Mother nature continues to play havoc with the local racing schedules. No track has been able to run its first race of the 2018 season.
Weather permitting, here is the schedule for this weekend and next:
Brownstown tonight
With the changing of the calendar to, the Brownstown Speedway hopes to get to run its first Saturday night program of the year tonight. Racing will be the Ultimate Battle of the Bluegrass Super Late Models, along with modifieds, pure stocks, super stocks and hornets.
Gates will open at 3 p.m. today, with hot laps at 6 p.m. For up-to-date info, check the track’s website at brownstownspeedway.com or call the track at 812-358- 5332.
April 14, Brownstown has the re-scheduled Indiana Icebreaker up next, featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with a $12,000-to-win feature event. Also racing will be modifieds and super stocks.
Among those from the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series expected to be on hand include Jonathan Davenport, Josh Richards, Earl Pearson Jr., Kyle Bronson, Hudson O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Bobby Pierce, Darrell Lanigan, Tim McCreadie, Gregg Satterlee, Dennis Erb Jr., Boom Briggs and Mason Zeigler.
Lawrenceburg tonight
Lawrenceburg Speedway will try for the third time to begin its season April 14. Tonight’s race program has been cancelled due to the weather. April 14 will see a full schedule of events for 410 non-wing sprints, modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For more info, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.
Florence tries again next weekend
Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky, tries for the fourth time to kick off its season April 14. Tonight’s race program has been called off due to wet grounds. Next weekend will feature a show of super late models, crate late models, modifieds, crates, sport mods, and hornets. For the latest info, visit florencespeedway.com.
Bloomington opener Friday
Bloomington Speedway is set for their season opener on Friday with a race program of 410 non-wing sprints, RaceSaver sprints, modifieds and super stocks. For further info, visit bloomingtonspeedway.com.
Route 44 readies for Friday opener
Route 44 Speedway in Liberty opens its 2018 season Friday. Scheduled to race will be a-modifieds, street stocks, bombers and hornets. For more info, visit route44speedway.com.
Twin Cities set for next weekend
Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon has its first race scheduled for April 14 with a full-slate of 410 non-wing sprints, crate late models, pure stocks and hornets. For more info, visit twincitiestrack.com.
Putnamville to go next weekend
Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville has moved its season opening race from tonight to April 14 with a special $2,500-to-win event for 410 non-wing sprint cars. Also racing will be modifieds, super stocks and bombers. For more information, visit lincolnparkspeedway.com.
Sprint Week set for July
Seven dates for the 31st annual edition of Indiana Sprint Week have been set for the 2018 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car season.
The prestigious summertime tradition will have a familiar look with seven races in nine nights from July 20 to 28, featuring a slate of the top sprint car tracks in the Hoosier state.
Indiana Sprint Week will begin at a yet-to-be-determined venue on July 20 before following it up a night later at Kokomo Speedway on July 21. The first weekend concludes July 22 in the southeastern part of the state at Lawrenceburg Speedway.
After a two-day hiatus, the series returns for a final four-day stretch that begins at Terre Haute
Action Track on July 25. Then, it’s off to Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville on July 26, Bloomington Speedway on July 27 and concludes with the ISW finale July 28 at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt.
This week in racing history
From 1968 at Bloomington Speedway, Bob Kinser won the sprint car feature event over Dick Gaines, Butch Wilkerson, Don Nordhorn and Cecil Beavers.
From 40 years ago in 1978, Don Hobbs won the opening night late model feature at Brownstown Speedway over Ira Bastin, Billy Teegarden, Bubby James and Pete Willoughby. Russ Petro took the hobby stock feature over Lee Fleetwood, Willie Sallee, Larry Kiser and Gene Minor.
Thirty years ago in 1988 at Bloomington, Sammy Swindell won the World of Outlaws Sprint Car main event. Steve Kinser was second. He was followed by Jac Haudenschild, Tim Gee and Doug Wolfgang.
Also from 1988, Ray Godsey won his second straight late model feature at Twin Cities. Terry Eaglin was second, with Doug Ault, Mike Gibbs and Lee Fleetwood completing the top five drivers.
Also at Twin Cities, Mark Clark won the street stock main event over Taulby Donnell, Tim Clark, Don Walp and Eddie Kindred.
Thirty years ago in 1988 at Brownstown, John Gill won the late model feature over Jim Curry. Steve Barnett was third, with Roger Long and Steve Trabue rounding out the top five.
Earl Plessinger took the street stock feature the same night over Gary Trammell, Randy Petro, Mark Barber and Tom Seadler.
Dave Kerr took the bomber feature at Brownstown, with Mike Moore, Jerry Allman, Ray Hughes and Doug Tomlinson trailing.
From 1998, Jim Curry won the late model race at Brownstown, with Steve Barnett, Ernie Barrow, Marty O’Neal and Gary Barrow completing the top five.
Randy Petro won the modified feature 20 years ago at Brownstown, with Lee Hobbs finishing in second. Brad Erwin was third with Brad Cummings and Mark Barber completing the top five.
Earl Plessinger was victorious in the street stock main event over Joey Kramer, Rusty Smiley, Tom Clark and Greg Kendall.
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected].
