NASCAR INDYCAR DRAG RACING MOTORCYCLES DIRT TRACK ASPHALT OFF ROAD ROAD RACE
Also Inside:
The Sparks Fly In Charlotte
Drama and Redemption
Volume 1 Issue 3
A DenKel Media Publication
Photo of the Month
by Barry Skelly & Allan Yeager Photography
4 Bench Racer 5 Hot Laps 7 NASCAR
8 Larson Shines
10 Todd Gilliland 13 IndyCar
14 Drama & Redemption American Racing News is a digital magazine that aims to promote racing of all types, either in the United States or by American racers elsewhere in the world. If you have a press release that you would like to submit for consideration, please send it to: denkelmedia@usa.com
18 Drag Racing 24 Motorcycles 27 Dirt Track 29 Asphalt 31 Off Road 32 Rallycross 33 Road Race 34 Straight Line
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NASCAR Photos Provided by NASCAR.com | Indy 500 Pole Sitter Photo by John Cote
Bench Racer ues. Many of us fear those measures will ruin the 500, like it arguably has done with Daytona and Talladega. I think there is an answer. Don't artificially restrict the power, instead return IndyCar to the automotive innovators they used to be.
The Next 100 Indy 500s By the time you read this, the 100th running of the Indy 500 will be in the history books. The race ran, the milk drank and the fans returned back to life as usual. As fans, we are impacted by memories of the race, good or bad. Some of us will carry those memories with us forever. Some will not remember who won a month or two from now. Regardless of the extent, anyone that spent all morning watching the 500 was impacted, but is the 500 merely an event, is it just a spectacle for the fans? While Indy is much more than "just an event" to millions of fans, it could be so much more, with average lap speeds reaching 230 mph the track’s ability to stretch the limits of a modern IndyCar is in question. Can cars do 240 within the confines of the speedway? 250? Does it matter? More importantly are higher speeds safe for the fans in attendance? Sooner or later the sanctioning body will have to contemplate power restrictors like NASCAR does at its two largest ven-
It used to be that the major players in the auto industry would use racing as a laboratory for future passenger car advancements. You can thank the racers of yesterday the next time you look in your rearview mirror, use your disc brakes or take advantage of the countless other automotive advancements we have today. IndyCar could be more relevant to the auto industry by making some key changes.
By Dennis Keeley advancements in fuel efficient but powerful engine development. These changes may cause speeds to drop, but I believe the action and drama would increase. There might be times when a manufacturer would have an edge, but overall the health of IndyCar would be at an all time high. Manufacturers would return with both marketing and R&D budgets. We always hear talk of reducing the costs of racing, but the increase of manufacturer support is much better for the health of the teams. Racing at the top level is expensive. Nothing fuels the best competition better than cubic dollars. Fans would relate better with brands they know, with a stronger connection to the cars on the track.
First, any chassis is welcome as long as it meets certain technical criteria. (Open wheels, certain length, width, etc.) This would encourage chassis and suspension innovations.
Teams would benefit from increased factory support options. Three more manufactures coming back would support anywhere from six to twelve cars.
Second, engines must be must be heavily based on a production car of over 5,000 units sold. Not only would the auto industry learn new performance and fuel saving technology, the fans would identify better with their favorite brands. Just think how cool it would be, if the winner of the Indy 500 had the same base engine as your Accord.
Will it happen? I could only hope. I know there is a lot to consider before making changes like this. It is a huge gamble to rock the boat. Would these changes work or just drive everyone away? We will likely never see these changes, but in a bench racer's world all is possible.
Third, tires must be limited in number of sets used in a race. This tire rule would encourage smart suspension technology. Finally, the amount of fuel must be limited to 95% of the previous year's allotment. The fuel rule would push
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Hot Laps NASCAR Partners with Steven Soderbergh on Heist-Themed Film Channing Tatum to Star in “Logan Lucky” for the Big Screen DAYTONA BEACH, FL – NASCAR® is
Charlotte Motor Speedway as the world-class sports entertainment property and venue that they are, much like the Bellagio in Steven’s Ocean’s Eleven.” Logan Lucky is tentatively scheduled for release in Fall 2017. Mark Johnson, Gregory Jacobs and Reid Carolin are producing. Zane Stoddard is executive producing for NASCAR.
collaborating with Academy Award winning director Steven Soderbergh on a feature film entitled Logan Lucky, starring Channing Tatum alongside Daniel Craig, Riley Keough, Adam Driver and Seth MacFarlane. Depicting a theoretical heist at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the project will mark Soderbergh’s first feature film since announcing his retirement from the film industry in 2013. Soderbergh, who also directed heist film Ocean’s Eleven, is best known for his work on the critically acclaimed Traffic and Erin Brockovich, which garnered him two Oscar nominations and the accolade of Best Director. This will not be Tatum’s first experience working with NASCAR or Soderbergh. He and 22 Jump Street co-star Jonah Hill served as grand marshals for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ Pocono 400 in 2014, while Tatum and Soderbergh previously teamed up for the Magic Mike films, Haywire and the 2013 thriller Side Effects, which was the most recent film project led by the acclaimed director. “We are excited to work with Steven, Channing and all of Logan Lucky’s incredible cast and producers,” said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development. “It’s a big-hearted, fun story that showcases NASCAR and
honors achievements prior to 1976. In 1955, Sweikert had a season for the ages winning the Indianapolis 500, the AAA “Big Car” National Championship and the Midwest Sprint Car Championship. He was the first driver to sweep all three honors in a single season. Sweikert also was the first driver to exceed 100 mph on a one-mile oval track. His career was halted at the age of 30, his full potential unrealized, when he died in June 1956 after a Sprint Car accident at Salem (Indiana) Speedway. “It is always a thrill to induct a past Indy 500 winner,” said MSHFA President Ron Watson. “But his other accomplishments in 1955 really put an exclamation point on his short career.” Sweikert was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1994 and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995.
