TERRE HAUTE —
On what has traditionally become one of the biggest racing weekends of the year, it comes as little surprise that two of the most influential and successful car owners in American motorsports walked away with the biggest trophies Sunday.
In a scene that has become all too familiar, it was the “super teams” of Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske that dominated the action at Indianapolis and Charlotte.
The results indicate what some say is a troubling trend: It’s nearly impossible for the “little guy” to remain competitive in a money-driven environment.
The days when a small independently-financed team could hold its own with racing’s rich and elite is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
While on a much smaller scale than that of NASCAR or Indy car racing, the USAC sprint-car circuit has its own version of “super teams.”
Those teams fielded by Tony Stewart, Keith Kunz and Hoffman Racing are clearly standard setters in USAC. Fortunately, the fiercely competitive nature of non-wing sprint car racing makes the sprint circuit virtually immune to total dominance by any one team.
That is not to say the division is free of several problem areas such as dwindling car counts and the rising costs to field a competitive car on a consistent basis — a concern that was clearly visible at the Tony Hulman Classic, one of the key stops and most prestigious events on the USAC Sprint Car calendar.
Last Thursday’s card drew a slim 29-car field. Take away the seven local entrants and it would have been a total embarrassment for USAC and the local promoters.
Winning car owner Richard Hoffman is no stranger to racing. His father Gus formed the team 82 years ago. As his family continues its allegiance to open-wheel racing, the second-generation car owner concedes that his sport is not without its trouble spots.
At the same time, he says it will survive and remains hopeful the sprints will remain as competitive as they have in the past.
“We don’t have the car counts we once did, but we still have quality cars. Our competition is as keen as it ever was. The depth of the fields just isn’t there,” offered Hoffman.
When Jerry Coons Jr. survived a late-race duel with Levi Jones to notch his first Terre Haute Action Track feature win, it propelled the Hoffman Racing feature win total to 76, a mark that is unmatched in USAC circles.
The team has won national titles with drivers such as Robbie Stanley, Dave Darland, Tracy Hines, Rich Vogler and most recently, Coons.
It also fielded cars at the Speedway for Joe Saldana, Larry Cannon, Jerry Grant and Jerry Sneva and it gave Tim Richmond his first ride in an Indy car.
“We usually have five or six wins a year, which is pretty good considering how competitive things have become in the sprints these days,” said Hoffman.
Its latest win was a nail-biter against Jones, whom Hoffman says has become his team’s biggest rival.
“I call Levi our nemesis. When he passed us there at the end, I said he’s gone and done it again. Jerry really stood up in the saddle there at the end. It’s a nice win. I’ve always wanted one of those rifles,” said the elated Hoffman.
The latest edition of the Hulman Classic served up some of the closest racing in its 40-year history. Unfortunately, lengthy track prep made for a long drawn-out affair, drawing plenty of criticism.
Local officials conceded that the evening didn’t come off as smoothly as they would have liked. Prepping a racing surface for a half-mile dirt oval offers challenges, and when questionable weather enters the equation, things don’t always play out according to script.
It’s been that way in the past, the present and likely in the future. It is what it is, dirt-track racing.
Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles4@verizon.net.
Sports
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Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
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Score: Post 346 runner #6 Jacob Johnson scores after a collision with the Pate catcher in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon.
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Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
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METRO ROUNDUP: Wayne Newton 2-1 on young season
Wayne Newton Post 346 improved to 2-1 in American Legion baseball with a late 8-3 victory over Effingham on Thursday night.
Craig Peters was winning pitcher for Post 346 and T.J. Decker and Cody Thornton led a 16-hit attack with three hits each. -
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Even after giving up 10 runs Friday night in a 10-6 loss to the Quincy Gems, the Rex (7-2) are still the league leader in ERA at 2.09. -
FROM TERRE HAUTE TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES: Former Scamore hurlers doing well in White Sox system
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Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
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Goatee, Bertoli ran away with Spring Athlete of the Year
When honoring athletes after a season of excellence, the phrase “what might have been” doesn’t usually come up.
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Indiana starting pitcher Joey DeNato (23) celebrates throwing out Louisville's Coco Johnson (20) at first for the second out in the bottom of the ninth inning in an NCAA College World Series game in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, June 15, 2013 (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Ryan Soderlin) MAGS OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TV OUT
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DeNato proves IU can pitch too
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
The junior left-hander threw a four-hitter and the Hoosiers looked mighty comfortable at TD Ameritrade Park while beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night. -
Etherington, Moore happy to be with ISU basketball
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ISU's Johnson invited to World University Games
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: Close, but no cigar, theme for ISU sports in 2012-13
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DeNato proves IU can pitch too
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
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Got it: Rex first baseman #29 Kurt Kudrecki fields a ball hit down the first base line during game action against the Quincy Gems Monday night at Bob Warn Field.
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Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
In a battle for first place in the West Division of the Prospect League baseball standings, the Terre Haute Rex fell just short Monday night at Bob Warn Field.
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Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
- Auto Racing
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Winner's kiss: Tony Kanaan of KV Racing Technology kisses the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Kanaan won his first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday and kissed the bricks as part of a tradition at the Motor Speedway.
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Kanaan can: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500, ends heartbreak
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