Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Weekend Preview (May 1-3)

A huge weekend for 410s in Indiana both of the wing and non-wing variety. Here's what we have on tap:

Friday May 1

Gas City I-69 Speedway

Time: Hot Laps @ 6:45pm Racing @ 7:30pm
Forecast: Hi 67/Lo 46 Chance of Rain: 20%

After much anticipation racing returns to Gas City on Friday night as it hosts the second leg of the King of Indiana Sprint Series. Brady Short picked up the win in the first KISS race of the season Sunday night at Terre Haute but look for a good field of drivers and cars to challenge for the win Friday in round two. With the season cut short in 2014 the track opens this year under new management and looks to feature great racing in six events in 2015.

Saturday May 2

Montpelier Motor Speedway

Time: Hot Laps @ 6pm Racing @ 7pm
Forecast: Hi 70/Lo 51 Chance of Rain: 0%

It doesn't happen often but non-wing sprint cars return to Montpelier on Saturday night, this time when the track hosts the Midwest Sprint Car Series (MSCS). This will be the first of multiple times sprints make an appearance this year at Montpelier and the first time since 2001 that the MSCS tackles the 1/4 mile clay oval. Carson Short enters Saturday leading MSCS points after four events followed by Brady Short and Kyle Cummins.

Lincoln Park Speedway

Time: Hot Laps @6pm Racing @ 7pm
Forecast: Hi 72/Lo 52 Chance of Rain: 0%

After rain caused last Saturday's show to be cancelled drivers look to get back in the swing of things on Saturday night at LPS. So far in 2015 Chad Boespflug and Chase Stockon have both tallied victories in Putnamville with Casey Shuman still searching for his first victory after finishing in the runner-up position in both non-wing shows. Also in action at LPS that evening will be modifieds, super stocks, and bombers.

Lawrenceburg Speedway

Time: Hot Laps @ 6pm Racing @ 7pm
Forecast: Hi 73/Lo 49 Chance of Rain: 10%

As was the case at LPS, nature had other plans for last Saturday's evening of racing at The Burg but drivers look to get back on track this Saturday night on the high banks. The Kelsey Chevrolet sprints will be in action along with UMP modifieds, stocks, and hornets as is the case on most Saturday nights in Lawrenceburg. Thomas Meseraull is the most recent winner at Lawrenceburg Speedway taking home the checkers two weeks ago.

Chandler Motor Speedway

Time: Hot Laps @ 7pm Racing @ 7:30pm
Forecast: Hi 76/Lo 54 Chance of Rain: 10%

For the first time in 2015 Chandler Motor Speedway will also host sprint cars this weekend. Saturday will be the first of three scheduled sprint car events on the 3/8 mile oval. The track has undergone numerous much needed improvements and looks to provide good racing for drivers and owners who may not want to travel far this weekend in that part of the state. Also in action at CMS Saturday will be UMP modifieds and stocks.

Sunday May 3

Kokomo Speedway

Time: Hot Laps @ 6pm with racing to follow
Forecast: Hi 74/Lo 57 Chance of Rain: 60%

Kokomo Speedway hosts it's first race since the Kokomo Grand Prix Sunday night when it will host round three of the King of Indiana Sprint Series. CJ Leary took home the win back on April 11, the only action at Kokomo so far this season. However expect great racing Sunday as always at Kokomo. Sunday will be the second of two KISS races this weekend, the first being at Gas City on Friday evening. Also in action will be street stocks, thunder cars, and hornets.

Tri-State Speedway

Time: Qualifying @ 5:30pm Racing @ 6:30pm
Forecast: Hi 79/Lo 59 Chance of Rain: 20%

"The Greatest Show on Dirt" the World of Outlaws return to Indiana on Sunday night as they take on the "The Class Track" in Haubstadt. The race will be the third of the weekend for WoO as they swing north from last weeks Texas Outlaw Nationals. The most recent winner at TSS with the series was Paul McMahan in 2014. Sunday's race will be the first of four visits Indiana will get from the Outlaws this year. They are also slated to run Lawrenceburg, Kokomo, and Plymouth.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Sunday Recap (April 26)

Although rain won the day on Saturday there was still plenty of sprint car racing to be had around the state on Sunday, here's a recap.

