By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

History has been rewritten at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Originally scheduled for five days, USAC midget car and NASCAR racing stretched over six days due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon, which dumped more than 5 inches of rain on the Speedway.

Veteran NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer said it best: “When there’s a storm with a name after it headed your way, you’re in trouble.”

The trouble from the tropical storm forced a four-hour delay in the first midget car race on a quarter-mile dirt track at the Speedway, canceled practice and qualifications for the Xfinity 250-mile and Monster Energy Cup 400-mile races, rescheduled for a doubleheader Monday.

The anticipated FGL Fest with headliners Florida Georgia Line was canceled Saturday at the Speedway.

The winners were:

• Hoosier Zeb Wise, a 15-year-old Bryan Clauson protégé, who won the Stoops Pursuit on the dirt track Sept. 5.

• Brady Bacon of Oklahoma captured the Driven2SaveLives BC39 midget feature Thursday night after a four-hour delay in heat races earlier.

• On the same history-making Monday, Justin Allgaier took the seventh annual Lilly Diabetes 250 and Brad Keselowski won the Brickyard 400 for team owner Roger  Penske – his first – whose drivers have won the Indianapolis 500 17 times. Penske becomes the second team owner to win the 500 and the 400 at the Brickyard.

Speedway President Doug Boles said the 650-mile doubleheader was unprecedented in IMS history; so were the two nights of midget car racing. Emotions ran wild at the midget car event that honored the late Clauson, who was killed in a race in 2016. Two recipients of organs from him were the grand marshals.

Clauson’s father, Tim, noted that a double rainbow Thursday meant that his son was watching over the festivities. An estimated 13,000 spectators viewed the two nights of racing, which raised hopes that the event would be held annually.

The NASCAR events took on a mind of their own with three days of rain that set up the historic twin bill of racing Monday. Of interest, retired NASCAR champion Tony Stewart told an NBCSports Network reporter that he has received offers from team owners Bobby Rahal, Roger Penske and Michael Andretti to race in the 2019 Indianapolis 500 but might consider the 2020 race.

However, he could run in a few selected Indy car races next year because he would want to return to the 500, not to be a sideshow but to win it. He last raced in the 500 in 2001, finishing sixth for team owner Chip Ganassi. Dale Earnhardt said he would compete in the Xfinity Series race Sept. 21 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. The NBC analyst served as the Chevrolet Camaro pace car driver for the Brickyard 400.

“The only reason you get behind the wheel of a race car is because it’s fun and you enjoy the competition,” Earnhardt said of his racing return. “I don’t want to sweat over every lap and how fast we are in practice and all those things and make it a miserable experience because most race car drivers tend to do that if you’re not careful.”

Of interest, Allgaier’s winning Chevrolet was one of three cars owned by Earnhardt that competed in the Xfinity race.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Popular NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, a graduate of USAC midget and sprint cars, said he believes that the Driven2SaveLives BC39 midget car race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will grow into something special. But he is passing up the inaugural dirt track race Thursday after recently racing four nights in winged sprints in Pennsylvania.

The winner will take home $15,000 of the $75,000 purse. The two-day event has attracted a series record 118 entries and will precede three days of NASCAR events on the 2.5-mile oval.

“For Indy to put up a purse like that is very special; hopefully it will allow them to build something huge at the Speedway,” Larson said. “I would like to see this race grow into something bigger and better. “Short tracks like this are good for midget racing. The dirt track has a good surface and is wide. Anytime you put midgets on a small track, it’s a good race. It will be fun to watch.”

The Chip Ganassi driver is hopeful of snapping a 34-race winless drought by winning the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup race at the Brickyard. Larson, 26, has five runner-up finishes this season and has confidence heading into the Brickyard 400.

“We are solidly in the playoffs,” he said. “Our game plan hasn’t changed; we’re going out and trying to win.” Larson is known for his bold rim-riding style on pavement, a style that was developed on various dirt tracks.

“Racing on dirt in all sorts of different race cars has helped me to adapt on pavement and get up to speed quickly,” he said. “Dirt track change lap after lap, so I never considered running the same line lap after lap. That has helped me because racing on pavement changes during each race too.”

Larson was in Indianapolis Aug. 22 to hang a street sign with his name at the corner of Georgia and Illinois streets.

The 25th running of the Brickyard 400 unfolds Sunday at 2:09 p.m. Defending winner Kasey Kahne will take the green flag at Indy for the last time as he is retiring at the end of the season. Former winners in this year’s field include Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, Paul Menard, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick.

The race is the final event to determine the 16 drivers in NASCAR’s playoffs. Johnson and Denny Hamlin were expected to qualify for The Chase at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway Saturday night. However, Newman and Kahne are among many drivers who need a win at the Brickyard to make it into the playoffs

In an Aug. 29 interview at the dirt track inside Turn 3, IMS President Doug Boles said, “We have received unbelievable support across the board from the short track, racing and NASCAR communities. We knew we would get support, but the amount of support has been overwhelming.”

Boles said the track needs more banking in the corners. Some of the Musco LED lights used at the U.S. Nationals will be moved to the track for temporary lighting tonight and Thursday. The track, slightly under one-quarter of a mile, utilizes part of the ground where a smaller dirt track was developed for Tony Stewart. Bryan Clauson was part of that special day.

The race (BC39) is named for Clauson, who was killed last year in a midget car accident in Belleville, Kansas. Boles made his remarks after watching former 500 driver Sarah Fisher, who raced USAC midgets, take the first official laps around the track. Fisher is married to Beech Grove native Andy O’Gara, and they reside in Franklin Township.

