By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Terre Haute, Indiana………Since its inception more than six decades ago, the Terre Haute Action Track has had distinct eras that seem to resonate with a particular driver.

Lately, this era at the famed half-mile dirt oval has belonged to Chris Windom who ran fourth with just four laps remaining and used a daring late-race move on Kevin Thomas, Jr. to capture his third-straight USAC victory at Terre Haute in Friday night’s USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car “Jim Hurtubise Classic” aboard the Baldwin Brothers Racing/Fox Paving – AMSOIL/DRC/Claxton Mopar.

The Windom/Baldwin connection has now netted four USAC Sprint Car feature wins at Terre Haute dating to 2011.  The victory also allowed Windom to join Jack Hewitt as just the second driver to win the “Hurtubise Classic” three times.  Windom also became the first to win back-to-back “Hurtubise Classic” races since Hewitt in 1990-1991.

“This place is special to me,” Windom praised.  “Crew chief Derek (Claxton) and I are always good here.  Even when we don’t have the fastest car, we just dig deep at the end of the race and get the wins here.  I wish we could race here about ten times a year!”

Terre Haute served as a sweet renaissance for the Canton, Illinois driver who hadn’t been victorious in the series in nearly three months.  Although, the 30-lap feature wouldn’t start as triumphantly for the second-place driver in the series standings as it would turn out.

For much of the race, Thomas maintained the dominant car.  In the first half, Thomas was clicking off laps a half-second faster than second-running Robert Ballou as he extended his lead to a full-straightaway by the seventh lap.

By the 12th lap, Windom had worked his way to third with a turn two slider on Aaron Farney, then set forth on a mission to run down Thomas and Ballou running one-two.

By mid-race, Ballou was able to hang with Thomas, staying within three car-lengths from the tail of the 9K as the cushion pushed all the way to the concrete at the exits of turns two and four while the two past Action Track winners worked the tail end of lapped traffic.  Thomas continuously gapped himself from Ballou by chipping away one car at a time, first getting around the outside of Chapple exiting turn four.  As soon as Ballou cleared Chapple, Thomas had regained precious ground once again by diving under Mario Clouser in turn three to pin Ballou, the 2015 USAC champ, behind the trailing car.

With six laps remaining, Windom traded sliders with Farney and fell to fourth where he would remain with four laps to go with the race seemingly out of reach.  However, a domino of circumstances befell the front runners to aid Windom’s resurgent emergence.  First, as Ballou worked on Thomas for the race lead, his right rear tire gave way, sending him to the infield work area for fresh rubber, thus, relegating him to the tail for the lap 27 resumption.

Though standing third in line on the restart behind Thomas and Farney, Windom knew this was the moment of attack to have any chance at victory.  Windom dove to the bottom of turn one as the green dropped, disposing of Farney and pulling alongside Thomas before falling back into line in second behind Thomas exiting the second turn.

However, the move would quickly be negated as Chapple slowed to a stop in turn two, sending Windom back to third and forcing him to repeat the exercise once again.

On take two, it appeared to be a carbon copy of the events that had just transpired moments before.  Windom dove to the bottom of one, leaving Farney behind as he went toe-to-toe with Thomas before ducking in behind the leader exiting two.  That’s where he knew his golden opportunity had arrived.

“I just tucked in behind KT and there was a little strip of rubber off turn two you could catch,” Windom explained.  “I caught that and slid him going into turn three.  For the first three-quarters of the race, we weren’t the best car, but sometimes on those late-race restarts, you just got to dig deep and make something of it.  I knew that was my only shot to get there and I knew there was less than five to go.  I knew I had to do something.”

Shortly thereafter, on lap 28, second-running Thomas began to slow coming off turn two with, as it turns out, a lack of fuel.  That created a bunch up that collected Thomas, the third-place running car of Farney and fourth-running Boespflug who all climbed over each other to varying degrees down the back straightway, yet all remained afloat and continued.  Eighth running Shane Cottle wasn’t as fortunate, though, and came to a stop while trying to avoid the wreckage to no avail.

On the ensuing restart, Windom broke away while second-running Thomas coasted on fumes to the inside and Boespflug slid by Farney for the runner-up spot.  Tyler Courtney and Justin Grant would follow suit on the final lap to take over third and fourth, respectively, as Farney fell to fifth.

Meanwhile, Windom rose head and shoulders above the fray to win by a tick under two seconds over Boespflug, Courtney, Grant and Farney, who gingerly walked away from a nasty-looking barrel-roll flip down the front straightaway underneath the checkered flag after contact with Grant.  Farney climbed from the car under his own power, but was transported to the hospital for further observation.

For the second year in a row, Hanford, California’s Chad Boespflug finished in the runner-up position behind Windom in the “Hurtubise Classic.”  This occasion occurred under different circumstances as Boespflug utilized a brand-new crew after shuffling the deck in an attempt to right the ship that had seen its share of choppy waters over the past several weeks in his Dynamics, Inc./Mean Green – PAC Springs/Maxim/Claxton.

“We made some changes over the past couple weeks,” Boespflug acknowledges.  “We’re just trying to get things fun and exciting again.  I hired Robert (Brown) and A.J. (Parker) to come help.  Things went well tonight right from the start.  In hot laps, we didn’t have the speed we wanted, but we found something pretty good for qualifying and just continued to progress.  It’s comforting to work with Robert at such a fast pace to get this thing comfortable.  We were actually too good early and really good at the end.  The car definitely came to us in the end.  It’s good to finally run second again after running so terribly the past month and a half or so.  It’s been pretty up and down to run second, then run bad, then good, then bad.”

“Early in the night with a new crew, it can definitely make you tentative, I guess, especially with the tendencies the car has had in the past several races,” Boespflug believes.  “I tip-toed into it and wasn’t as comfortable as I wanted to be early.  In qualifying, we made the right changes, got it great and made another good, big change for the heat race.  At that point, I had a lot of confidence in what Robert was going to do next. Were we a second-place car?  I think we were close, at least third if everything worked out.  I’ll take it any way I can get it.  It’s a race to the end, not the middle.”

Following a pair of victories in the two most recent series races at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway in August, Tyler Courtney emerged from his 16th starting position to score a solid third in his TOPP Motorsports/TOPP Performance Race Parts – Custom Pump & Controls/Maxim/Gaerte by TOPP.

“We have a really good racecar,” Courtney stated.  “I put us behind the eight ball in qualifying.  It’s not what you want to do at a place like this, especially without cautions.  We were mired back there in 10th or 11th.  With some luck on those cautions, it really played into our hands.  You have to get every spot you can if you want a chance (at the championship) at the end of the year, but it’s tough when Chris (Windom) and Justin (Grant) run top-five too.”

“We had to run everywhere guys weren’t,” Courtney said.  “I made sure that if I had to wait one more lap to get a better run to make sure I cleared a guy so I don’t have to mess with him again after that.  On restarts, I made sure to protect myself or, if I got a really good run into one, I’d try to kill a guy’s momentum and slide him off into one, then hopefully clear him off of two and get the rubber coming off to propel down the back straight.  It was tricky to not blow through it and to make sure not to run over the guy you’re sliding because you knew he was going to have a run coming down the hill.  Luckily, we were in the right place at the right time.  A couple times, guys were banging wheels there, but we came out mostly unscathed.  We had a couple dings and dents here and there, but that’s racing.  Sixteenth to third, coming off two wins and another podium, you can’t be disappointed about that.”

Contingency award winners Friday night at Terre Haute included Robert Ballou (B & W Auto Mart/ProSource Fast Qualifier), Chris Windom (Simpson Race Products Heat 1 Winner), Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Competition Suspension, Inc. Heat 2 Winner), Chase Stockon (Chalk Stix Heat 3 Winner), Justin Grant (Indy Race Parts Semi Winner), Brady Bacon (KSE Racing Products Hard Charger) and Jarett Andretti (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher).