Terre Haute Action Track

Brady Short was able to follow up his victory at Bloomington on Friday night with another win on Sunday evening in MSCS & KISS action at The Action Track's season opening Spring Fling.

Shane Cottle lead early in the 25 lap feature event which saw several reds and cautions. Cottle's Hazen #57 slowed with issues giving the lead to Brady Short who would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the event grabbing his 2nd win of the weekend.

Jerry Coons Jr. finished in the runner-up position while Carson Short continued with his recent success on the Indiana sprint car circuit with a solid third place finish. Kyle Robbins came home fourth while last week's winner at Twin Cities, Mitch Wissmiller, rounded out the top five.

With both Chase Stockon and Robert Ballou on the road with USAC this weekend, Carson Short took command of the MSCS points lead after 4 of 20 scheduled events. Brady Short is now second trailing Carson by 9 points with Kyle Cummins in third.

Feature Finish:
1. Brady Short
2. Jerry Coons Jr.
3. Carson Short
4. Kyle Robbins
5. Mitch Wissmiller
6. Chris Babcock
7. Max McGhee
8. Dickie Gaines
9. Aric Gentry
10. Ethan Barrow

Heat 1: Mattox, Hines, Gaines, Morin
Heat 2: B. Short, Cottle, Boespflug, Cockrum
Heat 3: Coons Jr, Babcock, Beauchamp, Gentry

Car Count: 24

Anderson Speedway

Aaron Pierce took home his fourth Glen Niebel Classic win on Sunday, the most ever, at Anderson Speedway.

Starting from the fourth position Pierce made contact with leader Donnie Adams Jr. with just over a 5th of the laps completed in the 100 lap event. Pierce would take over the lead with Adams Jr's day ending due to the incident.

Pierce did face a challenge from 2014 USAC Silver Crown champion Kody Swanson before his car slowed with 30 laps to go with engine issues. Pierce did not receive anymore serious challenges for the lead as he cruised to victory.

The defending race champion, Caleb Armstrong, finished second as Jimmy McCune, Billy Wease, and Jason Fuller rounded out the top five.

Feature Finish:
1. Aaron Pierce
2. Caleb Armstrong
3. Jimmy McCune
4. Billy Wease
5. Jason Fuller
6. Tyler Roahrig
7. Matt Goodnight
8. Brian Vaughn
9. Tony Main
10. Kody Swanson

Car Count: 13

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Rain causes multiple cancellations on Saturday

Mother Nature has won the battle against all three tracks scheduled to run sprint cars this evening in Indiana. Plymouth Speedway, Lincoln Park Speedway, and Lawrenceburg Speedway have all cancelled their events for Saturday, April 25.

However, MSCS/KISS action at the Action Track in Terre Haute and the Glen Niebel Classic at Anderson Speedway are still slated to go on as scheduled on Sunday. See the previously posted weekend preview for details on those two events.

Bloomington Recap (Fri. April 24)

Although many of the names were are normally accustomed to seeing were in Nebraska tonight for USAC action, Bloomington Speedway was not short of any drama in the sprint car portion of their Friday evening show. Brady Short came away victorious at the end of the 25 lap feature event Friday at Bloomington, his first win of the year at the famed red clay quarter mile.

The night did not start well for Chad Boespflug as he went bottom up in the first heat race of the evening, which would set the tone for last week's feature winner at LPS. It was also a rough evening for Chris Gurley who loaded up his car early with mechanical issues. Shane Cottle, Michael Koontz, and Brady Short would collect heat race wins with every car advancing to the 25 lap feature event with only 20 cars on hand for the evening.

Shane Cottle and Michael Koontz led the field to the green in the feature which quickly saw the red flag displayed as Boespflug found himself upside down, for the second time on the evening. Following the restart and throughout most of the feature Shane Cottle, driving the familiar Hazen #57, paced the field. Inside five laps to go Brady Short saw an opportunity and used it to his advantage to take the top spot from Cottle in order to cruise to the checkered flag for the evening. Cottle would hang on for second as Chase Briscoe rounded out the podium. Jeff Bland Jr. and Max McGhee rounded out the top five for the evening.

