Alan Magner of North Vernon won the Indiana Pro Late Model feature on April 15 at Brownstown Speedway.
Submitted photo
The Graphix Indiana Late Model Series Pro Late Models and the Flag 2 Flag Media Crown Vics made their first appearance at Brownstown Speedway on April 15, joining the Pewter Hall Super Stocks, All in One Pools Pure Stocks and Hornets for “Saturday Night Racing: action.
Jug Wethington would break after leading 22 of the 25 laps in P3 Graphix ILMS Pro Late Model feature action. Alan Magner took advantage of Wethington’s misfortune and went on to be the first ILMS feature winner of 2023. Magner led Patrick Shumaker, Nolan Wells, Houston Roark and ConnerMertens at the finish.
Tanner Chastain jumped to the early lead in the Pewter Hall Super Stock feature and swapped thelead with Zach Sasser several times during the race. Tanner Chastain finally retook the lead and had to hold off several challengers to get his first win of the year over Austin Perry, Zach Sasser, ColtonSullivan and Danny Hupp.
Josh Turner picked up his first ever win last week in All in One Pools Pure Stocks and made it two-for-two April 15, getting another win. Josh Hayes, Alvi Applegate, Buddy Stearns and Donnie Wilson followed Turner at the checkers.
Jeremy Shemwell got his first-ever Brownstown win in the Hornet division feature. Scott Smith, Jamie Ogle, Caleb Arthur and Jeremy Ogle completed the top five.
Brandon Cranmer started the Flag 2 Flag Media Crown Vic season just as he ended last year, with a feature victory. Brandon Cranmer, the defending Crown Vic champion, got the win ahead of Phillip Boudreaux, Ryan Woods, Wayne Shoff and Holly Heil.
Indiana Late Model Series Feature Results: Alan Magner, Patrick Shumaker, Nolan Wells, Houston Roark, Conner Mertens, Chester Allbright, Jug Wethington, Caleb Schryer, Zack Burton, Keaton Streeval, Brian Wilhite, Chris Stillwell, Britan Godsey, Derrick Huber, Bryce Burton, Elliott Despain-DNS.
Super Stock Feature Results: Tanner Chastain, Austin Perry, Zach Sasser, Colton Sullivan, Danny Hupp, Bryson Clark, J.T. Huffman, Blake Hull, Isaiah Sasser, Jenna Boknecht, Skyler Cohee, Sam Lee, Chris Batchelor, Trey Chastain, Branden Carr, Tim Eddelman.
Pure Stock Feature Results: Josh Turner, Josh Hayes, Alvi Applegate, Buddy Stearns, Donnie Wilson, Ronnie Pardue, David Bloom III, A.J. Wilson, Kevin Bloom, Daniel Hupp, Eric Lewis, Bobby Woods, Preston Carr, Chris Streeval, Paul Ortman, Jerry Adams, Tommy Fleenor, Hunter Perry-DNS, Davey Waggoner-DNS, Mickey Hines-DQ.
Hornet Feature Results: Jeremy Shemwell, Scott Smith, Jamie Ogle, Caleb Arthur, Jeremy Ogle, Davey Waggoner, Zach Johnson, James Simmons, Kiah Wingate, Landon Hayes, Marshall Claycamp, Kaleb Caudill, Max Claycamp, Michael Brewer, William Wingate, Isaia White, Kameron Arthur, Josh Arthur, Tony Arthur Jr., Phillip Fields.
Crown Vics Feature Results: Brandon Cranmer, Phillip Boudreaux, Ryan Woods, Wayne Shoff, Holly Heil, Cordell Moore, Stacie Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Finley, Eddie Snapp, Nathan Lewis, Ray Weston, Joel Smith, Chad Reed, Chris Young, Ronnie Basham III, Michael Cranmer, Kenna Day, Daniel Chambers, Kenny Humphrey, Kilie Reynolds.
Scottsburg track reopens
Many fairgrounds in Indiana have had, at one time, a working dirt track. Many have fallen to the wayside, and it’s unusual to have a reopening. One of the largest tracks in the area is the one in Scottsburg, 3/8th of a mile. Having set dormant for many years, except for the annual fair races, the Scottsburg fairgrounds has found new life.
Now called I-65 Speedway (back to its original name), it will host a monthly Wednesday race. It all started with a conversation between Sportsdrome track promoter Mike Gibson and fair board member Aaron Lewis. Lewis works concessions at the Sportsdrome in Jeffersonville.
Through a joint venture with Dean Worrall, the track is off to a good start. Worrall runs the I-65 track program and keeps a watchful eye on the action. The inaugural race held April 12 ran nearly faultless. there were heat races, as well as four hotly-contested feature races.
Ben Harmon won the UMP modified feature. A.J. Seay outraced several to win the Affordable Ford Feature. In the Hornet 15-lap race, David Waggoner was the winner. The last race was “The Smack Talkers,” and it was won by Jeff Blackwell.
