassis). We decided to start the 2017 season with the Mach-1 chassis. Mark Smith gave us a few pointers during Speed-weeks in Florida which helped us gain some moment with the race car, and with a great engine under our hood built by Jaymie Moyle, we've picked up a couple 2nds and 3 wins so far! The biggest comparison in the past to 2017 is that of the driver being mentally, and physically prepared. I've never been this prepared in the past, than I am right now! We're looking forward to another strong weekend starting at I-80 Speedway then Knoxville Raceway on Saturday."
We have seen an amazing field of cars with an average car count of 37. The Bobby Parker memorial race has become the crown jewel for the Nebraska 360 Sprint Series. It pays $2500 to win and $400 to start. With almost a $14,000 purse for the A feature plus contingencies, we expect a stout field of cars to attend this event. Bobby Parker compiled over 300 feature wins in many different types of race cars, mostly midgets, He won the first points championship at the famed Sunset Speedway and was inducted in to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2000. We salute the man in remembrance and all of his accomplishments by dedicating this open wheel race to him.
There is a $20 registration fee that must be done on I-80 Speedway’s website by 11p Wednesday, May 3rd. After that, it doubles to $40 but this does include your pill draw. Races begin at 7:15 with pit gates opening at 4 and hot laps at 6:45. I-80 Speedway is located one block north of exit 420 between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska.
Racing Links
www.nebraska360sprintseries.com
www.facebook.com/ne360sprint
www.i-80speedway.com