Former Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion and four-time Jackson 100 winner Don O’Neal will be one of the top drivers on hand tonight at Brownstown Speedway for the $50,000-to-win Jackson 100. It will be the highest paying race in track history.
Submitted photo
Brownstown Speedway, located at the Jackson Count 4-H Fairgrounds in Brownstown, will host the biggest race in its 72-year history tonight with the 45th Annual Jackson 100, paying $50,000 to win.
The event will be sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and also feature super stocks and pure stocks.
Gates will open at noon with a drivers’ autograph session at 4:30 p.m., followed by hot laps at 6 p.m. For more information, visit brownstownspeedway.com
Championship night at Brownstown
It was “Championship Night” at Brownstown Speedway on Oct. 5, when each racing division track Champion was determined. All six regular racing divisions were on hand for the event.
Derek Groomer of Bloomington scored his first-ever Super Late Model win in Slicker Graphics Super Late Model action. Kent Robinson led the first 13 laps of the feature event before a yellow slowed the event. Groomer took over the lead on the restart and went on to get the win. Robinson, Chad Stapleton, Jared Bailey and Don O’Neal rounded out the top five. Devin Gilpin captured his fifth Super Late Model track championship.
Make it five straight wins for Tyler Cain of Seymour in P3 Graphix Indiana Late Model Series Pro Late Models. Tyler Neal took the early lead before Steve Peeden took over. Cain caught Peeden with five laps remaining and took over the lead for good. Cain has eight wins for the year. Following Cain were Steve Peeden, Skyller Lewis, Brent Lee and Rohn Moon. Jug Wethington is a first-time P3 Graphix Pro Late Model Series champion.
Jamey Wilson of Seymour, from his 12th starting spot, got his second win of the year in Pewter Hall Super Stocks. Zach Sasser led most of the feature as Wilson worked his way forward. A caution on Lap 5 bunched the field and gave Wilson his opportunity to get the lead. Sasser and Wilson raced side-by-side at the white flag. Wilson took a small lead entering the final turn and beat Sasser to the checkers. Zach Sasser, Isaiah Sasser, Trey Chastain and Blake Hull followed Wilson at the finish. Tucker Chastain is the 2024 Super Stock track champion.
Preston Carr of Underwood went back-to-back in Crossroads Truck Equipment Pure Stocks, getting his fifth win of the year. Carr, using the high side of the track, led all 20 laps. A good race from second-through-fifth saw Josh Turner, Ross Smith, Brent McMillan and J.T. Huffman rounding out the top five. Brent McMillan finished good enough to record his first Pure Stock track championship.
In Crown Vic action, Matt Cranmer of Memphis made it two in a row and win No. 7 for the year, leading flag-to-flag. Todd Cain and Nathan Lewis both ran close behind Cranmer during the race, but Cranmer held them off. Nathan Lewis, Todd Cain, Eric Lewis and Matt Weston trailed at the checkers. Todd Cain becomes the fourth different Crown Vic track champion since the Crown Vics became a regular track division.
Michael Brewer of North Vernon picked up his 10th win of the year in the Hornet division feature. Brewer and Shannon Walp ran side-by-side on Lap 1, but that is as close as anyone would get as Brewer led the rest of the way for the victory. Jeremy Shemwell, Shannon Walp, Preston Righthouse and Curtis Roccia finished second-through-fifth. Michael Brewer also became the 2024 Hornet track champion. This is Brewer’s second track championship.
This week in racing history
From 60 years ago in 1964, the Columbus Kart Club announced its’ track champions. Steve Dorsett, J.R. Arrington, Dick Smith and Bill Ault were named champions in each of their racing divisions.
From 50 years ago in 1974, at Eldora Ed Sanger won the World 100 for late models over Don Seaborn, Neal Sceva, M.J. McBride and Don Bohlander.
From 50 years at Brownstown, Russ Petro was honored as the late model track champion. Don Hobbs was second in points followed by Luther Burton, Bob Fleetwood and Gene Petro.
Also from 1974 at the 25th Street Fairgrounds Speedway in Columbus, Ron Hoover won the hobby stock feature over Jack Smith, Chuck Terry, Bob Olmsted and Bob Warner. Mary Ann Palmer won the powder puff race.
From 30 years ago in 1994 at Brownstown, John Gill won the late model feature over Don O’Neal, Steve Barnett and Doug McCammon. Earl Plessinger won the street stock feature over Randy Petro.
From 20 years ago in 2004 at Lawrenceburg, Randy Petro won the super stock feature over Dan Dehner, Jason Jameson, Jerry Back and Chris Hillman. Chuck Griffis won the modified feature over Greg Beem, Jerry Back, Jeff Harris and Brent Sutton.
Upcoming local racing schedule
Tonight: Brownstown Speedway – 45th Annual Jackson 100 for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, $50,000 to win, plus super stocks and pure stocks. For more information, visit brownstownspeedway.com
Tonight: Lawrenceburg Speedway – USAC National Sprints plus modifieds – For more information, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com
Tonight – Jennings County Kart Club, Jennings County 4-H Fairgrounds, North Vernon – all classes – practice starts at 4 p.m.
Thursday: Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio – 44th Annual Dirt Track World Championship Weekend – super stocks and modifieds.
Friday: Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio – 44th Annual Dirt Track World Championship – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, plus modifieds and steel block late models.
Oct. 19: Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, Ohio – 44th Annual Dirt Track World Championship – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, $100,000 to win, plus steel block late models. For more information, visit eldoraspeedway.com
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected]