1955 Indianapolis 500 Champion Bob Sweikert To Be Inducted Into Motorsports Hall Of Fame Of America
Sweikert joins Everett Brashear, Richard Childress, Gary Gabelich, Chip Ganassi, Dave McClelland and Sam Posey in the 2016 MSHFA class of inductees.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL. (May 24, 2016) – Indianapolis 500 champion and overall open-wheel legend Bob Sweikert of Los Angeles will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) at the 28th Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremony Presented by Bridgestone on June 29 at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach. Bob SweikertSweikert is being inducted in the Historic Category, which
Tickets for the 2016 Induction Ceremony can be purchased by calling 248.349.7223 or through the MSHFA website at www.mshf.com. _______________________________
Five Legends Unveiled as 2017 NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class DAYTONA BEACH, FL – NASCAR announced today the inductees who will
Hot Laps | American Racing News | 5
Hot Laps comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017. The five-person group – the eighth since the inception of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 – consists of Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks and Benny Parsons. In addition, NASCAR announced that Martinsville Speedway founder H. Clay Earles won the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote upon the 20 nominees for the induction class of 2017 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton announced the class and Landmark Award winner, respectively, this evening in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s “Great Hall.” The Class of 2017 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.COM and, for the third year, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion (Kyle Busch). In all, 54 votes were cast, with four additional Voting Panel members recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Ricky Rudd, Robert Yates, Waddell Wilson and Ken Squier). The accounting firm of EY presided over the tabulation of the votes.
Voting was as follows: Benny Parsons (85%), Rick Hendrick (62%), Mark Martin (57%), Raymond Parks (53%) and Richard Childress (43%). The next top vote-getters were Robert Yates, Red Byron and Alan Kulwicki. Results for the NASCAR.COM Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Buddy Baker, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Benny Parsons and Larry Phillips.
the 1973 USAC National Midget championship as well as the 1977 and 1981 USAC Silver Crown titles. In his successful USAC racing career, Rice collected five Silver Crown, three National Sprint and 15 National Midget feature victories.
The five inductees came from a group of 20 nominees that included, in addition to the five inductees chosen: Buddy Baker, Red Byron, Ray Evernham, Ray Fox, Ron Hornaday Jr., Harry Hyde, Alan Kulwicki, Hershel McGriff, Larry Phillips, Jack Roush, Ricky Rudd, Ken Squier, Mike Stefanik, Waddell Wilson and Robert Yates. Nominees for the Landmark Award included Earles, Janet Guthrie, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Ken Squier.
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HISTORICAL MARKER TO BE UNVEILED FOR USAC CHAMP LARRY RICE Three-time USAC National champion Larry Rice will be honored Wednesday, May 4 with the unveiling of a historical marker acknowledging the late racing legend’s life and career. The public is invited to the ceremony which takes place at 2pm in Brownsburg, Indiana on the southwest corner of State Road 267 and Interstate 74, just north of the Bob Evans Restaurant. Rice captured
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Rice passed away in May of 2009 after a bout with cancer at the age of 63. This is the ninth of 19 markers to be completed by the Indiana Racing Memorial Association (IRMA) during Indiana’s bicentennial celebration in 2016.
Crafton Goes Back to Back CONCORD, NC -- Matt Crafton had a lot to overcome on Saturday -- a 17thplace starting position and a difficult pit stall that cost him dearly in the early stages of Saturday's North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. But after 134 laps, Crafton was 5.748 seconds ahead of second-place Kyle Busch, winning the race and extending his series lead to 12 points over seventh-place finisher Timothy Peters. In fact, the two-time champion won consecutive races for the first time in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career, going back-to back at Dover and Charlotte.
first time until Lap 80, when Crafton tracked down Peters and passed him for the top spot. After starting mid-pack, Crafton worked his way forward during the first run but had major issues on pit road, first sliding through his pit box and later getting blocked in his stall. The miscues forced Crafton to pass a gaggle of cars, but by Lap 78 he was fourth for a restart after Christopher Bell's spin off Turn 4, and two laps
later, Crafton had the lead. Johnny Sauter did an extraordinary job of saving fuel and rolled home third behind Crafton and Busch. Tyler Reddick and Matt Tifft, the latter recently named to the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class, were fourth and fifth, respectively. Spencer Gallagher, Peters, Bell, Daniel Hemric and pole sitter William Byron completed the top 10.
The victory was the 13th of Crafton's career, but despite the wide margin of victory, his No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota didn't take the lead for the
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Logano Gets the Gold But Larson Stole the Show! CONCORD, NC – At the end of a wild and crazy Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Joey Logano got the upper hand in an intense battle with last chance qualifier Kyle Larson and took home the million-dollar prize as the winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. While Logano secured the top prize, Kyle Larson milked his car for everything it would give his as he came up a little short of the prize he has been scratching and clawing for these past few weeks. After losing the previous week’s race to Matt Kenseth by racing cleaner than most would have, Kyle was a little more willing to
lean on someone to get the gold. Chase Elliott found out in the Sprint Showdown just how willing Larson was to play a little rough when he got squeezed out of a win in the closing feet of the race. To his credit, Chase was a true gentleman in the post-race interview. He didn’t cry or complain about Larson. He just thanked the fans for voting him into the All Star Race and moved on. All night long, in both races, Larson ran strong enough to catch the attention of most of the fans, as we were happy to see the future of our sport in good hands. Look for these this young man in victory lane soon.
