The Hoosier Race Report: Weekend of Surprises

By Danny Burton

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

Columbus, IN… Another weekend of racing, and I, along with a few thousand of my best friends, saw two guys (Jon Stanbrough and Jason Knoke) who have had their share of tough times recently win races near here. They could easily attest that racing is, again, like life. It’s a roller coaster and you can only hope the ups and downs aren’t too drastic, but often they are.

Bloomington, IN… Friday afternoon traffic gives one plenty of time to think, seeing that you’re not likely to be going very fast, though you’d better pay attention. Lots of folks were headed home or else off to whatever they would be doing that night or weekend. I followed a guy towing a big boat, for example. I saw folks going out to eat, riding their horses, mowing their yards (something I did before I left home), riding bicycles, and/or just hanging out. Many, of course, stayed inside because they weren’t able to get out or just chose to stay home. This bozo was headed for the world famous Bloomington Speedway, and not just to see if Chuck Welsh had gotten his hair cut.

24 cars were on hand; the quantity wasn’t the greatest, but the quality was there for sure. Soon after I arrived Bryan Clauson made it 23 as his engine quit and the B & L gang loaded up. Shane Hollingsworth, who was the last to take time trials, was quickest at 11.678 seconds.

Kenny Carmichael won the first heat as Mitch Cunningham, Michael Pickens, Kevin Briscoe, and Kenny Carmichael Jr. all went with the Terre Haute businessman to the feature. Steve Rone won the second heat and Ty Deckard was second. Brady Short, Jon Stanbrough, and Dickie Gaines trailed. Kevin Chambers won the third heat, holding off Jon Sciscoe. Brent Beauchamp, A.J. Anderson, and Jared Fox rounded out the top five.

Bobby Stines beat fast timer Hollingsworth to take the last chance race. Ageless Dave Peperak, Jason Knoke, and Kevin Besecker also raced their way into the A Main. Things were clicking off at a good rate. As John mentioned this, we were sure he’d jinxed us. Again.

And the way that the feature started, it seemed like the Hoover jinx had kicked in. On the first try, Kevin Briscoe slowed, then stopped; perhaps he had jumped out of gear. For the second attempt, it was Brent Beauchamp nearly spinning, but correcting it. But a yellow was waved anyway, a safe call. Among other things, this enabled Gaines to move up two rows as Briscoe and Beauchamp had started just ahead of him.

The third time was the charm. A.J. Anderson took the early lead with Stines and Gaines in hot pursuit. An early yellow for a Brady Short/Michael Pickens shunt was immediately followed by a meeting between Jared Fox and Dickie Gaines, with all but Fox exiting. Yet another caution flag was on about lap five for a Ty Deckard spin. By now Anderson and Stines were joined at the front by Stanbrough. Hollingsworth, Rone, Cunningham, Carmichael Jr., and Briscoe, who had re-started at the tail, would be right behind these guys.

On lap 8 Stanbrough passed A.J. for a lead he’d not give up. Meanwhile Kevin Briscoe steadily worked his way forward, as only the champ could do. Halfway through and he was fifth, and would stay there behind Hollingsworth for quite awhile before nipping him at the end for fourth behind Stines. Shane hung on for fifth. The second five was Rone (from 14th), Knoke, Carmichael Jr. (from 18th), Cunningham, and Carmichael (dare I say?) Sr.

Gary Barrow won the modified feature while Ben DuBois was the super stock winner. And yes, there will be racing this coming Friday night at Bloomington, weather permitting of course.

Lawrenceburg, IN… Jason Knoke fooled us all by winning at the’burg on Saturday night, but no one was complaining, especially myself. First off, Jake is a home boy and I do tend to be a bit less objective when it comes to hometown guys and girls. Second, my buddy Rich Hollmyer and the Buckeye Auto Race Club had their annual Polish Luau. The great food, conversation, and racing made for another special night at the Lawrenceburg Speedway.

