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.
Trackside
Trackside: Random 500, Hulman Classic thoughts
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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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Its arrival may have been delayed by several months — for a host of reasons — but the 2011 Terre Haute Action Track season is finally out of the blocks.
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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: Positive story lines in USAC
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