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USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: September 15, 2017 – Terre Haute, Indiana – Terre Haute Action Track – “Jim Hurtubise Classic”

B & W AUTO MART & PROSOURCE QUALIFYING: 1. Robert Ballou, 12, Ballou-20.477; 2. Justin Grant, 11, McGhee-20.602; 3. Jarett Andretti, 18, Andretti-20.674; 4. Chris Windom, 5, Baldwin-20.873; 5. Aaron Farney, 15F, DCT-20.880; 6. Chad Boespflug, 69, Dynamics-20.953; 7. Scotty Weir, 17G, On The Gass-21.069; 8. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 9K, KT-21.083; 9. Dave Darland, 17GP, Dutcher-21.136; 10. Jon Stanbrough, 81, Stanbrough-21.225; 11. Mario Clouser, 6, MCM-21.238; 12. Chase Stockon, 32, 32 TBI-21.263; 13. Carson Short, 21, RCM-21.307; 14. Shane Cottle, 57, Hazen-21.316; 15. Josh Hodges, 74x, Hodges-21.418; 16. Nate McMillin, 24, McMillin-21.516; 17. Tyler Courtney, 23c, TOPP-21.529; 18. Aric Gentry, 10, Gentry-21,588; 19. Brandon Mattox, 28, Mattox-21.735; 20. C.J. Leary, 30, Leary-21.767; 21. J.J. Hughes, 76, Hughes-21.779; 22. Patrick Budde, 90, Budde-21.982; 23. Isaac Chapple, 52, LNR/Chapple-22.101; 24. Steve Thomas, 20, Thomas-22.404; 25. Kyle Robbins, 17R, Robbins-22.457; 26. Eric Burns, 99, Gasway/Rolison-23.996. (Brady Bacon, 63, Dooling/Hayward-21.986-Time Disallowed).

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Windom, 2. Stanbrough, 3. Ballou, 4. Short, 5. Weir, 6. Mattox, 7. McMillin, 8. Robbins, 9. Budde. 2:51.95

COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. K. Thomas, 2. Courtney, 3. Cottle, 4. Leary, 5. Farney, 6. Grant, 7. Chapple, 8. Clouser, 9. Burns. 2:52.56

CHALK STIX THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Stockon, 2. Bacon, 3. Boespflug, 4. Darland, 5. Gentry, 6. Hodges, 7. Andretti, 8. Hughes, 9. S. Thomas. 2:56.68

INDY RACE PARTS SEMI: (12 laps) 1. Grant, 2. Hodges, 3. Andretti, 4. Clouser, 5. Chapple. 6. Hughes, 7. Robbins, 8. Mattox. 9. McMillin, 10. Budde, 11. S. Thomas. 12. Burns. 4:34.38

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Chris Windom, 2. Chad Boespflug, 3. Tyler Courtney, 4. Justin Grant, 5. Aaron Farney, 6. Chase Stockon, 7. Brady Bacon, 8. Scotty Weir, 9. C.J. Leary, 10. Dave Darland, 11. Jon Stanbrough, 12. Robert Ballou, 13. Jarett Andretti, 14. Josh Hodges, 15. Carson Short, 16. Kyle Robbins, 17. Mario Clouser, 18. J.J. Hughes, 19. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 20. Shane Cottle, 21. Isaac Chapple, 22. Aric Gentry. NT

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**Farney flipped at the checkered flag.

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-26 K. Thomas, Laps 27-30 Windom.

KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Brady Bacon (22nd to 7th)

WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Jarett Andretti

NEW USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 1-Grant-1732, 2-Windom-1650, 3-Courtney-1564; 4-Boespflug-1552, 5-K. Thomas-1517, 6-Stockon-1482, 7-Leary-1339, 8-Bacon-1302, 9-Ballou-1217, 10-Andretti-1145.

NEXT USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: September 16 – Haubstadt, Indiana – Tri-State Speedway – “Haubstadt Hustler” – Co-sanctioned by MSCS

The final event of the season at the Terre Haute Action Track is on Saturday, October 14 when the Tony Hulman/Don Smith Classic will be run.  It is a makeup event for the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars and Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds

Richie “Highside” Lex Claims Modified Thriller At The Action Track

(Terre Haute, IN) The Terre Haute Action Track, in Terre Haute, IN was back at it on Friday, September 15 with the Jim Hurtubise Classic for the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars.  As usual, the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds were also on hand running a pair of heats and a main event.   17 cars were pitside for the night’s festivities.

One thing that can be counted on in the Modified class, is that the #7LEX of Richie Lex will be running the highside, regardless of track conditions.  While Lex didn’t turn the best time in qualifying and finished fourth in his heat, Lex stayed committed to the outside lane, about 2/3 of the way up the fast track.

When it came time for the feature, the Morgantown, IN driver wasted no time in going back to the highside and making quick work of his fellow challengers.  Lex, who started eighth, moved to fourth by the end of lap one.  By the end of lap two, Lex had moved to third and on lap four, Lex shot into the lead.  From that point on, the racing veteran never looked back, claiming his first win of 2017 at the track.

Modified standout, Tyler Nicely, finished a strong second, keeping Lex honest at the front.  Broc Burton took third, while Terre Haute, IN native Josh McDaniel had a strong run in fourth.  Jay Humphrey rounded out the top five.

The Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modified class will be back in action at the season finale on Saturday, October 14 with the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars in the Tony Hulman/Don Smith Classic.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

                For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modified Feature Results

1) 7LEX Richie Lex
2) 25 Tyler Nicely
3) 2 Broc Burton
4) 11M Josh McDaniel
5) 6J Jay Humphrey
6) 6B Dave Baldwin
7) 2L Jake Leitzman
8) 92C Kenny Carmichael, Jr.
9) 2B Brent Hudson
10) 4x Michael Fish
11) 89w Rick Weitekamp
12) 12K Daren Krockenberger
13) 96 Cole Parker
14) 29 Aaron Zellers

DNS) 92 Ken Carmichael
DNS) 72M Mike Beatty
DNS) 2M Mike Peterson

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

As one curtain closes on the final weekend of summer, another curtain rises on a spectacular stretch of racing that hits the Midwest over the next few weekends that will play a pivotal role in determining the next USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car champion.

With nearly three-quarters of the schedule in the history books, the season comes down to its dramatic conclusion.  The top-seven in USAC National Sprint Car standings have yet to hoist a USAC National Sprint Car title trophy and, after a three-week break to mentally prepare, these driven souls are champing at the bit to see who’s the boldest, who’s the wisest and who can put themselves in position to capture the ultimate prize.

First up this weekend is Friday night, September 15th “Jim Hurtubise Classic” at western Indiana’s Terre Haute Action Track.  The legendary “Herk” was unstoppable on the half-mile from late 1960 through the 1962 season where he was an undefeated 5 and 0.

While no driver has since equaled that mark, Chris Windom of Canton, Illinois does happen to have his own current streak of two wins at Terre Haute, albeit in two different kinds of racecars: a Silver Crown Car in May’s “Sumar Classic” and capped off the Midwest portion of the Sprint Car season a year ago in the “Hurtubise Classic” when he outdueled Chad Boespflug for the victory in a 30-lap race that saw 26 unofficial lead changes!

Windom, who’s won three times in a USAC Sprint Car at Terre Haute in his career, trails series point leader Justin Grant by 93 markers heading into this weekend’s two events.  But this pair of races could be where he could make up significant ground.  Windom is the only driver to win USAC features at both Terre Haute and at Haubstadt, Indiana’s Tri-State Speedway this season, home of this Saturday night, September 16th $12,500-to-win “Haubstadt Hustler,” co-sanctioned by the Midwest Sprint Car Series.

In fact, Windom is one of 14 drivers to have won USAC National Sprint Car features at both Terre Haute and Haubstadt in his career.  Another driver on that list is Cullman, Alabama’s Kevin Thomas, Jr., who has been on a roll of late, taking three out of six at last week’s USAC/CRA “California Sprint Week” tour at Calistoga, Watsonville and Hanford.

