---

Eric Lutz Victorious at Off Road Speedway!

Off Road Speedway Norfolk, Nebraska (June 22, 2019)—Year after year the excitement never disappoints as a co-sanctioned show with the Property Solutions of America Midwest Sprint Touring Series brought a standing room only crowd to ascend on the 1/4 mile track in northeast Nebraska. This was the first of two shows at Off Road Speedway as both series will join together again in August.

It was Eric Lutz getting his 1st victory since April of 2018 when he won the South Dakota Sprint Car Nationals at Park Jefferson Speedway. That victory was his biggest as he took home the $10,000 top prize. Feature action was halted Saturday night as a brief shower fell upon the track.

“Your mind is your worst enemy in a deal like that. You just over think and we had some time to change the car but I wasn’t that good in the beginning and I didn’t want to change that much stuff. It was a survival and I’m just glad we finished. We’ve been constant the last year and we hope to take the momentum into the end of the season.”

The Saldana Racing Products pole winner of John Klabunde brought the field to the green flag with Eric Lutz to his outside. As the field went into turn 1, it was Brant O’Binion who wheel hopped and ended up rolling his car several times as the red flag was thrown without a lap being complete. Brant was able to walk away.

As the field was reset, Klabunde led the field again to the start but a spin by C.J. Johnson, in turn 1, stacked the field to another side by side start with no laps down.

John Klabunde took the field to the green flag as Eric Lutz took to the high side in turn one but it was Klabunde who led lap 1. The battle was third between Bade and Dover but the 2018 Bobby Parker Rookie of the year of Shayle Bade, wheel hopped and tumbled between turns 1 and 2 bringing out yet another red flag with only 1 lap down. Shayle was ok and was able to walk away without injury. John Klabunde was first, Eric Lutz second, Jack Dover third, Tyler Drueke fourth and Jason Martin fifth.

John Klabunde led the field to the green flag as he went high in turn one and third place Dover went low to get by Eric Lutz for second. Only a lap later, Dover was able to get by Klabunde for the lead, in turn 4, on lap 3, but the red came out for Rich Cerveny as he rode the top of the front stretch wall for half the straightaway and ended up rolling and coming to a stop below the flag stand. Cerveny was ok. The top 5 are Jack Dover, John Klabunde, Eric Lutz, Tyler Drueke, and Jason Martin with 3 laps down.

Jack Dover took the field to the green flag getting a monster start to gain a 5 car lead on Klabunde the following lap. It was the following lap as Seth Brahmer bicycled his car gently flipping it to its side in turns 1 and 2 bringing out a red flag. Seth was ok. A brief rain shower hit the track but we were able to restart the race cutting the total laps down to 15.

Moisture began to fall at the track and all of the cars were sent to the pits so heavy machinery could be brought onto the track to keep it rolled in. After a 15 minute delay the sprints were brought onto the track. As the cars were firing, Jack Dover came to a stop in turn one with a left front flat tire and his crew was able to change it sending him to the back for the restart.

John Klabunde is now the race leader as he brings the field to the green flag. Klabunde continues his lead on lap 2 as the battle for second ensues between Lutz and Drueke. Chuck McGillivray spins in turn 4 bringing out the yellow.

With 12 laps togo, Klabunde brought the field to the green with Lutz following close behind. On lap 5, Lutz was able to get take the lead from Klabunde as Cody Ledger moved to the third spot. With 6 laps down, Cody Ledger hit the cone in turn 4 sending it onto the track sending him to the back.

Lutz with the lead, brings the field to the green as Jason Martin and contended with Tyler Drueke for second but both drivers, coming out of turn 4 got sideways as Jason Martin was able to keep going but Drueke collected Ryan Bickett sending Bickett tumbling down the front stretch. Six laps still remained with Eric Lutz as the leader followed by John Klabunde, Jason Martin, Tyler Drueke and Jody Rosenboom.

Eric Lutz resumed the race rocketing to the lead but Jack Dover spun coming out of turn 2 bringing out another yellow. Still six laps to go.

On the restart, kept his lead completing 1 lap as Jody Rosenboom moved to the fourth spot. The battle for second between Jason Martin and John Klabunde ensued as Martin was able to get by Klabunde in turn 4 with 5 laps to go. Jack Dover cracked the top 5 again with 1 lap to go. In the end it was Eric Lutz who walked away with the $1500 win.

Heat Race #1 Results (8 Laps)

Eric Lutz
Jack Dover
John Klabunde
Terry Richards Jr
Rick Pendergast
Rick Hansen
Tommy Barber

Heat Race #2 Results (8 Laps)

Jason Martin
Shayle Bade
Dusty Ballenger
Cody Ledger
Chuck McGillivray
C.J. Johnson

Heat Race #3 Results (8 Laps)

Brant O’Banion
Ryan Bickett
Tyler Drueke
Seth Brahmer
Jody Rosenboom
Rich Cerveny

A Feature Results (25 Laps)

Eric Lutz
Jason Martin
John Klabunde
Jody Rosenboom
Jack Dover
Cody Ledger
Terry Richards Jr
Dusty Ballenger
Chuck McGillivray
Tommy Barber
Rick Pendergast
Tyler Drueke
Ryan Bickett
Seth Brahmer
Rich Cerveny
C.J. Johnson
Shayle Bade
Rick Hansen
Brant O’Banion

Contingency Awards

Saldana Racing Products Pole Award- John Klabunde
Speedway Motors Hard Charger $200- Jody Rosenboom
Electrical Systems Inc Podium Draw $300- John Klabunde
Hard Charger 3D Auto Transport Tire Award- Jason Martin

Points (As of June 23, 2019)

Pos Driver Points Gap

1 Jack Dover 872 -
2 Jason Martin 854 18
3 Cody Ledger 743 129
4 Tyler Drueke 710 162
5 John Klabunde 687 185
6 Ryan Roberts 668 204
7 Shayle Bade 652 220
8 Seth Brahmer 633 239
9 Matt Juhl 555 317
10 Jody Rosenboom 555 317

Next Saturday June 29, sprint cars return to the 4/10 mile in Harlan, Iowa and Shelby County Speedway. Hot laps start at 6:30 with racing to follow. Adults are $15, Ages 11-18 $8 and 10 and under are free. For more information please visit www.racescs.com.

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 Media

Back to News