Mike O’Leary
Bloomington, Indiana – The Josh Burton Memorial continues to grow in stature at Bloomington Speedway. From a humble celebration of the popular young racer in its first iteration, it has become one of the most attended races of the year at the historic oval. This year’s event will be no exception.
Scheduled May 22, the Friday of the Indy 500 weekend, the Memorial will again see the Midwest Sprint Car Series and the King of Indiana Sprint Car Series racing for $2,500 to win and points toward both championships. In addition, Bloomington’s racing program will include the RaceSaver winged sprint cars, modifieds, super stocks and hornet divisions. The special night will begin with the sprint car drivers meeting being held in front of the grandstands at the start/finish line.
Significant bonuses and fan souvenirs have been announced by the track management. Josh Burton Racing will award bonuses of $500 to the 410 sprint car feature winner, $200 to both the modified and super stock winner, and $100 to the hornet winner. Leslie and Terry Prince of Bloomington, are adding a bonus of $500 to the 410 sprint car feature winner and another $500 to the leader of lap 4 in the A-main. There is another $1,000 bonus to the feature winner if they have a roll cage halo welded into the car (from Josh Burton Racing). The “Henry Rifle” will be presented to the 410 feature winner by the Four Season’s Gun Shop. A $400 bonus will be awarded to the RaceSaver sprint feature winner by Dan Roberts. And, fourth place in the 410 sprint car B-main will earn a Hoosier medium right rear tire.
Josh Burton Memorial T-shirts will be sold at the south end concession stand, with all proceeds going to charity. Arizona T-shirts will be giving away T-shirts to fans throughout the night. And the Speedway will give one boy’s bicycle and one girl’s bicycle in a drawing using children’s admission tickets.
The grandstand will open at 5 pm, the pit gate at 4 pm, with hot laps at 6:30 and racing action beginning at 7:30. General admission is just $20, and the pits is $30. More details are available at www.bloomingtonspeedway.com, or from the track at 812-824-7400.