Recent series champions Robert Ballou of Rocklin, California and Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma have mastered the task of winning at both the Wabash Valley half-mile fairgrounds oval and at the two dragstrips connected by a pair of turns in southwestern Indiana.  So has Chase Stockon and Jon Stanbrough, who are both still seeking their first victories of the 2017 season.

Justin Grant may very well be on his way to a first USAC National Sprint Car title, but he hasn’t yet won at either of this weekend’s venues.  However, his two most recent series wins have come on half-mile tracks like Terre Haute and, in his last two Haubstadt appearances, he hasn’t qualified or finished outside the top-four.

Indianapolis, Indiana’s Tyler Courtney leads all drivers with five USAC National Sprint Car victories this season, including the series’ most recent event, where he collected a big payday in “Sprint Car Smackdown VI” at Kokomo Speedway.  “Sunshine” took third in his most recent Terre Haute visit and has finished in the top-three in two of his last three Haubstadt appearances.

Friday’s Jim Hurtubise Classic at Terre Haute will also have a visit from the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds.  The class has only been in action twice at the track this year, due to rainouts but has had really strong fields of cars both times.  20 drivers have taken the green in each of the two events with Will Krup winning the season opener and Kenny Wallace taking the August event.  Another strong field is expected Friday.

On Friday night at Terre Haute, pit gates open at 3pm, grandstands at 4pm, drivers meeting at 5:15pm with cars set to hit the track at 6pm (eastern time).  Adult grandstand admission tickets are $25, infield admission is $15 and children 10 and under are free.

About Terre Haute Action Track: 
                For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Tyler Cain And Kenny Wallace Find Victory Lane
(Terre Haute, IN) The improbable happened this past Sunday in Terre Haute, IN.  The Terre Haute Action Track got a race in.  All joking aside, it seemed as though the track would never stop the rainout streak, which was at five in-a-row after getting just the season opener in this year.  Going into this past Sunday’s event, the chances again looked bleak, as the forecast called for a 60-70% of rain all day and it looked even worse on Sunday morning.  That said, it sprinkled a few times throughout the day but officials were bound and determined to go racing.Headlining the show was the Indiana Late Model Series, based out of Brownstown, IN.  Despite the forecast and many drivers living over two hours away from the Action Track, a solid field of 14 was on hand for a pair of heats and feature event.  After a sluggish start with a few caution slowing the pace early, drivers got rolling, flying around the fast 1/2-mile.  Early favorite, Marty O’Neal spun early in the event, relegating him to the tail and shaking up the top five.  Tyler Cain was the man to beat, though, leading convincingly as drivers sliced and diced behind him.  While it looked as though it would be a runaway, Chad Stapleton make up a large amount of ground over the last five laps and pulled alongside out of turn four.  Across the line, Cain held on by half a car length over Stapleton.  Tyler Neal, Justin Shawn, and Austin Burns rounded out the top five.An outstanding field of Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds were pitside, itching to race at the track after a long hiatus.  Three heats determined the feature starting lineup, which put Kenny Wallace and Joey Kramer on the front row.  Wallace raced out front with Brian Shaw moving into second.  With 11 laps complete, Shaw had run Wallace down and saw an opportunity to drive to the inside going into turn three.  Shaw went for broke into the third turn racing for the bottom lane but unfortunately made slight contact with Wallace during the attempt.  The two drivers went into a slow motion spin, nearly saving their cars.  Shaw restarted at the tail and rallied through the field for a top ten, while Wallace pulled back out front of Kramer and was never again seriously challenged.  Following Wallace and Kramer were Bradley Sterrett, Allen Weisser, and Richie Lex.

The Terre Haute Action Track will be back in action on Friday, September 15 for the Hurtubise Classic featuring the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars and Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

Pit gates will open on Friday, September 16 at 3:00, grandstands at 4:00, hotlaps at 6:30, qualifying at 7:00, and racing will take the green at 7:30.  Grandstand admission is $25, $15 for the infield, while kids 11 and under are free.

Officials are also pleased to announce an additional date on this year’s schedule due to the high amount of cancelations.  The additional race will be on Saturday, October 14 and will be named the Tony Hulman/Don Smith Classic, as both events have been rained out this season.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Terre Haute Action Track Results (8-6-17)
Indiana Late Model Series Feature Finish

1) 5C Tyler Cain
2) 32 Chad Stapleton
3) 20 Tyler Neal
4) 2 Justin Shaw
5) 22 Austin Burns
6) K1 Remington Gill
7) 9 Geraid Gault
8) 39 Randy Shuman
9) 02 Patrick Cobb
10) 92C Kenny Carmichael
11) 19 Marty O’Neal
12) 11M Josh McDaniel
13) 11 Tyler Collins
14) 92 Kenny Carmichael, Sr.

Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modified Finish

1) 36 Kenny Wallace
2) 77 Joey Kramer
3) 9H Bradley Sterrett
4) 25W Allen Weisser
5) 7 Richie Lex
6) 50 Tyler Weiss
7) 99T Tyler Loughmiller
8) 28 Jeff Deckard
9) 6B David Baldwin
10) 1S Brian Shaw
11) 2B Brent Hudson
12) 09 Chad Combs
13) 12K Daren Krockenberger
14) 88 Bill Duggar
15) 29 Aaron Zellers
16) 89W Rick Weitekamp
17) 7G John Grenier
18) 34W James Walters
19) 55W Lucas Wehmiller
20) 11M Josh McDaniel

Terre Haute Action Track Set For Hi99 Sunday Funday Of Racing
Indiana Late Model Series And Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Mods On ScheduleThe roar of engines will be noticeable from the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds this coming Sunday evening, as the Terre Haute Action Track is back in action with the Hi99 Sunday Funday event presented by Scott’s Custom Colors and Scheid Diesel.  It’s a great day to take the family to the races with reduced admission prices  at $15 for the stands, $10 for the infield, and free for kids 11 and under.The headlining show on Sunday will be the Indiana Late Model Series making an appearance for the second year in-a-row and the third overall.  Last season, a bright young  star from Martinsville, IN, Hudson O’Neal claimed the victory.  O’Neal was a rocket that day to best the 20+ car field.  His uncle, Marty O’Neal was second, while Raymond Humphrey, Steve Barrett, and Remington Gill rounded out the top five.  Hudson O’Neal has now moved on to run the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and is showing successful finishes in his rookie season.This season, Marty O’Neal leads the standings by 75 over Tyler Cain.  O’Neal has claimed seven wins in 14 starts this season and will be the favorite on Sunday.  Austin Burns, Tyler Neal, and Remington Gill complete the top five in the standings.Adding to Sunday’s excitement will be a couple of local drivers who normally race in the Modified division at the track.  Kenny Carmichael and Josh McDaniel, both hometown drivers, run on a regular basis in the Scott’s Custom Colors Modified class.  Late last season, they purchased Crate Late Models and will get a chance to compete on Sunday in not only the Mods but the Indiana Late Model Series race as well.Speaking of the Mods, the Scott’s Custom Colors Modifieds had a great field of cars at the most recent event, which was part of Indiana Sprint Week on July 12.  Unfortunately, rainfall set in just as hotlaps began forcing cancellation of the night’s events.  The class will be back on schedule this Sunday with the likes of NASCAR’s Kenny Wallace, Richie Lex, Brian Shaw, Rick Weitekamp, as well as the aforementioned McDaniels and Carmichael and an endless list of others who make random trips to the track on a semi-regular basis.

Rounding out the slate of events will be a special visit from the Terre Haute Quarter Midget Club.  They will have a picnic on the infield and their youngsters will do a lap at intermission around the 1/2-mile.

Sunday’s events are presented by Hi99 FM, Scott’s Custom Colors, and Scheid Diesel.  Anyone with wristbands from the July 12 rainout can use them on this event or at the September 15 or October 14 events.

Sunday, August 6 pit gates will open at 4:00, grandstands at 5:00, drivers meetings will be held at 5:30, and hotlaps will begin at 6:00.  Racing action is set to take the green at 7:00.  General admission is $15, infield admission $10, and kids 10 and under are free.