Feature Finish:
1. Brady Short
2. Shane Cottle
3. Chase Briscoe
4. Jeff Bland Jr.
5. Max McGhee
6. Ethan Barrow
7. Jordan Kinser
8. Michael Koontz
9. Josh Cunningham
10. Braxton Cummings

Heat 1: Cottle, Bland Jr, Morin, Kinser
Heat 2: Koontz, Briscoe, McGhee, Babcock
Heat 3: Short, Barrow, Cunningham, Smith

Car Count: 20

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Glen Niebel Classic moved to Sunday April 26

With the forecast calling for cold temperatures and rain on Saturday, Anderson Speedway has moved its USSA Sprint Car Glen Niebel Classic to Sunday April 26. Qualifications for the 100 lap event as well as the ARCA/CRA late model 125 lap event will begin at 1:30 Sunday afternoon with racing beginning at 3pm.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Weekend Preview (April 24-26)

USAC sprints are heading west this weekend but that does not mean there won't be plenty of action here in Indiana. Here's whats on tap.

Friday April 24

Bloomington Speedway

Time: Hot laps @ 6:30pm Racing @ 7:30pm
Forecast: Hi 62/Lo 46 Chance of Rain: 0%

Sprint action returns to the world's fastest red clay quarter mile on Friday night. This week's race comes on the heels of Bryan Clauson's USAC/MSCS win at the track last week which was the first race of the season at Bloomington. Friday night's race will be the only sprint action in the state that night so fans can expect a good turnout. The American Modified Series as well as stocks and hornets will also be in action.

Saturday April 25

Lincoln Park Speedway (This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather)

Time: Hot laps @ 6pm Racing @ 7pm
Forecast: Hi 53/Lo 42 Chance of Rain: 100%

If the weather cooperates LPS hosts sprint cars yet again on Saturday evening. Chad Bosepflug won last weeks 25 lap feature. 2014 track champion Casey Shuman still looks to get into victory lane this season at LPS after finishing in the runner-up position in the first two races of the season in Putnamville.

Lawrenceburg Speedway (This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather)

Time: Hot laps @ 6pm Racing @ 7pm
Forecast: Hi 55/Lo 41 Chance of Rain: 90%

As is the case for Lincoln Park, weather may be an issue for the Kelsey Chevrolet Sprints at the The Burg on Saturday night. If the weather cooperates expect another solid car count this weekend at the Battleground as there have been 22 cars in attendance the last two Saturdays. Thomas Meseraull picked up the win on the high banks last Saturday night. Also in action Saturday night at Lawrenceburg: modifieds, stocks, & hornets.

Plymouth Speedway (This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather)

Time: Hot laps @ 6pm Racing @ 7pm
Forecast: Hi 51/Lo 37 Chance of Rain: 70%

The northern part of the state finally gets some relief in the form of 410 non-wing action as Plymouth Speedway opens up its 2015 with it's Cabin Fever event. The track crew have made numerous improvements during the offseason, most notably a new track surface that should provide for some great racing this season.

Sunday April 26

Terre Haute Action Track

Time: Hot laps @ 5pm Racing @ 6:30pm
Forecast: Hi 63/Lo 40 Chance of Rain: 10%

THAT will kick off its 2015 season on Sunday with their Spring Fling event that will not only be sanctioned by MSCS but will also be race #1 of seven King of Indiana Sprint Car Series (KISS) events in 2015. Also in action will be UMP modifieds. This will be the first of seven events at the Action Track this season.

Anderson Speedway

Time: Qualifying @ 1:30pm Racing @ 3pm
Forecast: Hi 61/Lo 38 Chance of Rain: 10%

If pavement sprint car racing is your thing then you will want to be at Anderson Speedway on Sunday afternoon for the 15th annual Glen Niebel Classic. Originally slated for Saturday the USSA Sprint Car Challenge Series will open up its campaign on Sunday now due to mother nature. Caleb Armstrong is the defending race champion. Also in action at Anderson Saturday night will be the ARCA/CRA late models.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Opinion: To go, or to go home?

