Story by Stan Kalwasinski & Eric Huenefeld

Loves Park, Ill., October 1—Jeremy Miller etched his name into the record books during Rockford Speedway’s Last Lap Season as he captured the National Short Track Championships late model stock car special at the historic speedway Sunday afternoon.

The 58th running of the race saw the 43-year-old Miller, a Rockford resident, win the 158-lap Big 8 Late Model Series contest at the banked, quarter-mile, paved oval – becoming the 33rd different and final winner of the annual Midwest classic dubbed over the years as “One Great Racing Weekend.

Miller, a five-time Big 8 titlist but winless at Rockford since 2007, wheeled his Kar Korner/Colony Brands/Montgomery Ward/Stewart Automotive/Loves Park Motorsports-sponsored, Joe Hunter-owned Ford No. 5 to the victory, holding a 1.970-second margin at the finish over second place-runner Randy Sargent. 2013 Rockford champ Alex Papini, Jesse Bernhagen, two-time track champion Jake Gille and five-time champ, including this year’s title, Jon Reynolds Jr. rounded out the “top six” in the 25-car field.

# 5 Jeremy Miller (winner). [photo by Roy Schmidt]

#13 Jake Gille, #2 Michael Bilderback, #11 Randy Sargent. [photo by Roy Schmidt]

#2 Michael Bilderback, #28 Jesse Bernhagen. [photo by Roy Schmidt]

#13 Jake Gille, #2 Dale Nottestad, #1 Josh Thiering. [photo by Roy Schmidt]

#99 Tim Schmitt, #7 Joey Pontrbriand, #14 Andrew Meyerhofer. [photo by Roy Schmidt]

#700 Vince Cooper. [photo by Roy Schmidt]

#700 Vince Cooper. [photo by Roy Schmidt]

#21 Rick Redig-Tackman, #54 Timmy Spatz. [photo by Roy Schmidt]

Winner Josh Nelms. [photo by Roy Schmidt]

After honorary starter “Jumpin’ Jack” Heiman waved the green flag, Shane Radtke, coming from his front row pole starting spot, led the first 24 laps with Gille moving into the lead briefly with Dale Nottestad taking over on lap 26. Winner of the last two NSTC contests, Austin Nason, this event’s fastest qualifier, dropped out during the warmup laps and didn’t complete one green flag lap.

Nottestad, looking for his first NSTC victory, looked in control and built a comfortable margin, with the likes of Gille, Sargent, Miller, Papini and Michael Bilderback giving chase. With 80 laps complete, a mandatory pit stop took place on the main straightaway with crews refueling and making chassis adjustments for the final half of the race.

Miller hustled by Gille for second place after the restart with Nottestad still running strong. Miller began to peck away at Nottestad’s lead with 30 laps to go. Suddenly with 29 laps remaining, Nottestad’s Chevy began to backfire and pop with the leader coming to a halt in turn one. Nottestad was pushed to the pits with Miller inheriting the lead, a lead he would not relinquish.

“I was catching him (Nottestad),” said Miller. “I was running maybe a tenth (of a second) better than him. If I was going to get him, we were going to have to play a little rough. I was going to have to do a little “Rockford Racing.” I don’t know if I could have got him. He got off the corners good.

“This is huge – my biggest win. The team put so much into this, a lot of testing. Even this morning, we were making changes. We made maybe 90 percent the right change and then at the break we went the other 10 per cent and last half of the race the car was really good.”

One more race remains for the Big 8 Late Model Series in the 2023 campaign, with a stop at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway on tap as part of the annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend this Saturday night October 7th. Heading into La Crosse, Jon Reynolds Jr holds a 38 point advantage over Randy Sargent for the Championship while Greg Borchardt has already locked up the 2023 Big 8 Late Model Series Rookie of the Year award.

Other results from “One Great Racing Weekend” include…

FRIDAY NIGHT

Rockford Speedway Short Tracker Track Champion Nick Schneider capped off his season in style, taking home the victory in the headlining race of Opening Night of the 58th NSTC. Schneider was followed across the line by former Track Champion Kyle Lapier and Tyler Deschaine.

