TERRE HAUTE — Over its storied 38-year history, the Tony Hulman Classic has had its share of losing bouts with the weatherman. Not so with the event’s latest running which played before a large crowd last week.
Making the strong spectator turnout even more surprising was the timing — a rare mid-week show that didn’t seem to deter those facing next day work or school schedules. The smoothly run show had the checkered flag waving at an accommodating 10:31 p.m.
The quick feature made for a great night for all involved, especially for Hulman Classic victor Levi Jones, winner of the race for the third time.
His near flawless performance notched him his sixth feature win at the local half-mile dirt oval. Of current day drivers that compete here regularly, only Jon Stanbrough’s seven wins ranks higher.
Fans fortunate enough to have followed the blossoming career of Jones over the years can quickly attest to the modesty of the Olney, Ill., hot shoe.
Although the 27-year-old has enjoyed his share of success in recent years Jones still appears more at ease behind the wheel of a race car than in front of a camera.
Over the rich history of the Classic, no driver sped to victory in a more impressive or dominating fashion than Jones did en route to becoming the first driver to post back-to-back Classic wins at Terre Haute.
Modesty aside, even Jones couldn’t conceal how well things went in the 30-lap feature. Those kind of nights don’t come around that often in the highly competitive ways of sprint car racing.
“That was a pretty nice race car out there tonight. You definitely had to hold on there at the end. This is how Terre Haute is supposed to be. Some ruts, some holes and slick spots. Thank goodness I’ve been working out a lot,” said a slimmed-down Jones moments following his win.
It was his third checkered flag in a season that has had its share of rain postponements.
“I’ve got a good group of guys to work with here at Tony Stewart Racing. I show up, they ask me what I need. Right now we’re coming up with some pretty good end results.”
The team is under new leadership in 2009. Jimmy Carr, a mainstay at Tony Stewart Racing since its inception 11 years ago, took over team manager responsibilities of both the World of Outlaws and USAC teams over the winter.
The USAC efforts of Jones and Tracy Hines have given all indications of being serious contenders for the sprint car points title.
Insiders say Jones continues to improve as a driver with each passing season. Is he on the path to becoming one the sport’s best ever.
“I’d like to think I continue to get better. I’m definitely getting older so I don’t want to get worse,” said Jones, who will turn 27 next month.
Of course winning has a way of breeding success and harmony both on and off the track.
“People who say winning isn’t everything are those who have never won before. I truly believe that. If you settle for second place it can make for a long weekend in this sport,” said Jones.
With his success in recent years, Jones is the subject of speculation of what direction his racing career might be headed.
He doesn’t hide the fact that he has an eye on IndyCar and stock car racing.
“I went to the Speedway last weekend. Walked around taking it all in. Man would I like to be racing there Sunday.”
He feels his presence and that of several other of his fellow USAC drivers would help boost sagging attendance at the track during the month of May.
“You look at all the people who come [Wabash Valley Fairgrounds] and cheer me on. You’ve got to believe that there would be five times than many if I could make it to the Speedway or Charlotte for the 600..”
“I’m not complaining. I’m just lucky to be with a great team like Tony Stewart Racing. Its a fun time for me right now. I’m getting married in December. Things are sort of clicking right now.”
• Remembering a champion — It was a somber night at the Classic for those who were fortunate enough to have competed against or known Larry Rice over the years.
The popular retired open wheel racer had lost his nine-year bout with cancer only hours before the USAC contingent arrived here.
The record books will show Larry with a pair of USAC Silver Crown driving titles. He was the 1973 midget champion and winner of 19 features, including wins in the sprints and midgets at the Action Track.
Rice shared Rookie of the Year honors with Rick Mears at the Speedway in 1978. While Mears would have the good fortunes to team up with Roger Penske and become a four-time 500 winner, Larry became one of the many short track racers that fell victim to the buy-a-ride trend that would eventually plague championship racing.
He never voiced a complaint about not getting a legitimate shot to compete at Indianapolis or the cruel fate that would come his way later in life. He was that kind of guy.
Many of those who gathered at the Classic took time to share stories of their times with Rice. Former driver and long-time car owner Steve Stapp pretty much summed up just how well liked and highly regarded Larry was with his fellow racers.
“Larry was the kind of guy who just did his own thing. If you didn’t know Larry was a race driver you would never have known he drove race cars. He had great respect from his fellow drivers and as a person he was a class human being. He will be missed,” voiced Stapp.
Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles4@verizon.net
Sports
Trackside: Weather, quick race make for great 38th Hulman Classic
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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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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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
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Coach adds regional host to job description
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Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
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West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
Hurdlers Cam Stewart and Cole Seward and discus thrower Lee Davis were the winners for North, enabling the Patriots to finish with 60 points to 59 for the Braves.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
- Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
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- College
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
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- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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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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Top guns, again
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