While making my morning rounds on IndianaOpenWheel.com this morning I noticed some fans debating whether or not ALL of the cars present for last night's USAC/MSCS Spring Showdown at Tri-State Speedway should have started the 30 lap feature event. For those unaware there were 24 cars in attendance in Haubstadt for a race that allowed for 22 starters. Therefore two cars were forced to load it up early following the B-Main.

The question: On a night like this should all 24 cars be allowed to start the feature although the rules specified only 22 cars were to start? My opinion: No.

Rules and regulations are in place for a reason. As a fan I pay my hard-earned money to go watch a great race, much like the one provided by Brady Bacon and Robert Ballou at TSS on Saturday night. What I'm not paying for is to see cars on track and in the way for a feature event that they probably don't deserve to be in. That being said I have no problem with the two drivers that did not go to the feature last night. However, both cars did qualify in the final two positions on Saturday, they both finished last in their respective heats and in the final two spots in the B-Main. Why would a fan believe they deserved to start the feature event?

I understand the thought process of some that believe racers need the experience and sending them home early is not a way to do that. My problem with the people that say that is this: Last night there were 4 tracks in action, (TSS, LPS, Lawrenceburg, and Twin Cities) if a driver is looking for experience I would hardly recommend going to the track that's going to have the stiffest competition. (Not saying the other tracks did not feature talented drivers. Meseraull, Cottle, Boespflug, Coons Jr, etc all raced somewhere other than TSS last night, but I would hope you understand where I'm going with that.)

Additionally what is the advantage of having much slower cars in the field that will not be competitive? I can recall watching Kyle Larson leading a World of Outlaws race a few years ago at Kokomo. Larson was long gone in his 1K when he clipped a much slower car as he navigated lapped traffic. Larson spun, did a 360, and managed to keep the car going but Tim Kaeding got by and ultimately won the race. When slower cars are virtually handed a free pass to the feature that's what can happen. Now, that's not what happened in that World of Outlaws race that night at Kokomo but I'm almost certain that type of incident is more likely to happen when we allow undeserving cars to start a feature.

People seem to forget we feature B-Mains, C-Mains, and so on for a reason. If a driver can't hang in one of those races why on earth would you believe they deserve to be in the feature?

My conclusion is this: If an event says they are starting a certain number of cars than that is the number that should start, it should make no difference whether there is only 1 more car than that specified number or 100 cars more. You don't see IndyCar starting 34 cars in the Indy 500 or NASCAR starting 44 cars in the Daytona 500, why should USAC (which is much better racing by the way) be any different?

Opinions are my own, I'll address various topics during the course of the season.

Weekend Recap

Friday April 17

Bloomington Speedway

Friday evening at Bloomington Speedway's opener we saw a great group of cars take to the track for the first USAC/MSCS co-sanctioned event of the year. In the feature event Carson Short used his front row starting position to his advantage to lead the first 12 laps of the 30 lap race. Bryan Clauson, in his Priority Aviation #7, charged from the third row using the aid of an early caution as well to the steal the lead away from Short on lap 13 and immediately started to stretch the gap to 2nd place. On the final lap Clauson jumped the cushion and nearly gave the race away to a charging Jon Stanbrough, however he was able to recover to take the victory. Stanbrough finished 2nd followed by Chase Stockon. Tracy Hines as Brady Bacon rounded out the top five.

Feature Finish:
1. Bryan Clauson
2. Jon Stanbrough
3. Chase Stockon
4. Tracy Hines
5. Brady Bacon
6. Carson Short
7. Brady Short
8. Robert Ballou
9. Shane Cottle
10. Dave Darland

Heat 1: Bacon, Cottle, Cummins, C. Short
Heat 2: Darland, Ballou, Tr. Hines, Boespflug
Heat 3: Stockon, Clauson, Grant, McGhee
Heat 4: Cockrum, Simon, B. Short, Leary
B-Main: Thomas Jr, Jarrett, Stanrbough, Briscoe, Coons Jr.

