Fri, June 23 Tony Hulman Classic @ Terre Haute Action Track USAC Sprints & UMP Modifieds

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Friday, June 23
2017 Tony Hulman Classic

Divisions:
USAC Racing AMSOIL INC. National Sprint Cars
Scott's Custom Colors & Auto Body DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

Times:
Pits - 3:00
Grandstands - 4:00
Hotlaps - 6:30
Qualifying - 7:15
Racing - 8:00

Prices:
Grandstands - $25
Infield - $15
Kids 11 & Under FREE
(Tickets Available At Gate On Raceday)

Pit Prices:
USAC/UMP Members - $30
Non-Members - $35

Hotels:
Drury Inn Terre Haute
Pear Tree Inn Terre Haute
(Ask For Action Track Discount Rate)

For more info, contact the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200 or visit www.terrehauteactiontrack.net.

For more information about Track Enterprises, visit www.trackenterprises.com, Like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TrackEnterprises), Follow them on Twitter (@TEIRacing), or call 217-764-3200

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WIN FREE TICKETS FOR THIS FRIDAY!!! Here is YOUR chance to win a four pack of tickets for this Friday night's Tony Hulman Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track!

LIKE & COMMENT on the Facebook post at https://www.facebook.com/terrehaute...171461535284/1376668809085538/?type=3&theater (look for the pic below) for your chance to be the Tony Hulman Classic ticket winner. Don't forget to SHARE as well to help spread the word. Winner will receive a four pack of tickets to this Friday's event. The lucky winner will be announced Thursday night!

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Ballou Goes For Hulman Classic 3-Peat This Friday

(Terre Haute, IN) No driver has ever won three editions of the “Tony Hulman Classic” consecutively, but this Friday night, June 23 at western Indiana’s Terre Haute Action Track, Robert Ballou has the opportunity to reverse 47-years of history.

The Rocklin, California native won the 2015 and 2016 editions in equally dramatic fashion. Ballou caught Chris Windom with three laps remaining to capture the traditional rifle trophy in ’15. With less than 10 to go in last season’s “Hulman Classic,” Ballou battled back-and-forth with Thomas Meseraull before coming right back at him with nine laps to go, utilizing a monster slide job into turn one. Ballou opened it up in the final stages to capture his second consecutive victory in the race, which had previously only been achieved by Steve Butler (1987-88) and Levi Jones (2008-09).

Ballou, the 2015 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Champion, defied the odds with his comeback victory at Eldora Speedway in May, his second race back after an eight-month recovery following devastating injuries in a crash last September. Since then, he’s had an up-and-down stretch that got its bumpiest during last week’s Eastern Storm, a five-race, six-night series that tested patience and equipment.

Ballou backed up his Eldora victory with a solid fourth at I-80 Speedway and a runner-up finish at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway a day later. But, a rough patch through Pennsylvania’s Eastern Storm saw a sixth-place result on opening night at Grandview Speedway as his best. A night later, he was 13th at Lincoln Speedway, then followed up a night later with a turn-three crash at Williams Grove Speedway that put him 23rd in the final box score.

Ballou appeared to be back in his element on the half-mile Port Royal Speedway. He dominated the first 26 circuits of the 30-lap feature before a late-race caution bunched up the field. Windom got by him with a slider on the restart and drove away for the victory while Ballou, battling for second on the final lap with Justin Grant saw his night end two corners short of the checkered as he smacked backward into the outer guardrail before flipping over multiple times. He was uninjured, but would not be in attendance the following night in the Eastern Storm finale at Susquehanna Speedway.

The Terre Haute Action Track will be a welcome change of scenery to Ballou this Friday when the series returns to the Midwest half-mile, a track size that he has earned 12 of his 27 career USAC National Sprint Car feature wins on.

Speaking of Eastern Storm, Chris Windom of Canton, Illinois captured the title by four points over Cullman, Alabama’s Kevin Thomas, Jr. Windom owns four total Action Track USAC victories, including the last two appearances by USAC at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds oval – a National Sprint Car triumph in October of 2016 and the “Sumar Classic” Silver Crown season opener in April of this year.

The most recent driver to win three-straight USAC events at Terre Haute across all three USAC National divisions was J.J. Yeley in 2002-2003. Yeley scored a sprint win to end 2002, began the season with another sprint score to begin 2003 and completed the trifecta with a Silver Crown triumph later that spring.

Thomas, a Terre Haute USAC Sprint winner in 2013, won his first USAC feature of the season last Thursday at Williams Grove, while Indianapolis, Indiana’s Tyler Courtney was victorious for the second time in the Eastern Storm finale at Susquehanna.

