• USAC Thunder & Lightning Series coming to I-80

USAC Thunder & Lightning Series coming to I-80

30 May

USAC Thunder & Lightning Series coming to I-80

Thunder & Lightning Series coming to I-80 Speedway

Back in the day they referred to the United States Auto Club (USAC) Sprint Car Series as the Thunder & Lightning Series. Well lets hope after three straight rainouts for the USAC Sprints they got all the bad weather out of their system and ready for some great action when they invade I-80 Speedway for the Malvern Bank I-80 Dirt Classic.

The Indiana based series will provide local fans with a rare glimpse of how they used to do it back in the day, sprint cars without wings. Non-winged sprints can be a ballet but its a dangerous ballet and one slip and a driver can be in for a wild ride. Just ask Jack Dover who ended up hanging from the fence at I-80 a number of years ago when his non-winged sprint went for a series of violent flips.

California natives Justin Grant and Chad Boespflug set atop the standings which include many Hoosier State drivers where non-wing sprint car racing is still a regular form of racing. But there is another California driver to watch and that’s Rocklin, California’s Robert Ballou a 2006 winner at I-80 in his first ever 410 non wing action. Ballou, the 2015 series champion returned to action in early May after setting out several months with serious neck injuries. He won his second time out at Eldora.

Also racing with the USAC Sprints will be the Malvern Bank Super Late Models. Newcomer to the series Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, Iowa won his second series race of the year last Sunday at Raceway Park north of Sioux City as is the current point leader. Unsanctioned B Mods will also be racing.

Pit gates open at 4 pm, Grandstands at 5:30 pm with racing at 7:15 pm. Grandstand Admission for Adults is $23, Juniors (6-12) $5 and Five and under free as always.

I-80 Speedway is located one block north of Interstate 80 Exit 420, halfway between Omaha and Lincoln. The Physical Address is 13909 – 238th Street, Greenwood, NE. For more information, visit www.i-80speedway.com or call (402)-342-3453. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.