PUTNAMVILLE —
Opening night at one of the midwest’s premier short track operations can be like no other time of the year.
A chance for the fans and racers to shake off the long off season doldrums while ushering in a new campaign filled with high expectations amid an air of uncertainty that goes with weekly short-track racing.
Such was the scene at Lincoln Park Speedway over the weekend where the Putnamville facility hosted a near-capacity fan turnout and a pit area filled with over 100 racers and their machines.
For promoter Joe Spiker the evening couldn’t have gone much better. His biggest challenge on the night: finding enough parking spots for the overflow crowd.
The pits were lined with a stellar field of sprints-modifieds-sportsman and bombers. According to Spiker 108 in all. Not bad for what some say is troubled times in the sport.
On the sprint car side — an open date for most sanctioning groups — meant a stellar field for Spiker and his fans. The field resembled as much a USAC show as that of a regular Saturday night LPS show.
One that contained the likes of Jon Stanbrough, Dave Darland, Robert Ballou and Bryan Clauson. To no one’s surprise the “outsiders” pretty much stole the show.
Stanbrough coming on strong near the end of the 25-lap main event to notch what is expected to be one of many feature wins in his new ride in 2012.
The most impressive drive of the night however came from Clauson who stormed from deep in the field to challenge for the win in closing laps. If the feature had gone a 30-lap distance there many who felt the outcome would have been a different.
I I I
n Pit notes — The pits were lined with an abundance of sharp appearing race equipment. From the sprints to the bombers the bright color schemes and detailed fabrication of the creations were indeed eye catching.
Unfortunately that will take on a different look all to quickly in the rough and tumble ways of grass-roots racing.
Touring the crowded pits revealed the racy appearing Franklin chassis super stock creation of veteran racer Slick Griffin. The Brazil racer now with five decades of being behind the wheel is shooting for a track title in 2012.
Close by was the multi-car operation of Carmichael Racing with the familiar No. 92 modified and super stock machines of the father-son team of Kenny Carmichael and Kenny Jr. Notably missing were the sprint cars that fell the way of the team’s downsizing in the off season. Spirits were high on the night for the North Terre Haute based operation on the heels of their one-two finish at Farmers City, Ill., the previous night.
Among the strong sprint car contingent was a pair of teams from West Terre Haute. Sporting a youthful appearance but plenty of potential and enthusiasm was Seth Parker in the No. 38 R&R Trucking Sprinter and Braylon Fitzpatrick in the No. 3 Fitzpatrick Racing that fields cars for the talented dual of Braylon and Blake Fitzpatrick.
Already with a couple of USAC shows under their belts this season the number 32 sprint car machines of Chase Stockon looked as immaculate prepared as ever. The Sullivan County native plans campaigning a full USAC schedule this season.
Along the stock car pit lane were the colorful and detailed mods of Wes McClara and CJ Bryan. McClara a former Wabash Valley native notched a solid second place finish in the modified feature.
He spends most of time these days molding the bodies for the Rocket Racecar mods. He has nearly a dozen customers who field his creations.
Bryan sporting a modified and bomber in his pits. Both dressed in striking livery which is to be expected from a professional sign man.
n It was nice to see a familiar No. 71 Newlin Racing race car in the pits. The sharp appearing modified of not “Wil The Thrill” but brother Wayne who is in his second season of running the mods.
Wayne noted that big brother is itching to get back in race car so it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see one of the most popular and hard charging drivers to run the area short tracks back in action soon.
All-in all a great start to a new season. With standing-room-only turnouts at Brownstown and Flora, Ill., already this season all signs point to a banner campaign.
One can only hope that positive momentum will continue to the Action Track season opener April 22. The Action Track phone number was omitted in last week’s scheduling column. That new number is (812) 232-4040.
Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles4@frontier.com.
Auto Racing
TRACKSIDE: Near-capacity crowd turns out for opening night of racing
- Auto Racing
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
Ask any IZOD IndyCar series champion and he’d say he would gladly give up that championship to win one Indianapolis 500.
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. -
Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
And the crowd went wild.
Not only did Ed Carpenter win the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, he is the hometown son. Carpenter, the stepson of Tony George, completed his rookie orientation in 2004 and has spent the last several years, proving he deserved to be the IZOD IndyCar Series. There is no questioning his credentials now. -
Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
Ed Carpenter is on the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The native of Marshall, Ill., earned the No. 1 spot for the May 26 race with a strong run in the Fast Nine competition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday. He is the first American driver on the pole since 2006. -
TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
Soggy weather conditions, which have rightfully drawn the ire of Wabash Valley race fans and crews in recent days, continue to plague promoters where it hurts the most — their pocketbooks.
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TRACKSIDE: Tough to rise from sprint-car racing, especially in challenging financial times
Open-wheel sprint-car racing, whether it be at the national or local level, has earned a reputation over the years of generating its share of thrills and excitement for its fans and a valuable training ground for drivers seeking to hone their skills that someday might elevate them to the “major leagues” of their sport.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose baseball wins another thriller
Rose-Hulman earned its third victory in its last at-bat in the last five days with a 6-5 win over Franklin in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball Tuesday night at Art Nehf Field.
