By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

No matter what Kurt Busch accomplishes on the track, an asterisk will follow his on-track achievements because his off-track past will follow him.

The 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion is not alone in that category. He has plenty of company with Lance Armstrong, Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson plus other NFL players suspended for off-field violence and baseball stars who took performance enhancement drugs.

Those little reminders were there in print and on the airwaves after Busch won a Sprint Cup 400-lap race April 26 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

Busch always will be known as NASCAR’s first driver to be suspended because of alleged physical violence against a woman which now falls under the sanctioning body’s “conduct detrimental to the sport” behavior.

He was suspended before the Daytona 500 that was lifted after prosecutors deemed there was not enough evidence to go to trial.

Busch, who drives for co-team owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, led a career-high 291 of 400 laps Sunday and virtually nailed down a spot in The Chase.

Busch rightfully called his win “a total team effort.” He edged teammate and reigning Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick to the line by 0.754 of a second.

Gordon was eighth, Ryan Newman 11th, and Stewart 41st.

Busch, who did The Double (Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 last year), credited those close to him and Haas for being supportive through the off-season. Busch said at the annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway that the truth would come out.

“Standing on the truth the whole time, that gave me the feeling of when I do get back to the car, it’s going to be easy to focus,” Busch said after the Richmond race. “I think I’ve shown that.”

Any lingering chips on his shoulder were brushed off by taking home the winner’s trophy.

“We want to win more; we want to win more often,” Busch said.

Hopefully that also means winning ways off the track, too.

Next up is the Geico 500 Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on FOX. The Xfinity Winn-Dixie 300 rolls Saturday at 2 p.m. (EDT), also on FOX.

*Looking for unique track food? Here’s a few items that Charlotte Motor Speedway has for its 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder leading up to May 24:Candied Bacon Lollipops (225 calories), thick-cut bacon, brown sugar, maple syrup, Sriracha chili sauce and black pepper; Crank Shaft Burrito, gigantic burrito of four 12-inch tortillas stuffed with 1.5 pounds of baked beans, 1.5 pounds of coleslaw and 3 pounds of Carolina pulled pork, tossed with barbecue sauce, and topped with 8 ounces of white queso, 4 ounces of jalapeños, more baked beans, slaw and pulled pork; Speedway Picnic Burger, eight ¼-pound burgers, eight hotdogs, 1.5 pounds of pulled pork, 1 pound of bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and eight slices of American cheese piled on a 14-inch sesame seed bun.

*Six-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson is among NASCAR drivers who five back. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation, founded in February 2006 with wife Chandra has committed more than $7.7 million to charities. They announced April 24 the five recipients of the annual $25,000 Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope grants to: 9 Dots, Los Angeles;  BackPack Beginnings, Greensboro, N.C.; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland, Sioux City, Iowa; Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte, N.C.; and The Be Kind to People Project in Phoenix.

NHRA

Reigning Pro-Stock champion Erica Enders-Stevens snared the points lead for the first time with her second straight triumph in the NHRA Spring Nationals April 26 at Houston, Texas.

She topped Chris McGaha of Texas by less one-10th of a second. Enders began racing at 18 at Royal Purple Raceway for her 14th NHRA career win.

Ron Capps took the Funny Car class, and Doug Kalitta won Top Fuel with a run of 3.820 seconds, 324.98 mph.

*Ashley Force Hood is now vice president of John Force Racing, Inc., as announced April 23 by John Force who has merged John Force Entertainment Inc., with JFR, Inc. Her duties now include the racing side of the business as well as entertainment production and commercial development. She also will be available to step into a Funny Car if needed.

INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDROME

Figure-8 racing revs up again May 2 with the third annual Ed Bishop Memorial 75-lap race for competitors in the “Road to the 3-Hour Figure-8” series at the Indianapolis Speedrome.

Racing starts at 7 p.m., including Roadrunners, Hornets, Legends and Indy Super Karts.

The Figure-8 features exotic high-horsepower, high-winged cars designed for lightning fast crossover action.

