Devin Gilpin enjoyed a perfect weekend last weekend, when the Columbus resident scored three feature wins in two divisions.
Gilpin started the weekend off on April 20 by winning the opening super late model feature race at Brownstown Speedway, and the same night, scored the victory in the open wheel modified main event.
Gilpin then came back April 21 to win the Spring 50 at Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky, taking the lead with 10 laps to go to win the $5,000 super late model event.
At Brownstown, Gilpin, who is the defending late model track champion at the Jackson County track, won over Tanner English of Benton, Kentucky; Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, North Carolina; Steve Casebolt of Richmond and North Vernon’s Alan Magner.
Gilpin took the top honors in the open wheel modified main over Ryan Thomas of Seymour, Derek Groomer of Bloomington, Michael McKinney of Plainfield, Illinois and Levi Kissinger of Mount Vernon.
“It was a great way to start the year off. With all the rain and weather this spring putting a delay on our season, it was good to pick up wins right out of the gate. Florence was a special win for my team and me. The Spring 50 has been going on for many years. And to finally put my name on the back of that t-shirt is pretty darn cool. Just looking forward to the rest of the season. I feel we have a great team with capabilities to win many races,” Gilpin said.
Also at Brownstown on April 20, Kevin Thomas Jr. won the No Way-Out 40 for sprint cars. The Alabama native became the ninth different winner in the 10 events contested. Thomas took home a $10,000 check for winning over a stout field of competitors. Brady Bacon finished second, followed by Robert Ballou, Tyler Courtney and Chris Windom.
On April 21 at Brownstown, Tyler Neal of Paragon won the Indiana Late Model Series event for his first win of the season. Tyler Cain of Seymour was second with Marty O’Neal of Spencer, Isaac Rainey of Bedford and Geraid Gault of Morgantown completing the top five drivers.
Defending modified track champion Matt Boknecht of Seymour picked up his first win of 2018, winning the main event over Ryan Thomas of Seymour, Randy Lines of Marion, Chad Combs of Bloomington and Dennis Boknecht of Seymour.
Brownstown’s Dave Shelton picked up his first-ever win in the super stock feature, defeating Jason Hehman of Brownstown, Colton Sullivan of Columbus, Aubrey Eagan of Bedford and Seymour’s David Brewer.
Houston Roark of Dupont took the checkers first in the hornet division over Derek Clegg of Nabb, Dalton Roark of Dupont, Corey Southern and Brian Corbin of Columbus.
The MMSA Mini-Sprint feature went to Anton Hernandez over Cody Trammell, Justin Lewis, Brandon Coffey and Cory Clay.
Tonight at Brownstown will have the super late models, Indiana Pro late models, modifieds, super stocks and pure stocks. For more info, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
Opening night at Twin Cities
Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon got in its first race of the season on April 21. Jeremy Hines of Seymour crossed the finish line first in the crate late model feature race. Tyler Collins of North Vernon was second, with Mitchell’s Britan Godsey third. The rest of the top five were Bill Sheets of Milan and Keegan Cox of Franklin.
Jeremy Owens of North Vernon won the open wheel modified main over Jacoby Hines of Nineveh, Mark Bechelli of Seymour and Mike Bechelli of Elizabethtown.
North Vernon’s Bryson Clark took the pure stock feature race checkers over Mickey Hines of Scipio, Mark Bruce of Commiskey, Troy Clark of North Vernon and Seth Hull.
Tony Napier II of North Vernon won the hornet feature race over Hunter Perry, Andrew Roark, Austin Perry and Andrew Anderson.
Tonight at Twin Cities will feature the crate late models, hornets, pure stocks, super stocks and MMSA mini-sprints. For more info, visit twincitiestrack.com.
Lawrenceburg gets in first race
Justin Grant of Avon won the season-opening sprint car feature on April 21 at Lawrenceburg Speedway. Windom came home in second, followed by C.J. Leary, Landon Simon and Dickie Gaines.
Matt Hamilton of Aurora won the open wheel modified feature over Joey Kramer of Hanover, Adam Stricker of Batavia, Ohio, Kyle Schornick of Milan and Brad Wieck of Cincinnati.
Bradley Eberhart won his first career feature in the hornet division. Madison Kearns finished second, followed by Tyler McGhee, Gary Hume and John Hampton.
There was another first-time winner in the pure stock feature when Dalton Smith took his first career checkers ahead of Don Grace, Mike Ackman, Kevin Tuggle and Greg Mathews.
Tonight at Lawrenceburg will have on the race schedule sprints, modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For more info, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.
Bloomington gets in first show
Bloomington Speedway was able to get its first of 2018 in the books on April 20. Jeff Wimmenauer won the RaceSaver sprint over Ryan Tusing, Chris Babcock, Justin Clark and Kendall Ruble. Jacoby Hines captured the open wheel modified main over Kent Robinson, Jeff Deckard, James Walters and Zach Fair.
Also at Bloomington, Gage Clark won the hornet feature race over Tom Houston, A.J. Hobbs, James Lane and Stanley Lane. Matthew Hedrick won the first race of the season for the UMRA TQ Midgets, outrunning Tate Martz. Robbie Roland, Callie-Wolsiffer-Hewitt and Derek Fisher.
Bloomington will be back in action Friday night with the J.B. Robinson Memorial, featuring modifieds, super stocks, hornets and RaceSaver sprints. For more info, visit bloomingtonspeedway.com.
Davidson to visit Columbus
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Historian Donald Davidson is embarking on another Indianapolis 500 Statewide Engagement tour, leading up to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
He will visit Columbus, speaking at the Bartholomew County Library at 6 p.m. Thursday. This event will be open forum, Q&A based presentation, with Davidson taking time to answer questions from the audience.
For ticket info, contact Mary Clare Speckner at the library at 812-379-1272.
This week in racing history
At Bloomington Speedway 50 years ago in 1968 Don Nordhorn won the sprint car feature race over Cecil Beavers, Sheldon Kinser and Bobby Black.
Also from 1968, Jack Owens won the late model feature at Brownstown Speedway winning over Paul Crockett, Ray Godsey, Russ Petro and Jerry Brinegar.
From Twin Cities in 1988, it was Lee Fleetwood winning the late model feature. Dill Whittymore was second, followed by Mike Gibbs, Robert Brison and Russ Petro. Randy Petro won the street stock main event over Rolla Millspaugh, Phil Fultz, Mark Clark and Bill McRoberts.
From 30 years ago, also in 1988, Ray Godsey won the late model feature at Brownstown over Mike Bechelli, Rick Hines, Doug Ault and Kevin Claycomb. Earl Plessinger won the street stock feature over Mark Barber, Steve Kimberlin, Joe Johnson and Larry Harris and Ron Graham won the bomber main over Ray Hughes, Dave Kerr, Ron Hoover and Scott Barker.
In 1998 at Brownstown, Charlie Stevens Jr. won the bomber feature over Sam Chastain, Nelson Gingery, David Hill and Ray Godsey Jr. Timmy Schmaltz won the mini-stock feature over Tom Mahoney, Willie McRoberts, Henry Happel and Todd Carr and Dwayne Klem won the Indiana Enduro series race over Steve Trabue, Jim Ruddick, Tom Gossar and Willie Sallee.