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NASCAR’s Newest Third Generation Star While it wouldn’t be completely accurate to say that Todd Gilliland knows nothing but victory, it is not far off at all. Todd, son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver David, Grandson to Butch of the former NASCAR Winston West Division is only sixteen years old yet already has a veteran's resume. In March of 2015, at the age of 14, Todd won his first career Late Model race. In May, of the same year he became the youngest winner in ARCA’s history, in his series debut. In November of last year, the then 15 year old decided to give NASCAR a try and won his K&N debut at Phoenix. While the team was slapped with a P5 penalty, the young Gilliland was allowed to keep his win. In February of this year, Todd entered his second NASCAR race at New Smyrna scoring his second victory, making it two for two. March was race three at Irwindale, where Gilliland made it three for three. Then, at the NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Kern County Raceway Park, history was made as Todd won his fourth race in four starts, and tied a 50 year old record set by Hall of Fame legend Dan Gurney.
NASCAR.COM Photo
Photo Courtesy of Todd Gilliland
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TOP: Winner’s Circle at Irwindale Speedway - NASCAR.COM LEFT: ARCA’s Youngest Winner Ever - Venturini Motorsports Photo BOTTOM: K&N Pro East at New Smyrna - NASCAR.COM
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COLTS PUNTER MCAFEE ADDS CHARITABLE SPONSORSHIP FOR DALY'S INDY 500 ENTRY By Mark Robinsona | Indycar.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Colts punter is all in with his newly formed company, ShirtsForAmerica.com, and its sponsorship of Daly’s No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda for the epic event. McAfee, Daly and team owner Dale Coyne announced the primary sponsorship today. McAfee’s goal is two-fold in trying to help the talented native Indiana driver and a pair of military foundations. For each T-shirt sold on the site, a portion of the proceeds goes to Wish For Our Heroes – founded by military veterans to help veterans – and the Pat McAfee Foundation that has given more than $150,000 in scholarships to children of military families.
opportunity not only to help an Indianapolis (area) kid run in the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500, but also as a chance to raise money for a couple of military foundations,” McAfee said. McAfee has become a huge Indianapolis 500 fan since being drafted by the Colts in 2009 and was the honorary pace car driver for the 2015 Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Daly has a full-season ride with Coyne but lacked sponsorship for the Indy 500. The car will be liveried in the red, white and blue ShirtsForAmerica.com colors in time for practice Thursday. “I’m a proud American,
Pat is a tremendous American and we’re going to have a great time representing America for this whole month,” said Daly, the 24year-old son of former Indy car and Formula One driver Derek Daly, who will make his third Indy 500 start this year. “I can’t thank him enough for coming on board.” “We’re very happy with the whole program,” Coyne said. “It’s kind of cause marketing and three of our four cars are doing that with the Komen car for breast cancer, the Boy Scouts car and this one for veterans. It’s a fantastic thing for us.”
“I saw it as an
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INDIANAPOLIS – Drama, redemption, heartbreak, exuberance. Armed Forces Pole Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway had it all, as starting positions were set for the historic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. James Hinchcliffe, who nearly lost his life at the same track a year ago in a crash during Indianapolis 500 practice, put together a scintillating four-lap run of 230.760 mph as the final driver of the day in the Fast Nine Shootout. It allowed the Canadian fan favorite to claim the Verizon P1 Award and $100,000 prize for earning the pole position and the right to lead the 33-car field to the green flag to start the epic race May 29. Driving the No. 5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, Hinchcliffe collected the first pole of his Verizon IndyCar Series career in what will be his 79th race, edging Josef Newgarden for the honor by a mere 0.0407 of a second over the 10-mile run. “I came into this month hoping we’d have a new story to talk about after what happened last year and I think we did it,” an emotional Hinchcliffe said on pit lane. “I can’t believe it. I’m honestly at a loss for words, which everyone knows is rare for me.” It is the first Indianapolis 500 pole position for manufacturer Honda in five years, also with Schmidt Peterson and then-driver Alex Tagliani, and the first since Chevrolet re-entered the series as an engine manufacturer in 2012. It also ended Team Penske’s string of seven consecutive pole positions in all Verizon IndyCar Series races and is Honda’s first in series competition since the second race of the Houston doubleheader in June 2014, 31 races ago and again with Schmidt Peterson.
Photos Provided by IndyCar.com
“I came into this month hoping we’d have a new story to talk about and I think we did it,”
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KARAM WELCOMES NHRA DRAG RACERS TO IMS GARAGE INDIANAPOLIS – Sage Karam has been a busy host of racers from other disciplines the past two days. One day after greeting sprint-car legend Steve Kinser to the Dreyer & Reinbold – Kingdom Racing garage, Karam welcomed NHRA drag racers Shawn Langdon, Tommy Johnson Jr. and Leah Pritchett to Gasoline Alley at Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to today’s practice session for the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.
for it with the small amount of road-course racing I have done. “I definitely don't suck, but I'm definitely no professional at it. I think if I had the opportunity to hone some skills that I would be OK, but these are true professionals out here who have dedicated their lives to this and I don't think I could hold a candle to them by any means. But it'd be fun, there's no doubt about it. For now, I'm just going to look on and watch and cheer for Sage this month.”
Sage Karam, Tommy Johnson Jr. and Shawn Langdon, all three enjoyed taking a turn stepping into Karam’s No. 24 Gas Monkey Garage Chevrolet in the garage and learning more about the intricacies of the car, especially the steering wheel. Pritchett, a Top Fuel winner earlier this year at Phoenix who drove Formula Fords as a youngster, said she would relish an opportunity to drive an Indy car.
Karam, the 21-year-old looking to drive in his third consecutive Indy 500, enjoyed meeting his fellow racers. “It is way different, what they drive, compared to what I drive, but at the same time there are a lot of similarities and it's cool hearing what they have to say,” Karam said. “I've never sat in an NHRA car before, but I would like to. Hopefully I can get down to Englishtown (NJ) and see these guys race there, get to experience what NHRA racing is all about and get to see all those similarities and differences in my own eyes.”
