Falloway wins Roddy Harris Memorial at Bloomington

Cole Falloway captured the Roddy Strong Memorial on May 12 at Bloomington Speedway. There was a huge 42-car field for the open wheel modifieds from nine different states battling it out for the $9,999.99 top prize to honor the late Roddy Harris and his father, Rod Harris, Sr.

There were six modified heats taking the top two and the invert spin was a 2. Heat race No. 1 was taken by Josh Harris over Logan Mounce. In Heat No. 2, it was also won from the second spot by Will Krup, taking the win over Derek Groomer. In Heat 3, Dillon Nusbaum won from the pole over Chris Arnold. Heat 4 was won from the pole by Kyle Steffens over Drake Troutman. Heat 5, Austin Holcombe won and held off Bradley Jameson for the win. The final heat was won by Falloway over Caleb Demoss.

Falloway also won the Dash for Cash over the other heat race winners. The top two from each heat made the big show, and they were also put in a wheel of 12 for a spin to get the pole of the Roddy Strong Memorial A-main. The wheel was spun, and it came up a 6, so Falloway also struck the pole for the A-main.

The two B-mains were loaded with what you would normally see as features most nights. There was an anonymous sponsor that paid to add four more spots for the A-main, so that meant each B-main now took six to the main dance instead of four. The first B-main was won by California driver Ethan Dotson over Todd Neiheiser, Jacoby Hines, Trent Young, John Clippinger and Jeff Deckard, putting it in the show. The final B-main was won by David Stremme over Jordan Wever, John Demoss, Tyler Nicely, Dylan Woodling and Danny Schwartz for the final spot.

This set up the 30-lap main event, and Falloway and Holcombe would lead the field. Falloway was strong early on, while Holcombe and Kyle Steffens had a huge battle among the eight cars for the second spot. This let Falloway build an early lead, but each time a caution came out, it would bunch up the field. The two cars that were putting on a big show in the middle of the field and were passing a lot of cars were Troutman and Wever. Wever had started 16th and was up to 10th in just the first 10 laps. Troutman, who started 10th, was up to fifth, as he had the cushion working. Falloway, an Owensboro, Kentucky-native in his No. 66 Elite Chassis, would not miss his marks at all the final 10 laps on the bottom. He took the huge win over Steffens, Holcombe, Josh Harris, Dillon Nusbaum and Wever from 16th.

There were 19 entries for the non-wing sprints, which featured an invert of five drivers for the main event, which put Brandon Spencer and Brayden Fox on the front row. Spencer took the early lead with the bottom groove the fast way around, but on Lap 4, Harley Burns brought out a red in Turn 1, and thankfully, he was OK, but it ended his night. At the restart, Spencer held on for the lead, but the 24P had made it to his bumper and was waiting for a chance at the lead. At the halfway point Jadon Rogers was up on the cushion giving it a try, as most were on the bottom. The top was working for a few laps, and he had made it from 11th to fifth, but the final seven laps, he faded from the strong cushion run. Mihocko made the move with about eight laps to go and took the top spot from Spencer. Mihocko held on for the 25-lap win, and following him at the finish were Brayden Fox, Alec Sipes, Spencer and Brian Hayden.

The 305 Racesaver sprints had 22 entries for the night. The feature started all 22 cars. Santa Claus, Indiana, native Ryan Tusing took the early lead in the 3C and looked like a rocket, and by Lap 5, he was into lapped traffic. He diced through the traffic and built a nice lead of eight or nine car lengths by the halfway point. There were many battles in the middle of the pack. Up front, Ethan Barrow had a good battle with Jordan Welch and John Paynter Jr. for the second-place battle. That allowed Tusing to build his lead, and he held on to the 20-lap win. Following Tusing at the checkers was Barrow, who held on for second over Jordan Welch, John Paynter Jr. and Rod Henning.

The UMP Super Stocks had 11 entries for the evening. The feature and the Invert wheel was a 2 again, which put Cale Kern of Bedford on the pole, with Brad Cummings beside him. Kern had a good battle early with Cummings for the lead. Kern got the bottom groove and took the top spot. Past the halfway point, Isaiah Sasser had made the lead diminish, and he was on Kern’s shadow looking for him to miss his mark. Another car that was on the move and went from eighth to third was Josh Litton. On the final five laps, Sasser made a couple attempts above the low groove, but Kern hit his marks the final five laps and held on for the win over Isaiah Sasser, Josh Litton, Kenny Carmichael Sr. and Cummings.

This week in racing history

From 60 years ago in 1963 at Paragon, Cecil Beavers won the super modified feature over Gene Henson, Larry Miller, Bob Brown and Allen Barr.

Also from 1963 at Lawrenceburg, Wayne Wolf won the super modified feature over Dick Gaines and Wib Spalding. John Hill won the stock car feature over Herb Wallace and Denny Harris.

