Columbus Speedway go-karts hold big weekend of racing

Calli Lucas of North Vernon won her go-kart racing division on both May 14 and 15 at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing, which holds events at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, held a two-day show last weekend.

The division winners from May 14 were Connor Perry (rookies), Landon Fletcher (clone 420), Calli Lucas (box stock pred), Evan Shatto (clone 340 and clone 380)), Jacob Chadd (junior 2), Juan Grino (rwyb), Jentry Cash (junior 1), Scott Roccia (flathead 365) and Jacob Peelman (junior 3).

The division winners from May 15 were Hunter Bowman (rookies), Mike Dickerson (clone 420), Lucas (box stock pred), Nathan Lynch (clone 340), Chadd (junior 2), Colton Aldridge (rwyb), Dylan Trost (junior 1), Joey Pendergrass (flathead 360), Grant Hiler (junior 3), and Dustin Heath (clone 380).

The next event for the Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing will be on Saturday.

Seven win at Brownstown

A total of seven feature events highlighted “Saturday Night Racing” at the Brownstown Speedway on May 15. Six of the seven feature winners would get their first win of the year at the track, with two drivers recording their first-ever Brownstown Speedway feature wins.

Devin Gilpin of Columbus visited Victory Lane for the first time in 2021 at Brownstown in the “Slicker Graphics” Super Late Model feature. Gilpin was trailed at the finish by Jared Bailey, Shelby Miles, Britan Godsey and Alan Edsall. Rounding out the top 10 were Skyller Lewis, Ethan Toedter, Mason Covey, Dusty Chapman and Michael Wesselman.

In “P3 Graphix” ILMS Pro Late Model action, Raymond Humphrey of Bloomington got his first win of the year ahead of Tyler Neal, Steve Peeden, Keaton Streeval and Austin Burton. Sixth thru 10th were Dylan Norman, Josh Boller, Brad Barrow, Robert Rainey and Justin Bowling.

Jacoby Hines of Trafalgar recorded his first win of the year in the “Backwoods Express” Modifieds. Hines led Brayden Watson, Zachary Stalker, Karlie Holt and Logan Mounce at the finish.

The “Pewter Hall” Super Stocks would have two features for the night. In the makeup feature from May 8, Tommy East of Bedford picked up his first-ever Brownstown win over Brad Cummings, Steve Hollars, Zach Sasser and Tim Eddelman. In the second Super Stock feature of the night, Tucker Chastain of Bedford got his first feature of 2021 over Mike Fields, Steve Hollars, JT Huffman and Tanner Chastain.

The Crown Vics also ran two feature events. The make-up feature from May 8 saw Phillip Boudreaux of New Albany visit Victory Lane for the first time ever at Brownstown. Ryan Seay, Jack Roberts, Greg Greene and Josh Spence completed the top five.

In the second feature of the night, Michael Cranmer of Jeffersonville recorded his second win of the year. Brandon Cranmer, Anthony Finley, Jack Roberts and Trevor Cranmer followed at the checkers.

Nicely wins at Twin Cities

Tyler Nicely of Owensboro, Kentucky, won the American Modified Series feature on May 15 at Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon. Josh Harris finished second to Nicely, followed by Victor Lee, Trent Green and Ryan Thomas.

Other feature winners were Josh Turner of Edinburgh (super stocks), Jerry Adams of Elizabethtown (pure stocks), Shane Wheeler of Morgantown (hornets), Jeffery Cranmer of Memphis (crown vics) and Donnie Gentry of Henderson, Kentucky (410 steel block sprints).

O’Neal victorious at Eldora

Martinsville native Hudson O’Neal, who now resides in Hope, won the Sunoco American Late Model feature on May 15 at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. O’Neal, who started fifth took, the lead on the 10th lap from Kyle Bronson and then pulled away for the $5,000 victory.

Darrell Lanigan finished in second, followed by Devin Moran, Bronson and Stormy Scott.

Hoffman takes Bloomington

Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, North Carolina, won the Roddy Strong Memorial for open wheel modifieds on May 14 at Bloomington Speedway. Tyler Nicely finished second, followed by Cole Falloway, Jacoby Hines and Josh Harris.

Jadon Rogers of Worthington won the sprint car feature over Jordan Kinser, Andy Bradley, A.J. Hopkins and Sterling Cling.

Austin Phelps of Hillsdale won the super stock feature over Wes McClara, Brad Cummings, Bryce Shidler and Zach Sasser.

The next event at Bloomington will be the Josh Burton Memorial on Friday.

Grant wins at Lawrenceburg

Justin Grant won the BOSS sprint car feature on May 15 at Lawrenceburg Speedway. Brady Bacon finished second, followed by Thomas Meseraull, Nick Bilbee and Tyler Kendall.

Pete Holt won the modified feature over David Spille, Cory Skipton, Steve Bilenstein and Gary Dunaway.

Will McRoberts won the pure stock feature, and Cordell Moore took the hornet feature.

There was be no racing Saturday night at Lawrenceburg. The next scheduled event will be on May 31 with the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars and modifieds. For ticket info, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.

This week in racing history

From 50 years ago tonight in 1971 at Brownstown, it was Bob Fleetwood winning the late model feature over Ira Bastin, Pete Willoughby, Don Hobbs and Russ Petro.

Also from 50 years ago this weekend at Haubstadt, it was Sheldon Kinser winning the sprint car feature over Chuck Amati and Larry Miller. Don Hobbs won the late model feature over Sonny Ashby and Tom Helfrich.

From 50 years ago in 1971 at Whitewater Valley Speedway in Liberty, it was Rollie Alvers winning the late model feature race over Ron Baker, George Morgan, Billy Brandenburg and Dave Tate.

At Twin Cities in 1971, Tommy Day remained unbeaten, winning his sixth straight feature to begin the season. Bruce Steinert was second followed by Pee Wee Day, Tom Franks and Jim Giltner.

From 40 years ago this weekend in 1981 at Brownstown, Don Hobbs won the late model feature over Tom Helfrich, Dick Phillips, Pat Patrick and Larry Owens. Regis Scaggs won the modified street stock feature over Troy Burton, Don Barnett, Ernie Niemoeller and Larry Plessinger.

Also from this weekend in 1981 at Paragon, it was Randy Kinser winning the sprint car feature over Kerry Norris, Russ Racine, Tom Goad and Larry Martin.

From this weekend in 1981 at Twin Cities, it was Gary Herbert winning the late model feature over Garry Mahoney, Chuck Gilpin, Dee Kramer and Phil Fultz. Don Walp won the street stock feature race over Willie Sallee, Randy Spry, Ron Hoover and R.C. Calton.

From 30 years ago in 1991 at Bloomington, it was Steve Kinser winning the sprint car feature over Sammy Swindell, Mark Kinser, Kelly Kinser and Danny Smith.

From 20 years ago in 2001 at Brownstown, Bob Pierce won the Kenny Simpson Memorial Race over Steve Barnett, Doug McCammon, Steve Hillard, and Kevin Claycomb. Bubba Woods won the bomber feature over Matt Bex, Robert Walters, Charlie Stevens Jr. and Matt Cummings. Gregg O’Neill won the super stock feature over Mike Fields, Joe Johnson, Darin George and Gary Green.

James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected]