| Welcome to the Terre Haute Action Track |
Welcome to the home of the Terre Haute Action Track. DHK Promotions is excited to bring dirt track oval racing to the Wabash Valley. We have a great line-up headed your way this summer with some of the best in racing. Check here often for racing schedules, pricing, track rules and policies, photos, races standings and all the up-to-date best from the Terre Haute Action Track.
DHK Promotions is committed to making this a place for the entire family to enjoy the best in racing. In the 2008 season, we plan to bring you some of the best drivers and most exciting racing available. Races can also be heard on ESPN Sports Radio and online at espnsportsradio.com.
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| Inaugural "Run with the Pack" Classic set for July 4th |
The Terre Haute Action track roars back to life on Friday, July 4th for the third race of the season at the historic half mile, the Wolfe's Auto Auctions "Run With the Pack" Classic, featuring the O'Reilly Auto Parts All-Star Circuit of Champions Winged Sprint Car Series.
Featuring some of the country's top winged drivers, including series championship contenders Lance Dewease, Dale Blaney, Randy Hannagan, "Fast" Freddie Rahmer and 2007 Rookie of the Year Brian Paulus, the All-Star Circuit of Champions will stage a national points paying event at the Action Track for the first time in more than a decade.
The third event on the 2008 six race schedule, the "Run With the Pack" Classic will offer fans the chance to see the quickest lap times and the top speeds of the season, as the 1200 pound, 800 horsepower winged sprinters hit the clay half-mile on Independence Day.
"When we were putting together our schedule we wanted to make sure we gave area fans a chance to see a wide variety of racing," said Mike King of DHK Promotions. "After two great non-winged sprint car events (Don Smith Classic, Tony Hulman Classic) we think fans will have a blast watching the incredible speed that the All-Star's will bring to Terre Haute on July 4th. Chris Novotney will give them a great track surface to race on, and I think it's the perfect way to start the long holiday weekend."
In addition to a great program of racing on-track, fans will also enjoy a great program after the checkers. Sky Magic Productions, one of the Midwest's leading pyrotechnic companies, will present one the areas largest fireworks shows immediately following the feature.
Tickets for the "Run With the Pack" Classic start at just $10 for adults, with a $25 Infield Family Pass available that will admit two adults and up to four children. Reserved Grandstand tickets are also available for advance purchase by calling
812-236-7951.
The Action Track ticket office will open July 4th at 3pm.
Gates open at 4pm.
Hot Laps are scheduled to get underway at 6pm.
The Sky Magic Fireworks Spectacular will follow the Victory Lane ceremony for the 30 lap feature.
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| 38th First Financial Tony Hulman Classic presented by Budweiser |
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Jones is master of the restart for second Hulman Classic win
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| Levi Jones wins Tony Hulman Classic - Photo: Lonnie Wheatley |
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By Todd Golden
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — If you could master restarts, you would be the master of the 38th Annual Tony Hulman Classic.
Ten red- and yellow-flag stoppages slowed the Classic to a crawl, but Levi Jones persevered. Jones survived nearly every restart he had to take, holding off Brad Kuhn at the flag to win the U.S. Auto Club National Sprint Car Series race in front of a large weeknight crowd at the Terre Haute Action Track on Thursday.
“All those restarts, and we were getting low on fuel too,” said Jones, who was presented with twin rifles, the traditional reward for a Hulman Classic winner. “We had just enough tonight to win.”
It was Jones’ second Hulman Classic victory. He also won in 2005. He beat Kuhn, who came back all the way back from an early spin.
“I’ve won quite a few races here, but to finally get the rifle, that’s pretty cool. When I won in 2005, I didn’t get one and I felt pretty bummed about that. To win at Terre Haute, I’ve said it a million times, it’s the best track in the country,” Jones said.
Jerry Coons Jr. led the first lap, but hopped his car on the inside going into turn 2 on the second lap, allowing Jones to go by. Coons Jr. also led the first lap of the 2005 Classic.
On the next lap, front-row starter Kuhn did a 360-degree turn sliding into turn 2. He made a great save in the face of two-thirds of the field, but Robert Ballou had nowhere to go on the outside and was collected. Kuhn limped on, and Ballou’s car came to a rest on the track, but Kuhn continued and the yellow allowed him to change a tire and stay on the lead lap.
