From Eric Bunn
Lebanon, IN — (April 10, 2015) — When the pit gates open of Saturday afternoon at Anderson Speedway, the United States Speed Association will begin its sixth season of competition. Born in 2010, the Indiana based sanctioning body, has grown from the depths of the worst economy since the Great Depression to preparing to stage a 24 event schedule in 2015. Once again in 2015, USSA will feature two divisions of racing, the Mel Kenyon Midget Series and the Sprint Car Challenge Series Built by the UAW.
When USSA was created it was to fill the gap left when another sanctioning body pulled out of its agreement with USSA President Don Kenyon’s promotion company, DK Promotions. Meeting in December of 2009, Don Kenyon, Eric Bunn and Norm Shields agreed to become equal partners and form the LLC that is the United States Speed Association.
USSA faced some serious challenges in its first several years. As the economy sank deeper into recession, the group saw the entrants in its pavement midget division leaving racing. At this time USSA developed a “stock block” engine formula that is currently finding favor with other midget racing groups. During this time USSA was also renting tracks to keep the midget and Kenyon Cars division racing.
During a shortened 2011 racing, Kenyon Bunn and Shields examined their options and determined they would move forward with the Kenyon car division only, repositioning the division from a developmental series to an affordable, fun place for people to race. The division also acquired its new name, the Mel Kenyon Midget Series.
During the 2012 season USSA exercised its due diligence on the non-wing pavement Sprint Car Series abandoned by another sanctioning body. Following discussions with Rick Dawson, Anderson Speedway and Hoosier Tire, along with the commitment of the men and women of the United Auto Workers to join USSA as th presenting sponsor of the Sprint Car Series, The Sprint Car Challenge Series Built by the UAW was born and began competition in 2013, The Crown Jewel of the series in the Payless Little 500 presented by UAW-GM.
In the past 5 seasons, USSA has conducted 138 races and crowned champions in 4 divisions. During that time Ford, Chevrolet, Yamaha and Mopar have all notched wins in cars powered by their engines.
This Saturday’s event at Anderson Speedway will mark the 139th race and the beginning of a new season for the United States Speed Association. USSA will move past the 160 race mark and top $500,000 in prize money by the time the awards banquet rolls around in November.