Shawn Bowar had an unforgettable season in the Bandit division at Rockford Speedway and ended his terrific campaign with an conquest at NSTC. Bowar outran Ryan Finley and Stephan Hillary for the checkers.

Rockford Speedway Roadrunner Champion Kevin Memoli added to his accolades at NSTC, winning the divisions’ feature race. Memoli outran a familiar foe in Austin Fowler en route to the win with Robert Roush coming home in third.

DeForest Wisconsin’s Steven Mueller won the NSTC Sixermania feature with Daemyn Lounsbury and Kayden Ellis taking second and third respectively.

Monroe Wisconsin’s Tyler Leutenegger won his first NSTC trophy by topping the Super Stox field. Jerry Legner ended the race in second place, while Gus Morzel claimed third.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Austin Nason was the victor in the 147 lap Jody Deery Super Late Model showdown. The win was the second of the night for Nason, who also topped the competition in the 50 lap Hugh Deery Classic for the Sportsmen division.

Tyler Deschaine followed up a third place finish in Friday night’s Short Tracker feature by being the dominant car in Saturday night’s Midwest Dash Series race. Deschaine came out on top ahead of David Russell and Aaron Rude to earn the victory.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Josh Nelms set fast time and later won the 50 lap feature for the Mid Am Racing Series. Nelms took the lead just before the race’s halfway point and beat Timmy Stewart to the line for the win. Daniel Calhoun claimed his first Mid Am top three finish in crossing the line behind Nelms and Stewart.

Austin Fowler was the top dog in the 33 lap Roadrunner Rumble. Fowler, the 2022 Track Champion, collected $750 for his victory. Waylon Robinson finished second place in the Rumble, followed by Dusty Heil.

Overall, 250 racecars raced in twelve divisions over the course of the three day event.

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CALENDAR INCLUDES TWO DIRT LATE MODEL DREAMS, TWO KINGS ROYALS & TWO WORLD 100s!

ROSSBURG, Ohio (April 13, 2021) – In one of the most-anticipated announcements in its 68-year history, Eldora Speedway officials today revealed the 2021 schedule of events, and – most importantly – the return of fans to the grandstands for the first-time in 20 months.

The 24-night slate kicks off May 7 and 8 with the #LetsRaceTwo Doubleheader Weekend showcasing both the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and the USAC AMSOIL National Sprints Cars.

Fans may think they are seeing double for much of the season as Eldora confirmed three of its marquee event weeks will feature first the event originally planned for 2021 and then the event rescheduled from 2020.

The 27th Dirt Late Model Dream will pay $127,000-to-win on Thursday, June 10 and the 26th Dirt Late Model Dream will post $126,000-to-win on Saturday, June 12.

Sprint Car racing’s royalty will battle for the 38th Kings Royal’s crown and $175,000 payday on Thursday, July 15 and the 37th Kings Royal posts another $175,000 loot on Saturday, July 17.

The first week after Labor Day sees Dirt Late Model drivers and fans make an annual pilgrimage to Ohio, and for that week Eldora becomes home. The site of the sport’s most-coveted triumph, the year 2021 offers an opportunity unlike any other with two opportunities at victory.

The first comes Thursday, September 8, when the 51st World 100 offers up a rare chance at the famed globe trophy, $54,000-to-win, and a historic marker place in the record books.

Already revered for its electrifying atmosphere, the excitement at Eldora during World 100 week is sure to be at a feverish pitch, as fans and drivers alike turn their attention to Saturday night. It’s the golden anniversary of The Biggest Dirt Race in The World, the night they will have been anticipating for 736 days, and on Saturday, September 11 it will finally take place – the 50th World 100.

In addition to the marquee events, the 2021 season is dotted with a collection of new and fan favorite events.

The Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) on Saturday, June 26, a throwback to the International Race of Champions, showcases 12 world-class racers from wide-ranging backgrounds competing in identically prepared stock cars overseen by legendary crew chief, Ray Evernham. The event will be broadcast live on CBS.

The SRX driver lineup for Eldora includes Tony Stewart, Willy T. Ribbs, Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Paul Tracy, Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Marco Andretti, Michael Waltrip, Ernie Francis, Jr., Scott Speed, and Kody Swanson. A full program for the USAC Silver Crown Series is also on tap.