“I hit the rut and biked up real hard, came down and someone got over our left rear and flattened our tires,” Kuhn said.
That accident begot a much more serious incident as Damion Gardner flipped three times on the restart going into turn 1, his car coming to a rest on its wheels near the wall, resulting in a 10-minute red flag. Gardner walked away from the accident.
After another yellow, when Ballou got into the turn 3 wall, Jones settled into a groove. After a brief challenge by Thomas Meseraull on a restart, Jones used a smooth, low line in the corners to begin to draw away from Meseraull, who himself began to pull away from Coons Jr. Jones’ momentum was slowed when a yellow came out eight laps in when Brad Sweet’s car slowed on the backstretch.
On the restart, the high line suddenly became the line of choice. Coons Jr., who had been using the high line throughout, got good bite out of turn 4 on the restart and got by Jones. Further back, former winner Daron Clayton used the same line to make a demon restart, moving into the top five from out of the top 10.
Coons Jr. and Jones drew away and dueled for nine laps until another red flag with 17 laps left. Jeff Bland Jr. flipped between turns 1 and 2. He was not injured.
The restart took two contenders out of action. After third-place driver Jesse Hockett’s stricken car slowed drastically coming out of turn 2, bringing out a yellow flag, leader Coons Jr., entered the pits with a flat left rear tire. He continued, but had to go to the back of the field.
Jones inherited the lead and led for three green flag laps, though under duress from Kuhn, who was able to get back to the front of the field after his early spin. A spin by Neil Shepherd brought out the yellow with 20 laps completed.
After one more green flag lap, Coons Jr. spun going into turn 1. After one more, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also spun going into turn 1.
With eight laps to go, the Classic finally settled into its conclusion. Jones got a solid restart on Kuhn and broke into a tenuous lead. Kuhn made a run at Jones on the penultimate lap and nearly got him again going into the final turn but Jones, using the middle of the track, held off Kuhn up high to get the win.
“My line was everywhere. It’s Terre Haute. You watch those old videos of Jan Opperman, Sheldon Kinser and all those guys, they’re everywhere. You’re through the ruts, you go everywhere you need to go, you just stay on the gas,” said Jones, who used both a low and middle line to good effect.
The four heats were mostly crash-free. Dustin Morgan got into the turn 3 wall in the third heat, knocking his car out for the night. Morgan was uninjured. Heats were won by Coons Jr., Darren Hagen, Jones and Cole Whitt.
The B feature was won by Kuhn, who controlled the race, along with runner-up Shane Cottle. Daron Clayton just barely tipped Scotty Weir at the wire for the last spot to advance to the Classic.
Besides Shawn Krockenberger, there were three other Wabash Valley drivers participating. Terre Haute’s Darren Krockenberger finished eighth in the fourth heat and 18th in the B feature. Shawn Krockenberger went on to finish the B feature in 16th and finished ninth in the second heat.
West Terre Haute’s Blake Fitzpatrick was eighth in the second heat, but finished 14th of 19 drivers in the B feature. Robinson’s Mat Neely was seventh in his heat and 12th in the B feature.
38th annual Tony Hulman Classic
30 laps
1. Levi Jones; 2. Brad Kuhn; 3. Darren Hagen; 4. Daron Clayton; 5. Cole Whitt; 6. Thomas Meseraull; 7. Shane Cottle; 8. Chad Boat; 9. Jerry Coons Jr.; 10. Dave Darland; 11. Jon Stanbrough; 12. Brady Bacon; 13. Tracy Hines; 14. Hunter Scheurenberg; 15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.; 16. Brad Sweet; 17. Neil Shepherd; 18. Jesse Hockett; 19. Brady Short; 20. Jeff Bland Jr.; 21. Robert Ballou; 22. Damion Gardner.
Leaders: Coons 1, Jones 2-9, Coons Jr. 10-17, Jones 18-30.
Heats (top four advanced to feature)
Heat 1 — 1. Jerry Coons Jr., 2. Tracy Hines, 3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 4. Brad Sweet, 5. Hunter Scheurenberg
Heat 2 — 1. Darren Hagen, 2. Damion Gardner, 3. Jon Stanbrough, 4. Brady Short, 5. Chris Windom, 8. Blake Fitzpatrick, West Terre Haute; 9. Shawn Krockenberger, Terre Haute.
