TERRE HAUTE —
A look back on the 2011 Wabash Valley auto racing season reveals the best and worst of times the sport has to offer.
A year that generated stellar individual performances, competitive racing and sadly the loss of one of open wheel racing’ s brightest stars.
A campaign that opened under a cloud of uncertainty — mostly thanks to a troubled economy — survived potential financial pitfalls and constant bouts with the elements to offer fans, racers and officials alike a season not soon forgotten.
Those factors played key roles in determining the top 10 stories of 2011 for Valley racing buffs, whether the action was on the local, national or international scene.
Trackside Top 10 stories of 2011
No. 1 — Sadly, in the often unpredictable and violent world of motorsports, death took center stage as the year drew to a close.
The tragic loss of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon in the IndyCar finale in October stunned those in and outside the sport.
Cries for changes in IndyCar racing soon followed leaving the country’s premier open-wheel group searching for answers regarding the future of racing on the few ovals that remain on the IndyCar scene.
No. 2 — Ironically, Wheldon’s storybook last lap-final turn pass at Indy that won him his second 500 win generated its share of excitement and hopes for much needed momentum for IndyCar racing through most of the season.
No. 3 — In most years, storylines surrounding the action at the Terre Haute Action Track drew top attraction, but in 2011 the talk was as much about the lack of action as what unfolded at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.
Inclement weather and questionable off-track decision making resulted in a disappointing and abbreviated two-event year.
No. 4 — Unfortunately, for a second straight year the future of oval track racing at the Fairgrounds was left in limbo as officials were searching for yet another new promoter as the year drew to a close.
USAC released its 2012 schedule revealing four tentative dates at the track but contract negotiations between Fair board officials and a new promoter remains ongoing.
No. 5 — Valley racers shined on several fronts bringing home track titles and a host of wins throughout the summer. None were brighter than the achievements of area driver Levi Jones who netted a record-breaking fifth USAC sprint title to go along with a second Silver Crown championship.
No. 6 — Fears that a sluggish economy would hurt the sport failed to materialize with figures showing only a slight downward trend in track attendance and racer participation.
No. 7 — Valley fans lost two of their most popular short track events as it is announced that the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck events at Indianapolis Raceway Park would not be part of the 2012 schedule.
No. 8 — Former Action Track competitors walk off with NASCAR’s two biggest prizes. Tony Stewart and Ricky Stenhouse won nailbiting finishes in their bids to win the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series crowns.
No. 9 — If one was to name a driver of the year at the Action Track, there would be little debate who earned the honor. Newcomer Chris Windom dominated the racing, winning both features, leading 56 of a possible 60 laps.
No. 10 — The year draws to a close with a host of high profile driver-team changes on the NASCAR Sprint Cup series circuit.
Parade of track Champions
Valley racers won their share of wins and carried off track titles on several fronts whether it was on the ovals or at the dragstrip. Tracks of interest and their champions include:
CROSSROADS DRAGWAY USA — Champions include: Tony Virgilo-Fast 33 @330, Derrick Troxell Super Pro, Pro-Dustin Brenton, Adam Price in Sportsman, Amara Tewell in High School, Kevin Adams Jr. Dragster and Toni Price Pink Ladies series.
TERRE HAUTE QUARTER MIDGET ASSOCIATION — Jr. Honda-Carson Dillion, Jr. Honda-Colton Wallace, Sr. Honda-Ben Kelly, Heavy Honda-Shelby Van Gilder, Jr. Stock-Carson Dillion, Sr. Stock- Douglas Dillion, Jr. Animal- Reece Reichart, Light World Formula-Cameron Parr, Heavy Wt. Formula-Jonny Newgent, Lt. 160-Gage Pohlman, Heavy B-Josh Schneider.
LINCOLN PARK SPEEDWAY — Sprints- Ethan Barrow, Modifieds-Paul Bumgardner, Super Stocks-Kenny Carmichael and Bomber-David Bumgardner.
In the always highly-competitive Saturday night of weekly racing at LPS, the sprint division produced 15 different feature winners. Casey Shuman (sprints) and Carmichael (stocks and modifieds) were the most prolific winners with each collecting six checkered flags. Area drivers C.J. Bryan and Cullen Goodman were repeat feature winners.
COLES COUNTY DRAGWAY — Super Pro-Bob Paul, Pro-Tommie Harlin, Sportsman-Eric Cooper, Motorcycle-Chad Isley and Nicole Little-Jr. Dragster.
