Approximately thirty-nine years have elapsed since the point leader of a national stock car series has entered the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds but on Friday the current point leader of the Automobile Racing club of America stock car series, young Ricky Stenhouse Jr. comes to Indianapolis in an attempt to capture the most prestigious race on the 2008 K&N Filters USAC Silver Crown Championship Series Schedule. And while one youngster and a long time veteran attempt to add pages to the Hoosier Hundred history book, the 'defending' race winner announced yesterday that he would be unable to race in the May 23 Hoosier Hundred due to his first attempt at a NASCAR Nationwide Series event at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Stenhouse won at Springfield last year driving for Tony Stewart and is entered this year at Indianapolis for fellow NASCAR driver Carl Edwards.
the second generation driver is part of the Jack Roush-Fenway NASCAR driver development program and currently leads the ARCA stock car standings by ten.
Records seem to indicate the last point leader of a national stock car series to run the Hoosier Hundred came in 1969 when the late Roger McCluskey, driving in USAC Stock Cars for Norm Nelson, ran the Hoosier Hundred as a teammate to A.J. Foyt. McCluskey dropped out of the 1969 Hoosier Hundred after 60 laps with engine failure, lost the USAC Stock Car point lead later that month but gained it back and went on to his first of two USAC Stock Car crowns.
Unfortunately Stenhouse's fellow stock car pilot Josh Wise announced Tuesday that he would be unable to defend his 2006 Hoosier Hundred win due to the fact that hewill be entered for his first attempt at the Lowe's Motor Speedway Memorial Day weekend in a NASCAR Nationwide Seires machine.
However, veteran Johnny Parsons at age 63 will be seeking a record 30th Hoosier Hundred start in an attempt to break George Snider's longstanding record, and, Parsons can break Jim McElreath's record as the oldest man ever to start a Hoosier Hundred event. Other veterans who can make history include Tracy Hines and Paul White, with a victory at Indianapolis either man can become the 14th driver in motorsports history to post victories in championship dirt cars on each of the three one mile fairground dirt tracks of the Midwest.
The 56th Hoosier Hundred is slated to begin with practice at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on May 23. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster or by calling 217-764-3200.
Stenhouse won at Springfield last year driving for Tony Stewart and is entered this year at Indianapolis for fellow NASCAR driver Carl Edwards.
the second generation driver is part of the Jack Roush-Fenway NASCAR driver development program and currently leads the ARCA stock car standings by ten.
Records seem to indicate the last point leader of a national stock car series to run the Hoosier Hundred came in 1969 when the late Roger McCluskey, driving in USAC Stock Cars for Norm Nelson, ran the Hoosier Hundred as a teammate to A.J. Foyt. McCluskey dropped out of the 1969 Hoosier Hundred after 60 laps with engine failure, lost the USAC Stock Car point lead later that month but gained it back and went on to his first of two USAC Stock Car crowns.
Unfortunately Stenhouse's fellow stock car pilot Josh Wise announced Tuesday that he would be unable to defend his 2006 Hoosier Hundred win due to the fact that hewill be entered for his first attempt at the Lowe's Motor Speedway Memorial Day weekend in a NASCAR Nationwide Seires machine.
However, veteran Johnny Parsons at age 63 will be seeking a record 30th Hoosier Hundred start in an attempt to break George Snider's longstanding record, and, Parsons can break Jim McElreath's record as the oldest man ever to start a Hoosier Hundred event. Other veterans who can make history include Tracy Hines and Paul White, with a victory at Indianapolis either man can become the 14th driver in motorsports history to post victories in championship dirt cars on each of the three one mile fairground dirt tracks of the Midwest.
The 56th Hoosier Hundred is slated to begin with practice at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on May 23. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster or by calling 217-764-3200.
