8/4/2020
Malvern Bank 360 Sprints
Brant O'Banion Victorious in First 360 Win of Career!
Off Road Speedway Norfolk, Norfolk (August 1, 2020)—Race #5 of 8 in the 2020 season came from one of the most action packed tracks on the tour in Norfolk, Nebraska. Eighteen cars checked into the 1/3 mile semi-banked oval consisting of 3 heat races and the 25 lap main event. Series points leader, Jack Dover, along with Shayle Bade, Stu Snyder, Jason Martin, and Cody Ledger did not attend due to other commitments leaving the top points position open for Seth Brahmer, Rich Cerveny, and Joey Danley who were in attendance.
It was a first time 360 win for Brant O’Banion, at his home track, who expressed his opinion on taking nearly an 8 second win over second running Gregg Bakker. “Wow! That was a Jack Dover night right there! That’s insane! I’m lost for words with this being the first 360 win period. It’s unbelievable to be able to do this at my home track! I knew with farming the high side of the track it was going to be up to for awhile. I dove down to the bottom a couple of times and I knew it was going to give out and take rubber. It’s the best car I’ve ever had in my life and to do it with these guys is just awesome. I wish Dover was here because I feel we would have had a battle. I just want to thank Dale Furby for the opportunity to drive his car. Jeremy Eckman helps a bunch along with SeaFoam and Cressman Sanitation. I know I’m missing some but it’s been a rough year and this is just amazing!”
Joey Danley and Brant O’Banion made up the front row of the 25 lap A feature event. On the start, Joey Danley jumped to the lead and took to the cushion in turn one only to slide into the turn 2 wall coming to a stop and bringing out the first caution of the feature. Prior to this, the track was worked over on the high side and may have hit a greasy spot on the surface.
Monty Ferriera brought the field to the green flag as O’Banion slid him in turn 2 to take the lead. Eric Lutz was able to get by Ferriera for the 2nd spot on lap 2 but the yellow flew for Lincoln Drewis as he came to a stop on turn 3. The top 5 were Brant O’Banion, Eric Lutz Monty Ferriera, Derrik Lusk, and Gregg Bakker.
On the restart, O’Banion continued to the high side in turn one but the yellow flew for a driver driving below the start cone.
O’Banion continued to the high side on turn one as Eric Lutz went for a slide job but couldn’t hold it on the restart. O’Banion took a 12 car lead, with 5 laps down over Lutz as O’Banion began to encounter lapped traffic. O’Banion was looking flawless manuring through traffic as he extended his lead by 15 or so cars on lap 10. Third place running, Gregg Bakker, was about 15 cars behind third running Lusk and Derrik Lusk began to close the gap on Lutz as Lutz got caught up in lapped traffic. Greg Bakker was able to take over the third spot on lap 18 as Lusk was slowed up by lapped traffic. With 5 laps to go, O’Banion had a 1/3 track lead over Bakker who was able to get by Eric Lutz. O’Banion was too much and took the win over Gregg Bakker by 8 seconds. Eric Lutz finished third, Derrik Lusk fourth, and Monty Ferriera finished fifth.
Heat Race #1 Results (8 Laps)
John Klabunde
Brant O’Banion
Monty Ferriera
Jeff Jacobsma
Jeff Pendergast
Trent Roth (DNF)
Heat Race #2 Results (8 Laps)
Joey Danley
Gregg Bakker
Seth Brahmer
Chuck McGillivray
Rich Cerveny
Nick Lingenfelter
Heat Race #3 Results (8 Laps)
Eric Lutz
Ryan Bickett
Derrik Lusk
Rick Hansen
Lincoln Drewis
Jody Rosenboom
A Feature Results (25 Laps)
Brant O’Banion
Gregg Bakker
Eric Lutz
Derrik Lusk
Monty Ferriera
Ryan Bickett
Seth Brahmer
John Klabunde
Chuck McGillvray
Rich Cerveny
Justin Jacobsma
Jeff Pendergast
Jody Rosenboom
Nick Lingenfelter
Joey Danley
Lincoln Drewis
Rich Hansen
Trent Roth (DNS)
Contingency Award
Speedway Motors Hard Charger: Gregg Bakker
Points (As of August 2, 2020)
Pos Driver Points Gap
1 Seth Brahmer 673 -
2 Rich Cerveny 582 91
3 Jack Dover 518 155
4 Joey Danley 512 161
5 Lee Grosz 470 203
6 John Klabunde 459 214
7 Brant O’Banion 410 263
8 Jason Martin 389 284
9 Ryan Bickett 360 313
10 Eric Lutz 358 315
We have 3 races left on the schedule this year with them all to be contested at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska. Our next show is on August 28 and following that, we go back-to-back for the Bobby Parker Memorial on September 11 and the following night is the Casey’s General Stores Midwest Fall Brawl. The Fall Brawl will be a co-sanctioned show with the ASCS Lucas Oil National Series.
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
Submitted By: Travis Johnson
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