“I have a huge amount of respect for speed and other people's equipment,” she said, “but I would definitely entertain that possibility, especially since I grew a love
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Matt Hagan Sets Funny Car E.T. and Speed Records Heartland Park Topeka is lauded as having one of the best racing surfaces in the country, which helps set the stage for record-setting conditions when the right ambient air conditions present themselves. Its history is full of milestone performance achievements, such as the first foursecond and 300-mph Funny Car marks in NHRA history. This year’s NHRA Kansas Nationals will go down as another thrilling performancefest, where three of the four national records in the nitro categories were broken. The Funny Car class as a whole put on one of the best qualifying sessions in recent memory. Eleven drivers recorded three-second elapsed times, five of whom ran quicker than the previous national e.t. record. Matt Hagan stood out with an incredible 3.862 at 335.57 mph to set the national e.t. and speed records. Hagan parlayed his incredible performance into his second consecutive victory in the Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger. He ran in the mid-3.90s on a warmer racing surface Sunday until the final round, where he and teammate Jack Beckman engaged in a wild pedal-fest. Hagan smoked the tires later in the run but fought hard to keep it off the centerline for a winning e.t. of 5.72 seconds, which was a half-tenth slower than the pass made by the winning driver in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Hagan moved all the way from No. 9 to No. 4 in the Mello Yello standings. His struggles during the early season started in testing, and crew chief Dickie Venables began to turn the corner with changes made after the Las Vegas event.
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Marriott Takes a Wild Ride
Story OFAA.NET | Photo By Wes Ramsey The Outlaw Fuel Altered Association kicked off its special 20th Anniversary season at North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas. Sunny skies and temperatures in the 80's welcomed a full field of these wicked machines in what would be one of the most thrilling events in recent history. As the sun set over the North Texas skyline, the call went out to fire the first pair of the final qualifying session. At a rapid pace, fuel altereds lined up and blasted down the
eighth mile and Eric Buchanan held low elapsed time of the round with a 3.81 at 187 mph as Doyle Smith and Bobby Marriott brought their nitro burners to life. This is when things got very scary at North Star Dragway. At the flash of amber, the cars were off the line together and charging hard. Just as the cars neared the 330' foot mark, Marriott's engine let go and erupted into flames with oil spewing under the rear slicks and Marriott battling for control. The car made an
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abrupt move to the centerline and into Smith's lane as Marriott, now covered in oil and fire, was still fighting to keep control and somehow still got the chutes out and fuel shutoff before being impacted from the rear by Smith's entry. This wild impact sent both cars bouncing across the top end as the left rear slick exploded on Marriott's car shortly after both cars crossed the finish line in the same lane, Smith's scoreboard posting a 4.11 elapsed time at 126 mph.
Force eager for his turn at success this season
Story and Photos by NHRA.com
“I want to get into the winner’s circle more than anyone I think” The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has been a return to form for the John Force Racing team. Funny Car standout Courtney Force is the points leader and has a victory, Robert Hight has a win and is fifth in points, and Top Fuel driver Brittany Force won the first two races of her career this season and sits third. The only driver without a win in the four-car stable is team owner and 16-time world champion John Force, something he hopes can change. “I have been at the shop in Indy since after Topeka working with my team,” said Force, who is ninth in Funny Car points and has one final-round appearance in 2016. “It has been great since I usually just come in
for a day and try to get something done quickly. We have been able to go through the car and really get me fitted and comfortable. “I have been able to spend some time with the Aerodine [group] to work on the body I brushed the wall with, and I think we made it a little better. So many people have worked on this new Camaro body, we are excited to get it back at the track. My Camaro will be ready for Epping, and so will I.” Seeing the team’s success has been exciting and motivating for Force, but he is just as eager to taste some of it. Getting a victory in the new Camaro body is a huge motivator, as is ending a winless streak that dates back to last year’s race in Epping.
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Do Fleets
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Not many other forms of racing enjoy the saturation of multi vehicle sponsorship as the NHRA. Sure, Formula One mandates multi car/ sponsored teams, but the NHRA have no such requirements. Companies like Summit Racing Equipment and Lucas Oil Products do this because they know the impact of having two or more competitors running sideby-side. Keeping the multiple entry sponsorships in the same team likely decreases the cost of sponsorship per vehicle by sharing team resources. If your company wants to get maximum exposure, try multiple team sponsorships in NHRA or other drag racing series. After all, these companies and others find multi-entrant sponsorships a smart investment. Â
Deliver?
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Bryan Smith wins at Phoenix PHOENIX, AZ - Bryan Smith turned up the heat in the Valley of the Sun on Saturday by winning AMA Pro Flat Track's inaugural Law Tigers Arizona Mile in stunning fashion. The "Mile Specialist" lived up to his nickname, topping defending Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines champion No. 1 Jared Mees by 12.646 seconds in front of a standing room only crowd at Turf Paradise. With temperatures soaring above 100 degrees, Smith, mounted on his No. 42 Crosley/Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki Ninja 650, showed that heat wasn't a factor for him. The Michigan native set a blistering pace all day, winning his heat race by a remarkable 10.942 seconds to start from pole position in the main, and then leading every lap of the main in flawless succession. Like Smith, defending series champ Mees showed speed early to take the win in his heat race by 7.457 seconds. However, the Harley-Davidson-mounted rider was unable to keep Smith's pace in the night's main event. After bolting to the front at the start of the race, No. 65 Cory Texter settled into a rhythm behind Smith and Mees to earn the first GNC1 podium finish of his career. No. 17 Henry Wiles finished fourth after a long battle with series points leader No. 69 Sammy Halbert, who finished an eventual fifth. Halbert heads to next weekend's Sacramento Mile with 73 points, followed by Mees with 68 points and third-place No. 5 Jake Johnson with 63 points.
