Tony Stewart returned to the site of his first career midget victory when he participated in the UMRA King of the TQ Midgets event June 28 at the Rush County Fairgrounds in Rushville.
Stewart, who lived briefly in Rushville in the early stages of his career, came home third in the main event behind winner Joey Paxson of Connersville and second-place finisher Tate Martz of Rushville. Matthew Hedrick of Rushville was fourth, with Jason Goff of Fortville taking fifth.
Paxson also won the June 29 program at the Rush County Fair.
Stewart’s next local appearance will be on Tuesday at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds in Columbus for the special UMRA King of the TQ Midgets event. Also competing will be Stewart’s 80-year-old father, Nelson, who currently stands seventh in the series points standings.
In other UMRA action on June 30 at Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon, it was Martz winning the feature event over Jason Goff, Matthew Hedrick, Matt Lux and Rick Robinson of Columbus.
Godsey takes Brownstown
Steven Godsey of Bedford won his first Indiana Pro Late Model feature of the season on June 30 at Brownstown Speedway. The second-generation racer and son of Hall of Fame driver Ray Godsey took the win over Steve Peeden of Paragon, Tyler Cain of Seymour, Tyler Neal of Paragon and Shelby Miles from Bloomington.
Mike Fields of Scottsburg won his second super stock feature of the year earning a $1,000 check. Colton Sullivan of Columbus was second, with Tucker Chastain of Bedford, Aubrey Eagan of Bedford and Jim Ruddick of Seymour completing the top-five drivers.
Earl Plessinger of Scottsburg earned his first open wheel modified feature win of the year at Brownstown, winning the feature race over Jeremy Hines of Seymour, Jeremy Owens of North Vernon, Bill Lewis of Lynn and Austin Burton of Edinburgh.
Mickey Hines of Scipio became another first-time victor this season, taking the pure stock feature. Hines was followed by Dusten Carr of Underwood, Andrew Jones, Jeremy Huebner of Loogootee and Zachary Stalker of Heltonville.
Another first-time feature winner this year at Brownstown was Greg Garrison of Bloomington, who grabbed the hornet division feature over Bill Grant, Daniel Smith, Shannon Walp and Andrew Roark.
Tonight, Brownstown will host the Fourth Annual Born Free 40 for super late models, paying $5,000 to win. Also on the race program will be the Indiana Pro late models, modifieds, super stocks and pure stocks.
For more info, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
Twin Cities results
Marty O’Neal of Spencer won the crate late model feature on June 30 at Twin Cities Raceway Park.
Mark Bruce of Commiskey returned to Victory Lane in the pure stock feature, and Gregg O’Neill of Mooresville won the hornet feature race.
Tonight, Twin Cities will be off with the next scheduled race to be on July 14.
Bacon takes Lawrenceburg feature
Former USAC National Sprint Car champion Brady Bacon won the non-sanctioned feature on June 30 at Lawrenceburg Speedway. Nick Bilbee finished in second, followed by Jarett Andretti, C.J. Leary and Kody Swanson.
Joey Kramer of Hanover won his first Lawrenceburg modified feature of 2018, taking his 46th career win at the track over Brad Wieck of Cincinnati, Ohio, Scotty Kincaid of Rising Sun, Broc Burton of Columbus and David Spille of Harrison, Ohio.
Tonight, Lawrenceburg will be hosting the Merrill Downey Memorial for open wheel modifieds and super late models. For further info, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.
Swanson ties Hewitt with win
Swanson won his fourth consecutive USAC Silver Crown race of the year on June 29 at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin. Swanson took the lead on the 48th lap of the 100-lap main event and went on the victory, which ties him with Jack Hewitt on the series’ all-time win list with 23.
Bobby Santos finished in second, followed by Justin Grant, Jim Anderson and Chris Windom. The next USAC Silver Crown event will be on Aug. 11 at the Salem Speedway in Salem.
Thomas wins at Bloomington
Ryan Thomas of Brownstown piloted his Diamond Race Cars house car to victory at Bloomington Speedway on June 29. Thomas took the main event over Bradley Sterrett of Bloomington, Jeff Deckard of Ellettsville, Jason Clark of Ellettsville and John Clippinger of Evansville.
Jordan Kinser of Bedford won the 410 non-wing sprint car feature, besting Jaden Rogers, Chad Boespflug, Jarett Andretti and Lee Underwood.
Steve Hollars took the top honors in the super stock feature, taking the checkers over Quintin Strope, Zach Sasser, Jack Frye and Chip Slagle.
Ryan Tusing was victorious in the RaceSaver sprint car main over Anton Hernandez, John Paynter, Jr., Ethan Barrow and Jeff Wimmenauer.
The next scheduled race at Bloomington Speedway will be on Friday with super stocks, RaceSaver sprints and 410 non-wing sprints. For the latest info, visit bloomingtonspeedway.com.
This week in racing history
From 50 years ago in 1968 at Bloomington Speedway, Bob Kinser won the sprint car feature over Calvin Gilstrap, Sheldon Kinser, Danny Bowlen and Johnny Noble.
From 1968 at the 25th Street Speedway in Columbus, Gene Petro won the late model feature.
Also from this weekend in 1968 at Brownstown, it was Jack Owens winning his second straight feature over Gene Petro, Teako Ray, Jim Haley and Jerry Brinegar.
From 40 years ago in 1978, Russ Petro won the hobby stock feature at Twin Cities over John Mull and Chuck Gilpin. Then four days later during the Fourth of July holiday, Chuck Gilpin won the feature over Bruce Steinert and Dee Kramer.
Also, at Brownstown in 1978, Ira Bastin won the late model feature over Dennis Boknecht, Tom Helfrich, Bob Fleetwood and Don Hobbs. Doc Jewell won the hobby stock main over Russ Petro, Roger Hehman, Denny Ashley and Gilpin.
Then five days later, Brownstown hosted another show, and Kenny Simpson won the late model feature, crossing the line first ahead of John Davis, Jim Curry, Fleetwood and Kenny Hardin. Jewell won his second hobby stock feature of the week over Russ Petro, Rodney Harris, Mack Pace and Sam Cooper.
From 30 years ago in 1988 at Twin Cities, it was C.J. Rayburn winning the late model feature over Dill Whittymore, Lee Fleetwood, John Gill and Russ Petro. Phil Fultz won the street stock main over Mark Barber, Randy Petro, Earl Plessinger and Mark Clark.
Also, from 1988 John Gill won the late model feature at Brownstown taking the victory over Marty O’Neal, Mike Jewell, Terry English and Ernie Barrow. Jerry Adams won the bomber feature at Brownstown over Sam Chastain, Levi Ray Godsey, Vernon Soeder and Ray Godsey Jr. The Indiana Enduro Series went to Steve Trabue over Todd Kempf, Jim Ruddick, Jason Dorsam and Darryl McIntyre.
In 1988 at Bloomington Speedway a 16-year-old named Jeff Gordon won the sprint car feature. Gordon, who moved to Indiana from California so he could drive sprint cars, won over Randy Kinser, Kelly Kinser, Chuck Amati and Larry Bland.