About Terre Haute Action Track:
                For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Indiana Sprint Week.  Those words alone invoke powerful emotions of passion that reaches from each of USAC’s Sprint Car superheroes all the way to the common race fan.  It makes no difference who you are.  When Sprint Week looms, it consumes every waking hour.  This Wednesday, July 12, fans in Terre Haute, Indiana will be packing the stands at The Action Track, watching all of the stars of the 2017 edition pace the fast 1/2-mile.

Seven races in nine nights of action with events at Gas City, Kokomo, and Lawrenceburg, leading up to the Terre Haute race.  Following Terre Haute, the tour travels to Lincoln Park, Bloomington, and Tri-State.

It’s a journey that can turn hair gray, yet create legends out of mere mortals.  It can divert a season’s path to one of joyous jubilation or to a fate of frustration.  Yet, ultimately, it can make the person who’s seen everything, feel like a kid again.  It makes no difference who you are.  The moment has drawn near.  For the 30th year, Indiana Sprint Week has arrived.

Entering its third decade, Indiana Sprint Week presented by Camping World has become a timeless tradition.  One that’s seen countless breakthrough performances such as last year when Kyle Cummins, Brent Beauchamp, Carson Short and Tyler Courtney all raced to their first USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car victories.

Courtney’s particularly stands out due to his stick-to-it-iveness following a lap one spin in the 2016 Sprint Week opener at Gas City.  After restarting from the tail, few could’ve foreseen the comeback for the ages that Sunshine demonstrated throughout the next 30 laps, passing at least one car per lap before ultimately driving by Bryan Clauson on the bottom for the victory with eight laps to go.

Courtney was in position to win the title with two races remaining until a massive Bloomington crack-up dashed his hopes and dreams of the ultimate Sprint Week glory.  Meanwhile, Brady Bacon was racking up a string of consistent finishes on a nightly basis that netted him his first Indiana Sprint Week title, the ninth to do so without a single win in the history of the mini-series.  This year, however, he’s at the wheel of the Dooling/Hayward Motorsports No. 63, which Clauson raced to his 41st and final victory at Lawrenceburg’s Sprint Week round a year ago.

Bacon’s championship ride from last year is occupied by Hanford, California’s Chad Boespflug.  Despite a run of big-time wins last season, an Indiana Sprint Week triumph was not among them, although his first career USAC win back in 2013 came at a Sprint Week staple – Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Indiana.  The Hoffman No. 69 has seen its share of success in Indiana Sprint Week with 12 wins and two titles between Dave Darland in 1998 and Bacon in 2016.

A pair of ISW champions are eager to end their respective droughts.  Astonishingly, Chris Windom of Canton, Illinois hasn’t won an ISW race since Terre Haute’s “Don Smith Classic” that same summer six years back.  Rocklin, California’s Robert Ballou was the 2015 titlist, but did so absent a victory.  But, it was a single week in 2014 after multiple wins at Putnamville and Haubstadt that turned Ballou’s career around.  He arrived at Putnamville for Sprint Week three years ago with five wins in an eight-year span.  In the two-and-a-half years since, he’s tallied 22 USAC National wins and a National title.

Point leader Justin Grant is the only driver to win USAC Sprint races in four different states this season, but his last Indiana Sprint Week win came in 2012 at Lawrenceburg.  Alabama’s Kevin Thomas, Jr., a recent Williams Grove winner, is one of just three drivers to win three Sprint Week features in a row and is the last to do so back in 2013.

The two winningest ISW drivers of all-time – three-time champ Dave Darland and twice a champion Jon Stanbrough – have been neck-to-neck in terms of total series victories for quite some time.  The two have been mainstays atop the results for many a year with Darland’s first win “Sprint Week” win coming in 1990 and Stanbrough’s in 1996!  The connection between the two holds true to today with each of their most recent Sprint Week wins coming one night apart from each other in 2014.  Stanbrough took his 16th on opening night at Gas City while Darland snagged Kokomo the following night for the 18th time.

Hoosier Hotshots Brady Short and Chase Stockon aim to once again protect their home turf as they did last year at Putnamville and Terre Haute, respectively.

USAC Champions Brody Roa and Ryan Bernal intend to carry the flame for the west coast, continuing a tradition of Californians who’ve made the 30-plus hour Midwest migration for a couple weeks during the summer to take on the best of USAC’s National contingent.  Cory Kruseman, Cary Faas and Damion Gardner are among the few who’ve conquered the west, then thrived in Indiana Sprint Week as race winners.  Reigning West Coast Sprint champ Roa made his initial foray to “Sprint Week” back in 2014 while Bernal, the 2013 and 14 Western Classic Sprint champion, makes his first trip back since 2013.

For some, Indiana Sprint Week can be a pocket full of sunshine and a racer’s delight.  For others, it can prove to be a walk on hot coals scattered atop a bed of nails.  Racers go to challenge themselves against the best of the best, night after night to prove themselves on this racing carousel.  Where each lands at the end of the week is up to preparation and, perhaps, a bit of good fortune.  The stakes are immense and the action intense.  Sleep is secondary from the moment the engines fire at Gas City ‘til the final flag drops at Haubstadt.  And, you know what?  We wouldn’t have it any other way.  This is Indiana Sprint Week!

Joining the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars will be the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds.  Pits will open Wednesday at 3:00 and grandstands at 4:00 with a special prerace show taking place in front of the stands with Donald Davidson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian.  The track will be hot with the start of practice at 6:30, qualifying at 7:00, and racing at 7:30.  Grandstand admission is $25, infield admission $15, and kids 11 and under are free.

Five of the seven races will be streamed LIVE via PPV on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/: Gas City, Kokomo, Lawrenceburg, Terre Haute and Bloomington.  You may catch all the races available on-demand a day following the event at http://www.Loudpedal.TV/.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Next Event Coming Up Wednesday, July 12

(Terre Haute, IN) The first ever clash between the World Of Outlaw Craftsman Late Models and the Summer National Late Models, scheduled for Friday, June 30 at the Terre Haute Action Track, has been canceled due to rain.  For the Action Track, it’s the fourth rainout in a row, after a packed house for the season opening Sumar Classic.  The track will next open on Wednesday, July 12 for Indiana Sprint Week and the Don Smith Classic.

Super Late Model fans across the Midwest were looking forward to the highly anticipated clash between the two series, a first of its kind.  Last year, Federated Auto Parts Speedway in Pevely, MO and Lincoln Speedway, in Lincoln, IL were scheduled to have the same shows, which rain also took.  The best of the best from the World Of Outlaw side as well as the Hell Tour side were scheduled to appear.  The track was in pristine condition before a heavy downpour rained on the proverbial parade shortly before 1:00.  The series now travel to Pevely, MO for a combo show on Saturday.

Historically, the biggest show of the year for the Terre Haute Action Track, with the best field of cars and the biggest attendance is the Don Smith Classic during Indiana Sprint Week.  That event is coming up on Wednesday, July 12 and preparation now begins.  This year, the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds are also on the show, something that has not been the case in recent years.

Pit gates open on Wednesday, July 12 at 3:00, grandstands at 4:00, hotlaps will start at 6:30 with racing to take the green at 7:30.  Grandstand admission will be $25 for adults, $15 for the infield, and free for kids 11 and under.