The next race will be May 15. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the first race takes the green flag at 7 p.m. The goal is to have the races finished by no later than 10:30 p.m.
Gustin wins Paragon special
Ryan Gustin won the Ultimate Heart of America Late Model race on April 15 at Paragon Speedway.
Rusty Schlenk was second, followed by Jordan Wever, Josh Boller And Dustin Linville. Completing the top 10 were Chad Stapleton, Tyler Neal, Steve Peeden, Todd Cooney, and Tristan Chamberlain.
Bilbee wins at Lawrenceburg
Nick Bilbee won the opening night sprint car feature at Lawrenceburg Speedway on April 15. Sterling Cling was second, followed by Joss Moffatt, Braxton Cummings and Garrett Abrams. Matt
Hamilton won the modified feature over Earnie Woodard, Bobby Burleson, Gary Hume and Mike Marischen. Dalton Smith took the hornet feature race over Landen Ramirez, Gary Snyder, Michelle Baird and Brody Hembree. Joel Andrews won the pure stock feature over Will Hayes, C.J. Redd, Will McRoberts and Eli McRoberts.
Leary takes Bloomington win
C.J. Leary knew exactly where he needed to be throughout the April 14th Larry Rice Classic USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship feature at Bloomington Speedway.
But often times, the game plan requires certain decisive actions in order to remain on the right track, and the Greenfield native made all the right moves in all the right places to score his 20th career series victory and second at the 1/4-mile dirt oval in Southern Indiana after previously winning on the red clay during the summer of 2020.
Jake Swanson trailed Leary across the finish line followed by Logan Seavey, Justin Grant and Emerson Axsom.
Over the offseason, Leary made the switch over from Michael Motorsports to the BGE Dougherty Motorsports team, and within their first three points-paying race starts with the United States Auto Club, they’re already celebrating a first victory with their Altoz–Hornbeck Concrete-Highsmith Guns-Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts/DRC/1-Way Chevy.
This week in racing history
From 50 years ago in 1973, Gene Petro won the late model feature at the 25 th Street Speedway in Columbus over Dick DeBolt, Russ Petro, Mel Vails and Floyd Gilbert.
Also from 1973 at Twin Cities, Denny Long won the feature race over Leo Boner, Johnny Robbins, Bill Cummings and Hillbilly Ogle.
From 1973 at Bloomington Speedway, Mike Johnson won the sprint car feature race over Butch Wilkerson, Rex Mitchell, Bobby Black and Tony Solomito.
From 40 years ago in 1983 at Brownstown, Russ Petro win the late model feature over Don Hobbs, Roger Absher, Ray Godsey and Ernie Barrow. Troy Burton won the street stock main event over Darrell Hunter, Rodney Gaines, Joe Williamson and Dan Londeree.
Also from 1983 at Paragon Speedway, Dave Blaney won the All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car feature over Lee Osborne, Randy Kinser, Kelly Kinser, and Kenny Jacobs. George Kopetsky won the limited late model feature over Tom Weddle, Jim Nichols, Charley McGinnis and John Roberts.
Also from 40 years ago, Pete Willoughby won the limited late model feature at Twin Cities over Steve Boley, Tim Engelau, Bud Seymour, and Jim Ruddick. Earl Plessinger won the street stock feature over Howard Montgomery, Brad Tobias, Daryl Herbert and Merrill Downey.
From 30 years ago in 1993 at Brownstown, Dion Deason won the late model feature over C.J. Rayburn, Lee Fleetwood, Jim Curry, and Kevin Claycomb. Scott Patman won the street stock feature over Jeff Wilson, Frankie Coomer, Darren Davis, and Tim Clark. Butch Shay won the modified feature over Tony Godsey, Mark Barber, Mark Johnson and B.J. McCammon.
Also from 1993 at Twin Cities, Steve Kinser won the sprint car feature over Danny Lasoski, Jac Haudenschild, Mark Kinser, and Kelly Kinser. Darren Davis won the street stock feature over Darrell Smallwood, Scott Patman, Nelson Gingery and Burny Chaplin.
Local racing schedule
Today: weather permitting, Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing at Tony Stewart Speedway, Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds – all divisions points race.
Tonight: weather permitting, Brownstown Speedway – super late models, modifieds, super stocks, hornets and crown vics. For more information, visit brownstownspeedway.com
Tonight: weather permitting, Lawrenceburg Speedway – sprints, modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For more information, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com
Tonight: weather permitting, Florence Speedway – sports mods and demo derby.
Friday: Bloomington Speedway, sprints, modifieds, super stocks, and hornets. For more information, visit racebloomingtonspeedway.com
April 29: Paragon Speedway, Johnson Memorial– sprints, super stocks, bombers, hornets and mod lites. For more information, visit paragonspeedway.com
April 29: Brownstown Speedway, Indiana Pro late models, super stocks, pure stocks, hornets and crown vics.
April 29: Lawrenceburg Speedway, sprints, modifieds, pure stocks and hornets.
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to sports@therepublic.com