Car Count: 35

Saturday April 18

Tri-State Speedway

For the second time in as many nights USAC and MSCS came together to co-sanction an event. This time the Spring Showdown at TSS. In the feature event Tracy Hines and Kyle Cummins used their front row starting positions to both lead laps early however a very fast Brady Bacon got around both to capture the lead early and began a dominant run to the finish. A very quick Robert Ballou, coming from the 7th starting position, was able to get to 2nd and was applying heavy pressure to Bacon before a top 5 running Kevin Thomas Jr. clipped a lapped car and brought out the races only caution. On the restart Bacon was able to get away from the ever present Ballou to get the win. Ballou finished as the runner-up followed by Kyle Cummins, Brady Short, and Chase Stockon. A very consistent Stockon, who collected another pair of top 5's this weekend continues to lead USAC points after this weekends action.

Feature Finish:
1. Brady Bacon
2. Robert Ballou
3. Kyle Cummins
4. Brady Short
5. Chase Stockon
6. Tracy Hines
7. Dave Darland
8. Kevin Thomas Jr.
9. CJ Leary
10. Carson Short

Heat 1: Ballou, Darland, Jarrett, Farney
Heat 2: B Short, Leary, Bland Jr, Tr. Hines
Heat 3: Bacon, Brackett, Cummins, Stockon
B-Main: Grant, C Short, Stanbrough, Lyerla, Ted Hines

Car Count: 24

Lawrenceburg Speedway

For the second time in as many weeks 22 cars were on hand to battle it out on the high banks of Lawrenceburg Speedway. The feature had plenty of drama as "T-Mez" Thomas Meseraull and Joss Moffatt had a great battle for the top position while Jarett Andretti looked to get into the mix at times. When the checkered flag flew it was Meseraull who claimed the top spot followed by Moffatt who put in an impressive drive. Andretti came home in the 3rd spot while 2014 track champion Shawn Westerfeld finished 4th. Max McGhee collected the final spot inside the top 10.

Feature Finish:
1. Thomas Meseraull
2. Joss Moffatt
3. Jarett Andretti
4. Shawn Westerfeld
5. Max McGhee
6. Garrett Abrams
7. Matt Goodnights
8. Evan Gindling
9. Mike Miller
10. Michael Fischesser

Heat 1: Moffatt, McGhee, Fischesser, Abrams
Heat 2: Owen, Goodnight, Brenton, Little
Heat 3: Andretti, Westerfeld, Meseraull, Miller

Car Count: 22

Lincoln Park Speedway

After getting a good car count on a night in which we found 4 Indiana tracks in actions as far as sprints are concerned it was a Chad Boespflug vs. Casey Shuman battle at LPS in Putnamville on Saturday night. Boespflug starting from the 5th position in the 25 lap feature event was able to fight his way to the front of the pack to take the win while pole position starter Casey Shuman finished 2nd. Tyler Hewitt, who started 3rd, finished 3rd followed by Shane Cottle in the Hazen #57 and Jerry Coons Jr to round out the top five.

Feature Finish:
1. Chad Boespflug
2. Casey Shuman
3. Tyler Hewitt
4. Shane Cottle
5. Jerry Coons Jr.
6. Cole Smith
7. Austin Prock
8. Justin Peck
9. Conner Donelson
10. Brandon Morin

Heat 1: Cottle, Hewitt, Prock, Morin
Heat 2: Boespflug, Babcock, Beldin Jr, Underwood
Heat 3: Coons Jr, Shuman, Smith, Newlin

Car Count: 20

Twin Cities Raceway Park

Did not have a ton of information coming out of TCRP as sprints returned to the track for the first time in 2015. What we do know is there were 16 cars in action and there was apparently some drama concerning Logan Hupp and Jake Scott during the 25 lap feature event. Mitch Wissmiller picked up the victory on the evening followed by Jake Scott while Jordan Kinser rounded out the podium.

Feature Finish:
1. Mitch Wissmiller
2. Jake Scott
3. Jordan Kinser
4. Dickie Gaines
5. Scott Hampton
6. Drew Abel
7. Ethan Barrow
8. Braxton Cummings
9. Logan Hupp
10. Ron Combs

Heat 1: Scott, Combs, Phillips, Link
Heat 2: Wissmiller, Hupp, Kinser, Abel

Car Count: 16

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Weekend Preview (April 17-19)

Another great weekend of racing is on tap, here's what we have to look forward too.

Friday April 17

Bloomington Speedway

Time - Hot laps @ 6:30pm Racing @ 7:30pm
Forecast - Hi 75/Lo 54 Chance of Rain: 10%

Both USAC and MSCS return to action as they will co-sanction the sprint car portion of Bloomington Speedway's opener on Friday night. If the weather cooperates cars from both series will run a 30 lap feature event with a $5,000 check going to the winner. Chase Stockon comes into Friday night's event leading not only MSCS points after winning the first event last weekend but also the USAC points. Trailing Stockon in AMSOIL USAC Nat'l Sprint Car Series points is Robert Ballou (-11) followed by Dave Darland (-24).

Saturday April 18

Tri-State Speedway

Time - Hot laps @ 6:30pm Racing @ 7:30pm
Forecast - Hi 78/Lo 62 Chance of Rain: 20%

The MSCS and USAC will team up once again Saturday night as TSS hosts the Spring Showdown and the winner will once again take home $5,000 after yet another 30 lap feature event. As will be the case Friday at Bloomington, Saturday will also be the season opener at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt. This will be the 4th edition of the Spring Showdown at TSS with "The Modern Day Cowboy" Daron Clayton taking home the win in the event in 2014.

Lincoln Park Speedway

Time - Hot laps @ 6pm Racing @ 7pm
Forecast - Hi 76/Lo 57 Chance of Rain: 0%

LPS returns to action on Saturday evening with its weekly show one week removed from an exciting opener that saw Chase Stockon win the first MSCS event. Casey Shuman is the defending champion at LPS which will also feature UMP modifieds, super stocks, and bombers on Saturday night.

Twin Cities Raceway Park

Time - Hot laps @ 5:30pm with racing to follow
Forecast - Hi 78/Lo 56 Chance of Rain: 0%

For the first time of the season Twin Cities will host 410 non-wing sprint cars. Saturday evening's race will be the first of nine sprint car events this season at TCRP. A lot of people within the racing community have come together to make this one possible so if you don't have plans Saturday night and are close then North Vernon is where you want to be race fans. TCRP will also host TQs, hornets, and modifieds on Saturday evening.

Lawrenceburg Speedway

Time - Hot laps @ 6pm Racing @ 7pm
Forecast - Hi 78/Lo 54 Chance of Rain: 0%

The Kelsey Chevrolet Lawrenceburg Speedway sprint cars are in action again Saturday night on the high banks of "The Burg". Brady Bacon went wire-to-wire last weekend en route to the win but with USAC and MSCS in action at TSS on Saturday night look for the Lawrenceburg regulars to get back into victory lane. Defending track champion Shawn Westerfeld was 5th last weekend. Also in action at Lawrenceburg Saturday night: UMP modifieds, stocks, and hornets.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Saturday Night Recap

3 races around the state on Saturday night and none of them disappointed, here's a review.

Kokomo Speedway

With only 14 sprint cars in attendance one might think it would be a slow night, however it was anything but at Kokomo Speedway Saturday night. After Kyle Robbins came to a stop after 14 laps of the 25 lap feature event Justin Grant bounced through turn 1 on the restart allowing CJ Leary to make the pass for the lead, the two of which had battled intensely for the lead over the opening laps. Leary then had to navigate lapped traffic to take the win. Kevin Thomas Jr. finished in the runner-up position while Justin Grant recovered to round out the podium. Fan favorite Dave Darland finished 4th while Jerry Coons Jr. made a late pass to steal 5th away from last weeks winner at Lawrenceburg, Logan Jarrett.