BAKERSFIELD RACEWAY PARK — Hornet-Jeffery Shimmell, B Mods-James Wise, Jr. Sprints-Jadon Rogers, 600 Sidewinders-Zack Teike, 600 Uprights-Sam Borden, 4 Cyl-Jessie Cooley, Wingless 600-Nate McMillin, Restrictor Class-Creed Friz.
LYONS RACEWAY PARK — Super Pro-McColley Young, Pro-Eric Bowling, Sportsman-Bill McCarty, Jr. Dragster-Nathan Jones, Motorcycle-Bill McCarty. Fast 8-James Schantz, VP Fuels Quick 32-Al Peavler.
PARAGON SPEEDWAY — Sprints-Josh Cunningham, Super Stock-Steve Hollars, Bombers-Mike Ham, Pure Stock-Josh Litton.
BLOOMINGTON MOTOR SPEEDWAY — Sprints-Brady Short, Modifieds-Clint De Moss, Super Stock-Jeremy Hines.
The year 2011 will indeed go down in record books as a prosperous and rewarding year for area competitors and their many fans and supporters.
Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles4@frontier.com.
Trackside
TRACKSIDE: Valley racing showed best, worst of times in 2011
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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. -
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TRACKSIDE: Stockon takes giant step forward in USAC
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TRACKSIDE: Indiana Sprint Week rises above heat, rain, poor economy
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TRACKSIDE: Retired driver LaJoie spreads the word of safety
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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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TRACKSIDE: Sprint car event could generate close racing
One of the hottest and most competitive weekends of the 2012 motorsports season gets under way tonight at the Terre Haute Action Track with the scheduled running of the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic.
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Opening night at one of the midwest’s premier short track operations can be like no other time of the year.
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With several “test and tunes” sessions and season openers having already taken the green flag, it’s a sure sign the Wabash Valley racing campaign is shifting into high gear.
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TRACKSIDE: Valley racing showed best, worst of times in 2011
A look back on the 2011 Wabash Valley auto racing season reveals the best and worst of times the sport has to offer.
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TRACKSIDE: Menard's victory at Brickyard momentous for family, race fans
Who says one of those familiar bright fluorescent-colored Menards race cars can’t find its way to victory lane at Indianapolis?
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TRACKSIDE: After a delayed start, the Terre Haute Action Track gets season cranked up
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TRACKSIDE: Changes come up on Indiana racing scene
With the highly anticipated USAC Indiana Sprint Week sprint card on tap at the Terre Haute Action Track tonight and the Tony Hulman/Don Smith Classic and a host of events leading up to the Brickyard 400 looming on the horizon, it would appear that it’s the best of times for Wabash Valley racing buffs.
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TRACKSIDE: Fortunes of dirt track racing at Action Track can be written in the dust
In the 40 plus years of covering motorsports, it would appear the process of writing this weekly race column would come together rather routinely.
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TRACKSIDE: Auto racing in May in Indiana runs on history and tradition
Possibly nowhere in the sports world does history and tradition play such a key role in an event’s success and future as that found in auto racing.
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TRACKSIDE: Wabash Valley racing ready to take green flag — even Action Track
Despite having already lost several bouts to the elements, the 2011 Wabash Valley motorsports season has taken the green flag and will soon be shifting into high gear on several fronts.
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TRACKSIDE: Fitzpatrick on track to continue impressive start to racing career
One of the top stories on the Wabash Valley motorsports stage last season was the emergence of Blake Fitzpatrick as a legitimate front-runner on the national sprint-car scene.
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Frightening finish to season at Terre Haute Action Track
The 2010 Terre Haute Action Track season came to a climactic close over the weekend. Unfortunately, the campaign closed on a near-tragic note for the second consecutive year.
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Trackside: Attractive USAC sprint car card this weekend
With the area circle track season rapidly drawing to a close, fans will have a pair of attractive USAC sprint car cards to attend this weekend. Back-to-back shows at Lincoln Park Speedway and Terre Haute Action Track not only offer fans a final opportunity to see the sprints in action one final time, but they also serve as pivotal stops in the chase for the USAC sprint car drivers championship.
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Trackside: Sadler’s wreck brings up memories for Terre Haute racer Sizemore
One of the many fans that viewed Elliott Sadler’s wild crash at Pocono over the weekend with more than casual interest was former Terre Haute racer Paul Sizemore.
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Trackside: Talented young racer Blake Fitzpatrick savoring USAC success
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Trackside: Positive story lines in USAC
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