The Hoosier Race Report: Passing The Torch

By Danny Burton

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

Sometimes we need to have a sense of history, without obsessing over it all. This weekend many of us were happily reminded that all is not doom and gloom, be it world events or even short track racing in our fair state here in the nation’s breadbasket. We saw a future force in racing at its highest levels come back for a night to make yet another statement. We saw another who could have gone on to success at that same level but who did not; yet in my own opinion he is a success story in his own way. And we heard, albeit briefly, an interview with one of those who raced in days gone by, one who is never without a smile and a funny story. Bryan Clauson, Kevin Briscoe, and Butch Wilkerson are all Hoosier and racing treasures. The future, the present and the past were here to appreciate, all in one weekend.

Another lovely Friday, though I had my doubts for much of the day as rain hung around southern Indiana for a good part of the day. But the skies cleared as Chuck Welsh did his anti-rain dance for Friday night. And it worked.

33 may be just a number to some, and it was also the number of sprint cars in the pits at the world famous Bloomington Speedway on this fine evening. The aforementioned young Mr. Clauson, who just celebrated his 17th birthday the day after we celebrated 31 years of matrimony, was just one of several hot dogs who were itching to take to the high banked red clay quarter mile oval. Proven winners Dickie Gaines, Jon Stanbrough, Kevin Briscoe, Matt Westfall, and last week’s winner Kent Christian had their eyes on the prize as well.

Josh Cunningham got things off to a good start by taking the first of four heats. Jon Sciscoe was second, with Danny Holtsclaw and Mitch Cunningham (back in the Hurst Brothers’ #9) also heading for the feature. The second heat turned sour for Westfall quickly as he slid over the turn two banking, then took a couple of tumbles and ended his night (and the following night as well). How quickly things in racing change as Matt had won the USAC 30 lapper at Eldora just six days before. Meanwhile Clauson ran off with the heat win, leading Jason Holt, Christian, and J.T. Imperial across the line. Kenny Carmichael Sr. was driving Terry Eup’s (MSCS runner) car tonight and won the third heat with it. Cole Whitt was second and Jared Fox was third. Michael Bridges, who had a cool looking Johnny Lightning paint job on his #40, was fourth. The Carmichael family was on a roll as Kenny Jr. took the fourth heat that was marred somewhat by another of the yellow flag incidents that sometimes get ugly. Ty Decker collided with a slowing Dickie Gaines after the yellow was waved; Decker’s night was over and Gaines would be able to continue. Also in the fourth heat Kevin Briscoe was a close second with Gaines right behind in third. Steve Rone was fourth. Some quick runners would be in the last chance race, among them Jon Stanbrough, Brent Beauchamp, and Bobby Stine.

After a fairly lengthy but educational discussion with one of the veterans of Bloomington along with a friend of mine, the B Main was run with Stanbrough outrunning Stine for the win. Beauchamp and Chris Babcock were the last two who would transfer into the feature. Chris Windom, who nearly won here last week, had to start last (17th) and finished seventh.

The re-draw had Sciscoe and Carmichael Sr. on the front row. Behind them were Briscoe, Clauson, J. Cunningham, Carmichael Jr., Holt, Whitt, Holtsclaw, and Christian. The green waved at 9:25 with a good bit of light still in the sky and promptly things were shaken up as five cars got together in turn four before a lap was completed. Involved were Jared Fox, Brent Beauchamp, Mitch Cunningham, Dickie Gaines, and Danny Holtsclaw; all would re-start. The most immediate beneficiary would be Jon Stanbrough, who saw the three guys starting in front of him moved to the back of the field. Now Stanbrough would be starting 11th instead of 17th.

The re-start saw Sciscoe take the early lead but Clauson roared into the top spot on lap three. Behind him, competition was typically fierce. Sciscoe spent a good part of his race holding off Briscoe for second. The race was all-green until lap 21. Clauson, Sciscoe, and Briscoe were trailed by Cunningham, Christian, Gaines (from the back of the pack), and Carmichael Jr. Gaines was not finished, as he passed Christian for fifth at the end. Kent held on for sixth, followed by Stanbrough, Stine (from 18th), and the Carmichaels, first Kenny Jr., then Sr. Young Mr. Clauson was one happy winner and extremely happy to be back “home” at Bloomington. His USAC schedule has allowed very little time to do much weekly racing, but with USAC racing at Richmond and rules not letting 17 year old racers run at the longer tracks, Bryan was here with a new car from the Armstrong stable. It paid off.

After Jeff Bland broke, John DeMoss was there to take advantage, winning the modified feature. Greg Kendall was the super stock winner.

Fireworks, the real kind, will be the traditional addition this coming Friday at Bloomington.

Off for a too-rare visit to the world famous Paragon Speedway for another King of Indiana Sprint Series event and it had been awhile since I’d seen this many sprint cars jammed into a pit area. 68 cars were on the premises and it promised to be a long, yet enjoyable, night.