For the Track Enterprises promotion company, two big days of racing remain this weekend with the USAC National Midgets at Macon IL Speedway on Saturday and a combo show for the USAC National Midgets and Summer National Late Models at Lincoln IL Speedway on Sunday.  Full info on those shows can be found at www.maconracing.com and www.lincolnspeedwayil.com.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

            For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Dirt Late Model Racing’s Best Go Head-to-Head
By Clayton JohnsCONCORD, NC – June 19, 2017 – The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series and the DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour are set to meet for two star-powered showdown races this weekend. The best Dirt Late Model racing has to offer will battle head-to-head on June 30 at Indiana’s Terre-Haute Speedway before starting July at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, MO on July 1.For the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series drivers, the challenge events against the Summer Nationals stars conclude a busy stretch of six races in 11 days in four different states. A World of Outlaws race already brings a wildly talented group of wheelmen, but adding the talent of the Summer Nationals tour drivers to the field adds another layer of difficulty.“It definitely gets a lot more difficult,” said current World of Outlaws point leader and 2013 Summer Nationals champion Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, IL. “There’s a lot of tough competition that run that series. When you mix the two of them together, it makes for a heck of a field of cars. There’s definitely a lot of good competition that we’ll be running against, but that’s the fun of our sport.”Most drivers will maintain the same routine for the challenge races, but enter the event knowing they have to be at the top of their game. The level of difficulty is a little higher for full-time Outlaw Devin Moran of Dresen, OH, who will see both Terre-Haute and Pevely for the first time in his career.“I’ll definitely watch quite a bit of video of those tracks and just get a feel for what’s going on,” Moran said. “Other than that, there’s not much I would change. We try to be 100 percent prepared for every race we go to. Hopefully we show up and run pretty decent.”For the drivers running the full DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour, also known as the “Hell Tour” for its schedule of 29 races in 32 days, the battle against the Outlaws is dropped in the middle of the grueling tour. Adding the Outlaw competitors to the field only increases the difficulty of winning on the already star-studded tour, said two-time and defending Summer Nationals Champion Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, IL.“You have a tough bunch of guys that run the Hell Tour and then the Outlaw guys come in and their stuff is going to be a little bit more fresh than ours by that time,” Pierce said. “It’s going to make it a little tougher on us.”During such a grueling and busy stretch of races for both series, the key to success is maintaining cars at their peak performance. Achieving that goal while operating on the road and undertaking maintenance tasks in parking lots is even more difficult than it sounds. Preparing for each night starts well before race day.

“It still all happens in the race shop,” said Moran. “Before we leave we want to be 100 percent prepared. We’ll have an extra car and extra parts. We could probably build an entire car, minus the frame, in the race hauler. That’s really the key when we’re out travelling – we have to make sure we have everything.”

“We try to start off with our stuff as fresh as we can and keep plenty of spare stuff with us,” Sheppard agreed. ”That’s the difficult part – running all those races and keep your stuff maintained and up to par or where it needs to be.

The benefit for veteran drivers will be their experience at each track. Terre-Haute and Pevely offer drastically different configurations on consecutive nights of competition and force each driver to be increasingly versatile. Drivers will have to tackle the half-mile at Terre-Haute and then the tight confines of Pevely’s enclosed quarter-mile. However, both groups of drivers are accustomed to travelling to various venues.

“I don’t think it will be as hard because the one thing with the Summer Nationals that really benefits you as a driver is when you go to all of these different tracks, it helps you adapt really quick to different track conditions and track types,” Pierce said.

“We’ve been really consistent all year long and we race two or three different tracks every weekend, so it won’t be anything different to go from one track to another,” Sheppard said as a matter-of-fact.

While Moran hasn’t turned a lap on either track, he’ll use the experience he has gained travelling with the Outlaws to his benefit.

“One of my favorite things about racing is going to new tracks,” Moran said. “Terre-Haute is a one of a kind racetrack. We don’t go to many places that are a big half-mile and flat like that. I’m really excited to go to Pevely. It’s definitely an action-packed racetrack. I’m excited to get there.”

The challenge races are events many drivers look forward to, despite the extra layer of competition. Defeating the best in both series allows for some bragging rights.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw a World of Outlaws guy and a Summer Nationals guy battling for the lead both nights,” Pierce said. “It’s going to be tough.”

Sheppard in particular is looking to make-up for a previous visit to Terre-Haute where he led the majority of the race, but had the win stolen late in the race.

“I ran Mark Richards’ car there in 2012 at the Summer Nationals race and I think I led all but the last five laps when we knocked the nose off up in the cushion,” Sheppard said. “I’m kind of looking forward to going back there and getting some revenge.”

For Moran, it’s a chance to run against one of his good friends in Pierce with some friendly bragging rights on the line.

“I’m definitely excited to go race with the Summer Nationals guys,” Moran said. “Living in Ohio, I don’t get to do that a whole lot. Going out there and racing with one of my good buddies Bobby Pierce, I hope I put it on him those couple of nights.”

For additional event information on the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series versus the Summer Nationals Tour at Terre-Haute Speedway on June 30, visit www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on July 1, visit www.federatedautopartsraceway.com/race-events/.

(Terre Haute, IN) No driver has ever won three editions of the “Tony Hulman Classic” consecutively, but this Friday night, June 23 at western Indiana’s Terre Haute Action Track, Robert Ballou has the opportunity to reverse 47-years of history.

The Rocklin, California native won the 2015 and 2016 editions in equally dramatic fashion.  Ballou caught Chris Windom with three laps remaining to capture the traditional rifle trophy in ’15.  With less than 10 to go in last season’s “Hulman Classic,” Ballou battled back-and-forth with Thomas Meseraull before coming right back at him with nine laps to go, utilizing a monster slide job into turn one.  Ballou opened it up in the final stages to capture his second consecutive victory in the race, which had previously only been achieved by Steve Butler (1987-88) and Levi Jones (2008-09).

Ballou, the 2015 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Champion, defied the odds with his comeback victory at Eldora Speedway in May, his second race back after an eight-month recovery following devastating injuries in a crash last September.  Since then, he’s had an up-and-down stretch that got its bumpiest during last week’s Eastern Storm, a five-race, six-night series that tested patience and equipment.

Ballou backed up his Eldora victory with a solid fourth at I-80 Speedway and a runner-up finish at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway a day later.  But, a rough patch through Pennsylvania’s Eastern Storm saw a sixth-place result on opening night at Grandview Speedway as his best.  A night later, he was 13^th at Lincoln Speedway, then followed up a night later with a turn-three crash at Williams Grove Speedway that put him 23^rd in the final box score.

Ballou appeared to be back in his element on the half-mile Port Royal Speedway.  He dominated the first 26 circuits of the 30-lap feature before a late-race caution bunched up the field.  Windom got by him with a slider on the restart and drove away for the victory while Ballou, battling for second on the final lap with Justin Grant saw his night end two corners short of the checkered as he smacked backward into the outer guardrail before flipping over multiple times.  He was uninjured, but would not be in attendance the following night in the Eastern Storm finale at Susquehanna Speedway.

The Terre Haute Action Track will be a welcome change of scenery to Ballou this Friday when the series returns to the Midwest half-mile, a track size that he has earned 12 of his 27 career USAC National Sprint Car feature wins on.

Speaking of Eastern Storm, Chris Windom of Canton, Illinois captured the title by four points over Cullman, Alabama’s Kevin Thomas, Jr.  Windom owns four total Action Track USAC victories, including the last two appearances by USAC at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds oval – a National Sprint Car triumph in October of 2016 and the “Sumar Classic” Silver Crown season opener in April of this year.

The most recent driver to win three-straight USAC events at Terre Haute across all three USAC National divisions was J.J. Yeley in 2002-2003.  Yeley scored a sprint win to end 2002, began the season with another sprint score to begin 2003 and completed the trifecta with a Silver Crown triumph later that spring.

Thomas, a Terre Haute USAC Sprint winner in 2013, won his first USAC feature of the season last Thursday at Williams Grove, while Indianapolis, Indiana’s Tyler Courtney was victorious for the second time in the Eastern Storm finale at Susquehanna.

Third in Eastern Storm points, Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, won last Tuesday at Grandview and was a USAC Sprint feature victory in September of 2014 at the Action Track, but the two-time USAC National Sprint Car champ has yet to add a “Hulman Classic” trophy to his collection.

Ballou is among four past winners expected to compete in Friday night’s race, including Dave Darland (1993 & 2014), Jon Stanbrough (2002 & 2007) and Windom (2011).