AMA Pro Racing/Dave Hoenig
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@FlatTrackLive Photo
Gauthier gives BMW a breakout victory In the GNC2 class, BMW-mounted Dalton Gauthier surged from the second-to-last starting position to take home the first professional flat track victory for BMW in the 62-year history of the sport. The win propelled him to a 19-point lead in the GNC2 point standings. Kawasaki-mounted No. 99A Kyle McGrane maintained a consistent position throughout the 12-lap Main to take second place and No. 94B Ryan Wells finished third. @FlatTrackLive Photo
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Gavin Faith Wins the 2016 Arenacross Championship Gavin Faith held on to his points lead at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas to earn the number one plate. Chris Blose did everything he could to take the championship away, but could not close the points deficit despite winning both mains. He would finish out the season second place overall, five points short of leader Faith. Arenacross 2016 Championship results 1: Gavin Faith 2: Chris Blose 3: Jacob Hayes 4: Travis Sewell 5: Jace Owen 6: Ben Lamay 7: Kyle Regal 8: Gared Steinke 9: Cody Vanbuskirk 10: Daniel Herrlein
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Photos by Arenacross PR
CLAUSON WINS “BOB NEWTON CLASSIC” AT PLYMOUTH Plymouth, IN……..Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. won the 25-lap “Bob Newton Classic” USAC Indiana Midget Championship feature at Plymouth Speedway. The race was called complete after 24 laps due to rain. Clauson wheeled the Cancer Treatment Centers of America/B & H Contractors Spike/Stanton SR-11 to the win over Tanner Thorson, Spencer Bayston, Carson Macedo and Dave Darland. USAC INDIANA MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: May 13, 2016 – Plymouth, Indiana – Plymouth Speedway – “Bob Newton Classic” FEATURE: (24 laps – Halted by rain) 1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Tanner Thorson, 3. Spencer Bayston, 4. Carson Macedo, 5. Dave Darland, 6. Ryan Robinson, 7. Holly Shelton, 8. Brady Bacon, 9. Gage Walker, 10. Brayton Lynch, 11. Tyler Nelson, 12. Justin Peck, 13. David Budres, 14. Logan Jarrett, 15. Justin Dickerson, 16. Ross Rankine, 17. Ken Drangmeister, 18. Logan Arnold, 19. Gary Gipson. NT NEW USAC INDIANA MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Clauson-77, 2-Thorson-74, 3-Bayston-72, 4-Macedo-67, 5-Darland-65, 6-Robinson-61, 7-Shelton-57, 8-Bacon-57, 9-Walker-52, 10-Lynch-47.
USAC Press Release
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Back-To-Back "Tony Hulman Classic." Wins For Ballou
David Nearpass Photography
TERRE HAUTE, IN.........Robert Ballou slid his way into the record books Wednesday night, surpassing A.J. Foyt and Roger McCluskey on the all-time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car win list with his 24th career series win and becoming just the third driver in the 46-year history of the "Tony Hulman Classic" to win in back-to-back years after out dueling Thomas Meseraull in a torrid race-long battle to collect the coveted rifle at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track.
going up and down the road based on our winnings, so it's great that we got another one tonight. I slid Meseraull and knew I didn't have him cleared, and then the last time,
"We haven't finished as well as we'd have liked to recently," Ballou admitted. "But we've been really fast and we don't give up. We had to put a motor in this car at 1:30 this morning, and then I was late for qualifying, and it just made me furious for the rest of the night. This car keeps
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we both slid the same corner and he was trying to protect himself; thankfully, we're both standing up here on the front stretch."
Composite Bodies to debut at Pocono by Don Radebaugh | ARCA.COM
TOLEDO, OH ) – Car Counts for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards are up about 10% from 2015 to 2016. So is the number on composite body cars with at least 20 in each short track event. Now, make way for the composite cars to begin filling fields on the big tracks, beginning at Pocono Raceway in early June.
retardant panels are flange-fitted together for easy installation in the shop or at track. In addition to a car that looks nearly identical to a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series machine, running an ARCA composite body car also brings a weight advantage. The ARCA Rule book provides for a one-hundred pound weight reduction. The composite car can weigh 3,300 pounds as opposed to the steel car, which has to weigh 3,400. In regards to the composite car, ARCA Racing Series teams have the option to compete with showroom stock-appearing Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet SS body packages..
Officials announced in October 2015 that the composite material, flange-fit body, which debuted in 2015 on tracks one mile and less in length, would be approved for competition on all tracks except Talladega and Daytona in 2016. The body’s debut was met with resounding applause from team participants and race fans alike. Not only did the car perform successfully in competition, the aesthetically appealing new design was a crowd pleaser everywhere. That said, the evolution of the composite body car will now take another giant step forward when it makes its superspeedway debut on track at Pocono Raceway. The car has already been tested at Daytona Int’l Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway in 2015, and has spent its share of time in wind tunnels over the last several months. The composite bodies are a lightweight, state-of-theart laminate blend, less than 135 pounds. Designed without compromising rigidity, the 12 separate flame
The composite body project is part of an overall cost containment initiative for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. The project was conducted in conjunction with NASCAR and Five Star Race Car Bodies, and the body is also widely used by race teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West. Since 1953, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has offered race fans a diverse brand of stock car racing on short tracks, dirt tracks, road courses and superspeedways. Founded by John and Mildred Marcum, the ARCA Racing Series is a destination for professional race drivers and a developmental series which transitions and prepares drivers for the advancement of their careers into the highest levels of the sport.