Local DIRTcar Late Model drivers, UMP Modifieds and Eldora Stocks will again be showcased on the Sunday night of Memorial Day Weekend in the Johnny Appleseed Classic presented by Miller Lite and the Sunday night of Labor Day Weekend in the 13th Baltes Classic by Coors Light. The three divisions will first take to Eldora’s high-banks on Saturday, May 15 in the “$5,000-to-win Lidlifter.”

The two $10 Family FIREWORKS Nights by Casey’s General Stores return to their traditional May and August weekends. In addition to the UMP Modifieds and Eldora Stocks, the K&L Ready Mix NRA 360 Sprints will join the card on Saturday, May 22. A new special national event for compact cars, sanctioned by the Vores Compact Touring Series, will be part of the Saturday, August 7 show.

Eldora’s season will conclude on September 24 and 25 with the 39th running of the 4-Crown Nationals Weekend. Friday night’s ‘BeFour The Crowns Showdown’ will include full racing programs for the World of Outlaws and USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget Championship plus qualifying for the USAC Silver Crown Series. As is tradition, Saturday’s ‘4-Crown Nationals’ will feature full-programs for the USAC National Midget, National Sprint Car, and Silver Crown divisions plus the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars.

Eldora’s broadcast partners for the 2021 season include FloRacing, DIRTVision, and CBS. The 2021 schedule is posted in its entirety at www.EldoraSpeedway.com

TICKETING & CAMPING UPDATE:
The State of Ohio and Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) issued an amended and simplified order last week. It included welcome new ”common sense” guidance for outdoor events and large gatherings: practice social distancing at the event; wear a mask when not in your seat or at your campsite; wear a mask when you’re in a building or can’t social distance; limit your interaction with people you don’t know; and urged getting vaccinated against COVID-19 (if you choose).

Applying the parameters of the amended guidance to the entirety of Eldora’s current reserved seating, general admission areas, and grass hillsides, Eldora officials believe they can achieve a capacity close to 30% for the May events on a reserved seat basis.

Governor DeWine has committed to lift all statewide health orders when/if the state’s number of COVID-19 cases drops to 50 per 100,000 (over a two-week period). The Eldora team joins our fans and racers in doing everything we can to get back to 100% capacity as soon as possible.

About Eldora Speedway:
Since carved from a cornfield in the natural amphitheater that existed between the Eldora Ballroom and the Wabash River by bandleader Earl Baltes in 1954, Eldora Speedway has grown to be a frontrunner in motorsports growth and stability. Baltes chose to sell the legendary high-banked clay oval to motorsports entrepreneur and NASCAR, IndyCar and USAC champion Tony Stewart in 2004. Eldora celebrates its 68th season of racing in 2021. Information on Eldora’s 2021 calendar, including ticket and campsite information is available at www.EldoraSpeedway.com. Fans can get behind-the-scenes access by following @EldoraSpeedway on social channels Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Exclusive video content posted on www.youtube.com/EldoraSpeedway has over seven million views. Eldora’s official livestream video partner is FloRacing. You can watch nearly every event from Eldora on your favorite screen at FloRacing.com or via the FloSports app.

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ELKHART LAKE, Wis., June 3, 2020 – Winning the WeatherTech® Chicago Region SCCA June Sprints® at Road America has been every sports car driver’s dream since the thrilling first event many years ago. This year new thrills and memories have yet to be made as generations of racers and their families will return to the June 12-14 for their chance at glory as Road America, and the June Sprints celebrate 65 years of racing.

This year, over 400 sports car drivers are scheduled to compete at the June Sprints, which is the first trophy stop to win amateur racing’s most prestigious title, the Triple Crown® of Racing. To earn this title, competitors must win in their class at the June Sprints, win their respective divisional title and win at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

Over the course of the four day event the fan-friendly paddock will be loaded with racers fielding a huge variety of cars from Corvettes and Mustangs, to open-wheel formula cars, historic Triumphs and Austin Healeys; even Toyotas, Mazdas and BMWs. A lap around Road America’s 4.048-mile circuit offers the ultimate thrill for any sports car racer due to its 14 turns, three high-speed straights and 170′ of elevation changes. For many of the competitors, it’s an opportunity to follow in the racing lines of legends.

