TERRE HAUTE — Over its storied 36-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has produced its share of stellar individual performances. Possibly none better than the one that unfolded over the weekend at the Terre Haute Action Track.
The flawless drive by winner Daron Clayton deservedly placed the newcomer’s effort as one of the finest in Classic history.
A virtual unknown to casual USAC followers, the 22-year-old Clayton is just one of a select group of talented newcomers to the open-wheel scene, leaving their mark in the sprinters.
It was his Saturday night win that placed him in the record books as a prestigous Hulman Classic victor but it was his drive 24 hours earlier that had the sizable and apreciative fan turnout buzzing.
His battle with sprint car racing’s hottest driver—Jon Stanbrough— during Friday's 20-lap feature that generated some the finest if not best racing of the season on the half-mile dirt oval.
Under the watchful eye of sprint car racing great Bubby Jones, Clayton was clearly the class of a strong field in both nights of racing.
Clayton's emergence as one the brightest young stars in sprint circles comes as no surprise to Jones who is in his second season tutoring the Avon driver.
When youth and exuberance (Clayton) butt heads with age and experience (Jones) in the volatile and competitive world of racing results can be unpredictable.
After a rocking start the Jones-Clayton relationship appears to be reaping huge benefits for both parties.
The pair agree thats the union has been a learning experience and one that has had it moments. Still, they share mutal respect for each other with the common goal of making Clayton the complete racer.
“He’s the real deal no question about it.He works hard at it,” Jones says of his understudy.
"He’s a smart kid that’s starting to use his head now.He’s starting to figure out how to go fast—to be smooth.Thats not something you can teach.It has to be there.He has the desire to succeed,” added the seven-time Action Track victor.
Jones praises his driver not only for his race day efforts but his off track work ethic. He revealed that Clayton does most of the car prep himself.
That part of the job Clayton feels has made the learning curve much easier.
“I do 90 percent of the work on the cars. I think it makes me a better race driver .I build my own shocks. I like to learn everything I can about my race cars so I can relate to what it does on the track. I think that has paid off for me,” offered Clayton.
Clayton has by design picked and chosen his races the past two seasons. He pocketed a $10,000 Midwest Sprint Car Series win at Haubstadt this past summer.
His win here Friday night was his first in USAC. Look for him to do more USAC races in the future.
“These guys are the best in the nation.You really have to be on top of your game when you come to run with USAC.There are so many good teams that you go up against everyplace you run,” voiced Clayton.
Clayton's family operation is rapidly gaining the respect to his fellow racers. Opposing car owners and officials have high praise for the Avon based team.
“You have to be impressed with what they have done. You look around here and that team has less to work with than alot of the teams out here. But look what he did to us last night.He really put it to us," praised Pete Willoughby of the front running Kieth Kunz team.
n CLASSIC CHATTER—The nasty spill that Jay Drake took during the Classic generated some anxious moments for track officials and car owner Bill Biddle.The accident occurred in nearly the same location that then BWB driver Derek Davidson suffered serious injuries a few years back.
The good news is Jay was able to leave the hospital early Sunday morning and will probably be back in a race car soon. Crew chief Doug Porter notes that Jay’s injuries included a compressed vetebrate and cracked rib.
It was nice to see injured driver Brian Clawson at the track over the weekend. He appears to be recovering quite nicely from his sprint accident in Missouri last month.
Rumors have been rampant about Brian’s future both in the open wheel cars and stockers. Had a long talk with the talented young racer that will appear in a future column. One that should provide a huge sigh of relief for followers of the 18-year-old hotshoe.
The Fall Classic weekend brought to a close the oval track racing for the year at the Fairgrounds. As has been the case all summer the future of racing at the southside facility has been a hot subject of conversation. One that isn’t about to cool over the long winter layoff.
On a sad note racing-midgets in particular has lost one of its staunchest supporters with the passing of former USAC official and racing historian Ed Watson.
A native of nearby Marshall few possessed the wealth of history on midget racing than that of Ed.He was instrumental in the founding of the Midget Hall of Fame and will be solely missed by all those in racing.
Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles@verizon.net.
Trackside
Trackside: Action Track lived up to its name this weekend
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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: Changes come up on Indiana racing scene
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Frightening finish to season at Terre Haute Action Track
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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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