Team owner Fisher has entries for twotime USAC national midget champion Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind., Kyle O’Gara of Beech Grove and Ryan Smith of Pennsylvania. J.J. Yeley, who has raced in the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Landon Cassill, Xfinity series driver Christopher Bell and Eldora Speedway truck series winner Chase Briscoe are among NASCAR drivers in the dirt race.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

The tributes to NHRA Pro Stock legend Bob Glidden, who died Dec. 17, 2017, poured in during the 64th Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg. The tributes took place Friday:

• Widow Etta Glidden accepted Indiana’s highest honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash, presented in memory of her husband, who won nine Nationals and 10 Pro Stock championships.
• Opening day of the Nationals pro competition will be known as Bob Glidden Day at the track and throughout Hendricks County.
• Pro Stock cars and drivers lined the return road adjacent to the drag strip in his honor. • Two white and blue 1978 Pro Stock Ford Fairmonts went down the strip in Glidden’s honor.
• Funny Car competitor Bob Tasca III raced a 2018 Mustang with red and white Motorcraft colors of Glidden’s famed 1988 Thunderbird.

“When the cars lined the return road, it brought tears to my eyes,” son Rusty Glidden said. “It was an unbelievable tribute from Pro Stock competitors.” Tasca was 12 years old when he met Bob Glidden at an NHRA race. “That was the first car I saw him drive,” Tasca said. “He was more than a driver and champion. He took me under his wing and showed me that it took determination and passion to win.”

Glidden’s older son, Billy, competed in Pro Mod, where he continued to struggle at the Nationals. Racing a smaller Ford engine boosted by nitrous oxide, he was mired in last place until his final run of 5.955 seconds, too slow to make the 16-field finals. His crew chief is wife and Greenwood native Shannon Springer Glidden.

Whiteland native and second-generation racer Joey Shipp reached Stock Eliminator and Super Gas semifinals Monday before being eliminated. Shipp, 30, made it to the four-car finals by outracing five foes in each class through Saturday night. His best run in SE was 8.74 seconds.

The Franciscan Health respiratory therapist was edged by only 3 feet by Texan Jerry Emmons in SE semis Monday. In Super Gas the difference was eight-hundredths of seconds to winner Steve Hoyt. Each run ended Shipp’s best experience in the Nationals.

“This was really exciting because this is my home track. All my runs were good and without any real trouble. All my races were so close.”

He was the most successful of four Shipp family racers at the track. Patriarch Randy Shipp reached the third round before outed, while daughters Randi Lynn and Kristi did not make it past the first round. Greenwood’s Rob Goodrich fell in the first round.

Defending Pro Stock champion Drew Skillman qualified 12th (207.43 mph) with a new motor that powered him to a semifinal berth. In his first elimination race Monday, Skillman edged No. 5 qualifier Chris McGaha with a perfect .000 hole shot by eightthousandths of a second.

Later he was slower off the line by thirteen-thousandths of a second and lost to former teammate Erica Enders. U.S.

Nationals pro winners: L.E. Tonglet, ’03 Suzuki TL, motorcycle; Tanner Gray, ’18 Camaro, Pro Stock; J.R. Todd, ’18 Camry, Funny Car; and Terry McMillen, ’18 DSR dragster, Top Fuel.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

When Greenwood’s Mike Hadley Jr. raced in his first two World Figure-8 championships, he figured that it took more luck than speed to win. He reversed his thinking last year when lining up for his third three-hour high-speed endurance race at the Indianapolis Speedrome – and won, completing 406 laps.

“I always thought I had to be lucky than fast,” Hadley said while recalling his $20,000 payday. “I was able to get by a few of the early incidents, but I also had the fastest car so I could stay in front at the end.”

Hadley proved that his No. 4 winged Chevrolet with a 350-cubic-inch engine and 650 horsepower was fast. He held off runner-up Ben Tunny for the final 30 minutes, never making a mistake and getting through lapped traffic without getting passed.

“My mindset early in the race was to stay out of trouble, and we led early,” Hadley said. “Then for the last part of the race when I was leading, I knew I couldn’t worry about the lapped traffic. I had to keep the lead.”

Hadley and former champions Doug Greig of Southport and Mark, Ben and Austin Tunny also return for the 42nd running of the event, which attracts drivers from several states. Greig will be competing for the 29th time. Racing for Hadley is a family affair with wife Katie, mom Tracie and brother Mason with him at the Speedrome.

Away from the track he is a construction worker. He began racing quarter midgets at the age of 5 at the Mini-Indy track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. He has raced at various venues in Indiana but considers the Speedrome home, where he races in the longer distance figure-8 chases.

“I just don’t like doing the 50-lappers,” Hadley said. “I would rather race in the one-hour, 90-minute, 150-lap races and the three-hour."

He finished second in the Jake’s 150-lap figure-8 earlier this season in a Chevrolet owned by Jon Wilson of Plainfield and third in the onehour figure-8 Saturday. Third-generation driver Chad Sizemore won his first one-hour race in a final 32-second dash with third-place Jesse Tunny claiming his fourth season championship.

More than 50 entries are expected with 28 starters and all drivers who qualified going into the race as cars drop out. The race is the brainchild of former track owner and Greenwood business owner John Stiles.

Open practice at the track, corner of Kitley Avenue and Brookville Road, is Thursday at 5 p.m. Qualifying races are Friday at 7:30 p.m. with Thundercar and FWD competing in figure-8 races. The World Figure-8 starts Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Info: 317-353-8206 or www.speedrome.com.