What won the race: Fifth-starting Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, earned $2,000, besting polesitter Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., in a late back-and-forth duel to open I-80 Speedway's two-day Spring Meltdown. Ninth-starting Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., finished third on a cold night.

Quotable: “I was just trying to be patient there early. It was extremely rough. You gotta finish. You gotta be there at the end and finish. Overall it was a really good night for us,” Gustin said. “Track conditions weren't very good, but it was the same for everybody. I'm sure they'll get it ironed out tomorrow and be good to go.”

Key notes: Chad Simpson jumped out to the early lead but spun in turn two with one lap scored. ... Phillips inherited the point after the caution and held it until Gustin overtook him on the 19th of 25 laps. ... Phillips and Gustin swapped the lead twice over the next two circuits, with Gustin ultimately taking command coming out of turn four with four laps remaining. ... Brian Kosiski was among the frontrunners when he brought out a caution with two laps remaining, setting up a dash to the finish. .... Stormy Scott piloted the No. 20 Rowland Racing machine that teammate Jimmy Owens drove to two victories during USA Raceway's Wild West Shootout in Tucson, Ariz. ... Seventh-finishing R.C. Whitwell of Tucson, Ariz., piloted an Al Humphrey-owned entry. ... Opening heat race winner Chris Spieker was scheduled to start seventh but was plagued by transmission issues. ... Jesse Stovall scratched for the weekend following Friday's heat race action. ... The co-sanctioned event kicked off the seasons of the Corn Belt Clash and Lucas Oil MLRA.

On the move: Consolation race winner Tad Pospisil of Norfolk, Neb., charged from 17th to sixth, while provisional starter Bill Leighton Jr. of Omaha, Neb., climbed to a ninth-place finish.

Winner's sponsors: Gustin’s Ed and Cinde Gressel-owned Rocket Chassis has a Mullins Race Engine and is sponsored by Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, CPD Racing Tools, Eibach Springs, FastShafts, Henryetta Ford, Integra Racing Shocks, Larry's Performance Carburetors, Midwest Sheet Metal, R2C Performance Products, Sybesma Graphics and VP Race Fuels

Points chase: Both the MLRA and Corn Belt Clash open their seasons with I-80's doubleheader.

Car count: 45

Polesitter: Terry Phillips

Heat race winners: Chris Spieker, Brian Kosiski, Terry Phillips, Denny Eckrich, Jeremy Payne

Consolation race winners: Tad Pospisil, Kyle Berck

Provisional starters: Dan Shepherd, Mark Rose, Jason Rauen, Dustin Walker, Bill Leighton Jr., Ben Schaller

Next series race: April 4, I-80 Speedway (Greenwood, NE) $5,000