Asphalt | American Racing News | 29
USAC Press Release Shenandoah, VA……..Sam Hatfield of Mooresville, NC won Saturday night’s 35-lap USAC Eastern Midget race at Shenandoah Speedway. He passed Jake Nelke on lap 28 and led the final eight laps to beat Nelke, fast qualifier Andrew Layser, Jessica Bean and Kyle Resco. USAC EASTERN MIDGET RACE RESULTS: May 14, 2016 – Shenandoah, Virginia – Shenandoah Speedway QUALIFYING: 1. Andrew Layser, 35, Layser-15.745; 2. Jake Nelke, 00, Nelke-15.753; 3. Sam Hatfield, 8, Hatfield15.898; 4. George Kurtz, 4, Kurtz-15.926; 5. Famous Rhodes II, 7, Radical-15.929; 6. Kyle Resco, 56, Resco16.090; 7. Jessica Bean, 6, Radical-16.116; 8. Eric Lewis, 21, Leydig-16.137; 9. Peter Hathaway, 9, Lamb-16.412; 10. Timmy Tyrrell, 39, Davidson-NT. FEATURE: (35 laps) 1. Sam Hatfield, 2. Jake Nelke, 3. Andrew Layser, 4. Jessica Bean, 5. Kyle Resco, 6. George Kurtz, 7. Peter Hathaway, 8. Famous Rhodes II, 9. Eric Lewis, 10. Timmy Tyrrell. NT FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-27 Nelke, Laps 28-35 Hatfield. NEW USAC EASTERN MIDGET POINTS: 1-Layser-340, 2-Hatfield-316, 3-Bean-315, 4-Nelke-303, 5-Chris Lamb279, 6-Kurtz-266, 7-Rhodes-255, 8-Nolan Allison-227, 9-Jagger Parker-182, 10-Scott Hunter-138.
30 | American Racing News | Asphalt
Toyo Tires® Continues to Reach Fans around the Globe as the Official Tire of SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Presented by TRAXXAS Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp (Toyo Tires) announced the company has extended its commitment as the Official Tire of SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks presented by TRAXXAS for 2016. This is the third year that the Stadium SUPER Trucks™ (SST) compete exclusively on Toyo Open CountryA/T II tires, and is the fourth year that Toyo Tires has supported the series. The off-the-shelf Open Country A/T II tires demonstrate their remarkable durability and handling ability by living up to the extreme punishment dished out by the 600-plus horsepower spec trucks. During competition, the trucks often land hard on asphalt tracks from extreme heights. Founded by Team Toyo member and both off-road and SST champion, Robby Gordon, the identically prepared SST race trucks compete on both dirt tracks and road racing courses using specially constructed ramp jumps. Joining Team Toyo this year is defending 2015 SST champion Sheldon Creed from Alpine, CA. At only 18-years of age, Creed is the youngest member of Team Toyo, and the youngest champion in the history of SST. He leads in 2016 having won Rounds 1 and 3 in Adelaide, Australia; Round 4 in St. Petersburg, FL; and Rounds 6 and 7 in Long Beach, CA. “We are happy to support the ever growing Stadium SUPER Truck series,” said Amy Coleman, senior director of marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “The series is a great way to demonstrate the quality of our products to fans around the world, while its television coverage in the US continues to generate awareness of the Toyo Tires brand on American soil.”
Off Road | American Racing News | 31
Foust is a ROCKSTAR at the Phoenix Double Header
Tanner Foust was untouchable at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, sweeping both legs of the 2016 season-opening Red Bull Global Rallycross Phoenix doubleheader. The victories, the record-setting eighth and ninth of Foust’s Red Bull GRC career, came over Patrik Sandell on Saturday and Scott Speed on Sunday. SATURDAY RECAP: Polesitter Foust carried strong momentum from the heats into Saturday’s main event, having won both of his heats and his semifinal to earn lane choice over teammate Speed. Foust jumped to an early lead, while Speed reclaimed second as the race wore on, giving the team a chance at a 1-2 finish.
Foust and Speed again swept their heats and semifinals to sit on the front row. They took off into the top two spots at the start of the final and never looked back as the field battled for third behind them. The third spot on the podium came down to Sebastian Eriksson, whose brand-new Honda Civic Coupe had
However, late-race mechanical issues dropped Speed from the runner-up spot, as contact damaged the left front of the car and the jump drove the final nail in the coffin. Sandell inherited second, while Brian Deegan, who had to advance to the main through the last chance qualifier, grabbed third to kick off his first full-time Red Bull GRC season since 2013. SUNDAY RECAP: It was more of the same at the front of the grid on Sunday, as
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been the victim of a fire in Saturday’s final, and Sandell, who aimed to earn podiums on both days of a doubleheader for the first time. But it was Eriksson who would hold the point, earning Honda Red Bull Olsbergs MSE a trophy in its first race with a brand-new car after mechanics spent all night getting the team’s vehicles ready.
RUMAN CRUISES TO VICTORY IN CLASSIC TUBE 100 AT WATKINS GLEN WATKINS GLEN, NY – Defending Trans Am champion Amy Ruman secured her second consecutive victory of the 2016 Trans Am Championship with a win in the Classic Tube 100 at Watkins Glen International (WGI), Round 3 of the 2016 Trans Am Championship. Ruman, behind the wheel of the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, was joined in victory by Mark Boden, in the No. 47 Fall-Line Motorsports/Calypso BMW M3, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 BetaTools/Liquid Performance Ford Mustang, and Tim Kezman, in the No. 4 Fall-Line Calypso Porsche 997, with each capturing victories in TA3, TA4 and TA5, respectively.
race with Cliff Ebben, driver of the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang, before the No. 36 succumbed to a power steering failure with 21 laps remaining. Ruman led all but the first lap of the race, an additional pace lap to address the cold temperatures and warm tires, but managed to pass Ebben on the
first green lap of the race, never giving up position. Ruman’s 1:49.355 lap time set a new track record for the class, and she was joined on the podium by Jim McAleese, in the No. 03 McAleese & Associates Chevrolet Corvette, and David Pintaric, in the No. 57 Kryderacing Chevrolet Corvette, finishing second and third.
