For the 10th time in 2019, Tony Stewart earned his way to sprint car Victory Lane, this time during United Sprint Car Series (USCS) Outlaw Thunder Tour competition at Chatham Speedway in Chatham, Louisiana.
Certainly no stranger to USCS competition, nor Victory Lane, Stewart’s triumph on Oct. 18 was the product of Row 2, quickly racing his way to the front before being forced to hold back a hard-charging Mark Smith, who started ninth. The USCS victory was Stewart’s fifth of the 2019 season, his first since May 27 during a visit to Lexington, Tennessee.
“When you have a guy like Mark Smith behind you, you can’t make any mistakes. He’s a great racer, so anytime you can keep a guy like him behind you says a lot,” explained the driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Rush Truck Centers/Toco Warranty/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/No. 14 sprint car. “We enjoy racing with the USCS. It’s a fun Series. Hopefully we have plenty of opportunities to join them in the future.”
Although unable to repeat victory on Saturday during the USCS/Chatham Speedway finale, Stewart did
the next best thing and finished second, ultimately ending his evening in the exact position that he started. Smith, who started fourth, was the victor.
Stewart has now competed in 63 events so far in 2019 with 10 wins, 28 top-five finishes and 36 top-10 finishes.
His schedule for the coming weekend remains uncertain, but Stewart plans to return to sprint car competition as early as Thursday and Nov. 1 during the Texas Sprint Car Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway dirt track. The ASCS sanctioned program will feature the best 360 sprint car racers in the country including each and every ASCS national full-timer.
Columbus Go-Kart results
The Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing held its final points event of the season on Saturday at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. The winners in the respective divisions were Travis Wilburn (clone 380 and clone 325), Scott Roccia (flathead), Bradley Brown (jr. 1), Brandon Malone (pred), Devin Marcum (clone 340), Jamison Reed (rookie) and Evan Shatto (jr. 3).
There will be racing Saturday for the Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing, with the gates opening at 10 a.m. and practice scheduled for 1:30 p.m. For more info, call 812-603-8704.
Twin Cities holds season finale
Marty O’Neal of Spencer won the season-ending crate late model feature on Saturday at Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon. Other feature winners were Doug McCullough of Greencastle (super stocks), Warren Laufer of Madison (hornets), Jacoby Hines of Trafalgar (modifieds) and Rick Gumm of Tampico (pure stocks).
The 2019 track champions at Twin Cities are Joey Kramer of Hanover (crate late models), Troy Clark of North Vernon (pure stocks), Jeremy Helton of Paris Crossing (super stocks), Andy Anderson of North Vernon (hornets) and Trent Green of Milton, Kentucky (modifieds).
Schlenk wins Kokomo Klash
Rusty Schlenk won the Kokomo Klash for late models on Saturday at Kokomo Speedway. Shelby Miles finished second to Schlenk with Mike Spatola, Bill Sheets and David Hilliker trailing. The rest of the top 10 were Jeff Curl, Jay Morris, Derrick Hilliker, Skyller Lewis and Chad White.
Barnes wins Halloween 200
Chuck Barnes of Louisville won his third career Halloween 200 on Sunday at Salem Speedway in Salem. Dan Banker was second with Baden Stewart, Marcus Elliott and Kyle Hadley completing the top five.
Rounding out the top 10 were Heath Helton, Jeff Berg, Shawn Smith, Scott Caudell and Tony Conway.
Cummins wins Tri-State
Kyle Cummins of Princeton topped off a spectacular season at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, winning the MSCS Sprint Car feature. Cummins drives a car crew chiefed by Tim Spindler of Columbus and owned by Hank Byram.
Jason McDougal won the USAC National Midget race to conclude the season at Tri-State. Kevin Thomas Jr. chased McDougal across the finish line with Kyle Cummins, Tyler Courtney and Justin Grant finishing out the top five.
The rest of the top-10 finishers were Logan Seavey, Tucker Klaasmeyer, Thomas Meseraull, Tanner Thorson and Zeb Wise.
New USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship points: 1. Tyler Courtney 1,718; 2. Chris Windom 1,564; 3. Logan Seavey 1,534; 4. Kevin Thomas Jr. 1,478; 5. Zeb Wise 1,435; 6. Tanner Carrick 1,287; 7. Jerry Coons, Jr. 1,274; 8. Chad Boat 1,255; 9. Jason McDougal 1,229; 10. Tucker Klaasmeyer 1,193.
Thunder Valley results
Thunder Valley Raceway in Salem held a race program on Oct. 18 with the following winners: Willie McRoberts (pure stocks), Josh Thomas (modifieds), Blake Durbin (outlaw hornets and stock hornets), Tad Canada (mod lites), Travis Howe (super stocks) and, Chuck Freeman (crown vics).
Florence finale tonight
Weather permitting, Florence Speedway in Union Kentucky will conclude its 2019 racing season Saturday with the Fall 50. The super late models will compete for a $5,000-to-win payoff, the crate late models will race for a $1,500 first-place priz,e with the modified feature paying $2,000 to win. Also on the program will be a $1,000-to-win main event for the sport mods and hornets. For more info, visit florencespeedway.com.
This week in racing history
From 50 years ago in 1969, area track champions were named with Don Hobbs (Brownstown), Bob Kinser (Lawrenceburg), Mike Johnson (Kokomo) and Larry Miller (Haubstadt) were among those recognized for their feats.
From 40 years ago in 1979, Whitewater Valley Speedway in Liberty announced that Pat Patrick (late models) and Russ Petro (limited late model) were the top point men in their respective divisions.
Also, from 1979, Kerry Norris was crowned the sprint car track champion at Lawrenceburg Speedway.
From 30 years ago in 1989, Brownstown Speedway named their champions Jim Curry (late Models), Joe Johnson (street stocks) and Clifton Barron (bombers).
Also from 1989 at Twin Cities, the track champions were Dill Whittymore (late models) and Scott McKeand (street stocks).
From 1989, Chuck Amati was named the sprint car track champion at both Bloomington and Paragon Speedways.