With so many types of cars, groups and categories the WeatherTech® Chicago Region SCCA June Sprints® schedule can be somewhat intimidating to the average race fan. Here’s a guide that will help make sense of what to expect on track.

The Touring category consists of late model, production vehicles a step beyond Showroom Stock in preparation level. They are listed as Touring 1 (T1), Touring 2 (T2), Touring 3 (T3) and last Touring 4 (T4), where you’ll find fast and exotic sports cars pushed to the limit.

The Spec Miata (SM) class is intended to provide the opportunity to compete in low cost, production-based cars with limited modifications, suitable for racing competition. The rules are intentionally designed to be more open than the Touring class but more restricted than the Super Touring class. Mazda Miatas from 1990-2005 are eligible.

The Sedan category or American Sedan® (AS), is comprised of Chevrolet Camaros, Pontiac Firebirds and GTOs, and Ford Mustangs, on production-based chassis with modified suspensions and brakes.

Super Touring® was designed to allow late-model production-based cars, like those found in Touring, more extensive modifications, including wings, and in some instances, engine swaps. This includes Super Touring Under (STU) and Super Touring Lite (STL) – with smaller cars like the Mazda Miata in STL.

The Production category allows a range of performance modifications while retaining their original design, structure and drive layout. There is no age limit, so Production includes cars as old as 50 years and as new as current body styles. The three performance potential based classes include: E Production (EP), F Production (FP) and H Production (HP).

Grand Touring Category or (GT) cars are purpose-built, highly modified “silhouette” replicas of series-produced sports sedans. GT cars are permitted tube-frame chassis with performance being equalized by allowing cars with smaller engines to compete at a lighter weight. GT-1 cars are the fastest of the category, and many cars have run in the Trans-Am® series. GT-2, GT-3 and GT-Lite cars get progressively lighter and less powerful.

The eight Formula classes all feature single-seat, open-wheel racecars. They are built to detailed specifications for weight, size and engine displacement. There are incredible power to weight ratios in each class and the eight classes in order of fastest to slowest are: Formula Atlantic® (FA), Formula 1000 (FB), Formula Continental® (FC), Formula Enterprises (FE), Formula Mazda (FM), Formula F (FF), Formula 500 (F500) and Formula Vee® (FV).

So there you have it, everything from showroom stock to highly modified purpose-built race cars are schedule to fill four days of practice, qualifying and racing at this year’s June Sprints. With Road America’s park-like setting, trackside viewing, up-close access to drivers and teams, and legendary cuisine appealing to drivers and fans alike, it’s no wonder the WeatherTech® Chicago Region SCCA June Sprints® remains one of the nation’s premier amateur sports car racing events.

As part of its commitment to honoring America’s heroes, Road America will also provide free admission to all active, reserve-duty military and veterans with ID all weekend during the WeatherTech® Chicago Region SCCA June Sprints®.

The event will also be open to fans and daily admission to the June Sprints is $25 Friday, and $35 each for Saturday and Sunday.

Fans have three quick, convenient methods to buy tickets:

Online: Visit www.roadamerica.com Tickets are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Print your tickets to save time and enjoy a contactless experience at the gates.

Phone: Call 800-365-RACE or 920-892-4576 between 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday.

In-Person: Visit the Road America Ticket Office at the Road America Administration Building off of State Highway 67 (Gate 6) between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday.

Gates open at 7 a.m. and races run rain or shine. For more information, call 800-365-RACE (7223) or visit www.roadamerica.com

Anyone 16-years-old and under are always FREE with a paying adult at the gate.

Everyone is encouraged to follow safe practices at Road America during the event, such as social distancing (maintaining six feet from others), frequent hand washing, or using one of the many new sanitizer stations located throughout the facility. Cloth face coverings are encouraged in areas where social distancing is difficult.

For additional details on Road America’s Active Measures Against COVID-19, fans are encouraged to check out its website at www.roadamerica.com/safety

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Road America is ‘Back on Track’ and excited to welcome back all our fans for the remainder of our 65th Anniversary season.

