TERRE HAUTE — Dirt tracks have been notorious over the years for bringing out the best and worst in the highly competitive world of sprint-car racing.
Depending on one’s perspective, the 37th annual version of the Tony Hulman Classic delivered on both counts Saturday night at the Terre Haute Action Track.
Sadly, the downside of the equation far outweighed the positive once the dust settled early Sunday morning.
The once-proud image of the Hulman Classic, which at one time was the crown jewel of USAC sprint-car racing, took another blow on a night mired in lengthy delays.
Former Hulman Classic winner Levi Jones probably summed up the debacle best when he let his feelings known moments after the show was red-flagged six laps short of its scheduled distance.
“This place used to be the hallowed ground of sprint-car racing,” the Olney, Ill., racer said. “It used to be the gates to Indy. With the way things are now, you’d be lucky to get an Indy-car owner to make the drive over to the place.
“We probably just ran off the last hundred fans that would support us. You watch old videos of the Tony Hulman Classic and the infield was packed. You couldn’t find a seat in the grandstand. The winner shooting a shotgun in victory lane. It was something special.
“Now you can’t even see the cars on the track for all the dust. It’s dangerous. I guess you could say it’s sorta lost its mystique.
“I’ve won this race, so it’s extra special to me. I feel bad for the fans that had to go through what they did tonight. Racing sprint cars is still the best thing in the world to do. Even in the worst conditions, it’s better than any day at work. It’s a shame the way the night went.”
I I I
n Pit notes — Jones wasn’t the only competitor to express disappointment with the way the night played out. Long before the cars took to the track, there were grumblings in the pits regarding impending troublesome track conditions.
One car owner even packed up his rig and headed home before the cars took to the track. USAC officials did their best to quell what some thought would be an all-out boycott of the event.
The only team leaving early Sunday with any measure of satisfaction was that belonging to the winning Foxco Team. First-place winnings have a tendency to smooth discontent.
Feature winner Jon Stanbrough was one of the first to sympathize with the fans for what they had to endure during the marathon affair.
His win was the sixth straight in recent weeks and seventh overall at the Action Track. To say the journeyman racer is on a roll is an understatement.
The evening was not as kind to Terre Haute businessman Bill Biddle, who watched his new Four coil sprinter damaged after his driver Brian Tyler was pinched into the backstretch wall and took a series of tumbles.
BWB chief mechanic Doug Porter was doing his best Monday morning trying to assess the extent of damages while trying to put the finishing touches on the team’s champ dirt car.
Veteran Tony Elliott is scheduled to drive the car in Friday’s Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The Wabash Valley racing community and the Action Track, in particular, suffered a major loss over the weekend with the passing of longtime wrecker and push-truck operator John Berg.
Like many others, John’s efforts over the years went unnoticed to many. Those close to the scene, however, will be quick to tell you that without his presence there were several occasions a year ago when there wouldn’t have been racing.
Notably absent Saturday night was track physician Daniel Bedecki, who many of you know is battling cancer. His longtime mentor in racing, Dr. Robert Burkle, notes that the popular physician is doing well at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. Following several rounds of chemotherapy, he is scheduled for a marrow transplant Thursday.
Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles@verizon.net.
Sports Columns
Trackside: Tony Hulman Classic brought out best, worst in sprint car racing
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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. -
Shooters compete to fight cancer
A team of employees at Taghleef, formally A.E.T, would like to give a personal invite for you to join in on a lot of fun while helping save lives.
Cindy and Mark Wilguess are the inspiration behind the Taghleef Team. Cindy herself fought this battle with cancer and won. Last year she led her team to be the No. 1 fundraisers in the Relay for Life. -
TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
Today is the day for the Thunder in the Valley, and the Terre Haute Triathlon is under new leadership in 2013, the 28th year for the event at Hawthorn Park.
A former Terre Haute North track and cross country standout, Ethan Page is the race director as the race falls under the reign of Page’s new company, Crossroads Events. -
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If you had to pick one word that would describe the 2013 Indiana State baseball season, it would have to be frustration.
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TRACKSIDE: Terre Haute's Carmichael enjoying strong spring in modifieds, stocks
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From Terre Haute to the major leagues: Phegley's play could earn him promotion to Chicago
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There's an expert at Parker's Archery
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TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers having a ‘Garden Party’
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KENNY BAYLESS: Sponsors sought for 'Ladies Only' event at Terre Haute Sporting Clays
Sponsors are being sought at the Ladies Only event at Terre Haute Sporting Clays on Saturday at 10 a.m. Sponsors should be willing to donate $1 or more for every broken bird. Each lady is allowed 25 shots. Flat donations are gladly accepted. Also, organizers are looking for more ladies to participate. Ammo, clay birds, and guns (if needed) will be furnished.
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College Report: Lively earned collegiate upgrade with strong play
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Lively was impressive enough to earn a Division I scholarship to Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference, and both her future and past college coaches think she will continue to succeed there.
“She fits what we need,” SEMO coach Ty Margenthaler said. “She has college experience, she is strong and physical and plays well around the basket and moves well.
“Her strength, rebounding and touch around the basket will be a big help. On the defensive end, she’ll be able to guard a true center.” -
RAMBLIN' RECK: It’s May … a time for horses and horsepower
It’s the first day of May, a great month for sports.
It begins with the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. My Old Kentucky Home is played before the start of the race on which hundreds of bets will be placed by folks who ordinarily don’t bet on thoroughbred horse racing.
A week later, practice begins for the Indianapolis 500.
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Terre Haute runner sets up race to help Boston
Having competed in the Boston Marathon once before in 2003, 35-year-old Majel Wells of Terre Haute thought she should give it another try in 2013.
