For The Tribune
BROWNSTOWN
The sounds of livestock, the midway and the fanfare of fairgoers is in full swing this week at the Jackson County Fair.
Grand champions are being crowned and winning ribbons are being displayed throughout the various buildings as contestants proudly display their exhibits.
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The hot and humid conditions of late July show no mercy on the thousands of people expected at the fair this week, but things are about to get hotter as one of the most anticipated grandstand events of the week echoes throughout the grounds.
“Thursday Thunder” highlights Thursday’s grandstand event, kicking off the first of two scheduled racing events at Brownstown Speedway.
Indiana Pro Late Models, modifieds, super stocks and hornets are set to do battle on the quarter-mile dirt oval, all eyeing their respected fair race title.
“Everyone wants to win the fair races,” track promoter Jim Price said. “They hold a lot of prestige because of the local crowed that comes out to watch; we get a lot of spectators here that don’t normally get on a weekly basis.”
Marty O’Neal currently holds the points lead over Seymour’s Tyler Cain in the Indiana Pro Late Models Series, but the narrow margin provides quite the story line coming into the event.
O’Neal, a multi-track champion, looks to fend off Cain, who is looking for his first title in the series.
Cain and O’Neal have swapped the points lead several times over the past few weeks.
Saturday night is the Jackson County Grand Champion Fair Race, featuring the fifth annual Paul Crockett Memorial for super late models.
Cody Mahoney is the two-time and defending winner of the event, driving for Bowman Motorsports out of Seymour.
The event is ran in remembrance of racing legend Paul Crockett. Crockett was a decorated competitor who scored multiple wins throughout the 1970s and ‘80s.
Crockett, a Brownstown Speedway Hall of Famer, scored his biggest win of his career in 1981, winning the second Jackson 100 at his home track.
The Jackson 100 is one of the crown jewel dirt late-model events conducted across the nation.
The Bowman Motorsports entries of Mahoney and Adam Bowman are expected to compete yet again this year.
Seymour’s Jeremy Hines, the 2014 winner, looks to notch his name in the record books as a repeat winner as well in his family-owned entry.
Columbus’ Devin Gilpin currently leads the points standings in the super late models division and is a favorite in the event.
Gilpin, a Brownstown Speedway Hall of Famer, is expected to compete in the modifieds division Thursday and Saturday nights as well.
Modifieds, super stocks and pure stocks all are on the schedule of events in addition to the super late models.
Seymour’s Jamey Wilson currently holds the points lead in the super stocks division, totaling five wins thus far on the season at the speedway.
Thursday’s racing action, sponsored by Jackson County Tire, kicks off at 7 p.m.
General admission is $15 for adults, with children ages 6 to 12 costing $2.
Saturday’s event, sponsored by the Jackson County Fair, kicks off at 7 p.m. with the same admission prices.
For more information, visit jacksoncountyfair.org or brownstownspeedway.com.