Feature Finish:
1. CJ Leary
2. Kevin Thomas Jr.
3. Justin Grant
4. Dave Darland
5. Jerry Coons Jr.
6. Logan Jarrett
7. Zach Daum
8. Chris Gurley
9. Josh Spencer
10. Jamie Fredrickson

Heat 1: Grant, Thomas Jr, Darland, Daum, Robbins
Heat 2: Leary, Jarrett, Coons Jr, Spencer, Cottle

Car Count: 14

Lincoln Park Speedway

A solid car count Saturday night in Putnamville as the Midwest Sprint Car Series kicked off their 2015 campaign. The racing was great as well as treacherous as drivers battled the track at times during the feature event. In the end it was Chase Stockon taking the checkers after a battle with Casey Shuman for the top spot. Robert Ballou was fun to watch after having to make his way into the feature from the B-Main after he and Brady Short took a nasty tumble in their heat race. Ballou worked his way through the field to take the final spot on the podium while Brent Beauchamp and Daron Clayton rounded out the top five.

Feature Finish:
1. Chase Stockon
2. Casey Shuman
3. Robert Ballou
4. Brent Beauchamp
5. Daron Clayton
6. Chad Boespflug
7. Max McGhee
8. Jon Stanbrough
9. Shane Cockrum
10. Aaron Farney

Heat 1: Shuman, CShort, McGhee, Morin
Heat 2: Stanbrough, Clayton, Farney, Beauchamp
Heat 3: Stockon, Bland Jr, KCummins, Gaines
B-Main Transfers: Boespflug, Ballou, Brackett, Wissmiller

Car Count: 28

Lawrenceburg Speedway

The race Saturday evening at The Burg was in honor of Lauren Hill, a Lawrenceburg High School graduate who passed away on April 10 following her battle with terminal cancer.

In the feature event Brady Bacon went wire-to-wire leading all 25 laps in the Hoffman #69 to take the win in dominating fashion. Landon Simon also had a strong showing in 2nd while "TMez" Thomas Meseraull finished third. Jarrett Andretti and 2014 track champion Shawn Westerfeld rounded out the top five.

Feature Finish:
1. Brady Bacon
2. Landon Simon
3. Thomas Meseraull
4. Jarrett Andretti
5. Shawn Westerfeld
6. Justin Owen
7. Joss Moffatt
8. Michael Fischesser
9. Garrett Abrams
10. Matt Goodnight

Heat 1: Simon, Abrams, Meseruall, Owen, Moffatt
Heat 2: Bacon, Westerfeld, Andretti, Hupp, Gnat
Heat 3: Gardner, Hewitt, Goodnight, Fischesser, Liguori

Car Count: 22

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Weekend Preview (April 10-12)

Our first true big weekend of sprint car racing is this weekend with 3 tracks across the state hosting 4 shows. Here is what's on tap for this weekend.

Friday April 10

Kokomo Speedway (This race has been cancelled and will not be made up)

Time - Hot laps @ 6pm with racing to follow
Forecast - Hi 61/Lo 37 Chance of rain: 10%

Kokomo Speedway will be the place to be on Friday evening when sprint cars return to one of the premier tracks in not only Indiana but in the country. With the USAC Midgets in action for the Kokomo Grand Prix sprints will also be in action. Notable drivers who have announced they will be taking part in the action include Shane Cottle who makes his 2015 debut in the Paul Hazen #57 as well as Kevin Thomas Jr. If you don't have plans for Friday night we can sum it up for you with one popular hashtag from Twitter....#GYATK.

Saturday April 11

Lincoln Park Speedway

Time - Hot laps @ 6pm, Racing @ 7pm
Forecast - Hi 63/Lo 42 Chance of rain: 0%

Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville also kicks off it's season this weekend when it will host the season opener for the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series on Saturday night for IndianaOpenWheel.com Racin' Fest. The winner of Saturday night's 30 lap feature will collect a $4,000 pay check with 3 other classes also taking the track that evening. The defending MSCS champion is 4-time champion Kyle Cummins with Brady Short taking the runner-up position for the MSCS in 2014.