As we open the gates, here’s the plan. We’re going to be kind and patient with each other; we’re going to be considerate of our gate personnel, security, retail and concession staff; we’re going to be understanding of any new policies and procedures; and, we’re going to enjoy everything that America’s National Park of Speed has to offer. All of you have made Road America special over the years, and above all else, we want you to help us prove that Road America is the safest place to watch a race.

With that said, we encourage everyone to follow safe practices at Road America, such as social distancing (maintaining six feet from others), frequent hand washing, or using one of the many new sanitizer stations located throughout the facility. Cloth face coverings are also recommended in areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

For additional details on Road America’s Active Measures Against COVID-19, check out our webpage at www.roadamerica.com/safety

For individual event information, click the event listing of your choice below to learn more about each event and purchase tickets. We look forward to seeing you.

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IMS Museum’s Rescheduled Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Homecoming Set for August 14-16 – Indianapolis 500 “Fast Friday” and Qualifying Weekend

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, May 11, 2020 – The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is proud to announce new dates for the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Homecoming, now set for August 14-16, one week before of the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

Owners of authentic Indianapolis 500-Mile Race Official Chevrolet Corvette Pace Cars and 500 Festival Corvette Event Cars are invited to register for the homecoming. The general public is welcome to view the classic Corvettes for free – with paid admission to the IMS grounds – in the south lot of the IMS Museum, located just inside the Speedway’s Gate 2 off 16th Street.

The Chevrolet Corvette has an indelible connection with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, going back to the first Corvette to pace the Indianapolis 500, the iconic 1978 Corvette C3. Since then, the Corvette has paced “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” an additional 15 times, ensuring a diverse collection of American-made, Chevy-powered sports cars.

The exclusive event, which takes place on NTT IndyCar Series “Fast Friday” practice and Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying weekend, is limited to the first 150 registered cars. The entry fee is $150 per car and $75 for any additional Indy 500 Corvette Pace Car or 500 Festival Corvette registered by the same owner. Registrants will receive two tickets for “Fast Friday” practice, two tickets for Indianapolis 500 qualifying and additional hospitality.

Seventy-five exclusive event license plates will be available to participants, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration and payment forms for the Chevy Corvette Pace Car Homecoming are available on the IMS Museum website at: http://bit.ly/IMSM20Vette .

The registration deadline is midnight (ET) Friday, July 17. For additional information please contact Dianna Crain at dcrain@brickyard.com.

About the IMS Museum: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is home to one of the world’s premier motorsports and automobile collections, with interpretive emphasis on the Indianapolis 500 and its role as an American icon of sporting tradition and innovation.

Located inside the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, the IMS Museum is currently closed due to the COVID-19 National Emergency but is normally open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which relies on support from admissions, tours, sponsorships, annual memberships and planned-giving for its operations, educational programming, restoration and preservation efforts, and special exhibits and events.

Resources During COVID-19 Closure: Please visit www.indyracingmuseum.org for more information and to enjoy our growing database of education materials and archives. We are updating our social media frequently during our closure, so find us @imsmuseum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and visit our pages on YouTube and LinkedIn. The Museum will announce reopening procedures soon.

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IMS Museum Spring 2020 ‘Distinguished Speaker Series’ Features Carpenter, Daly, Wickens, Rutherford – Reserve Your Seats Now!

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020 – The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum’s Spring 2020 Distinguished Speaker Series will showcase some of the most popular and compelling personalities in INDYCAR racing.

Hometown heroes Ed Carpenter and Conor Daly, Canadian driving star and global inspiration Robert Wickens (along with IMS President J. Douglas Boles as guest emcee), and the legendary Johnny Rutherford will headline three Distinguished Speaker Series evening events at the IMS Museum on the following dates:

•Wednesday, March 4, “An Evening with Ed Carpenter and Conor Daly,” with IMS Historian Donald Davidson serving as emcee.
•Wednesday, April 1, “An Evening with Robert Wickens,” with Boles as guest emcee.
•Wednesday, May 20, “An Evening with Johnny Rutherford,” with 2019 IMS Hall of Fame inductee and longtime motorsports broadcaster Bob Jenkins as emcee.

Each IMS Museum Distinguished Speaker Series event is a unique and unforgettable opportunity for guests to hear from the most compelling legends, competitors and influencers in motorsports, and enjoy a question-and-answer session and autograph opportunity.