Ruman capitalized in a race that saw potential rivals suffer misfortune, eventually cruising to victory with a 28.098 second margin— crossing the finish line as snow began to once more fall on the 3.40 mile grand prix course at WGI. After an early full course caution, Ruman battled for the majority of the
Road Racing | American Racing News | 33
Straight Line
By Jim Jack
Whole Lotta’ Love I’m not a betting man, but I just might bet the farm believing almost everyone who read
I’m not a betting man, but I just might bet the farm believing almost everyone who reads this column loves racing. Why? You have a well-defined love for the intense environment of motorsports. You have a deep-seeded love for powerful racing machines. You have a Whole Lotta I’m not a betting man, but I just might bet the farm believing almost everyone who reads this column loves racing. Why? You have a well-defined love for the intense environment of motorsports. You have a deep-seeded love for powerful racing machines. You have a Whole Lotta Love for the wonderful people who make up the racing community. Humans love many things…like beautiful diamond rings…anyone who brilliantly sings…people who tug at your heart strings…engines screaming as the RPM zings…and hopefully above all, the King of kings. Love is the grandest theme of Scripture, love is the lubricant of the Spirit, love provides purpose, love compels concern, love imparts motivation, love transforms character, and love prompts obedience.
There are many facets in racing to love: Building and assembling a highpowered engine, designing and fabricating parts, tuning a motor to run fast and consistent, crewing on a team, the pungent aroma’s, the mindboggling sound, the remarkable paint schemes, engaging with sponsors who give generously, even enjoying the fans who love it. Many types of music are played in the pits during an event. Numerous beloved songs strike a chord deep in our hearts bringing back memories of yesteryear. Reliving things in our past is wholesome—to an extent—as long as we don’t end up worshipping the past. The human objective is to live for the future. For those who believe in God as the Creator of the universe: He loved mankind so dearly He willingly gave His only Son as a sacrifice to save all people from their sins (our sin was great, but God’s love was greater). The most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16, but John 3:17 is equally important; “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Bear with me for a few moments and allow some words from a famous song to reach deep down into our heart and bring back some memories. Please try and receive the lyrics as if Jesus were singing to you. “You need coolin’, baby, I’m not foolin’. I’m gonna send you back to schoolin’. Way down inside honey, you need it. I’m gonna give you my
34 | American Racing News | Straight Line
love, I’m gonna give you my love.” “You’ve been learnin’, baby, I mean learnin’. All them good times, baby, baby, I’ve been yearnin’. You probably recognize this from Led Zeppelin. As humans we all need some cooling…if we’ve been doing too much fooling…some extra credit schooling…especially deep inside if life has been grueling…because in the spiritual world there’s plenty of dueling…we all need plenty of learning…to improve our life with family and friends with unfathomable yearning. As respectable human beings who love our fellow brothers and sisters, the need to love and be loved is one of the strongest physical and emotional needs of mankind. Sure we love drag racing and all the extra stuff that comes with it, but we also need the gentle touch and the soft personal words from our closest peeps deep within our souls. We’re all aware of those people in the world who are esteemed as bigger than life. They are the so-called superstars who have been placed on a pedestal by millions of fans and given way too much hype by the media. These folks are not much different than us; they simply have abilities that differ from ours. The drag boat community has lost three precious drivers in the past several months. The entertainment community has also lost several people this year. Unfortunately, thousands of people lose life’s battle every day
around the world and we can’t stop the process. The odds are still the same—100%!
bones, tears and blood, not what’s ginned up in Hollywood or on Madison Avenue.
The people in the racing community are people we know, love, respect and cherish, as we savor all the good times we’ve had with them. But the people in the entertainment world are those we only hear about. We don’t have personal contact with them—never have, and probably never will.
The urge to mourn those we do not know strikes me as yet one more symptom of the urge to genuflect before all things celebrity. It is one of the sad sicknesses of our age, an ailment that sacrifices time we could spend on relationships that matter for a connection as thin as a Facebook friendship with a digital pal who is no pal at all. Miss the music? Absolutely. Miss the talent? Of course. But save the grieving, please for the princes and princesses who populate your real life.” Who are the princes and princesses who populate your life? They are your family and friends with whom you associate in your circle of life. They are your racing buddies you work with at the shop and track. They may be your sponsors who trust enough in you to support your racing program. And they are likeable fans who become your friends, even paying to watch you.
I read some powerful words recently by writer David Leibowitz, and he makes sense with the way he describes how we think and act towards the so-called “stars” of today. “In the 21st century, we live in a world of false ownership when it comes to those we make famous enough to matter beyond their own households. We never meet them, never have a single conversation, never share a meal, never understand a single true detail beyond what a publicist shapes for media consumption or a few snaps on Instagram. And yet we want to eat what they eat, wear what they wear, vote for whom they vote. Fans gathered in the street outside Prince’s house. They hug and weep. They offer soul-crushed interviews to the assembled media vultures. The overwhelming sense conveyed is of a gaping void, the kind we experience when a much-loved friend goes away. And yet no friend has gone away—not literally. Because all we ever have of celebrities is a few bars of music, a few scenes on a screen, a concert, a Jimmy Kimmel interview, some paragraphs on a page. This is not to diminish the value of art, or slander Prince or Bowie, et al. My point instead? Hug closer the ones you love, those human beings you can touch in the flesh. Try harder to know those with whom you have a tangible, breathing connection. Worship at the altar of what’s real, what’s skin and
In order to be successful in racing, it takes alotta blood, sweat, and tears to come out on top. This means there is a Whole Lotta Love going into your endeavor of the need for speed. You gotta love it, or you wouldn’t be doing it. Genuine human relationships are rooted and established in love…gentle as a dove…fits like a glove…coming down from above. On the spiritual side of life, God has more love for you than you’ll ever imagine. He has a Whole Lotta Love for you—just as you are. He created you with gifts and talents so you could fulfill your calling as a driver, tuner, crewman, sponsor or fan (and believer).