The “Hulman Classic” began with George Snider’s victory in 1971 and continues today as the longest, annually-contested event on the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car calendar.  Except for a brief period between 1988 and 1991 when the event moved to the pavement at Indianapolis Raceway Park, the Hulman Classic has been held at the Terre Haute Action Track.

Former winners of the race include ten Indianapolis 500 veterans, 14 past USAC National Sprint Car championships and even an NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racing star, Doug Kalitta.

In addition to the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint cars, the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds will also be in action.  Pit gates open this Friday for the “Tony Hulman Classic” at 3pm with the grandstands set to open at 4.  Cars hit the track at 6:30.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Hoosier Hundred & Carb Night Still On For Thursday/Friday
(Terre Haute, IN) The first of three nights of racing for USAC’s “The Week Of Indy” has been postponed due to steady rainfall in Western Indiana.  The Tony Hulman Classic was set to bring in 30+ USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars and the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds.  The event will be rescheduled.  Two dates are being considered and officials are checking to confirm which one will be best.  The new date will likely be released at the Hoosier Hundred on Thursday.  The “Week Of Indy” will now get underway on Thursday, May 25 with the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, which has a much improved forecast.With the postponement of the Tony Hulman Classic, fans, teams, and drivers will start making the trek an hour to the east for Thursday’s Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, IN.  The event will feature the USAC Silver Crown Champ Cars presented by Traxxas.  Also racing will be the Mid-American Stock Car Series.  The event is rich in tradition and this year’s field is expected to be in upwards of 40 cars for the 100-lap event.The weather forecast for Thursday has shown great improvement with any chances for rain ending in the early morning hours.  The track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds holds up well with wet weather as proved last year when a two hour downpour came through at noon on raceday.  USAC Silver Crown hotlaps will be first on track at 5:00 with their qualifying session around 6:15.  The Mid-American Stock Car Series will run their feature shortly after 7:00 and the USAC Silver Crown Series Hoosier Hundred will take the green around 8:00 PM.Also still on schedule for this week is the Carb Night Classic on Friday, May 26th at Lucas Oil Raceway.  On track will be the USAC Silver Crown Series for a 100-lap event.  A solid field of cars is expected.  The Mid-American Stock Car Series will also be making their return to the Brownsburg, IN oval.  Mid-American practice will begin at 3:15, Silver Crown at 4:00, Champ Car qualifying at 5:30, Mid-American Stock car feature at 6:30, and the Carb Night Classic for the Champ Cars will go green at 8:00 PM.Fans who have purchased a “Week Of Indy” Superticket, will be able to use it on the remaining two events this week, as well as the Tony Hulman Classic makeup date.  If you have any additional questions, call 217-764-3200.For more information on the “Week Of Indy” events, visit www.trackenterprises.com.About Terre Haute Action Track:

                For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.Week Of Indy Remaining Schedule:Thursday, May 25            Hoosier Hundred At Indiana State Fairgrounds
USAC Silver Crown Champ Cars & Mid-American Stock Car SeriesFriday, May 26                  Carb Night Classic At Lucas Oil Raceway
USAC Silver Crown Champ Cars & Mid-American Stock Car SeriesTerre Haute Action Track Remaining Schedule:Friday, June 30                  World Of Outlaw Craftsman Late Models vs. DIRTcar Summer Nationals
Super Late Models + Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds

Wednesday, July 12       “Don Smith Classic”
USAC Sprints & Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds

Sunday, August 6             “Family Funday Sunday”
Indiana Late Model Series & Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds

Friday, September 15    “Jim Hurtubise Classic”
USAC Sprints & Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds

TBA – Tony Hulman Classic Makeup

 

BALLOU GOES FOR UNPRECEDENTED 3-IN-A-ROW WEDNESDAY IN 47TH HULMAN CLASSIC

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Two weeks ago, in his return to the cockpit of a USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car for the first time in eight months, Robert Ballou made the contingent on hand stand up and take notice that he hadn’t missed a beat.

His second race back in Eldora Speedway’s #LetsRaceTwo resulted in a commanding victory and placed him right at the top of the totem pole of favorites heading into this Wednesday night’s “Tony Hulman Classic” at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track.

It was a moment that recalled some of the greatest USAC comebacks seen in recent history such as Lee Kunzman’s National Midget win at Tri-County Speedway in Cincinnati in 1971, where he returned to victory in his first race after suffering a broken neck, arm and severe burns in a sprint crash at Missouri’s I-70 Speedway in 1970. Or Pancho Carter’s return after severe lower extremity injuries in a testing crash at Phoenix, in which he won his first two USAC Sprint Car appearances at Indianapolis Raceway Park and Winchester (Ind.) Speedway after a five-month layoff.

The “Hulman Classic” is an event in which Ballou has won twice in a row. Only two other drivers have accomplished that feat: Steve Butler (1987-88) and Levi Jones (2008-09).

Rocklin, California’s Ballou has unprecedented territory to claim this time around as he aims to become the first driver to win three consecutive “Hulmans.” Only Jones (2005-08-09) and Cary Faas (1992-94-98) have even won three total in the 46-year history of the event.

In last year’s “Hulman Classic,” Ballou and Thomas Meseraull waged war in a back-and-forth slider-fest before Ballou pulled ahead with less than 10 laps remaining to prevail at the Action Track.

Ballou is among five past winners expected to compete in Wednesday night’s race, including Dave Darland (1993 & 2014), Jerry Coons, Jr. (2010 & 2013), Jon Stanbrough (2002 & 2007) and Chris Windom (2011). Windom has won the last two appearances by USAC at Terre Haute, a National Sprint Car triumph in October of 2016 and the “Sumar Classic” Silver Crown season opener in April of this year.

The “Hulman Classic” began with George Snider’s victory in 1971 and continues today as the longest, annually-contested event on the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car calendar. Except for a brief period between 1988 and 1991 when the event moved to the pavement at Indianapolis Raceway Park, the Hulman Classic has always been held at the half-mile Terre Haute Action Track.

Former winners of the race include ten Indianapolis 500 veterans, 14 past USAC National Sprint Car championships and even an NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racing star, Doug Kalitta.

Pit gates open for the Hulman Classic at 3pm with the grandstands set to open at 4. Cars hit the track at 6:30.  The Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds will also be in action.

Fans will receive a savings of $20 by purchasing their own “Week of Indy” Superticket now at https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2017-week-of-indy/. The Superticket is your golden ticket for admission to all three of this week’s USAC races at a steal of a price!

Wednesday’s “Tony Hulman Classic” will also be streamed LIVE on http://www.SpeedShiftTV.com/ via Pay-Per-View.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

                For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Officials from the MSCS Sprint Cars and Track Enterprises, the promotion company of the Terre Haute Action Track, have announced that the 2017 Spring Fling scheduled for Sunday, April 30 has been canceled due to a weekend filled with rain.  The Scott’s Custom Colors Modifieds and the Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Racing Club were also on the schedule.  The event will not be rescheduled.

The event was set to be the second of the 2017 season, after the season opening USAC Silver Crown race in early April.  This is the second year in-a-row that the event has been washed out.  Last year, the event was rescheduled for August, but was again rained out.

Up next on the Terre Haute Action Track schedule is the Tony Hulman Classic for the USAC National Sprint cars on Wednesday, May 24.  The event is the first of three for the Track Enterprises promotion, “USAC’s The Week Of Indy”.  The Hulman Classic will also feature the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds.  Fans and drivers then head to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for the Hoosier Hundred on Thursday, May 25 and then to Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis on Friday, May 26 for the Carb Night Classic.

