What won the race: In a major upset, MLRA rookie Jim Shereck of St. Charles, Mo., led all 40 laps of the Spring Meltdown finale for a career-high $5,000 victory at I-80 Speedway. He took the checkers 3.6 seconds ahead of Tad Pospisil of Norfolk, Neb.

Quotable: "A lot of it was luck," said Shereck. "Good heat race, good points, getting on the pole. I can't thank my kids, Marc (crew chief), they did a super job. We've got a limited crew, but we get the most out of it. You had to keep it straight or you wouldn't have any tires. I don't even know what these look like. I could tell though, at the end, the tires were fading."

Key notes: Runner-up Tad Pospisil debuted a Black Diamond Chassis during the weekend. ... Reigning MLRA champ Chad Simpson spun in a consy, one night after spinning while leading the feature. ... Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, won Friday's weekend opener; he started 16th and finished 11th on Saturday. ... The co-sanctioned event kicked off the seasons of the Corn Belt Clash and Lucas Oil MLRA. ... MLRA competitors will return to I-80 on June 26 and July 17-18.

On the move: Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., started ninth and moved forward to record his second top-five finish of the weekend. ... Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa climbed from 20th to finish 12th.

Winner's sponsors: Shereck's Barry Wright Race Car is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsorship from Imo's Pizza and Kuebler Ultra Oil.

Points chase: Scott ends the weekend atop MLRA points with 194, two more than Springfield, Mo., natives Jeremy Payne and Terry Phillips.

Car count: 41

Polesitter: Jim Shereck

Heat race winners: Terry Phillips, Jason Krohn, Jim Shereck, Jeremy Payne

Consolation race winners: J.C. Wyman, Jake O'Neil

Provisional starters: Chad Simpson, Spencer Diercks, Austin Siebert, Scott Lewis, Kyle Berck, Bill Leighton Jr.

Next series race: April 10, Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) $2,000