• I-80 Speedway celebrating 25 years of racing

I-80 Speedway celebrating 25 years of racing

12 Feb

I-80 Speedway celebrating 25 years of racing

I-80 Speedway celebrating 25 years of racing

Completed in mid 1994, I -80 Speedway is celebrating its 25th year of operation in 2018. I-80 will be celebrating it 25 year history with special events. In its inaugural season I-80 ran 410 Sprint Cars, Limited Late Models and IMCA Modifieds on Friday nights and Late Models, Limited Late Models and ProAms on Saturday nights. On June 24 & 25, 1995, ARCA made its only visit to the Cornhusker State when it visited I-80.

In 2001, the track was purchased and renamed Nebraska Raceway Park. In 2004, Land Developers Inc. purchased the track, and is the present owner. In August 2004, Little Sunset Speedway, a 1/8th mile karting facility was added behind the main grandstand of the speedway.

In the spring of 2005, the Soaring Edge Motocross facility was open but was closed in 2009. The 4/10ths mile track was renamed I-80 Speedway and the entire facility was renamed Nebraska Raceway Park in 2005. In 2011, Little Sunset Speedway was enlarged with a wider racing surface and higher banking to accomodate Mini Sprints in addition to go-karts.

During its history, I-80 Speedway has played host to a number of touring series including the ARCA series, ASCS Sprint Cars, ASCS Sprint Bandits Tour N’Topless, Busch All Star Tour, Hav-A-Tampa, MARS, MLRA, National Sprint League, NCRA, Nebraska 360 Sprints, TORA, UMP Summer Nationals, USAC, USMTS, WDRL and Woo Sprints. Many of these series compete in annual events such as the Spring Meltdown, the Midwest Fall Brawl and the Cornhusker Classic. It is also home base to the Malvern Bank Super Late Models (SLMR), an area Super Late Model Series now entering its eleventh year.

The Crown Jewel event at I-80 Speedway is currently the Silver Dollar Nationals. The event features the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the United States Modified Touring Series. In 2018, the SDN will pay $53,000 to win and $2,000 to start.

I-80 continues to host weekly Friday night racing featuring the NASCAR Whelen All American Series.