Third in Eastern Storm points, Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, won last Tuesday at Grandview and was a USAC Sprint feature victory in September of 2014 at the Action Track, but the two-time USAC National Sprint Car champ has yet to add a “Hulman Classic” trophy to his collection.

Ballou is among four past winners expected to compete in Friday night’s race, including Dave Darland (1993 & 2014), Jon Stanbrough (2002 & 2007) and Windom (2011).

The “Hulman Classic” began with George Snider’s victory in 1971 and continues today as the longest, annually-contested event on the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car calendar. Except for a brief period between 1988 and 1991 when the event moved to the pavement at Indianapolis Raceway Park, the Hulman Classic has been held at the Terre Haute Action Track.

Former winners of the race include ten Indianapolis 500 veterans, 14 past USAC National Sprint Car championships and even an NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racing star, Doug Kalitta.

In addition to the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint cars, the Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds will also be in action. Pit gates open this Friday for the “Tony Hulman Classic” at 3pm with the grandstands set to open at 4. Cars hit the track at 6:30.

About Terre Haute Action Track:

For more information, follow the Action Track online at www.terrehauteactiontrack.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/terrehauteactiontrack). Updates are also available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

The Terre Haute Action Track is located at the Wabash County Fairgrounds, in Terre Haute, IN. The physical address is 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807.
 
WINDOM GUNS FOR TERRE HAUTE TRIPLE FRIDAY AT HULMAN CLASSIC

By: Richie Murray - USAC Media

The number three has already played a prominent role in the pre-race discussion of this year’s “Tony Hulman Classic.” While Robert Ballou makes preparations to capture an unprecedented third “Tony Hulman Classic” in a row, a past winner of the event has aspirations of his own three-in-a-row mark this Friday night, June 23, when the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship returns to Indiana’s Terre Haute Action Track.

Chris Windom of Canton, Illinois has the opportunity to become the fifth driver to win a third-straight USAC National event at the Terre Haute half-mile. The 26-year-old claimed victory in the 2016 USAC National Sprint Midwest season closer at THAT, then opened 2017 with a USAC Silver Crown score in the “Sumar Classic,” which leads to this Friday’s event where the reigning Silver Crown champ has a chance to join elite company.

Tucson, Arizona’s Roger McCluskey went undefeated in all three USAC Sprint Car events held at Terre Haute in 1966. Driving for Mutt Anderson, the USAC Hall of Famer won twin 30-lappers on the same afternoon in June, then concluded the season with a 50-lap score in September.

Bubby Jones, for all intents and purposes, owned the Terre Haute Action Track in the late 1970s. Between the years of 1977 and 1979, Jones captured half of the USAC Sprint Car features run for Bobby Hillin’s Longhorn Racing Team and Don Siebert as well as a single USAC Midget score in 1977 for Math Schneider.

In 1979 alone, Jones of Danville, Illinois, won 4 of 5 USAC events at the Action Track, with all four coming in the sprinter. His only aberration: a runner-up finish to Johnny Parsons in the “Hut 100” midget classic.

No driver won more USAC events (13) at Terre Haute than did Rich Vogler. In 1980, he took over the reins of the Siebert Oldsmobile car from Jones and took it to its customary spot in THAT victory lane. He then concluded the season with two-straight Action Track wins: the “Hut 100” in the midget and, one week later, another sprint win, this time for a different Oldsmobile dealer, Ben Bowen. A few years later, Vogler set an all-time streak of success at Terre Haute by winning six consecutive USAC National Midget features between 1983 and 1986.

The first two times Phoenix, Arizona’s J.J. Yeley ever raced at the western Indiana joint in 1997, he won both times behind the wheel of a USAC Sprint Car. Yet, it was during the 2002 and 2003 seasons where Yeley truly hit his stride, picking off five wins in a seven-race span at THAT.

Terre Haute victory lane and Yeley were like peas and carrots in that era in which he concluded the 2002 season in winning form in the seat of the GT Racing sprinter before beginning 2003 with another USAC Sprint victory for Tony Stewart, followed up by a “Sumar Classic” Silver Crown win a month later for Bob East and Stewart. The only two reasons keeping him from reeling off an incredible seven-straight were Tracy Hines and Dave Darland, whom Yeley both finished second to during “Indiana Sprint Week” and the “Hut 100,” respectively.

Windom can join this group on Friday night when the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship returns for the 47th Annual “Tony Hulman Classic,” a race in which he previously added to his ever-growing resume back in 2011. Windom owns four Terre Haute USAC victories (3 Sprint, 1 Silver Crown) and is currently coming off a win at a similar venue with many of the same characteristics: the half-mile Port Royal Speedway in Pennsylvania which he used to vault himself to the Eastern Storm title.