“My goal was just to finish and enjoy Boston,” she reflected this week. “I had an injury [runner’s knee] beforehand, so I wasn’t too worried about beating my time from 2003 [4 hours, 10.20 seconds].
“But nobody cares about what your time is at Boston anyway.”
From what I’ve heard over the years, she’s right. Unless you’re a super-serious runner, the Boston Marathon has been more about taking in the atmosphere and having fun than placing in the top 50, although Wells was pleased that she beat her previous time by finishing in 3:55.19 on April 15.
Obviously, her race time wasn’t the most vivid memory that Wells took away from her 2013 Boston experience. -
Amey Takes Aim: NHL playoffs to put TVs to good use
If Jenny had known, she probably wouldn’t have bought that TV.
But four or five years ago, my Fathers Day present — for those unfamiliar with Amey family traditions, the Fathers Day one is “let’s get something we all really want and pretend it’s a gift for Dad” — was a 42-inch Vizio. It’s been used even more than the cell phone I never would have bought for myself, or the TomTom that disappeared since Jenny’s smartphone arrived.
And it came with high-def.
I’m not going to insult you by telling you how great high-def is, because to do so would be to imply that you are even farther behind the technological curve than I am. I’m guessing, however, that not all of you have yet discovered what it does for hockey. -
Foot Notes: ISU track athletes looking to keep improving at Drake Relays
Indiana State’s track schedule has helped its men’s and women’s teams escape the glacial Wabash Valley weather and enjoy warm days in Auburn, Ala., and Knoxville, Tenn.
With the Sycamores’ track facility basically laid to rest for competition and construction on a new one planned near the Wabash River to begin in 2014, major kudos go to everyone involved for continuing to produce athletes that are NCAA contenders who race with some of the world’s best.
Some of ISU’s current athletes are hoping for season-best performances this weekend against strong competition in the Drake Relays.
Former Sycamore NCAA pole-vault champion Kylie Hutson, who competes professionally for Nike and trains in her hometown of Terre Haute, also has been in Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in the Pole Vault in the Mall on Wednesday night. -
REDNECK QUAKER: Variety of birds to search for in turkey hunting
My father-in-law, Donnell Dunn of Jacksonville, Fla., is a retired engineer from J.I. Case and an avid reader and loves information on anything he takes interest in. He has five patents under his belt during his career.
Donnell took great interest in the Turkey World Slam display at Gander Mountain and thought each bird needed some info to help people understand more about them. -
TRACKSIDE: USAC racing picking up, including Sunday's stop in Terre Haute
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Ramblin’ Reck: Sato first Foyt winner since 2002
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Former South players to play in Saylor benefit game
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The former Terre Haute South High School boys basketball coach, who’s been battling cancer this year, has been traveling back and forth to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for chemotherapy treatments. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley prep athletes getting ready for next level
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers closing out a nice season
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Amey Takes Aim: Can’t bottle the joy of Amey vacations
The first bad sign was the Gatorade bottle.
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And the person stuck in the same traffic jam with us, the one with the existential license plate YMIHR4, couldn’t have asked a more pertinent question.
But, after seeing a lot more of Oak Grove, Ky., than we’d planned, and after enduring more traffic slowdowns in Nashville, we were on our way. Even some rain in the dark in the Smokies didn’t slow us down much, so you would think our first-day troubles were over.
You would be wrong. -
Redneck Quaker: Mascari gets thrills from turkey hunting
Annie Mascari is a beautiful, vibrant, 26-year-old lady that loves the outdoors.
She comes from a large family of four brothers and a sister and lives the teachings of good family values.
Olivia Rightly let me know that I “should talk to my teacher at St. Pats School, Ms. Mascari, because she’s taken a turkey.”
As I shook Annie’s hand, I could feel the energy she has for life. As proof, the first time she went up in an airplane, she jumped out of it!
She’s also quite the hunter. Mascari picked up a used PSE bow for $30, one for a left-hander because her left eye is dominate for shooting. The Page Arrows are her choice for broadheads. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Louisville gets two shots at NCAA title
Louisville met Michigan in the championship game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Monday. Louisville faces Connecticut in the title tilt of the women’s tournament tonight.
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REDNECK QUAKER: Learning to shoot clays a great experience
Tom Mitchell from Burnett is an all-around outdoor enthusiast. His passions are motorcycles, cars, and most of all, shooting sports. When he sights in on metal target shooting with a hand gun or rifle you will hear a lot of “clang” noises, he can shoot very quiet also, because he is licensed to own suppressers.
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TRACKSIDE: Racing season picking up speed
With several tracks already open and others scheduled to get underway this weekend it’s a sure sign the area motorsports campaign has taken the green flag for the 2013 season.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Out with the hoops, in with the bats
It’s a super week for sports fans — college basketball comes to a close and the first baseball games are played in the major leagues.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Conferences honor Valley softball players
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FROM THE PRESSBOX: Content McKenna has enjoyed seeing ISU's progress
It all happened so fast in June 2010.
One minute, Kevin McKenna was head coach of the Indiana State men’s basketball program. Then — poof! — he was gone.
McKenna resigned from his head coaching position at ISU on June 13, 2010 to take an assistant coach position on Dana Altman’s then-burgeoning University of Oregon staff. -
FROM THE PRESSBOX: NCAA got it right with Louisville in Indianapolis
The worst decision and the best decisions made by the NCAA Tournament selection committee shared space on Lucas Oil Stadium’s hardwood Friday night.
The Midwest Regional’s opener pitted Louisville and Oregon, two teams that were on the opposite sides of the NCAA’s coin on Selection Sunday.
Oregon, winner of the Pac-12 Tournament and Pac-12 runner-up in the regular season, was shockingly seeded 12th in the Midwest Region. - More Sports Columns Headlines
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