Carpenter has called Indianapolis home since his youth and graduated from Butler University, but he’s earned his popularity among fans by capturing the Indianapolis 500 pole three times (2013, 2014, 2018), and he finished second to Will Power in 2018 and sixth in 2019.

Daly has made six “500” starts since 2013 and had his most successful month of May to date in 2019, posting his career-bests by starting 11th and finishing 10th. Like his father, former Formula One driver and Indy 500 veteran Derek Daly, Conor spent several years driving formula series in Europe, but he calls Noblesville, Indiana, home and resides in the area.

Wickens, a native of Guelph, Ontario, came to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2018 with years of racing experience, including German touring cars, GP3 and FIA Formula 2. He qualified 18th and finished ninth at the 2018 Indianapolis 500, earning race rookie honors, which he also earned for the series.

At the 14th race of the season at Pocono Raceway, however, Wickens was involved in a serious crash that left him with a bruised spine. He has become an incredible inspiration globally as he works toward the goal of walking under his own power and perhaps racing again.

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rutherford, born in Kansas but affectionately known as “Lone Star J.R.” for his longtime ties to Texas, won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 1974 and 1976 with McLaren, and in 1980 driving team owner Jim Hall’s Pennzoil Chaparral. Rutherford was a journeyman driver-turned star later in his Indianapolis 500 career, and he has remained one of INDYCAR racing’s greatest ambassadors after retirement.

Learn more about Rutherford’s journey – as well as that of Wickens, Daly and Carpenter – at these can’t-miss events!

Tickets are $60 per event for IMS Museum members and $75 for non-members. A special offer for IMS Museum members now through March 3: you will save an additional $30 by purchasing tickets for all three events for $150! Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar will be available. The Museum thanks our series sponsors J-Cut Video and Main Event Sound & Lighting. Look for news on a new Distinguished Speaker Series sponsor very soon.

To maintain the exclusivity of each Distinguished Speaker Series event, seating is limited so purchase your tickets soon to hear from these incredible ambassadors of IMS and NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing!

For tickets, please contact Kelly Hartman at 317-492-6568 or khartman@brickyard.com. IMS Museum memberships start at just $75 per year and offer numerous, year-round benefits. For information, contact Hartman or visit the Museum’s website at www.indyracingmuseum.org/join-and-give/membership/.

***

About the IMS Museum: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is home to one of the world’s premier motorsports and automobile collections, with interpretive emphasis on the Indianapolis 500 and its role as an American icon of sporting tradition and innovation.

Located inside the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, the Museum is open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which relies on support from admissions, tours, sponsorships, annual memberships and planned-giving for its operations, educational programming, restoration and preservation efforts, and special exhibits and events.

For more information on the IMS Museum, please visit www.indyracingmuseum.org, contact the Museum at 317-492-6784, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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First Female Indy 500 Competitor, NASCAR Legend To Be Inducted May 21

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 – Driving legends Janet Guthrie and Dale Earnhardt comprise the 2020 inductee class of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. The two drivers – who pushed forward the envelope in motorsports in very contrasting ways – will be honored at the 2020 IMS Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers Dinner presented by Firestone on Thursday, May 21 in downtown Indianapolis.

The two were chosen from a ballot of 14 nominees by a distinguished panel of more than 140 auto racing journalists, participants and historians.

“Once again the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame voting panel has chosen two outstanding people who played direct roles in elevating the Speedway, both behind the scenes and in the public eye,” said Tony George, chairman of the board of directors of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation, which operates the IMS Museum. “Dale Earnhardt’s embrace of the Brickyard 400, especially in 1995 Victory Lane, further elevated the race as a premier NASCAR event, while Janet’s courage, professionalism and driving talent led the way for greater female participation in motorsport.”

Guthrie’s role as a motorsports pioneer cannot be understated. An accomplished road racer before coming to Indianapolis, her historic tenure at IMS began in 1976 when she became the first female assigned to a car on the entry list. She didn’t make a qualifying attempt but returned in 1977 and became the first female qualifier in race history. Guthrie finished ninth in 1978, the best finish by a female until Danica Patrick’s fourth-place result in 2005. Her result was even more remarkable given that Guthrie cracked her wrist several days before the race, secretly wore a cast and essentially drove an Indy car one-handed for 500 miles.

