Columbus Speedway go-kart racers set for fair race

Conner Smith of Columbus won the Junior 2 and 3 divisions of go-kart racing in the most recent events held at Tony Stewart Speedway. The go-karts will be in action during the 2023 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair on Wednesday.

The Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing, which holds events at Tony Stewart Speedway on the grounds of the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, will race during the 2023 county fair on Wednesday.

The track held a meet on June 10 as division winners were Conner Smith (junior 2 and junior 3), Remington Meyer (junior 1), Chris Buchanan (medium), Robby Young (heavy and pro heavy), Jeff Purdue (super heavy), Ron Stillabower (pred), Leroy Blevins (rwyb) and Jackson Meyers (juice box).

The division winners from the King of Columbus event were Lawson Prater (kids karts), Grayson Prater (rookies), Macy Staton (junior 1 and junior 2), Jacob Senerchia (junior 3), Colton Rychener (pro purple), cash Johnson (pro green), Johnny Smith (pred), Jake Beck (clone light), Brayden Smith (clone medium, clone heavy and the King Race winner) and Jared John (clone super heavy).

All-Star Midgets ready for fair race

The All-Star Circuit of Champion TQ Midgets will be racing on Tuesday during the 2023 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.

Results from June 17 at the Rush County 4-H Fairgrounds showed Ashlea Albertson has the winner over Logan Prickett, Joey Paxson, Connor Wolf and Robbie Roland. On June 10 at the Circle City Raceway in Indianapolis, the winner was Joey Paxson over Johnny Goff, Connor Wolf, Evan Shatto and Landon Browning.

Hines wins Brownstown special

Racing action returned to the Brownstown Speedway on June 17 after having last week off, with the running of the Don Russ Memorial Pure Stock Special. Thirty-one “All in One Pools” Pure Stocks were on hand for the event.

Jeremy Hines of Seymour made a return visit to the Speedway behind the wheel of an “All in One Pools” Pure Stock and made a return visit to victory lane by winning the Don Russ Memorial Pure Stock Special. Brent McMillan led most of the Pure Stock Special until late in the race when he and Hines would make contact resulting in body damage to McMillan’s machine.

Hines then battled Dustin Carr and a charging McMillian to the checkers. Hines scored the win ahead of Brent McMillan, Dusten Carr, Josh Hayes and A.J. Wilson. Rounding out the top ten was Tommy Fleenor, Buddy Stearns, Donnie Wilson, Phillip Boudreaux and Mickey Hines.

Chad Stapleton of Edinburgh went to the front early in “P3 Graphix” ILMS Pro Late Model feature action and never looked back. Stapleton’s first ILMS win of 2023 would be ahead of Jordan Wever, Britan Godsey, Tyler Neal and Tyler Cain.

Branden Carr of Scottsburg recorded his second win of the year in “Pewter Hall” Super Stocks, leading every lap of the feature event. Following Carr would be Greg Amick, Matt Boknecht, Tanner Chastain and Isaiah Sasser.

In “Haymaker Customs” Hornet feature action, Brian Pollitt of North Vernon would lead from the start to record his second Hornet feature win this year. Jeremy Shemwell would make it close at the finish. Following Pollitt and Shemwell was Brian Mitchell, Curtis Roccia and Jeremy Ogle.

Phillip Boudreaux and Anthony Finley battled most of the “Flag 2 Flag Media” Crown Vic feature with Boudreaux who hails from Salem getting the victory. Boudreaux would get his first win of the year ahead of Anthony Finley, Matt Cranmer, Peyton Walker and Tyler Blythe.

Pure Stock Feature Results: Jeremy Hines, Brent McMillan, Dusten Carr, Josh Hayes, A.J. Wilson, Tommy Fleenor, Buddy Stearns, Donnie Wilson, Phillip Boudreaux, Mickey Hines, Preston Carr, Conner Mertens, Randy Shipley, Aj Warren, Keaton Streeval, William Burton, Davey Waggoner, Justin Walters, Alvi Applegate, Josh Turner-DNS.

Indiana Pro Late Model Feature Results: Chad Stapleton, Jordan Wever, Britan Godsey, Tyler Neal, Tyler Cain, Robert Rainey, Derek Groomer, Marty O’Neal, Alan Magner, Keaton Streeval, Rohn Moon, Patrick Shumaker, Zack Burton, Zachary Stalker, Caleb Faulkner, Shelby Miles, Elliott Despain, Caleb Schryer, Steve Godsey, Brian Wilhite.

Super Stock Feature Results: Branden Carr, Greg Amick, Matt Boknecht, Tanner Chastain, Isaiah Sasser, Austin Perry, Zach Sasser, Tucker Chastain, Colton Sullivan, Troy Clark, Jack Roberts, J.T. Huffman, Blake Hull, Sam Lee, Chris Batchelor, Kevin Streeval, Mike Knight, Tom Plotz, Webb Lee, Jenna Boknecht, Skyler Cohee-DNS.

Hornet Feature Results: Brian Pollitt, Jeremy Shemwell, Brian Mitchell, Curtis Roccia, Jeremy Ogle, Kameron Arthur, Scott Smith, Brandon Crockett, Don Boling Jr., James Simmons, Brett Barger, Jon Ortman, Kaleb Caudill, William Wingate, Ben Carnell, Mike Cherry, Matthew Christian, Chase Hatton, Landon Hayes, Shannon Walp.

Crown Vic Feature Results: Phillip Boudreaux, Anthony Finley, Matt Cranmer, Peyton Walker, Tyler Blythe, Chad Reed, Chris Hawn, Stacie Fitzgerald, Nathan Lewis, Kilie Reynolds, Adam Reynolds, Ray Weston, Daniel Chambers, Matt Weston, Ryan Woods, Kenny Humphrey, Zachary Hall, Dustin Cross-DNS, Wayne Shoff-DQ, Blake Daniels-DQ.

