Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon has announced its division champions for the 2017 racing season.
The track was promoted and managed this year by former Brownstown Speedway promoter Tim Keithley and Columbus businessman Tom Wetherald. Both have said they will be returning in 2018.
Brad Erwin of Crothersville won his second straight crate late model track championship at Twin Cities. Trent Low of North Vernon finished second to Erwin in the final points. Mark Barber of North Vernon, in his comeback year, was third in points, followed by Mike Bechelli of Elizabethtown and Bodi Henry of Scipio.
The 46-year-old Erwin, a second-generation racer, is the son of former driver Buster Erwin. His car is owned by Randy Robbins of Carrollton, Kentucky, and sponsored by Brad Erwin Customs. His crew consists of his father Buster and Randy and Timmy Robbins.
Jeremy Owens of North Vernon captured the modified track title over Bryson Clark of North Vernon, Jerry Adams of Elizabethtown, Jacoby Hines of Nineveh and Dustin Golden of Bedford. It was Owens’ first career modified track title.
Owens, 27, a 2009 Jennings County High School grad, is sponsored by Brad Erwin Customs, Gilpin Electric and Generator, All-Star Paving, Right Auto Parts, Jeff Mounce Motorsports, Travis Kern Racing Engines, P3 Graphix, Wagner 28 Motorsports, Genesis Racing Shocks, Frankland Rear Ends and WGP Chassis.
His pit crew this year consisted of Cassie Assmann, Blake Barber, Brad Erwin, Billy Gilpin, Mike Lugo and Mark Barber.
Danny Hupp of Scipio won his first career track championship by taking the super stock title. Scott Beeler of Louisville finished second to Hupp, with Lindsay Wade of Nashville, Randy Petro of Columbus and Davey Waggoner Jr. of North Vernon finishing out the top-five drivers.
The 62-year-old Hupp, a Columbus North graduate, has sponsorship from CY Chassis and Paul’s Columbus Auto Salvage and pit crew help from Wade, along with Alex, Daniel and Cindy Hupp.
Troy Clark of North Vernon was the top driver in the pure stock class at Twin Cities this year. Mark Hines of Scipio finished second in points, with Corebin McRoberts of Dupont taking third. Tim Clark of North Vernon returned to racing this year and was fourth in points, followed by Columbus’ Ross Smith.
The 46-year-old Clark, a 1989 graduate of Jennings County, drives for Mark and Helen Bruce of Commiskey. The car is sponsored by BGR Army Motorsports Consultants, Gilpin Electric and Generator, B&H Electric Supply, Phat Guy Sports Bar, and CTS Core Supply.
The Clark and Bruce team had pit crew assistance from Melissa Clark, Brian Vermillion, Robert Young, Roger Deppe, Ralph Lane, Chris Tibbs, Bill Griffin and Scott Bruce.
Cody Perry of North Vernon won his third hornet division championship. His other titles came in 2011 and 2013. The 22-year-old Perry is a Jennings County graduate. His car is sponsored by T&R Auto Sales, Howler Fabrication, Reaper Traction Bars, SBR Performance and P3 Graphix.
His pit crew this year was Robert and Nancy Perry, Michelle Graham, Jacob Owens and Sarah Reitman.
USAC sprints in Arizona
Thomas Meseraull and former Elizabethtown resident Chase Stockon won the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car features on Nov. 3 and Saturday at Arizona Speedway in San Tan Valley, Arizona.
Meseraull won the first show of the weekend Nov. 3 night Brady Bacon, Robert Ballou, Chris Windom and Tyler Courtney. On Saturday night, Stockon took the feature victory over Meseraull, R.J. Johnson, Ballou and Cortney.
Windom leads the national points standings heading into this weekend’s season ending events. Current AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Championship Points Standings:
1. Chris Windom 2,096; 2. Justin Grant 2,093; 3. Kevin Thomas Jr. 2,011; 4. Tyler Courtney 1,994; 5. Chase Stockon 1,825.
The series will conclude its racing season this weekend at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, California. For more, visit info usacracing.com.
Racing legend passes away
Bob Kinser, the patriarch of the famous racing Kinser family passed away on Saturday at his home in Bloomington. He was 86.
Kinser won 29 track and series championships and over 400 features during his 40-plus-year career. His final race was in 1996 at Knoxville, Iowa, at the age of 64. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1999.
Kinser started his career at Bloomington Speedway racing jalopies before running supermodifieds, late models and sprint cars. His battles in the 1960’s and 1970’s with such stalwarts as Butch Wilkerson, Bobby Black, Dick Gaines, Cecil Beavers, Calvin Gilstrap and Larry Miller were legendary.
He is the father of 20-time World of Outlaw Sprint Car Champion Steve Kinser and local racing standout Randy Kinser. His grandson Kraig Kinser finished eighth in this year’s World of Outlaw Sprint Car championship points standings.