From 50 years ago in 1973 at Brownstown, Jack Owens won the late model feature over Paul Crockett, Jim Curry, William Wampler and Woody Smith.

From 50 years ago this weekend, Paul Crockett won the feature at 25th Street Speedway in Columbus over Russ Petro, Denny Long, Pee Wee Day and Cooley Singer.

From this weekend in 1973 at Twin Cities, Hillbilly Ogle won the feature race over Johnny Robbins, Dee Kramer, Kenny Knapp and Richard Cook.

Also from 1973 at Paragon, Frank Hollingsworth won the sprint car feature over Bob Kinser, Mike Johnson, Allen Barr and Chet Johnson. Horace Lake won the stock car feature over Junior Pace, Glenn Sheeks, Bob Ham and Neal Cope.

From 50 years ago, the winners for the Columbus Go-Kart Club were Dick Phillips, Debbie Law, Frank Hoban, Nelson Freeman, Ottis Martin and James Ross.

From 50 years ago at Sweet Owen Speedway in Spencer, Horace Lake won the six-cylinder feature over Dave Sheeks, Kenny White, Jack Ball and Frank Nichols. Sam Stockon won the eight-cylinder feature over Steve Sutliff, Kenny Baker, Lee Shannon and Tony Hudson.

From 40 years ago in 1983 at Bloomington, Randy Kinser won the sprint car feature over Leon Thickstun, Mike Johnson, Bernie Graybeal and Mickey Smith. Gary Barrow won the limited late model feature over Ernie Barrow, Pete Willoughby, Jim Ruddick and Dale Dubois.

Also in 1983 at Paragon, Rodney Ritter Jr. won the sprint car feature over Mike Johnson, Steve Butler, Jack Zeigler and Frank Hollingsworth. Gary Barrow won the limited late model feature over George Kopetsky, Jay Humphrey, Jim Nichols and John Purtlebaugh.

From 30 years ago in 1993 at Brownstown, C.J. Rayburn won the odd late model feature over Lee Fleetwood, Jim Curry, Marty O’Neal and Earl Plessinger. Don O’Neal took the even late model feature over Scott Graham, Doug Ault, Dan Sturgeon and Gary Barrow. Earl Plessinger won the street stock feature over Darin George, Darren Davis, Jeff Wilson and Scott McKeand. Terrence Johnson won the modified feature over Scott Smith, Scott McKeand, Mark Barber and Danny Claycomb. Bruce Turner won the bomber feature over Mark Bruce, Murl Robinson, Brian Slinkard and Bobby Davis.

Also from 1993 at Paragon, Brian Hayden won the sprint car feature over Sheldon Kinser Jr., Blake Hollingsworth, Tony Ploughe and Brad Marvel. Albert Webb Jr. won the street stock feature over Joe Lucas, Denny Campbell, Bob Franklin and Jerry Hepworth.

From 1993, the Columbus Go-Kart Club winners were Kevin Allen, Dillion Niccum, Gina Lowe, Josh Branum, Bill Zimmerman, Jason Sparks, Mike King, Mike Litteken, Greg Smith, David Wischmeier, Tom Knights and Jim Stone.

Also in 1993 at Haubstadt, Dave Blaney won the World of Outlaws Sprint Car feature over Stevie Smith and Steve Kinser. Kevin Claycomb won the late model feature over Rick Carneal and Terry Woehler.

From 1993 at Terre Haute, Steve Kinser won the World of Outlaws Sprint Car feature over Joe Gaerte, Dave Blaney, Mark Kinser and Stevie Smith.

Upcoming local racing schedule

Tonight: Brownstown Speedway – Indiana Pro late models, pure stocks, super stocks, hornets and crown vics. For more information brownstownspeedway.com

Tonight: Paragon Speedway – MSCS sprints, super stocks, bombers, hornets and Kenyon midgets. For more information paragonspeedway.com

Wednesday: Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis – USAC National Sprint Cars, modifieds. For more information circlecityracway.com

Thursday: Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis – USAC National Sprint Cars, Midget Thunder Midgets.

Friday: Bloomington Speedway – Josh Burton Memorial for MSCS sprints, modifieds, super stocks and MMSA mini-sprints. For more information racebloomingtonspeedway.com

Friday: Columbus Speedway Go-Karts – Tony Stewart Speedway, Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds — King warmup.

May 27: Columbus Speedway Go-Karts – Tony Stewart Speedway, Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds – King of Columbus.

May 27: Brownstown Speedway – Bobby Wilson Memorial for super late models, modifieds, super stocks, pure stocks and hornets.

May 27: Paragon Speedway – Sheppard Memorial for sprints, super stocks, bombers and hornets.

May 29: Lawrenceburg Speedway – World of Outlaw Sprint Cars, modifieds. For more information lawrenceburgspeedway.com

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