Windom now resides second in USAC National Sprint points and is surrounded by a number of drivers seeking their first “Hulman Classic” rifle: past Terre Haute USAC Sprint winners Chase Stockon (Fort Branch, IN), Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Cullman, AL) and Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) as well as 2016 “Sumar Classic” Silver Crown victor C.J. Leary, National Sprint Car point leader Justin Grant (Ione, CA), Chad Boespflug (Hanford, CA) and Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, IN).

Pit gates open this Friday for the “Tony Hulman Classic” at 3pm with the grandstands set to open at 4. Cars hit the track at 6:30.

Tickets for the “Hulman Classic” begin at just $15 for infield admission. Grandstand tickets are $25. Children 11 & under are FREE! Pit pass prices are $30 for USAC & UMP members and $35 for non-members.

Friday’s “Tony Hulman Classic,” as well as every USAC event, can be viewed one-day after the race, on-demand at http://www.Loudpedal.TV/.

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UPCOMING USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

DATE: Friday, June 23, 2017

SERIES: USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship & Scott’s Custom Colors UMP Modifieds

TRACK: Terre Haute Action Track (Terre Haute, Indiana) – 1/2-mile dirt oval

EVENT: 47th Annual “Tony Hulman Classic”

STARTING TIMES: Pit Gate Opens at 3pm. Front Gates Open at 4pm. Cars on Track at 6:30pm.

TICKETS: General Admission is $25 in the grandstands, $15 in the infield. Children 11 and Under are Free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be obtained by calling Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200.

TRACK ADDRESS: 3901 South US Hwy 41, Terre Haute, IN 47807

TRACK PHONE: Track Enterprises: (217) 764-3200. Race Day: (812) 232-4040

TRACK WEBSITE: http://trackenterprises.com/ & http://terrehauteactiontrack.net/

MEDIA COVERAGE: Watch the race one day later on-demand at http://www.Loudpedal.TV/. Live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation/, plus available on the Race Monitor app on your phone.

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ALL-TIME “TONY HULMAN CLASSIC” WINNERS:

1971: George Snider, 1972: Bruce Walkup, 1973: Joe Saldana, 1974: Gary Bettenhausen, 1975: Pancho Carter, 1976: Jan Opperman, 1977: James McElreath, 1978: Dick Tobias, 1979: Pancho Carter, 1980: Eddie Leavitt, 1981: Sheldon Kinser, 1982: Chet Johnson, 1983: Jack Hewitt, 1984: Rick Hood, 1985: Ron Shuman, 1986: Rich Vogler, 1987: Steve Butler, 1988: Steve Butler, 1989: Rich Vogler, 1990: Jeff Bloom, 1991: Eric Gordon, 1992: Cary Faas, 1993: Dave Darland, 1994: Cary Faas, 1995: Jack Hewitt, 1996: Doug Kalitta, 1997: J.J. Yeley, 1998: Cary Faas, 1999: Terry Pletch, 2000: Jay Drake, 2001: Tracy Hines, 2002: Jon Stanbrough, 2003: J.J. Yeley, 2004: Cory Kruseman, 2005: Levi Jones, 2006: Daron Clayton, 2007: Jon Stanbrough, 2008: Levi Jones, 2009: Levi Jones, 2010: Jerry Coons Jr., 2011: Chris Windom, 2012: Bud Kaeding, 2013: Jerry Coons Jr., 2014: Dave Darland, 2015: Robert Ballou, 2016: Robert Ballou
 
Did you know? Two-time winner Jon Stanbrough is the only driver to finish in the top-five of the three previous "Tony Hulman Classics."

The 47th "Hulman Classic" returns Friday night, June 23rd to the Terre Haute Action Track!

Pits open: 3pm. Grandstands: 4pm. Cars on track: 6:30pm.

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(Collin Markle Photo)
 
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS MARK THE START OF PAST WINNERS’ HULMAN CLASSIC RÉSUMÉS

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Four past winners are set to embark on a mission to obtain another Tony Hulman Classic trophy to add to their collections when the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship makes its Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track season debut this Friday, June 23.

Each of the four – Dave Darland, Jon Stanbrough, Robert Ballou and Chris Windom – had inconspicuous beginnings in their first “Hulman” starts. Yet, since then, the fab four have more than made up for lost ground with their performances on the half-mile and, in their careers, in the ensuing years, demonstrating that champions do indeed rise to the forefront at the Action Track.

In fact, all but two USAC National Sprint Car champions have won a USAC-sanctioned event on the western Indiana dirt oval – a list that is absent only Parnelli Jones and Greg Leffler.

Ironically, each of the four past winners are celebrating a nice-round number anniversary this Friday night in relation to their first Hulman Classic start.