Guthrie is also the first female to drive in a NASCAR event on a superspeedway, competing in the grueling 1976 World 600 at Charlotte. The following February, just three months before her first Indianapolis 500 start, she was the first female ever to drive in the Daytona 500, finishing 12th. She had 10 finishes of 12th or higher in NASCAR in 1977, scoring a career-high of sixth at Bristol.

Guthrie earned her pilot’s license at age 17 and spent six years as a research-and-development engineer in the aircraft industry and was a candidate for the NASA space program until the agency made it mandatory for astronauts to possess a doctorate.

Earnhardt – one of the most successful and respected figures in motorsports history – amassed an impressive record at the Brickyard 400, earning five top-10 finishes in just seven starts, including an extremely popular win in 1995. His NASCAR career is well documented: seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, tying Richard Petty for the most in history (later equaled by Jimmie Johnson), plus 76 Cup series wins, including the 1998 Daytona 500.

Earnhardt made his Cup series debut at the 1975 World 600 but wasn’t full time until signing with Rod Osterlund Racing for the 1979 season. His rise to stardom was meteoric from there, winning 1979 Rookie of the Year honors and his first Cup championship in 1980.

Earnhardt suffered fatal injuries in a final-lap accident at the 2001 Daytona 500, yet his persona and legacy continue to shape the sport. He was part of the NASCAR Hall Fame’s inaugural class in 2010 and has been inducted into numerous motorsports Halls of Fame.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the contributions and achievements of an exclusive group of individuals at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, encompassing was founded in 1952 as the Auto Racing Hall of Fame under the auspices of the Contest Board of the American Automobile Association (AAA). The Hall of Fame was moved to the original Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum under the direction of then-Speedway president Anton “Tony” Hulman Jr. in 1962.

***

About the IMS Museum: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is home to one of the world’s premier motorsports and automobile collections, with interpretive emphasis on the Indianapolis 500 and its role as an American icon of sporting tradition and innovation.

Located inside the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, the Museum is open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which relies on support from admissions, tours, sponsorships, annual memberships and planned-giving for its operations, educational programming, restoration and preservation efforts, and special exhibits and events.

For more information on the IMS Museum, please visit www.indyracingmuseum.org, contact the Museum at 317-492-6784, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

RacingNation Crew

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By Joe Jennings

SEBRING, Fla. – International driving star Fernando Alonso has his eyes focused on the upcoming Indianapolis 500 and is prepping for his second run in the prestigious event.  And he would like nothing better to add the Borg-Warner trophy to his list of high-profile accomplishments.

Fernando Alonso steers a Toyota Gazoo Racing Hybrid around the 3.74-mile course at Sebring. Not only did Alonso and his teammates win the 1000 mile race but he set a qualifying record when he lowered the standard by 3 seconds. [Joe Jennings Photo}

“I am in touch with the engineers, the simulators and all the people with McLaren involved with the program.  We are looking at the on-board cameras from previous races.  In other words, we have quite the plan for Indianapolis this year.  While here (at Sebring), my focus is on this race but when I am at home, my focus is on Indianapolis.

“We want to be as competitive as we can and hopefully a better result.  We respect all the teams that are there – Penske, Andretti, Carpenter and Ganassi.  They are on top of their game all the time, and they prepare for oval races like no one else does.  For us, it is a great challenge and we accept it.  If we can be at that level, that will be our target.”

The former Formula 1 driving champion has raced sports cars twice in the United States and each time he has been to victory circle with his co-drivers – first with Wayne Taylor Racing at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and this weekend in the FIA’s World Endurance Championship 1000 miles of Sebring.  For the latter race, Alonso co-drove a powerful Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid and in qualifying, he bettered the track record by some three seconds.

Alonso draws crowds wherever he goes, and his presence along with the other competitors from the WEC and IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship led to a record attendance for the Super Weekend of racing at the historic Sebring track.

Joe Jennings

racingnation.com

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Printup attributed the favorable results to his social media team. “Our guy was on it all the time – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter along with our state and local politicians,” he said. “They jumped into the social atmosphere, too, to help us with our promotions. I am really proud of our fans for jumping on the social networking. We did it proud and hard.”