screaming down the track at speeds I will never attain. But that’s okay, my gift isn’t to drive fast, my gift is to be steadfast in communicating God’s love for you and to you. Racing is fun, but it has a serious side. Being a Christian is also fun, but it too has a serious side. “You been foolin’, baby, I’ve been droolin’.” When it comes to eternity, fooling around isn’t funny! God is figuratively drooling over everyone to come to Christ. Robert Plant sang “Gonna give you my love.” Jesus wants to plant His love deep in your heart. “Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves,” (Philippians 4:23 The Message). God the Father says: I give you My love. I gave you the love of My life! My love is a love song, and I’m not foolin’ about your eternal destiny. Wanna whole lot of love? Gods’ gonna give you every drop of His [Christ’s] blood way down inside [through His Spirit] because we all desperately need it! God’s love encircles you no matter what. The Psalmist proclaimed, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” God’s love is a whole lot better than what any man can sing about in the still of the night…when love needs to win the fight…it might take all your might…for you to see the light…eternity is truly within sight…no matter what your plight…just receive God’s love and you’ll be alright.
Presented by
I’ve loved drag racing for six decades. I never tire of seeing two cool hot rods racing. I genuinely love seeing two beautiful high-powered machines
Straight Line | American Racing News | 35
Next Month
The Tracks Gateway Motorsports Park Lyons Raceway Park Tucson Speedway Lincoln Speedway
Sprint Cars at Lincoln Speedway Barry Skelly & Allan Yeager Photography
A Special Section of American Racing News - Issue 3
Send stories and photos to: hometownracingnews@usa.com
Send your Track news to HometownRacingNews@usa.com
Story and Photos by John Bisci
Lidy wins Pro finale by just .0008 sec. You can't even say he won it by a nose. Chad Lidy of Effingham, Illinois, won the final round of Pro eliminations by just .0008 sec. over Tim Shaffer of Maryland Heights, Missouri, this evening at the Dragplex at Gateway Motorsports Park. The Pro finale was a fight to the finish as Lidy's 1976 Camaro posted a reaction time of .017 sec. to Shaffer's .012 sec. Lidy took the win, 6.527 sec. at 101.75 mph, to Shaffer's 6.752 sec. at 100.12 mph. Lidy now stands second in the Pro class points to leader Jeremy McKague.
38 | Hometown Racing News | Volume 1, Issue 3
Chuck Baird in the house...current open bodied record holder at Lyons Raceway Park with a 3.906 @ 188 MPH
P hotsrvideby
Photos provided by Lyons Raceway Park
Craig Sullivan Motorsports doing some ProMod testing at LRP ! — with Craig Sullivan.
Volume 1, Issue 3 | Hometown Racing News | 39
Send your Track news to HometownRacingNews@usa.com
Photos by Iwsycphotos | Tiffany O’Neall
40 | Hometown Racing News | Volume 1, Issue 3
Photos by Iwsycphotos | Tiffany O’Neall
Volume 1, Issue 3 | Hometown Racing News | 41
Send your Track news to HometownRacingNews@usa.com
Lincolnspeedway.com | Barry Skelly & Allan Yeager Photography
HODNETT TAKES $5,000 TOP PRIZE ON BAPS NIGHT AT LINCOLN SPEEDWAY Central Pennsylvania “410� sprint car points leader Greg Hodnett took advantage of a unique qualifying format to advance nine spots before the race event started and score the win in the 25-lap BAPS Night feature at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night. Hodnett advanced from a handicapped 11th starting spot to second after winning a series of match races for the top 12 qualifiers. His only loss was to pole sitter Stevie Smith when he ran out of fuel in the final match race. Despite losing to Smith in the final match race, Hodnett still started beside him for the start of the feature.
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Smith grabbed the lead at the outset and had a 1.72-second lead when he and Hodnett entered lapped traffic at the mid-point of the race. Hodnett made the race-winning pass on lap 16, crossing .72 seconds ahead of Smith at the finish. Hodnett’s $5,000 payday (including $1,800 from BAPS) was the 31st of his Lincoln career, moving him into sole possession of 10th on the alltime Lincoln win list. Third through fifth were Chase Dietz, seventh-starting Billy Dietrich, and eighth-starting Alan Krimes. Completing the top ten were Gerard McIntyre, Jr., Brent Marks, Freddie Rahmer, Steve Owings, and Robbie Kendall.
Dietrich started outside pole sitter Chris Frank, grabbed the lead entering the first turn, and led every lap. Frank scored his best-ever Lincoln finish in second, with seventh-starting Jeff Halligan crossing third. Rounding out the top five were Brent Shearer and Ryan Higgins. Heats for the 28 358 sprinters on hand were won by Jeff Rohrbaugh, Kevin Nouse, and Higgins, with Cody Fletcher winning the consolation. Photos by Barry Skelly & Allan Yeager Photography
York’s Dalton Dietrich scored his first career win in the 20-lap ”358” sprint car feature. Dietrich started outside pole sitter Chris Frank, grabbed the lead entering the first turn, and led every lap. Frank scored his best-ever Lincoln finish in second, with seventh-starting Jeff Halligan crossing third. Rounding out the top five were Brent Shearer and Ryan Higgins. Heats for the 28 358 sprinters on hand were won by Jeff Rohrbaugh, Kevin Nouse, and Higgins, with Cody Fletcher winning the consolation. York’s Dalton Dietrich scored his first career win in the 20-lap ”358” sprint car feature.
Volume 1, Issue 3 | Hometown Racing News | 43
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