The Hoosier Race Report: Jon Stanbrough’s Way

By Danny Burton

Danny Burton’s Hoosier Race Report appears courtesy of OpenWheelRacers.com

Maybe Saturday night’s race wasn’t the best or the closest race I’ve ever seen, at the Tri-State Speedway or anywhere else, but it was certainly close to the best I’ve ever seen. Jon Stanbrough bided his time as he worked his way forward to take round three of Indiana Sprint Week at the Helfrich family’s crown jewel of a race track.

The weather has been even a bit warmer than usual the past few days, but that has not stopped race teams or fans from showing up. And despite the so-called out of the way location of Haubstadt, Indiana from most of the other Hoosier tracks that make up our version of Short Track Nation, there was a healthy gathering of the clan that ignored the hot weather as best they all could.

41 cars were signed in with a few changes of note. Daron Clayton, who had trashed his yellow 92 at Bloomington in an accident not his making, was in the 24 Hour Truckers #12 instead of Tony Elliott, who was on the grounds with a big grin and saying hello. Shane Hollingsworth was still in another Truckers’ car, but it was the 71t. Kyle Cummins, from nearby Princeton, made the short drive and ended up with a decent showing.

The sole non-qualifiers’ race was taken by Hollingsworth, with Scotty Weir, Derek O’Dell, and Todd Chandler joining the personable college student in transferring to the heat race action. After a couple of false starts, the first heat commenced with Damion Gardner taking the win over Josh Wise, Brad Sweet, and Chad Boesflug. Folks, those top four are all California racers, for what it’s worth. Ken Wagner must have been grinning ear to ear. Yet another Californian, Cory Kruseman, won the second heat over Jerry Coons Jr. (an Arizona native), Scotty Weir (from the non-qualifiers’ race to the feature, just like that), and Josh Ford, also from you-know-where. The caution plagued third heat also saw a red flag waved for a Jeff Davis flip on the front straight; he was okay, but done for the night. Shane Cottle was the winner, with Jon Stanbrough, Levi Jones, and Danny Sheridan, with an outstanding move on Mat Neely, taking fourth. More yellow flags waved in the fourth heat as Brandon Petty led Darren Hagen, Dave Darland, and Bryan Clauson across the line. In this race, Bloomington winner Brady Short joined Twin Cities winner Neely in the B Main.

The B Main continued the pattern with the spins, etc. as Kyle Cummins ran off with the win, followed by Kevin Briscoe, Jonathan Vennard, Dickie Gaines, Jared Fox, and Short, Hoosiers all. Mat Neely was left to head for provisional land.

With the usual heavy hitters throughout the field, Jones and Coons were the front row occupants, with Cummins, Darland, Stanbrough, quick timer Wise, Clauson, Sweet, Kruseman, and Sheridan all ready to pounce. Due to Casey Shuman’s not making the feature, Jones, who had qualified seventh, moved to the pole on the six car invert. Levi took the early lead with Coons in hot pursuit. Up front, there was little passing and for me that was due to not only the lightning fast track, but also the evenness of the competition. A lap eight caution flag saw the top two trailed by Darland, Cummins, Stanbrough, Clauson, Sweet, Wise, Kruseman, and Gardner. By the halfway mark, people were starting to move up, namely Stanbrough and Clauson. A lap 14 yellow involving Neely, Fox, and Sheridan was a break for Darland as Stanbrough had passed him just before the incident. Lap 17 saw the Fox Brothers’ 53 take second behind Jones and then just five laps later Stanbrough got around the 2005 USAC Sprint Champ for a lead he’d not give back. A lap 23 red flag flew for Gardner, who flipped in turn three, okay but done for the night. At the end, Clauson was on the move and may have had some trouble for Stanbrough, but settled for second. Jones held on for third, leading Coons and Kruseman. Sweet was sixth, with Hagen, Darland, Gaines, and Short rounding out the top ten. Gaines came from 21st and Short moved up from 15th.

Round four is tonight (Sunday) at Kokomo.

Elsewhere around the state last night Chris Arihood, Adam Loehmer, and Terry McIntire Jr. were the Shadyhill winners. Brent Beauchmap, still too young to run with USAC, was the winner at Lawrenceburg. Troy Link had second place locked up when he flipped just short of the finish line. Watch out for this young man. Richie Hendrick and Arby Burton (related to me?) were the Kamp’s Speedway winners.

Giving up trying to explain to new NASCAR fans that there is other racing besides what is on TV each weekend, I’m…

Danny Burton

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