Heat 3 — 1. Levi Jones, 2. Brady Bacon, 3. Robert Ballou, 4. Dave Darland, 5. Chad Boat
Heat 4 — 1. Cole Whitt, 2. Neil Shepherd, 3. Jesse Hockett, 4. Thomas Meseraull, 5. Kenny Biro, 8. Darren Krockenberger, Terre Haute
B Feature (top 6 advanced to Hulman Classic)
1. Brad Kuhn; 2. Shane Cottle; 3. Jeff Bland Jr.; 4. Chad Boat; 5. Hunter Scheurenberg; 6. Daron Clayton; 7. Scotty Weir; 8. Windom; 9. Rose; 10. Mellenbrandt; 11. Biro; 12. Mat Neely, Robinson; 13. Wisemiller; 14. Shane Fitzpatrick, West Terre Haute; 15. Stark; 16. Shawn Krockenberger, Terre Haute; 17. Spencer; 18. Darren Krockenberger, Terre Haute; 19. Matt Goodnight.
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| Ballou Wins Inaugural Don Smith Classic |
BALLOU MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW IN MSCS COMPETITION
WINS DON SMITH CLASSIC AT TERRE HAUTE
By Eldon Butcher
Terre Haute, IN - May 4th, 2008. The Terre Haute Action Track
opened for the season with the Clabber Girl Don Smith Classic
presented by Indiana State University. The event held in tribute to
former track promoter Don Smith, originally scheduled for Friday
evening, was postponed to Sunday afternoon due to storms. Smith was
honored in a pre- race ceremony and later presented a special trophy
to the winner following the 30 lap feature. The event also marked
the return of the Action Track to the Midwest racing scene through
the efforts of DHK Promotions LLC. The group had the facility ready
for the 42 Hoosier Tire MSCS Sprint teams and the fans that support
the series and the track.
Robert Ballou of Camby, IN, won the feature in a spirited
contest with Jesse Hockett of Indianapolis, IN. A yellow flag with
just 5 laps to go set up the final confrontation. Hockett led at the
outset of the race while Ballou worked his way forward. Hockett had
started outside pole in the 24 car field while Ballou started back in
row six.
Jesse Hockett and Brady Short paced the field for the first
third of the event. Ballou caught and passed them to lead from the
14th lap on. Hockett battled to stay close to the leader and was
still campaigning using a lower line when the checkered flags ended
the chase. Brady Short finished third with a strong run. Damion
Gardner and Levi Jones completed a talented top five.
Ballou drives for MPHG Promotions with Jimmy Jones serving as
the crew chief. Sponsors include Behavior Consultants, J.C Plew
Inc., and Builders Solutions Alliance.
Ballou drove a Maxim sprint with engine power from John Ott. The
victory was Ballou’s third in a row during MSCS competition in a
winning streak which began last fall.
Drivers finishing sixth through tenth included Mitch Wissmiller,
Danny Holtsclaw, Bill Rose, Chase Stockon, and Neil Shepherd. Bill
Rose was involved in the crash that shut down the feature on lap 10.
At least five drivers were involved as cars collected at the scene,
some flipping. Rose was the only driver in the group that was able
to make repairs and rejoin the field at the tail.
The group of drivers were battling inside the top ten when the
chain reaction accident developed in turn three. Factors included
close competition, mechanical parts, a car into the wall, and dust
compounded by the glare of the sun which was setting above and beyond
the turn three wall. After discussions officials of MSCS and the
Action Track decided to go to a brief open red to allow just enough
time for the sun to finish setting before continuing. Kenny Biro,
Dusty Wright, Daron Clayton, and Ricky Williams were the drivers
involved that had cars that were unable to continue racing.
The 42 car field produced a 22 car B-Main that was a terrific
race in itself. Chase Stockon of Sullivan, IN, took the event. He
started 13th passing 12 cars in 12 laps in a picture perfect
performance. He then proceeded to climb through the ranks in the
feature finishing ninth after starting 21st. Preliminary heat races
were won by Neil Shepherd, Jesse Hockett, Daron Clayton, and Brady
Short. |
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