By Dick Jordan
Wednesday night’s 43rd “Tony Hulman Classic” at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track renews one of America’s most revered Sprint racing traditions, one which dates back to 1971 when George Snider won the inaugural.
It’s been 20 years since Dave Darland tasted the victory in the Terre Haute classic, but he’ll be among top favorites in Wednesday’s race after polishing off the series regulars in last Friday’s “Larry Rice Classic” at the Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway.
Darland passed Kevin Thomas Jr. on lap 19 and led the last 12 laps to beat Thomas and halt Kevin’s three-race series winning streak. Brady Short was third ahead of Chase Stockon and Brady Bacon. The USAC victory was the first ever for car owners Phillips Motorsports as Darland piloted the Racers Advantage/Jockish Flowers DRC/Foxco to the win.
Bud Kaeding won last year’s “Tony Hulman Classic” but Levi Jones hopes to become the race’s first four-time winner. He won it in 2005, 2008 and 2009. Two-time winner Jon Stanbrough, plus former winners Tracy Hines, Daron Clayton, Chris Windom and Jerry Coons Jr. are all possible repeat winners Wednesday.
Chase Stockon’s third-place Bloomington finish has him 14 points ahead of Darland in the latest series standings, with Thomas just 12 back of Darland in third.
2013 AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Point Standings: 1-Chase Stockon-466, 2-Dave Darland-452, 3-Kevin Thomas Jr.-440, 4-Brady Bacon-439, 5-Hunter Schuerenberg-422, 6-Bryan Clauson-417, 7-Robert Ballou-406, 8-Tracy Hines-381, 9-C.J. Leary-275, 10-Tyler Courtney-254.