After an extended time of eating (with a couple of adult beverages), laughing, telling and hearing stories, and thanking Rich and the guys, we all agreed it was time for racing. Tony Beaber won the first heat with Joss Moffatt, Eric Davis, and J.D. Turner all following Tony into the main event. Brandon Petty took the second heat over Travis Gregg (taking time out from the Infiniti Pro Series, or whatever they’re calling it these days), Kevin Besecker, and Luke Hall. Jason Knoke was the third heat winner and Larry Beck was second. Brent Berry and Troy Link also transferred. Steve Barth took a mean flip but was okay. Rick Vaughn won the fourth heat, beating Derek Franks, Mike Miller, and Rodney Stone. Shane Hollingsworth was also at the ‘burg but had mechanical problems. 28 cars had appeared.

Dwayne Spille took the B Main with Broc Burton coming from the back to finish second. Mark Hall and Brent Beauchamp, who also started way back there, also made their way into the feature.

The re-draw found Vaughn and Gregg leading Knoke, Beaber, Franks, Moffatt, Petty, Beck, Davis, and Besecker to the green. Vaughn took the early lead until a lap five yellow flag. The “Wild Thing” held onto the lead on the re-start with Knoke, Gregg, Franks, Petty, Moffatt, Beaber, Davis, Besecker, Miller, Beck, Hall, and Burton trailing. Beaber spun on the re-start as Petty was making his way to the front. But Vaughn was hanging tough. At the halfway mark Rick led Knoke, Petty, Gregg, Franks, Moffatt, Besecker, Miller, Davis, and Beck.

Now commenced some of the best ‘burg racing around, as a three way battle for the lead among Vaughn, Knoke, and Petty held our attention. A lap 19 yellow for a Berry/Beauchamp meeting bunched the field up again. Now Miller was on the move. Vaughn led Petty, Knoke, Franks, Miller (from 12th), Moffatt, Besecker, Davis, Burton (from 18th!), Stone, and a fading Gregg. But, somewhat surprisingly, here came Knoke. Jake swept by both Vaughn and Petty to take the lead on lap 20 and kept it. Brandon, who had to be the pre-race favorite, was second. Mike Miller came on strong at the end to take third. Franks hung tough for fourth. Burton capped a great race for him by taking fifth. Sixth was Vaughn, who slipped at the end. Davis, Stone, Besecker and J.D. Turner rounded out the top 10.

Brad Wieck was the modified winner. Jerry Back was second in the modified feature, but won the super stock finale. And Byron Stowe was the Legends/KOIL tour winner.

The World of Outlaws invade Lawrenceburg this coming Wednesday night, along with a non-wing sprint feature.

Both nights saw an early ending. The Bloomington sprint feature was over at 9:40; the L’burg sprint feature was checkered at 10:05, EST.

INDIANA… Elsewhere around the state, Kevin Briscoe beat a strong field at Haubstadt out of the $10K prize in MSCS action. At Angola there were many winners, due to makeup races. Fred Elkins, Joe Ellert, Darwin Wolfe, Scott Coe, Shane Crager, Mike Overholser, Kedrin Holliday, and Joe Kunberger were all winners. Randy Petro and Steve Godsey were Thursday winners at Brownstown. Critter Malone was the Gas City winner on Friday night with 31 cars present. Mike Jewell won at Brownstown on Saturday night. Kenny Carmichael Sr. was a double winner at Lincoln Park, taking both the sprint and super stock features. Ritchie Hawkins won the bomber main with Paul Bumgardner was the modified winner. Mark Jessup and Doug Heck were the Paragon winners with 40 cars on hand. Randy Petro was the super stock winner at Twin Cities, along with Willie McRoberts and John Martin. That covers most of ‘em.

Seeing that football season is upon us soon, we’re taking bets on who will be the first player to end up behind bars, the kind we find in jails, that is…

I’m… Danny Burton

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