For the first time in six years, dirt track go-kart racing will return to the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds located just south of Columbus. Two Columbus residents, Tim Smith and Tim Reed, have rebranded the former Columbus Kart Club to Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing.
Smith, 49, a Columbus North graduate, and Reed, 48, a Hauser grad, are excited to kick off their new venture. Opening night has been set for Aug. 4, with gates opening at 3 p.m., practice at 4 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
“My phone has not stopped ringing,” Smith said. “It’s mostly about people wanting to get back into karting because there hasn’t been a track here local for the last five years since North Vernon shut down. They have had to drive to Charlestown to race. We hope to give the local racers a close place to race that will treat everyone fair.”
The Columbus Kart Club began in 1959, and for over 50 years, provided a racing venue until ceasing operations in 2011. Local racers then had to head to North Vernon, Osgood or Charlestown to get their racing fix. At the time, the Columbus Kart Club was one of the oldest clubs remaining in the nation, and the heritage and names that raced at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds was a who’s who of local racing talent. The last go-kart race at the track was during the 2012 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair and was not under the jurisdiction of the club.
Tony Stewart is the most well-known driver to have raced in the Columbus Kart Club. He started in 1978 and continued until going into midget-car racing in 1989. While Stewart cut his teeth racing locally at tracks in Columbus and Westport at the time, several others also gained valuable seat time on their way to compete in other forms of racing such as late models, sprint cars, street stocks, modifieds and midgets at local tracks in the area.
Pete Willoughby, who works for Keith Kunz Motorsports in Columbus is one of the graduates of the Columbus Kart Club. Other drivers who went on to success in other forms of racing include Dick Phillips, Kerry Norris, Jason Knoke, Gary Burton, J.T. Stapp, Brad Tobias, Jason Setser, Taulby Donnell and Matt Arrington, to name just a few.
All interested parties needing more information should contact Smith at 812-350-4354 or Reed at 812-603-8704.
USAC Indiana Sprintweek results
The traditional AMSOIL USAC Indiana Sprintweek series kicked off on July 20 at Plymouth Speedway with Brady Bacon taking the feature win. Chris Windom finished in second, with Dave Darland, Justin Grant and Tyler Courtney completing the top five.
On Sunday at Lawrenceburg Speedway, the winner was Courtney, with 42 cars entered for the night’s activities. Kevin Thomas Jr. finished second to Courtney, with Brady Bacon, Windom and C.J. Leary rounding out the top-five competitors.
After a day off, the series ventured to Kokomo Speedway for a rained-out make-up race. Thomas Meseraull picked up his second straight Indiana Sprint Week win at Kokomo. Chase Stockon, a former resident of Elizabethtown, was second, with Grant, Windom and Kevin Thomas Jr. completing the top-five drivers.
On Wednesday, another stout 42-car field was entered at the Terre Haute Action Track. Courtney would win his second ISW race of the week, taking the top billing over Robert Ballou, Grant, Bacon and Thomas.
The 2018 USAC Indiana Sprintweek will conclude tonight at the Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt. For more info, visit usacracing.com.
Hedrick wins UMRA at Kokomo
Current UMRA King of the TQ Midgets points leader Matthew Hedrick of Rushville picked up the win on Tuesday at Kokomo Speedway. Joey Paxson of Connersville was second, with Austin Nigh of Greenfield, Tate Martz of Rushville and Rick Robinson of Columbus trailed the winner to the finish line.
The next UMRA event will be tonight at Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon.
Brownstown holding Crockett Memorial
After being off last weekend, Brownstown Speedway will run its traditional Jackson County Fair Race tonight with the Sixth Annual Paul Crockett Memorial for super late models. Also competing tonight will be modifieds, super stocks and pure stocks. For more info, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
Crockett was a three-time late model track champion at Brownstown winning championships in 1975, 1976, and 1980. He was the winner of the track’s most prestigious race, the Jackson 100, in 1981. He passed away at the age of 79 in 2013.
At Brownstown, the current points leaders in their respective divisions are Alan Magner of North Vernon (super late models), Dennis Boknecht of Seymour (modifieds), Jason Hehman of Brownstown (super stocks), Raymond Humphrey of Bloomington (Indiana pro late models), Derek Clegg of Nabb (pure stocks) and Bill Grant of Clarksville (hornets).
Twin Cities hosting open wheel night
Twin Cities Raceway Park, which was rained out on July 21, will be back in action tonight with open wheel racing on the program card. The 410 sprints, along with the UMRA TQ Midgets, MMSA winged mini-sprints and the 305 RaceSaver sprints will be on hand. For further info, visit twincitiestrack.com
This week in racing history
From this weekend 60 years ago in 1958, Bearcat Chaplin, driving a 1939 Ford, won the feature race at the 25th Street Fairgrounds Speedway in Columbus.
From 50 years ago in 1968, Bloomington Speedway ran its final race of the season. Bob Kinser won the main event over Don Nordhorn, Sheldon Kinser, Butch Wilkerson and Orville Yeadon.
Also, from 1968 at Brownstown Speedway, Gene Sutton won the late model feature. Kenny Simpson was second, with Paul Crockett, Ezra Bastin and Cooley Singer completing the top-five drivers.
From 1988 at Bloomington, it was Randy Kinser taking the win for the sprint cars. Chuck Amati was second with Pete Abel, Jon Sargent and Robbie Stanley completing the top five.
In 1988 at Brownstown, it was Jim Curry winning the late model feature over Larry Phillips, Doug Ault, Ray Godsey and Don Hobbs. Mark Barber took the street stock main over Mike Fields, Scott Patman, Randy Petro and Sherman Kallin. The bomber division feature went to Frankie Coomer over Randy Petro, Ron Hoover Ray Hughes and Perry Bruce.