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East gets jump at SUMAR Classic
In his relatively brief but successful racing career, young Bobby East has at times unfairly been labeled as a driver who could master the pavement ovals but one who was still a work in progress on the dirt.
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Hurtubise, Sumar races on Action Track slate this weekend
Championship racing is scheduled this weekend at the Terre Haute Action Track with U.S. Auto Club features set for today and Saturday.
One USAC championship will be decided and the spread in the other division could widen or tighten up as a result of the races.
The Jim Hurtubise Classic for sprint cars is today. Only 26 points separate three drivers in the point totals. -
TRACKSIDE: Chase Stockon hopes momentum stays with him in Terre Haute
Momentum, an element that can be as elusive to a race driver as that perfect setup, can spell the difference in winning or running at the rear of the pack.
It’s a force difficult to achieve and maybe even harder to maintain. One learns quickly to make the most of the opportunity when it comes his way.
It’s something Chase Stockon will carry with him coming into today’s Jim Hurtubise Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track.
Only days following the biggest victory of his young and promising career, the $10,000-to-win USAC feature at Lawrenceburg, Stockon followed that up with another rich payday this past weekend at Tri-State Speedway. -
IndyCar celebrates return to Pocono
IndyCar driver Ed Carpenter had the chance to take a drive around Pocono Raceway, and promptly handed the car keys to racing great Mario Andretti.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rain forces postponement of Jim Hurtubise Classic
Rain and the chance of inclement weather forced postponement of the Jim Hurtubise Classic scheduled for Saturday evening at the Terre Haute Action Track.
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METRO ROUNDUP: USAC points leader Levi Jones out for season
Levi Jones, the five-time and reigning United States Auto Club (USAC) National Sprint Car champion, will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday to repair two herniated discs in his neck. While a full recovery is expected, the 12-week rehabilitation period will not allow for Jones to finish out the 2012 season, where he has competed in the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car and TRAXXAS Silver Crown divisions for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR).
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TRACKSIDE: Stockon takes giant step forward in USAC
One of the more impressive and welcomed storylines of the recently completed Indiana Sprint Week was the emergence of area driver Chase Stockon on the national sprint car scene.
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JJ joins hero Mears among four-time winners of Brickyard
Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Jimmie Johnson is a master at the Brickyard.
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Hamlin wins Brickyard 400 pole position
Denny Hamlin captured his first ever pole for the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.
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Keselowski gives Penske first stock-car win at IMS
Brad Keselowski made history Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as he took the checkered flag at the inaugural Indy 250 NASCAR Nationwide race.
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Bordais, Popow take checkered flag after downpour
While it never rained a drop during the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Super Weekend at the Brickyard certainly saw its share Friday as both the inaugural Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the Rolex Sports Car Series met with the wet stuff.
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TRACKSIDE: Indiana Sprint Week rises above heat, rain, poor economy
The 25th annual version of Indiana Sprint Week is now officially in the record books and the latest chapter will go down as one of the most successful in recent years.
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Red-hot Hunter-Reay goes for fourth straight at Edmonton
Ryan Hunter-Reay goes for his fourth straight victory Sunday in IZOD IndyCar Series action in Canada.
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Clayton wins at Don Smith Classic
They call Daron Clayton, “The Modern Day Cowboy.”
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The King of Speed
Born in Terre Haute, Roger Curtis grew up on Franklin Street, moved to Riley with his family when he was in sixth grade and attended Thornton Elementary School and Honey Creek Junior High before graduating from Terre Haute South High School in 1985.
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Jones occupies driver’s seat: Six-time THAT winner leads Sprint Week series
When you think of USAC’s Indiana Sprint Week, thoughts of Levi Jones shouldn’t be far behind.
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TRACKSIDE: Late models may have no long-term future in Indiana
Reflecting on what was billed as the biggest week of the summer for dirt-track stock-car racing … while preparing to shift gears for the busiest week of the year for non-wing sprint-car racing in the Wabash Valley.
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Kenny Wallace realizes Action Track dream
Kenny Wallace won the UMP modified feature, leading flag-to-flag for the victory on Thursday night at the Terre Haute Action Track.
Wallace, a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver from 1990-2008, couldn’t have more thrilled to become part of a racing revival at the venerable dirt oval. -
TRACKSIDE: Summer heat has made this ‘The Hell Tour’
It is fittingly billed as “The Hell Tour” for many of the Midwest’s leading late model stock car drivers and their crews.
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Franchitti mired in post-Indy 500 slump
Dario Franchitti hopes to get back on track in IndyCar Series action Sunday in Canada.
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TRACKSIDE: Retired driver LaJoie spreads the word of safety
In his roles as past driving champion and television analyst, Randy LaJoie has rightfully earned the reputation as a major contributor to the sport of auto racing.
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Trackside: Stanbrough on track at midseason
When veteran driver Jon Stanbrough ushered in a new season in Florida back in February, he found himself facing a pair of unfamiliar challenges.
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