Doug Greig seeks his second straight 75-lap win after beating a 22-car field April 18 for Advance Auto Sales World Figure-8 cars. Fast qualifier Ben Tunny was second.

Feature winners included: Jordan Hahn in USA Insulation Stocks, Dustin Kares in Indy Super Karts, and Kyle O’Gara in the 50-lap USSA Mel Kenyon Midget Series.

LUCAS OIL RACEWAY

Located on the Eastside of Brownsburg, Lucas Oil Raceway (formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park) features the Ray Skillman Auto Group NHRA Spring Spectacle of Speed, Nov. 1-3, for North Central Division dragsters.

It is the only regional event on the national NHRA calendar with Top Dragster, Sportsman and Top Alcohol Fuel ion action. SuperStock and Stock national record runs are May 1 with qualifying at 2:30 p.m. Events begin at 11:30 a.m. May 2 and May 3.

OF INTEREST

MID-AMERICA SPEEDWAY: Rain Saturday postponed motorcycle flat track racing at the Marion County Fairgrounds facility until May 2 with practice at 5 p.m.

USAC: The 2015 Silver Crown Series opens May 2 with the Hemelgarn Super Fitness “Rollie Beale Classic” at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway … the race is named in honor of the 1973 sprint car champion who made his home in Toledo …Indiana’s own Dave Darland won the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car 30-lap feature April 25 at Eagle (Neb.) Raceway, his 55th career series win … Darland was fourth in the “Weld Racing Spring Classic” in Kansas City, Kansas. He is third in points, Jon Stanbrough is sixth and Tracy Hines seventh.

LUCAS OIL RACEWAY: The Ray Skillman Auto Group NHRA Spring Spectacle of Speed unfolds May 1-3 for Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division and Regional competitors … it is the only regional event on the national NHRA calendar with Top Dragster, Sportsman and Top Alcohol Fuel dragsters in action … SuperStock and Stock national record runs are May 1 with qualifying at 2:30 p.m. Events begin at 11:30 a.m. May 2 and May 3.

WORLD OF OUTLAWS: Danny Schatz scored his sixth win of the season for team co-owner Tony Stewart April 25 in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas. Finishing 2-5, in order: Shane Stewart, Kraig Kinser, Jason Sides, and Logan Schumhart. Pittsboro’s Joey Saldana, driving for a team owned by Kasey Kahn, was sixth …

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

IndyCar strategist Andy O’Gara of Beech Grove kept urging Grand Prix of Alabama leader Josef Newgarden to reduce his speed to save fuel in Sunday’s race. 
O’Gara, the team’s fuel calculations expert, knew the newly formed Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing team had a podium driver and car in Newgarden and the No. 67 Hartman Oil Dallara/Chevrolet before Saturday’s qualifications and Sunday’s race. But a winning car? ... Yes.

O’Gara’s and Newgarden’s abilities added up to the driver’s first career IndyCar win in 55 starts and the second for team owners Sarah Fisher, who’s married to O’Gara, and Ed Carpenter, who piloted a Fisher-owned car to victory in 2011 at Kentucky Speedway.

In the 90-lap, 207-mile road course race, Newgarden led the final 21 laps and preserved the win by saving fuel for the last 10 laps. O’Gara said they had a half gallon of fuel left at the end of the race.

“This wasn’t a fuel mileage race because we had outright speed from the beginning,” O’Gara said. “We thought we should have dominance; we had the right car to win the race. We had good strategists who helped me, and he (Newgarden) hit the numbers. We were among the top five in practice and in qualifying, and we never had a clean lap. I was confident that we had a podium car.” 

Newgarden started fifth and charged to second on the first lap, which set the tone for his day. The former Indy Lights champion  worked his way to the lead for 25 laps before making his final pit stop on the 63rd lap to get a full load of fuel. 

Newgarden said he didn’t like conserving fuel for the last 10 laps, but he understood why. “We had such a cushion; there was really no need for us to try and eke out that lead more. We didn’t have to do that. I think it was just them being cautious, making sure we were doing everything to have enough fuel, probably being over-safe.”