To keep the facility up to date, the track has invested upwards of $54 million over the last 10 or 11 years with another $1.2 million in 2018, according to Printup. “It is all about the fan experience, the media experience and the corporate experience. Each segment has something with the intent of appeasing them,” he said. “The bucket can never get emptied because we always need more money for these capital improvement projects.”

Printup said it is the atmosphere and the memories that endear the track to the fans. New social party decks have helped too and the investment in these structures was relatively small. Being in the picturesque Finger Lakes helps also as does the intense racing that takes place.

In the future, Printup said an earlier starting time for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race would appeal to many fans and farther down the road is the possibility of running the Cup race on the long 3.4-mile course, which is a mile longer than the course used by the stock cars over the years.

The Verizon IndyCar Series and IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series among others compete on the longer course.

To prepare for the long course, television would have to address cabling and fibering issues along with infrastructure issues such as rest rooms. “My druthers are to be able to race the ‘Boot’ someday, as we think it would add more excitement, and I think the drivers are for it as well,” Printup commented.

Said A. J. Allmendinger, a Glen winner, “I wish we ran the ‘Boot,’ as it would make the race really exciting and separate the field a little more.”

After running at The Glen in 2016 and 2017, IndyCar didn’t return in 2018, even though the contract was for three years with scheduling one of the biggest challenges. “They should be here, and I mean that from a passionate point of view from the drivers,” Printup noted, who said he is in regular contact with IndyCar executives. He hopes that IndyCar can return in 2020 or after depending on scheduling possibilities and contractual arrangements. The end of August would suit Printup, to avoid holiday weekends such as Labor Day.

This weekend the campgrounds are full and the family atmosphere is festive – all the ingredients that went into WGI achieving first place again in the popularity poll among NASCAR tracks.

Joe Jennings

racingnation.com

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All Suites Sold Out for 2018 Race Day

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, March 14, 2018 – A new premium viewing area will be constructed outside Turn 3 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, offering an all-inclusive Race Day experience for the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

The Turn 3 Club is being offered in response to increased demand for premium seating and hospitality at IMS. Suites are sold out for Indianapolis 500 Race Day, while limited availability remains in the Hulman Terrace Club. Hospitality and premium sales are well ahead of the pace from 2017, with demand mirroring that from the landmark 100th Running in 2016.

Demand for Reserved Seats also is stronger than for the 101st Running last May, won by Takuma Sato before one of the largest Race Day crowds in decades. Sales in February 2018 were significantly greater than those during the same month in 2017, as momentum and anticipation – boosted by the new “This Is May” campaign – continue to build for the INDYCAR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 12 and the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on Sunday, May 27.

“The Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil continues in its second century to show its strength as the world’s greatest spectator sporting event,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Demand for this year’s race is very strong, with suites sold out and ticket sales continuing to outpace last year. Adding the Turn 3 Club as a new way to experience the Indy 500 gives another option for our fans who want that traditional race experience with more than just a grandstand seat.”

The Turn 3 Club, located on the outside of the famed 2.5-mile oval, will provide these amenities:

•Spectacular views of the track from an elevated Turn 3 location

•Pairing with a Reserved Seat in the North Vista for each customer

•All-inclusive food, beer and wine, with liquor available for purchase

•Tented deck area with tables and limited seating

•Parking passes in the North 40 Lot, with one pass for every four tickets purchased

•Souvenir event program for each customer

•Dedicated restroom facilities

•Live TV and audio feed

Tickets to the Turn 3 Club are $750 each. Existing Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil Race Day ticket holders can upgrade to the Turn 3 Club for $700 each.

Prices will increase closer to May, so interested race goers are encouraged to purchase soon at www.ims.com/turn3club or the IMS Ticket Office.

Fans looking for a ticket to every racing event at IMS can also purchase a limited number of seats left in the Hulman Terrace Club. Located on the outside of the front straightaway just past the Turn 4 exit, the club features premium stadium seating, a private area for food and beverage, and tickets to every day of track action in May along with the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Air Race World Championship. For more information, click here.

Fans can email ticketsales@brickyard.com to discuss purchase option in either the Turn 3 Club or Hulman Terrace Club.

RacingNation Crew

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