Six heat races were needed and the top three from those would move to the feature. All others would race in two different B Mains with the top two advancing to make up the 22 car field. Chris “Critter” Malone was quite impressive in coming from 11th to win the first heat as USAC sprint car champ Levi Jones, in the Indy Race Parts #71, dropped out. Jon Sciscoe was second with Darren Hagen, a teammate to Dave Darland tonight, finishing third. Danny Holtsclaw won the second heat over Jonathan Vennard and Marc Arnold. Kevin Briscoe equaled Malone’s feat as he came from 11th (last) to win the third heat. Cole Whitt was second with Rob Botts coming from ninth to take third. Jon Stanbrough, KISS points leader, took the fourth heat with Shane Hollingsworth (in the 24 Hour Truckers’ team car to Justin Marvel) coming home second over, you guessed it, Justin Marvel. The fifth heat saw a very rare, but unwanted occurrence, that being Kent Christian getting some air time after tangling with Kevin Chambers for a transfer spot. Doug Heck also flipped while trying to miss the original wreck. All would be okay, but Heck and Christian were done for the night. Hud Cone won the heat over Shane Cottle (in the Goacher 5G) and Chris Windom. Joe Roush, in the John Batts yellow #6, worked the inside line to perfection, taking the last heat over Arin McIntosh and Dave Darland.

The first of the two B’s saw track champ Josh Cunningham win over Donnie Gentry, who came from 13th to get ‘er done. Kyle Cummins and Dickie Gaines ran one/two in the second of the last chance races. My half-joking comment to my friends was that this was a normal Paragon show, with two B Mains of 25 cars each. On their regular Saturday night programs at Paragon, everyone runs in a feature. The winner’s payout may be lower, but the experience is invaluable, plus all racers down the finishing order get feature-like money without loading up early. Tonight the double B’s saw lots of good racers calling it a night, including Levi Jones (25th to fifth in the first B), MSCS champ Alex Shanks, and Derek O’Dell.

The re-draw saw the rhyming kids, Sciscoe and Briscoe in the front row. Behind them would be McIntosh, Stanbrough, Vennard, Malone, Cone, Whitt, Roush, and Holtsclaw. The huggy pole fears would turn to be unfounded as plenty of racers made use of the high side. Right off the bat Shane Hollingsworth would take a tumble as he clipped an infield tire on lap two. Shane was okay, but out quickly. Sciscoe led on the re-start with Stanbrough, Briscoe, McIntosh, Vennard, Roush, Cone, Holtsclaw and Hagen trailing. The top three spent a good part of the race battling for the lead as Dave Darland steadily moved up from his 18th starting spot. At the halfway mark, lap 15, Sciscoe led Briscoe, Stanbrough, McIntosh, Cone, Darland, Hagen, Holtsclaw, and Roush. Things were getting good. The three at the top continued their duel as Darland moved into fourth place. Finally Briscoe took the lead on lap 27 with the race ending with the popular Hoosier in the lead. A wreck after the white flag was waved ended the race as per track rules (I’d attended a rare, for me, driver’s meeting that evening, munching on a hamburger and actually listening) as Cone, Botts, and Hagen came together in turn two. Briscoe was followed by Sciscoe, Stanbrough, Darland, and J.Cunningham (who came from 19th to run well at the end when it counted). Six through ten was Vennard, McIntosh (an outstanding effort by the young lady), Marvel (from 16th), Cummins (from 20th), and Cottle. The gang came through; it was a fine race with plenty of real drama and excitement. I was glad that I’d witnessed it all.

Chris Hillman was the super stock winner while John Thomas was the bomber feature victor. This coming Saturday will see Paragon having its usual program of sprints, street stocks and bombers, along with fireworks. Also this Saturday will see the KISSeries winding up at Terre Haute.

Elsewhere around the state at Kamp’s Speedway it was Dan Hamstra and Jason Feger winning. My man Rich is on a roll as his car did it again up at Shadyhill. Brad DeYoung made it two in a row in I-MOD action. Roger Cavness and Adam Loehmer were the other winners up north. Bryan Clauson also won at Lawrenceburg with 29 cars on hand Saturday night. Billy Puterbaugh Jr. was the winner at Lincoln Park with 30 cars on hand. Scotty Weir won at Gas City on Friday night, coming from 16th to do it. Jack Sullivan was the late model winner at Brownstown. Bud Kaeding was the Silver Crown winner over at Richmond (and I did miss going over there this year, the first time in three years I’ve not gone east) and Brian Tyler was the sprint winner there after Bobby Santos III broke.

This coming weekend the plans are for Bloomington and either Terre Haute or Lawrenceburg. So many races, so little time.

Slapping a USAC sticker on my vacuum cleaner when my wife isn’t looking, I’m…

Danny Burton

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