The triumph was rewarding for many reasons.
It was the first IndyCar win for the team since Fisher and Hartman merged with two-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner Carpenter, whose team moved into Fisher’s modern headquarters on Main Street in Speedway. 
O’Gara said there are a half dozen crew members from Fisher’s original No. 67 car who have stuck with her through the years. O’Gara considered the win as a tribute to their efforts.

And it touched off a victory lane celebration that featured confetti, champagne spray, Newgarden’s parents and O’Gara’s family, including his parents, Johnny and Jeannie O’Gara.

Newgarden became the fourth winner in four races this season. The 24-year-old driver has raced in the series for four years with Fisher. 

“There’s been a lot of work put in by a lot of people,” Newgarden said. “I’m just happy for everyone that we did that (win) finally. It was going to happen at some point. This team was too good. They gave me such good opportunities in the past.”

Newgarden’s best finish had been second twice, most recently at Iowa Speedway last year.
He considers himself fortunate to have been hired by Fisher, ironically after Carpenter left the Fisher Hartman team to strike out as an owner-driver.

“I was one of the lucky ones when I got a call from Wink Hartman, Sarah Fisher and Andy O’Gara, and they gave me the opportunity to be a professional driver,” Newgarden recalled. “Then they kept me in a seat for all these years ... I don’t want to win just one race. I’m a racer. You’re here to dominate and win many races.”
Newgarden is fourth in points with 119 points, 17 behind series leader Juan Pablo Montoya. 

CFHR begins preparing for an open test Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 9. 

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Business owner and Indianapolis 500 enthusiast Travis Tetrault and the Cutters Race Team have launched their second annual drive for individual and family sponsorships of a race car in the 99th running of the race on May 25. Known as The People’s Race Car, the name will appear next month on a Dallara/Honda entered by 2011 winning car owner and former driver Bryan Herta. The car will be driven by England’s Jay Howard.

Adults can have their names on the car for $100, $75 for children. Packages are available for $150 and $700. Sponsors will receive a certificate, a T-shirt and a photo of their name on the car and will have the opportunity to be photographed with it and Howard. Visit www.cuttersrt.com for more information.

“We had a very good response for last year’s race,” Tetrault said. “We are looking forward to having more people involved for this year’s race.”
In last year’s race, Cutters RT partnered with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing to help sponsor Josef Newgarden in the No. 67 Dallara/Honda, which started eighth and finished 30th after being involved in a two-car mishap.

Cutters RT is following in the tradition of Mel Kenyon’s City of Lebanon race car in 1968 and Spike Gehlhausen’s Spirit of Indiana entry in 1976, which carried The Stilley Kids sponsorship among other names.
“It is in that same spirit that we are teaming up again to give fans the opportunity to be a unique part of this year’s race,” Tetrault said.

The goal of Cutters RT is to build momentum for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016 to field a fully sponsored car with individual names.

Top 10 finish for Fisher’s drivers
Newgarden and Italian Luca Filippi, driving for Carpenter Fisher Hartman Racing, finished ninth and 10th, respectively, Sunday in the caution-racked Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana.

Both drivers pitted twice in the race, which was scheduled to be a 75-lap chase but was changed to a timed event of one hour and 45 minutes after heavy rain.

“Too many cautions, too many yellows,” Newgarden said. “We struggled a little bit on the wet, but when it was going dry we were very strong. I’m just happy we managed a top 10.”

CFH Racing is co-owned by Southsider and former IndyCar driver Sarah Fisher.
The series moves to California for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Figure-8 racing Saturday
The Speedrome’s first 75-lap figure-8 of the season is Saturday. Stocks, Indy Super Karts and USSA Mel Kenyon Midgets will also compete, with the green flag flying at 7 p.m. 

The weekend also features a swap meet and an open car show Sunday sponsored by Cluster Busters Car Club from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Major figure-8 races this season include: Night Before the 500 on May 23 and the Jake Cohen Memorial 150 on June 13, with the granddaddy of them all, the 39th annual World Figure-8 3-Hour Endurance Race on Sept. 12.

The Speedrome is located at Kitley Avenue and Brookville Road. Info: 353-8206 or www.speedrome.com.