McMillan wins at Scottsburg

Brent McMillan of North Vernon won the pure stock feature on June 14 at the I-65 Speedway in Scottsburg.

Ross Smith was second, followed by Connor Mertens, Daniel Hill, and Rusty Guchenour. Ben Harmon of Brooks, Kentucky won the modified feature over Jeremy Helton, Thomas Mulvaney, Colton Sullivan and Bob Sterrett. Shannon Walp of North Vernon won the hornet division feature over Curtis Roccia, Buzzy Jurek, Davey Waggoner and Tyler Blythe. Al Seay won the crown vic feature over Joel Smith, Nick Cooper, Derek Smith and Dakota Suhl.

Barrow wins at Bloomington

Ethan Barrow of Unionville won the 305 IMCA RaceSaver sprint car feature on June 16 at Bloomington Speedway. The night was in honor of the late Kevin “Pup” Huntley. Barrow outran Ryan Tusing for the victory. Andy Bradley, Nate Franklin and Jeremy Kombau rounded out the top five.

Harley Burns won the 410 non-wing sprint car feature over Braxton Cummings, Tye Mihocko, Geoff Ensign and Brady Short. Alex Wilson took the hornet feature over Jeremy Shemwell, ABBY Stierwalt, A.J. Hobbs and Dale Hobbs.

This week in racing history

From 70 years ago in 1953 at Brownstown, Bud Greathouse won the stock car feature over Larry Schmidt, Jim Waltz, Sonny Hutchinson and Freddie Wilbur.

Also in 1953 at Columbus Speedway, Jim Quillen won the feature over Red Carmichael and Carl Ford.

From 60 years ago in 1963 at Bloomington, Cecil Beavers won the super-modified feature over Roy Robbins, Dick Gaines, Calvin Gilstrap and Jim Luebbert.

Also in 1963 at Paragon, Calvin Gilstrap won the super-modified feature ending Bob Kinser’s winning streak at three wins in a row.

In 1963 at the Mitchell Speedrome, Cecil Beavers won the super-modified feature over Dick Gaines, Roy Robbins, Bob Brown and Jack Owens. Mack Pace won the stock car feature over Paul Crockett.

From 50 years ago in 1973 at Brownstown, Jim Curry won the late model feature over Paul Crockett, Mack Pace, Ray Godsey and John Davis.

From this weekend 50 years ago, Johnny Robbins won the feature race at Twin Cities over Tommy Day, Dee Kramer, Mike Stewart and Jack Booher.

Also, in 1973 at Haubstadt, Larry Miller won the sprint car feature and Tom Helfrich took the late model feature win.

From 40 years ago in 1983 at Brownstown, Ray Godsey won both late model features that were contested. He won the All-Star Circuit of Champions feature over Russ Petro, Steve Barnett, Charlie Swartz and Noel Witcher. Godsey won the regularly scheduled feature over Petro, Roger Absher, Barnett and Pete Parker. Carl Collins won the make-up street stock feature over Rick Hines, Danny Blackwell, Mike Jewell and Mark Elzey. Mike Bechelli won the regularly scheduled feature over Ron Hoover, Gene Minor, Troy Burton and Rex Blackwood. Steve Boley won the limited late model feature over Tim Engelau, John Mull, Paul Crockett and Marvin Strong.

Also in 1983 at I-65 Speedway in Scottsburg, John Gill won the late model feature over Wayne Coakley, Steve Boley, Lee Fleetwood and Carl Collins. Mike Jewell won the street stock feature over Rick Hines, Earl Plessinger, Willie Sallee and Billy Filburn.

From 30 years ago at Bloomington, Ray Godsey won the late model feature over Steve Barnett, Don Hobbs, Ernie Barrow and Russ Petro. Regis Scaggs won the street stock feature over Ron Hoover, Randall Buster, Jeff Fender and Randy Lucas.

From 30 years ago in 1993 at Florence Speedway, Troy Green won the late model feature over Steve Landrum, Ken Kenneda, Mike Jewell and John Lawhorn.

In 1993 at Haubstadt, Mark Cummins won the sprint car feature over Randy Kinser and Jason Smith. Jimmy Burwell won the late model feature over Rick Carneal and Kevin Claycomb.

Also in 1993 at Twin Cities, Tom Nesbitt won the late model feature over Don O’Neal, Scott Graham, Mark Barber and Ray Weston. Randy Petro won the Mark Clark Memorial for street stocks over Scott Patman, Joe Johnson, Cale Kern and Darren Davis. Ed Eschmann won the modified feature over J.D. Largent, Tony Godsey, Dusty Chapman and Jim Shell.

Upcoming local racing schedule

Today: Brownstown Speedway – super late models, pro late models, super stocks, pure stocks, and crown vics. For more information, visit brownstownspeedway.com

Today: Paragon Speedway – Johnson Memorial – sprints, super stocks, bombers, hornets, and mod-lites. For more information, visit paragonspeedway.com.

Tuesday: Tony Stewart Speedway – Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds – All-Star Circuit of Champions TQ midgets

Wednesday: Tony Stewart Speedway – Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds – go-karts.

Friday: Paragon Speedway – sprints, super stocks, bombers, and hornets.

July 1: Brownstown Speedway – Born Free 40 for super late models, plus modifieds super stocks, pure stocks and hornets.

July 1: Lawrenceburg Speedway – Merrill Downey Memorial – late models and modifieds. For more information, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.

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