Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway on Rossburg, Ohio, is hosting a big weekend of open wheel racing.
Tonight, the track will host the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Cars. Both divisions of racing were scheduled to run Friday night, as well. For more info, visit eldoraspeedway.com.
Justin Grant currently leads the USAC Sprints Championship points standings. Chad Boespflug is currently second in points, followed by Chris Windom, former Elizabethtown resident, Chase Stockon and Jarett Andretti. The rest of the top 10 include Tyler Courtney, C.J. Leary, Shane Cottle, Hunter Schuerenberg and Landon Simon.
Tony Stewart Racing driver Donny Schatz leads the World of Outlaws Sprints into this weekend at Eldora. David Gravel sits second in points, with Brad Sweet, Daryn Pittman and Jason Johnson rounding out the top five. In positions 6 through 10 are Shane Stewart, Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart, Joey Saldana and Jason Sides.
The World of Outlaw Sprint Cars will be in action Sunday night at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt with a rain out makeup from last month. For more info, visit tristatespeedway.com.
Local tracks rained out again
All the local dirt tracks events scheduled for last weekend were rained out again.Bloomquist wins at FlorenceDefending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion Scott Bloomquist won his fourth career Ralph Latham Memorial Race on May 6 at Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky. Bloomquist earned $12,000 for the victory.
On Sunday, the series went to Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, Tennessee, where Jimmy Owens picked up the win to become the 10th different winner in series competition this year.
At Florence, Tim McCreadie finished in second, followed by Josh Richards, Don O’Neal of Martinsville and Darrell Lanigan. Completing the top 10 were Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Casebolt, Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville and Shanon Buckingham. Gilpin started 16th in the field.
Tonight, Florence will host a “free” admission night along with a complete show for Super Late Models, Crate Late Models, and Modifieds. For more info, visit florencespeedway.com.
Paragon season opener tonight
Paragon Speedway will begin its 63rd season of racing tonight with 410 Non-Wing Sprint Cars, Super Stock, Bombers, Pure Stock, and Hornets. For more info, visit paragon speedway.com.
Twin Cities running tonight
Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon will try to get its third show of the year tonight. Racing will be Crate Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stock, Pure Stock, and Hornets. For more info, visit twincitiestrack.com.
Lawrenceburg racing tonight
Lawrenceburg Speedway will be back in action with a full slate of racing activity. On the race program will be the 410 Non-Wing Sprints, Modifieds, Pure Stock, and Hornets. For more info, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.
UMRA Midgets racing tonight
The UMRA King of the TQ Midgets will be on the track tonight at the U.S. 24 Speedway in Logansport and May 20 at Montpelier Motor Speedway.
Route 44 re-opening
Route 44 Speedway in Liberty has re-opened and will be racing every Friday Night. The next scheduled event is Friday, with A-Mods, Bombers and Hornets. For more info, visit Route44Speedway.com.
Bloomington salutes fans
Bloomington Speedway will be racing Friday night with a special Fan Appreciation Night.General admission will be $5 for the main grandstands. Racing will be the 410 Non-Wing Sprint Cars, RaceSaver Sprints, Super Stock, and Modifieds. For more info, visit bloomingtonspeedway.com.
Brownstown off tonight
After being rained out three weeks in a row Brownstown Speedway has a scheduled off weekend tonight. Action will resume May 20 with a $1,500-to-win Modified special event on the race card.Also running will be the Indiana Pro Late Models, Super Stock, Pure Stock and MMSA Mini-Sprints. For more info, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
This week in racing history
Fifty years ago, in 1967 at Brownstown Speedway, Joe King of Columbus won the feature race. J.C. Stainbrook finished in second, with Larry Plessinger placing third. Kenny Baker and Phil Fultz of Clifford rounded out the top five.Also from 1967, Mac Vails of Columbus won the season opener race at 25th Street Speedway in Columbus. Oscar Crockett was second with Calvin Brishaber, Hillbilly Ogle of Columbus and Bill Wilson completed the top five drivers.
From 1977, Russ Petro of Columbus won the feature race at Twin Cities. Powell Ballard, also of Columbus, was second, with Dee Kramer taking third.
Columbus drivers Chuck Gilpin and Herman Burton rounded out the top competitors.
In 1987, Mike Gibbs won the Late Model feature at Twin Cities. Dill Whittynore was second, with Ernie Barrow taking third. Completing the top five were Scott McKeand of North Vernon and Roger Sullivan of Columbus.
Phil Fultz of Clifford won the Street Stock feature at Twin Cities. Gregg Lyle of Columbus was second, with Mark Barber of North Vernon, Jeff Daugherty and Mark Clark of North Vernon completing the top five.
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The (Columbus) Republic, a sister paper to The Tribune. Send comments to [email protected].