Lawrenceburg Speedway

Time - Hot laps @ 6pm, Racing @ 7pm
Forecast - Hi 64/Lo 37 Chance of rain: 0%

A week removed from an exciting USAC show in which Logan Jarrett picked up his first win in that series, the high banks at Lawrenceburg will once again have sprints in action when the Lawrenceburg Kelsey Chevrolet sprints take the track. Shawn Westerfeld was the track champion in 2014 with Joss Moffatt coming home in the runner-up position. There will also be three other classes in action at The Burg on Saturday evening.

Kokomo Speedway

Time - Hot laps @ 6pm with racing to follow
Forecast - Hi 61/Lo 40 Chance of rain: 0%

For the second night in a row sprints will be in action at Kokomo in conjunction with night two of the USAC Midgets Kokomo Grand Prix. Once again it should be an exciting night of racing with many familiar names pulling double duty. The defending track champion at Kokomo is Bryan Clauson. We should be in attendance both nights to give you updates on Twitter @INSprintCarNews.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

USAC Results from Lawrenceburg Speedway

It was an underdog type night as Kokomo, Indiana native Logan Jarrett picked up his first ever USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series win Saturday night after a dominating performance in the 30 lap feature event at Lawrenceburg Speedway. An outcome not many fans probably predicted.

Logan Jarrett went to the lead on lap 1 and never looked back leading all 30 laps on the high banked oval in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Jarrett and Kyle Robbins led the field to the green with Jarrett quickly jumping out front as Robbins faded as the race progressed. Jarrett in his #29 Claxton powered J&J Trucking car were able to build a huge lead as the "Madman" Robert Ballou and "The People's Champ" Dave Darland gave chase before Jarrett's lead was erased with a caution inside of 10 to go. However after multiple restarts after Landon Simon stopped on a restart and another caution was called for debris Jarrett was able to get back out front cleanly to win his first USAC sprint car race with plenty of exciting racing behind him.

A hard charging CJ Leary was able to finish second after starting deep in the field in 17th while Robert Ballou finished 3rd. Kevin Thomas Jr. finished in 4th and Dave Darland rounded out the top five.

Edit: KTJ was disqualified for not reporting to scales post-race.

Feature Finish:
1. Logan Jarrett
2. CJ Leary
3. Robert Ballou
4. Kevin Thomas Jr. (DQ'd for not reporting to scales, slide everyone up one spot)
5. Dave Darland
6. Jon Stanbrough
7. Chase Stockon
8. Brady Bacon
9. Tracy Hines
10. Justin Grant

Heat 1: Thomas Jr, Farney, Leary, Courtney, Stanbrough
Heat 2: Grant, Ballou, Bacon, Darland, Stockon
Heat 3: Jarrett, Coons Jr, Simon, Hupp, Clauson
Heat 4: Clayton, Robbins, Andretti, Hery, Abrams
B-Main Transfers to A-Main: Stockon, Stanbrough, Shuman, Clauson, Boespflug, Cummins

Car Count: 36

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Weekend Preview (April 3-5)

With the Indiana sprint car season about to hit full stride we give you the first of many weekend previews to come this season. This weekend we only have 1 race on tap but it should do anything but disappoint.

Lawrenceburg Speedway - April 4, 2015

Time - Hot Laps @ 6pm, Racing @ 7pm
Forecast - Hi 56/Lo 37 Chance of Rain: 0%

This will be the first time USAC has been in action since the final week of February in Florida however do not expect that to hinder the on-track action Saturday night on the high banks of "The Burg".

Robert Ballou comes into Saturday night with the hot hand having won Sunday nights No Way Out 40 at Brownstown along with taking 2 races in Florida during Winter Dirt Games. Kevin Thomas Jr. also comes in hot having finished in the runner-up position on Sunday and having also picked up a victory in Florida. Other drivers to watch on Saturday include the 2014 USAC Sprint Car champion Brady Bacon and fan favorite Dave Darland, both of which picked up victories at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida. Chase Stockon leads series points entering Saturday at a track at which he gained his first ever USAC win in 2012.