TERRE HAUTE —
Some random thoughts, notes and quotes surrounding the recent running of the Tony Hulman Classic and Indianapolis 500:
Despite the troubling times in IndyCar racing, the 500 still carries a strong measure of mystique even to the most casual race fan.
The inherited dangers of that 33-car flying start and climatic last-lap drama at Indianapolis still holds a special place in heart of race fans.
The smaller than expected televison ratings for the 500 could’nt have come as good news for those at the Indy Racing League.With a television package that leaves most Indy car buffs in the dark most of the season one would think its premier event of the year would draw stronger TV numbers. That much-ballyhooed promotional coy by Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Burton Smith for a potential $20-million payday for any driver who could win at Indy and Charlotte on the same day may have taken a hit what with Mike Conway’s frightening last-lap aerial act in the 500.
One would think the list of potential NASCAR regulars that might have entertained thoughts of running both shows shrunk considerably with the nasty appearing incident.
Realistically, the potential short list of any driver-team combination that could pull off the feat is very limited.
Having the right equipment to win both races is probably a bigger obstacle than driving talent. Only two car owners have the potential of providing winning rides at both tracks.
Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi with drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Sam Hornish.
Still, the proposed challenge would draw plenty of excitment if Tony Stewart, John Andretti, Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne or Ryan Newman would give it a go.
If Jeff Gordon says he wouldn’t give it a try even if it paid $100 milion to win pretty well expresses the mentality the stock car set has for running with those open cockpits. Can one really blame them?
Winner Jerry Coons Jr. and runner-up Levi Jones may have grabbed the spotlight in the Hulman Classic but the drive by Dave Darland who charged from deep in the pack to finish third drew the biggest applause at the end of the night.
Just another classic drive by a guy who mysteriously struggles to keep a ride. Dave started the USAC season in one of those coveted Kieth Kunz cars.The tenure was all to brief after one bad weekend.
Jon Stanbrough’s bid for a third Hulman Classic title was short lived. The hottest driver on the Indiana short-track scene had an early exit after an opening lap multi-car pileup.
Without naming names Stanbrough vented his frustrations with the actions of several of his fellow drivers. “Some of these guys think they can win this thing on the first lap. They don’t have alot of respect for those around then,” voiced the angry Stanbrough.
The night was not a total loss for Stanbrough, who finally carried off one of those coveted rifles for winning the Hulman Classic.
Although he had won the Classic twice, Stanbrough had never received one of the rifles. Local officials made sure the ommision was corrected.
Continuing on the USAC sprint scene, how about the effort by Levi Jones last week. The Olney, Ill., hotshoe won three of four races on the USAC “EasternTour,” with Chris Windom halting the three-race win streak in the tour finale at Minnersville, Pa.
A big tip of the hat to Wabash Valley driver Chase Stockon, who traveled out east for all four shows. The Sullivan racer led the first 22 laps at New Egypt, N.J., finishing fifth in the final rundown. He had a top 10 at Bechtelsville, Pa., and ran 11th at Minersville, Pa.
The sprinters return home to run at O’Reilly Raceway Park tonight.
Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles4@verizon.net.
Auto Racing
Trackside: Random 500, Hulman Classic thoughts
- Auto Racing
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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).
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Clayton wins at Don Smith Classic
They call Daron Clayton, “The Modern Day Cowboy.”
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Franchitti mired in post-Indy 500 slump
Dario Franchitti hopes to get back on track in IndyCar Series action Sunday in Canada.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Atchison, Virgilio win weekend races at Crossroads Dragway
Troy Atchison and Tony Virgilio won feature races in weekend racing at Crossroads Dragway.
-
TRACKSIDE: Clauson bucks the IndyCar trend
On the surface, the distance from the dirt oval at Lincoln Park Speedway to the massive, paved Indianapolis Motor Speedway may appear only a few miles apart.
- More Auto Racing Headlines
-
TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Today in History May 22
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
The all-new Xbox One
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir
Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