While those attending the Tony Hulman Classic will be able to purchase tickets at the gate on raceday, a presale “Week Of Indy” Superticket is available for a discount if going to all three events.  The three day ticket is available for $60, a 25% savings.  The three day superticket is available at https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2017-week-of-indy.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

                For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Terre Haute Action Track Remaining Schedule:

Wednesday, May 24     “Tony Hulman Classic”
USAC Sprints & Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds
Friday, June 30     World Of Outlaw Craftsman Late Models vs. DIRTcar Summer Nationals
Super Late Models + Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds
Wednesday, July 12     “Don Smith Classic”
USAC Sprints & Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds
Sunday, August 6     “Family Funday Sunday”
Indiana Late Model Series & Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds
Friday, September 15     “Jim Hurtubise Classic”
USAC Sprints & Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds

IT’S A “SPRING FLING” FOR SPRINT CARS & UMP MODIFIEDS

Haubstadt, IN – April 24, 2017.  The Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series drivers will return to action after a weekend off by racing at the Terre Haute Action Track on Sunday, April 30th.  This event, which is once again billed as the “Spring Fling,” will be the only appearance for the series at a half mile track this season.  The historic facility which is located at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds will also be hosting the Midwest Old Timers Race Cars as well as presenting a full program of Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Open Wheel Modifieds.  The entire program that evening is designed to appeal to open wheel race fans!

The “Spring Fling” at Terre Haute will pay the MSCS sprint cars $3,000 to win and $300 to start.  Those amounts are above the standard pay-off for the series and for the Fling event in the past.  The Sunday date along with the added purse money should attract the very best 410 non-wing sprint drivers.

The top five drivers in the current MSCS points standings are led by Jarett Andretti of Indianapolis, IN.  He is just two points ahead of three time MSCS Champion Brady Short and Illinois speedster Carson Short.  The two drivers have both collected 123 points in the first two races this season. A couple of young hard chargers complete the top five.  Max McGhee is fourth and Dakota Jackson ranks fifth.

Four time MSCS Champion Kyle Cummins is sixth in the points. Brandon Morin, Donny Brackett, Tyler Rust, and Brandon Mattox finish out the list for the top ten.  Tyler Rust currently leads the MSCS Rookie of the Year points.  Eleventh and twelfth positions are held by Brent Beauchamp and Jon Stanbrough.  Twenty nine of the 36 MSCS licensed drivers have already been in action this season.

Brady Short won the last “Spring Fling” to be held at the Terre Haute Action Track which was in 2015. The two attempts to hold this event in 2016 were both cancelled because of rainfall.  Jerry Coons Jr.(2nd) and Carson Short (3rd) shared the THAT podium with Brady Short in 2015.

Thomas Meseraull and Chris Windom have won the features at the other two MSCS events completed earlier this season.  As the series changes locations to race, different drivers join the regulars to compete for the prize money.  It is still very early in the 2017 season and several drivers can be expected to make their first appearance with MSCS for the season.  The legendary track beckons!  Some will take the opportunity to race there an additional time and others have been waiting for that very first opportunity to run at the Action Track!

The pit gate will open at 3 o’clock.  The grand stands will open an hour later at 4 o’clock.  Hot laps and group qualifying will get underway at about 5:00 P.M. Sunday.  The drivers in each heat race group will qualify together.  Then officials will then invert the fastest qualifiers to create the heat race lineups.  The race will then be on as usual!  Drivers will be battling for a high enough finish to transfer to the feature.  THAT racing is set to begin at 6:30 P.M. Eastern Time.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

                For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack).  Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN.  The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.

Richie Murray – USAC Media

Terre Haute, Indiana………Chris Windom picked up right where he left off in a number of ways Sunday night at the Terre Haute Action Track.

One night after celebrating a USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car score at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway, Windom was back in the familiar setting of victory lane at the 17th running of the “Sumar Classic.”

“It’s pretty special getting the win last night and then to come out here with a brand-new team, I really don’t know what to say.  I met a lot of these guys for the first time today.  Gene Kazmark gave me the opportunity and gave me a great racecar to come out here and win tonight.”

Incredibly, this was Kazmark’s first entry into a Silver Crown event as an owner since the “Hoosier Hundred” in September of 2001 with driver Ricky Shelton.  However, the car itself was a familiar commodity to Windom as it was the same car he drove to victory in his most recent series’ win at Eldora Speedway’s “4-Crown Nationals” for the Fred Gormly/RPM Auto Enterprise team in September 2016.  But, a new team means new surroundings, and Windom and the crew quickly adapted to their new environment.

“I’m pretty familiar with the car,” Windom admits.  “It’s pretty much the same exact car we won Eldora with last year.  That definitely gave us a head start coming in.  The guys working on it busted their tails all winter long to maintain and rebuild it and keep it as good as it was last year.  It’s pretty special to be able to come out here and do this.  I didn’t know exactly what my expectations were coming here since I didn’t know the guys very well, but we jelled right from the first practice session.”

Windom became just the fifth driver in the history of the USAC Silver Crown series to follow up a win in the previous season’s final race with a victory in the season opener the next year.  The only other drivers to accomplish that feat are Al Unser (1974), Tom Bigelow (1976), Jerry Coons, Jr. (2011) and Kody Swanson (2015).

In fact, dating to the 2016 “Ted Horn 100” at Illinois’ Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Windom has been victorious in three-straight Silver Crown events, the 10th driver in the history of the series to do so.

The Canton, Illinois native also became the fourth defending Silver Crown champ to capture the following season’s opening race, joining Al Unser (1974), Dave Steele (2006) and Kody Swanson (2015).

The three most recent “Sumar Classic” winners coming into Sunday, Shane Cockrum (2015), C.J. Leary (2016) and Kody Swanson (2014) owned the lead in the first half of the 100-lap event, but by the midway point, Windom had steadily worked his way to the front from his ninth starting position, utilizing the bottom of the racing surface to make his way through the pack.

By the 50th lap, Windom chomped into Swanson’s lead.  The two series champs worked the bottom after Swanson moved his line between turns three and four from the top to the bottom.  Windom stuck a nose under Swanson entering turn three, inching along the inside guardrail until the exit of turn four where he was able to clear Swanson to take the top spot by a car-length at the start/finish line as flagman Tom Hansing displayed the crossed flags.

Windom had opened up a near full-straightaway lead over new second-place runner Leary with two-thirds of the race in the bag, while Swanson occupied third.  With 18 to go, though, Windom’s lead had grown to seven seconds and the insurmountable advantage seemed unattainable for second on back until eighth-running Bill Rose slowed with an apparent driveline issue to bring out the caution.

With the field bunched up, Windom’s lead was now gone and he would have to contend with defending race winner Leary in the closing laps.  However, Windom was able to get a solid jump with the lapped cars of Johnny Petrozelle and Joe Liguori standing between the front two on the lap 83 restart, thus allowing Windom to break away as Leary fought his way around the two to give chase.

Windom and Leary worked the bottom lap-after-lap as Leary slowly, but surely chipped away at the gap.  By lap 92, Leary had sliced Windom’s advantage to under a half-second and was still closing.

It was at this juncture one year ago when Leary made the race-winning move for the win, but this year’s lap 93 did not work in his favor as he began to lose valuable ground and Windom started to distance himself from Leary once-and-for-all.

Windom had withstood the challenge, taking the victory by just a tad under two seconds over Leary, Swanson, top-rookie finisher Hunter Schuerenberg and Jerry Coons, Jr.

It was Windom’s sixth career Silver Crown victory, which moves him into the top-20 on the series’ career win list.  Meanwhile, he also continued a streak of different “Sumar Classic” winners each year going back to 1999.

“I knew I found something on the bottom,” Windom recalls.  “I couldn’t hit it twice in a row for a while, but I finally hit my marks on entry to where I could hit it on the exit.  That’s where I’d gain on him off the corner.  I didn’t want to show him a nose.  I wanted to be able to pass him cleanly so he couldn’t take my line away.  We got to traffic and it kind of played in my favor.  A low and slow race takes a lot out of you trying to hit your marks like that every single lap.”

“I don’t think our momentum could be much better right,” Windom acknowledges.  “It’s awesome to be able start the year like this.  I’ve never had a year quite this good this early.”

Greenfield, Indiana’s C.J. Leary continued his impressive runs at Terre Haute over the past three seasons by scoring his third-straight top-two result with a second-place finish in his Chuck & Tammi Leary/Leary Construction – Gray Auto/DRC/1-Way Toyota.

