With the racing world paused amid the COVID-19 outbreak, SPEED SPORT is highlighting race tracks around the United States. This is part of that ongoing series.
Track of the Day: I-80 Speedway
Address: 13903 238 St., Greenwood, NE 68366
Website: www.i-80speedway.com
History: I-80 Speedway, a four-tenths-mile dirt oval located in Greenwood, Neb., is one of Nebraska’s finest dirt tracks.
The track was completed midway through the 1994 season and in 2018 celebrated its 25th anniversary. The track was originally owned by local businessman Rich Bellino, who later sold the facility to Ted Carlson, who also owned South Dakota’s Park Jefferson Int’l Speedway, in 2001.
Carlson remained the owner of the track until 2004, when he agreed to sell the track to a group of race car drivers. Under the Land Developers Inc. name, the group of competitors continues to own and operate the track.
I-80 Speedway’s weekly events are sanctioned by NASCAR, with the super late model class serving as the track’s top division. Josh Leonard is the defending track champion in the super late model class, winning the title by one point over Bill Leighton.
In addition to weekly racing, I-80 Speedway hosts a number of touring divisions. Among them are the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
The track’s biggest event of the season is the Silver Dollar Nationals, which will take place July 24-25 this year and features the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and United States Modified Touring Series. The main event for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series offers a $53,000 payout to the winner.
I-80 Speedway is part of a larger motorsports facility known as Nebraska Raceway Park. The facility also features Little Sunset Speedway, a fifth-mile dirt track that hosts karting events.
