9/10/2017
Malvern Bank 360 Sprints
Cody Ledger Hauls in $2500 at Junction!
Junction Motor Speedway McCool Junction, Nebraska (September 9, 2017)— The Nebraska Carpetland & Malvern Bank Sprint Series converged on the beautiful facility known as Junction Motor Speedway in a co-sanctioned event with the NCRA Sprint Series. It was Cody Ledger, from the 4th starting spot, who outlasted 26 other drivers, to take home the $2500 top prize!
With the laps winding down, Jason Martin did all he could to get by Ledger but it wasn’t enough.
“Yeah I messed up over there in two and I knew Jason would be right on me and I had to make the best I could with the lap cars. I had to get back to the top as fast as possible. First off, I want to wish my dad a happy birthday and I can’t help but thank my guys; Zach, Travis, my dad, John Bowers, and everyone else that chips in. Also, all of my sponsors, Stan Cisar with Speedway Graphics, Associated Fire, and Ben with the Driveway Company. A special thank you to Tony Leonardo who has helped us out a lot this year.”
Cody Ledger has been the most impressive driver this year so far with the series. He has compiled 2 wins, 8 top 5’s, 10 top 10’s in just 12 A feature starts. He is currently 3rd in series points and only 118 points out of 1st with Ryan Roberts and Seth Brahmer in the top 2.
Heat Races
T.J. Artz and Fred Mattox made up the front row for the first heat race of the evening with 8 laps being the distance. Jay Russell made his way to the pits before the green with thrown giving up his 8th starting spot with a blown motor. It was Mattox who got the advantage in turn one to take the lead. The battle was for 3rd as Carson McCarl and Danny Jennings battled for the spot. Jennings made his move in turn 3, on lap 3, to take over 3rd from McCarl. Jennings, with a slider on Artz in turn 4, moved to 2nd, but it was the next lap he got the lead as he made his way by Mattox down the backstretch. Jennings went on to win followed by Fred Mattox, T.j. Artz, Carson McCarl, and Don Droud Jr.
Forrest Sutherland and Seth Brahmer were the front row starters for the 2nd heat race of the evening. Sutherland got a great start and led the first lap of the heat. Brahmer was in tow followed by a battle between John Klabunde and Jason Martin. Martin got 3rd from Klabunde on lap 4 as heavy smoke began to come from the 5th place running Ryan Roberts. Jason Martin and Forrest Sutherland battled for 2nd as Martin’s slider with 1 to go moved him to 2nd. Brahmer held onto the lead with Jason Martin finishing 2nd, Forrest Sutherland 3rd, John Klabunde 4th, and Ryan Roberts 5th.
Mike Kay and Cale Thomas led the field to the green to start the final heat of the evening. Jack Dover did not make the call for the heat. Thomas got a great start to take the lead and Cody Ledger moved from 4th to 2nd on the 1st lap. Jeff Stasa ran 3rd and Jeremy Campbell was in 4th. Cale Thomas gave up his lead as he moved to the infield with mechanical problems giving the lead to Cody Ledger. Ledger was able to gain a huge lead over Stasa to take the win! Second was Stasa followed by Jeremy Campbell, Tyler Drueke and Shayle Bade.
Eleven cars started the B Feature with only 4 cars advancing to the A main. John Freeman and Jordan Boston started on the front row. It was Boston who took the lead in turn one and it was no looking back from there. Brant O’Banion, from the 6th starting spot moved up 3 positions to 3rd as Jason Danley was in tow. Boston held on to take the win followed by Jon Freeman, Brant O’Banion and Jason Danley.
Danny Jennings was the Saldana Racing Products Pole Sitter for the 25 lap A feature and Seth Brahmer was on his outside. Brahmer got a great start and took the lead in turn 1. After 2 laps, Brahmer held onto his lead followed by Jennings, Cody Ledger and Jason Martin. Jennings kept trying to slide Brahmer in turn 4 but couldn’t make it stick. Jennings eventually made it by Brahmer in turn two with 5 togo, but Cody Ledger took the lead the next lap as Jennings came onto lap traffic. Jason Martin ran 3rd followed by Brahmer but the yellow flew as Fred Mattox clipped the front stretch wall coming to a stop.
On the restart, Ledger brought the field to the green and they stayed single file for 2 laps until the yellow came again as Carson McCarl spun in turn 2. The top 5 were Ledger, Jennings, Martin, Brahmer and Jeremy Campbell.
Cody Ledger got another great restart as he pulled away from Jennings down the back-stretch. The man on the move though was Don Droud Jr as he moved up to 6th from a 14th place starting spot. Cody Ledger lost momentum in lapped traffic as Jennings closed in but it was on lap 16 that Jennings clipped the back stretch wall and rolled several times. Jennings walked to the ambulance under his own power and was ok.
Ledger got another great start and distanced himself from Jason Martin. Ledger’s lead was a half a straight-away over Martin but Tyler Drueke brought out the 3rd yellow of the feature as he blew his motor down the front-stretch.
There was no catching Cody Ledger on the restart as he continued his dominance with 6 togo. His lead was winding down with 2 togo as Jason Martin had closed the gap down to 1 car. It wasn’t enough as Cody Ledger picked up the win followed by Jason Martin, Seth Brahmer Jeremy Campbell and Don Droud Jr.
A Feature Results (25 Laps)
- Cody Ledger
- Jason Martin
- Seth Brahmer
- Jeremy Campbell
- Don Droud Jr.
- Jordan Boston
- Ryan Roberts
- Stuart Snyder
- Jeff Stasa
- Forrest Sutherland
- John Klabunde
- Shayle Bade
- Jon Freeman
- Brant O’Banion
- Tyler Drueke
- Danny Jennings
- Carson McCarl
- Fred Mattox
- T.J. Artz
- Jason Danley
Contingency Awards
Saldana Racing Products Pole Award- Danny Jennings
Electrical Systems Inc. $300 Podium Draw- Jeremy Campbell
Speedway Motors $200 Hard Charger Certificate- Jordan Boston
Wesmar Racing Engines “Move of the Race”- Don Droud Jr.
M & W Aluminum Products Certificate- Fred Mattox
BR Motorsports Certificate- Ryan Roberts
King Racing Products Certificate- Forrest Sutherland
Keizer Aluminum Race Wheels Certrificate- Jeff Stasa
Make plans to attend the Iron Cup at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, South Dakota next Saturday the 16th as 3 shows remain for the series. The co-sanctioned show with the Midwest Sprint Touring Series pays $1500 to the winner. Adult tickets are $15, Seniors $10, Children 6-16 are $5, and 6 and under are free. Pit passes are $30.
Points (Top 10)
Pos Car Driver Hometown Points Gap
1 18 Ryan Roberts Aurora, NE 1808 -
2 13V Seth Brahmer Norfolk, NE 1735 73
3 35L Cody Ledger Omaha, NE 1690 118
4 36 Jason Martin Lincoln, NE 1327 481
5 77 John Klabunde Ft. Calhoun, NE 1274 534
6 82 Jordan Boston Crete, NE 1258 550
7 53 Jack Dover Springfield, NE 1223 585
8 17H Ryan Bickett Ramona, SD 1126 682
9 23S Stuart Snyder Waverly, NE 1094 714
10 2 Don Droud Jr Lincoln, NE 910 898
Stay updated on all of our news and schedule by visiting www.nebraska360sprintseries.com or for live results, visit us on our Facebook page at Ne360sprint.
Article Credit: Travis Johnson
Submitted By: Travis Johnson