“I think it’s this DRC Silver Crown Car,” Leary humbly attributes for his recent run of success at Terre Haute.  “Joe (Devin) and I have been working really well together on this deal.  Terre Haute is really not one of my better tracks, but in the Silver Crown car here, two seconds and a win is pretty awesome.  I think we picked the wrong tire tonight, though.  We went with a 25 instead of a 20 thinking it was going to rubber up early, but it never did.”

“Chris (Windom) and I were about the same speed,” Leary explains during the final run to the checkered.  “Every time he’d make a mistake, I seemed to make the same mistake.  I figured I could catch him, but I didn’t know if we could pass him.  It felt kind of like déjà vu from last year.  I thought we might able to pull off the upset, but that’s racing.  We’ll load up, go back to the shop and try to make it a little bit faster.”

Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, California grabbed third in his DePalma Motorsports/Radio Hospital – Hampshire Racing Engines/Maxim/Hampshire Chevy.

“You really don’t want to get too far back at Terre Haute behind guys like Shane (Cockrum) and C.J. (Leary), both former Sumar winners,” Swanson said.  “I knew I had to figure out how to get around them early on and the top of (turns) three and four seemed to be holding.  If you’re going to get to the lead doing it, you got to be the first one to try it.  You have to stick your neck out and make something happen.  This crew works hard for me and I was going to work hard for them to make sure I got us back to the lead.  I did everything I could do to put us in a position to win.  I chased it higher and higher; there were so many cars on the bottom throwing the marbles out and, when the moisture went away, you just couldn’t keep doing it anymore and I had to come to the bottom.”

“This team’s a pleasure to race for,” Swanson continued.  “We went in with what we thought was going to happen and it just didn’t tonight.  We never quit.  We gave it everything we had and we’re disappointed because these guys are good and we want to win, but tonight we just missed a little bit. We’ll come back and try again.  There’s no one else I’d rather come back to the races with.”

Contingency award winners Sunday night at the Terre Haute Action Track included Kody Swanson (ProSource Fast Qualifier), Dave Darland (KSE Racing Products Hard Charger) and Patrick Bruns (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher).

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USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: April 2, 2017 – Terre Haute, Indiana – Terre Haute Action Track – “Sumar Classic”

PROSOURCE QUALIFYING: 1. Kody Swanson, 63, DePalma-23.599; 2. Casey Shuman, 55, Bateman-23.794; 3. David Byrne, 40, Byrne-23.881; 4. Shane Cockrum, 71, Hardy-23.925; 5. C.J. Leary, 30, Leary-23.990; 6. Brady Bacon, 48, Martens-24.063; 7. Justin Grant, 91, Carli/Hemelgarn-24.119; 8. Aaron Pierce, 26, Pierce-24.382; 9. Chris Windom, 92, Kazmark-24.809; 10. Steve Buckwalter, 53, SET-24.857; 11. Hunter Schuerenberg, 120, Nolen-24.953; 12. Johnny Petrozelle, 08, Cornell/Petrozelle-25.021; 13. Dakota Jackson, 201, Nolen-25.066; 14. Joe Liguori, 4, Liguori-25.127; 15. Patrick Bruns, 95, Full Throttle-25.148; 16. Jerry Coons Jr., 20, Nolen-25.195; 17. Mark Smith, 54, Lane-25.382; 18. J.C. Bland, 5, Bland-25.509; 19. Bill Rose, 75, Rose-25.551; 20. Dave Berkheimer, 31, Berkheimer-25.565; 21. Shane Cottle, 81, Williams-25.596; 22. Joss Moffatt, 32, Williams/Wright-25.886; 23. Austin Nemire, 16, Lesko-25.981; 24. Dave Darland, 27, Phillips-26.032; 25. Korey Weyant, 99, Weyant-26.064; 26. Terry Babb, 42, Babb-26.323; 27. Damion Gardner, 6, Klatt-26.486; 28. Jacob Wilson, 07, WBR-26.707; 29. Kenny Gentry, 18, Gentry-27.284; 30. Chris Fetter, 89, Fetter-NT; 31. David Shain, 7, Hardy-NT.

LAST CHANCE RACE: (15 laps) 1. Smith, 2. Cottle, 3. Gardner, 4. Darland, 5. Rose, 6. Moffatt, 7. Nemire, 8. Bland, 9. Babb, 10. Wilson, 11. Weyant, 12. Berkheimer, 13. Fetter, 14. Gentry. 5:51.67

FEATURE: (100 laps) 1. Chris Windom, 2. C.J. Leary, 3. Kody Swanson, 4. Hunter Schuerenberg, 5. Jerry Coons Jr., 6. Brady Bacon, 7. Dave Darland, 8. Damion Gardner, 9. Dakota Jackson, 10. Joss Moffatt, 11. Johnny Petrozelle, 12. Joe Liguori, 13. Patrick Bruns, 14. David Byrne, 15. Austin Nemire, 16. Bill Rose, 17. Steve Buckwalter, 18. Shane Cockrum, 19. Mark Smith, 20. Aaron Pierce, 21. Shane Cottle, 22. Justin Grant, 23. J.C. Bland, 24. Casey Shuman. NT

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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-18 Cockrum, Laps 19-25 Leary, Laps 26-49 Swanson, Laps 50-100 Windom.

KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Dave Darland (20th to 7th)

WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Patrick Bruns

NEW USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Windom-70, 2-Swanson-70, 3-Leary-69, 4-Schuerenberg-61, 5-Coons-58, 6-Bacon-56, 7-Darland-52, 8-Gardner-49, 9-Jackson-46, 10-Moffatt-43,

NEXT USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: April 29 – Phoenix (AZ) International Raceway – “Phoenix Copper Cup”

(Terre Haute, IN) The season opening event for the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds was a good one, as 20 top notch Modified stars were on hand.  It was the first of seven events for the division at the track this season and in the end, it was the Mt. Carmel, Illinois driver, Will Krup cruising to victory in the support show for the Sumar Classic.

Krup was fast as soon as he unloaded.  Setting fast time in his group of cars for the practice/qualifying session.  The K9 backed that up with a heat win over Richie Lex, who won the season ender last year, and Brian Shaw, who is always strong at the track.

Shaping up to be his biggest challenger was AJ Fike, who finished second in the Modifieds at last year’s Sumar.  Fike was fastest in his group for qualifying and backed it up with a heat win.  That slated Krup and Fike alongside one another for the feature event.

When the green dropped on the A-main event, Krup raced out front to immediately pace the field as Fike dropped into second.  Lex, the third place starter, started hounding Fike for second and took the spot just two laps into the race.

As the laps wore down, it was clear to see that Krup had the field covered, while Lex, Fike, Shaw, and Josh Harris battled in the top five.  After their shuffling settled, Fike claimed second for the second year in a row, while Harris, Lex, and Shaw completed the top five.  Rounding out the top ten were Jay Humphrey, Curt Rhodes, Matthew Tiller, Lee Hobbs, and Gabriel Kirtley.

The next Modified race at the Action Track is on Sunday, April 30 as part of the 2017 Spring Fling.  Running in addition to the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds are the MSCS Sprint Cars.  Full info will be posted at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net.

Scott’s Custom Colors Modified Feature

1) K9 Will Krup
2) 69 AJ Fike
3) 22 Josh Harris
4) 7LEX Richie Lex
5) 1S Brian Shaw
6) 6J Jay Humphrey
7) 10 Curt Rhodes
8) 18T Matthew Tiller
9) H0 Lee Hobbs
10) K7 Gabriel Kirtley
11) 4X Michael Fish
12) 89W Rick Weitekamp
13) 96 Cole Parker
14) 12K Daren Krockenberger
15) 40A Alex Reed
16) 11M Josh McDaniel
17) 40 RJ Pruitt
18) 92 Kenny Carmichael
19) 29 Aaron Zellers
20) 34 James Walters