USAC Triple Crown champ Dave Darland made his first Hulman Classic feature start 30 years ago, all the way back in 1987! That afternoon, he finished 17th. After a few seasons away due to other racing commitments, he missed the show in 1991 before reeling off six-straight top-fives between 1992 and 1997. His consistency over the years has netted him an astonishing 20 top-tens in the race!

The Lincoln, Indiana native is the only driver to start more than half of all the Hulman Classic races run since 1971. This Friday, he eyes his 26th start in an event he has won twice, including his very first USAC win in 1993. His gap of 21 years before recording a second “Hulman” win in 2014 is a record as well.

At the start of this season, Jon Stanbrough announced his intentions to step away from the cockpit full-time following the conclusion of the 2017 season. Regardless of whether this will be the final of his 23rd “Hulman” starts or not, let us celebrate the brilliance of a driver who’s finished in the top-five more than any driver in the event. The first of those 11 top-fives came in 2000, eight years after his first start 25 years ago in 1992, a 13th place run.

The Avon, Indiana native is one of USAC’s finest, a driver tied with Rich Vogler for tenth on the all-time National Sprint Car win list with 35 victories – a win list that also includes two Hulman Classic wins in 2002 and 2007. Though it’s been since 2014 that Stanbrough has reached USAC victory lane, he is the lone driver to finish in the top-five of the three most recent runnings of the race.

Robert Ballou and Chris Windom are, undoubtedly, two of the biggest stars on the current USAC landscape. Each have won a USAC National title over the past two seasons: Ballou, the 2015 Sprint champ and Windom, the 2016 Silver Crown champ. A decade ago, the two arrived on the scene simultaneously as teenage upstarts. A decade later, they are near the pinnacle of the sport, still duking it out in the final laps against each other for wins as seen just last Saturday at Port Royal (PA) Speedway during Eastern Storm.

Ballou finished 23rd after starting from the pole as a “Hulman Classic” rookie in 2007 while Windom didn’t fare all that much better in 17th. In the coming seasons, fortunes would soon change, but it wasn’t quick, as the pair rose to become two of the most consistent frontrunners in the event.

Ballou’s performance chart indicates finishes of 23rd, 21st, a DNQ and a 15th in his first four appearances. However, that was followed with a 4th, 6th, 6th, 7th and back-to-back wins in 2015 and 2016.

Windom reached the top-five during his second start in 2009, but that was surrounded by a 17th, a DNQ and a 25th between 2007-2010. His 2011 victory turned the tide, so to speak, although it was followed by a 13th the following year. But, from 2013 onward, Windom has not placed outside the top-eight, including a 2nd and a 5th in the last two editions.

Both will be chasing history on Friday night as Ballou is set up with the opportunity to become the first to win the prestigious event three years in a row. Windom has the chance to equal a Terre Haute USAC record with his third victory in a row, something only six other drivers have accomplished.

Pit gates open this Friday for the “Tony Hulman Classic” at 3pm with the grandstands set to open at 4. Cars hit the track at 6:30.

Tickets for the “Hulman Classic” begin at just $15 for infield admission. Grandstand tickets are $25. Children 11 & under are FREE! Pit pass prices are $30 for USAC & UMP members and $35 for non-members.

Friday’s “Tony Hulman Classic,” as well as every USAC event, can be viewed one-day after the race, on-demand at http://www.Loudpedal.TV/.
 
We are still racing at this time. Updates will be posted here on our Facebook page, Twitter, the track website, other outlets. and race track message machine if anything changes.

IT IS RACE DAY AT THE Terre Haute Action Track! The cars and stars of the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars race for the rifle trophy that comes with winning the Tony Hulman Classic. Also in action are the Scott's Custom Colors UMP Modifieds. Be here and see how the 47th edition of this historic event goes down.

Full Show Info

Friday, June 23
47th Annual Tony Hulman Classic

Divisions Racing:
USAC Racing AMSOIL INC. National Sprint Cars
Scott's Custom Colors & Auto Body DIRTcar UMP Modifieds

Times:
Pits - 3:00
Grandstands - 4:00
Hot Laps - 6:30
Qualifying - 7:15
Racing - 8:00

Prices:
Grandstands - $25
Infield - $15
Kids 11 & Under FREE
(Tickets Available At Gate On Raceday)

Pit Prices:
USAC/UMP Members - $30
Non-Members - $35

Hotels:
Drury Inn Terre Haute
Pear Tree Inn Terre Haute
(Ask For Action Track Discount Rate)

For more info, contact the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200.

For more information on Track Enterprises, visit www.trackenterprises.com, Like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TrackEnterprises), follow them on Twitter (@TEIRacing), or call the office at 217-764-3200

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