From Dick Jordan
The Hinchman Uniform team. captained by Kevin Thomas, Jr. raced to a one-lap victory over the St. Vincent’s Sports Performance team captained by Dillon Welch in Saturday’s 17th Annual 3-Hour Enduro go-kart event held at the Indianapolis Fastimes Karting facility.
Thomas became only the second driver to successfully defend his title in the event. Ted Hines won back-to-back crowns in 2003 and 2004.
Joining Thomas on the podium to receive gold medallions from the Tony Stewart Foundation, sponsor of the event, were Kody Swanson, A.J. Hopkins, Taylor Courtney, Justin Grant and Wes and Carl McIntyre.
Welch and his team, which also included Zeke Lewis, Isaac Chapple, Dakota Jackson, Kyle O’Gara, Michael Goodyear, Zak Blackwood and Jerry Coons Jr., received silver medals. Third-place bronze medals went to the Fatheadz Eye Wear/Barber Electrical Service/Curtis Motor Sales-sponsored team captained by Chase Barber. Other team members were Kyle Hamilton Davey Hamilton Jr., Bryan Stanfill, Chris Weyer and Gage Walker.
Thomas’ team completed 440 laps around the two-tiered road racing facility, while the Welch team finished 439 laps and the Barber team completed 437. The fastest recorded lap was 22.402 by Dillon Welch.
An eight-lap “Champion of Champions race, sponsored by Fastimes Karting, was won by A.J. Hopkins, who received a special medallion and a guitar.
Each participant received one of the door prizes donated by USAC and Hoosier Racing Tires.
The big winner of the day was the USAC Benevolent Foundation as the event raised nearly $1,000.