Curtis Roccia of Columbus won the hornet division feature on Aug. 24 at Brownstown Speedway. It was his first career win at Brownstown.
Submitted photo
The P3 Graphix Indiana Late Model Series Pro Late Models were in the spotlight for Aug. 24 at Brownstown Speedway with the running of the Carey Ruwe Memorial. The 40-lap “topless” Pro Late Model feature event paid $3,600 to win.
Tyler Cain of Seymour led all 40-laps in route to winning the P3 Graphix Indiana Late Model Series Pro Late Model Carey Ruwe Memorial. The yellow flag flew several times throughout the event, but Cain was able to pull away from the field each time and maintain a comfortable lead to get his fourth ILMS win of the year.
Chad Stapleton, Steve Peeden, Zack Burton and Rick Gumm followed Cain at the finish. Completing the top 10 were Shelby Miles, Raymond Humphrey, Jug Wethington, Brian Wilhite and Alan Magner.
Tucker Chastain of Bedford captured his second win in a row and his sixth Pewter Hall Super Stock win of the year. Blake Hull took the early lead and led until Lap 5, when Chastain took over the top spot. Chastain got the win over Greg Amick, Zach Sasser, Isaiah Sasser and Blake Hull.
In Crossroads Truck Equipment Pure Stock feature action, Josh Turner of Edinburgh recorded his sixth win of 2024. Turner battled Brent McMillan for the lead most of the race. Turner held off McMillan for the win at the checkers. Following Turner and McMillan were Ross Smith, Preston Carr and Mickey Hines.
Phillip Boudreaux of Salem patiently worked his way from his 10th starting spot to take the lead with five laps to go in the Crown Vic feature. Boudreaux had to hold off Matt Cranmer for the win at the finish. Boudreaux’s second win of the year was ahead of Cranmer, Todd Cain, Ryan Woods and Dustin Cross.
Michael Brewer and Curtis Roccia ran side-by-side for most of the 20-lap caution free Hornet division feature. After swapping the lead several times during the race, Roccia of Columbus took the lead with two laps to go and would score his first ever Brownstown win. Brewer, Preston Righthouse, Jeremy Shemwell, and Matt Miller rounded out the top five.
Gilpin wins at Paragon
Devin Gilpin from Columbus won the Heart of America late model feature on Aug. 24 at Paragon Speedway. Rodney Melvin was second, followed by Derek Groomer, Jared Bailey and Dustin Linville. Stephen Schnapf of Newburgh won the sprint car feature over Jake Scott, Brandon Spencer, Andrew Prather and Korbyn Haslett. Reid Whitney of Jasper won the MMSA mini sprint feature over Mike Larrison, Jordan Shipley, Elijah Knoke and Eli Wilhelmus.
Veteran car owner passes away
Marion Martin of Aurora, who owned dirt late models for nearly 30 years, passed away on Aug. 16. He was 79 years old.
Martin’s M&M Vans sponsorship was on the side of several late model drivers over the years, including Gary Herbert, Pat Patrick, Steve Francis, Jerry Rice, Marty O’Neal and Randy Petro.
Hall of Fame driver passes away
Don Hobbs of Bloomington, one of the most popular drivers in the history of Brownstown Speedway, passed away on Wednesday. He was 87 years old.
Hobbs started his racing career in 1953 at Columbus Speedway and raced for over 40 years. He was the 1969 track champion at Brownstown Speedway and finished second a total of three times in the final points for 1973, 1974 and 1981. He was also the 1971 V-8 late model track champion at 25th Street Fairgrounds Speedway in Columbus.
He won the first 250-lap race held at Brownstown on July 5, 1969. He won a total of 26 late model features at Brownstown during his career. He started five World 100s at Eldora Speedway, with his best finish a fourth-place run in 1982.
This week in racing history
From 60 years ago in 1964 at Paragon, Jim Waltz won the super modified feature over Larry Miller, Calvin Gilstrap, Bob Kinser and Kenny Inman. Chuck Tyler won the stock car feature over Lee Fowler, Kenny Baker and Bob Ham.
Also in 1964 at Bloomington, Dick Gaines won the super modified feature race.
From 60 years ago, Ross Smith won the 100-lap stock car feature at Lawrenceburg.
From 50 years ago this weekend in 1974 at Brownstown, Jim Curry won the late model feature over Carl Collins, Don Hobbs, Luther Burton and Terrence Johnson.
Also from this weekend in 1974 at Twin Cities, Phil Fultz won the feature race over Denny Long, Larry Exner, Gary Herbert and Mike Stewart.
From 1974 at Paragon, Rex Mitchell won the sprint car feature over Leon Thickstun, Frank Hollingsworth and Mike Johnson. Steve Messmer won the stock car feature over Terry Buster, Homer Galyan, Jim Maxwell and Dave Sheeks.
From 40 years ago this weekend in 1984 at Brownstown, Paul Shafer won the late model feature over Kenny Simpson, Dennis Boknecht, Lee Fleetwood and Dill Whittymore. Mike Jewell won the modified street stock feature over Terry Eaglin, Rick Hines, Billy Filburn and Mike Bechelli.
Also from this weekend in 1984, Twin Cities had two days of racing for the Labor Day Weekend. On the Saturday, Steve Boley won the late model feature over Merrill Wilson, Marvin Strong, Jim Ruddick and Carl Collins. Merrill Downey won the modified street stock feature over Earl Plessinger, Willie Sallee, Phil Fultz and Larry Gingery. Ray Hughes won the street stock feature over Randy Petro, Gregg Lyle, Dan Sallee and Steve Kimberlin. On the Monday, Boley won the late model feature over Scott McKeand, Bud Seymour, Robert Brison and Fultz. Mike Jewell won the modified street stock feature over Terry Eaglin, Willie Sallee, Gingery and Jim Beeman. Petro took the street stock feature over Lyle, Hughes, Mike Simmons and Bart Dampier.
From 40 years ago at Lawrenceburg Speedway, Gary Herbert won the late model feature over Bud Frazier, Garry Mahoney, Terry Walters and Phil Dabbs. Greg Staab won the sprint car feature over Leon Thickstun, Tom Bipes, Mike Blake and Mike Yeager.
From 20 years ago in 2004 at Twin Cities, Randy Petro won the super stock feature over Kevin Applegate, Kevin Jones, Chris Deweese and Mike Fields. Nelson Gingery won the pure stock feature over Randy Gilland, Tim Clark, Tom Mahoney and Garnett Eldridge. Seth Hull won the mini stock feature over Justin Burdette, Warren Lucas, Boone Moore and Jeff Roper.
Upcoming local racing schedule
Tonight: Paragon and Lawrenceburg Speedways are off
Tonight: Brownstown Speedway – crate late models, super stocks, pure stocks, hornets and crown vics. For more information, visit brownstownspeedway.com
Sunday: Jennings County Kart Track, Jennings County 4-H Fairgrounds, North Vernon – all classes.
Sunday: Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio – Baltes Classic for late models, plus super stocks and modifieds. For more information, visit eldroaspeedway.com
Friday: Bloomington Speedway – Season Finale – sprints, modifieds, hornets and crown vics. For more information, visit racebloomingtonspeedway.com
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected]
