Bloomington, IN — (May 22, 2015) — For some time now anyone who comes to race at the Bloomington Speedway most likely knows that they will have to deal with Brady Short. They could be forgiven for checking to see what second place pays. And on a beautiful Friday night, Short dominated the 30 lap feature that was co-sanctioned by the King of Indiana Sprint Series and the Midwest Sprint Car Series. Seeing that this race was also a celebration of the life of the late Josh Burton, the win had added meaning to Short. In addition, he took the KISS point lead from Kyle Robbins by seven points as the series heads to the Tri-State Speedway at Haubstadt, Indiana on Sunday night, May 24.
An impressive 39 cars jammed the pits at Bloomington, with the usual suspects unloading and hoping to grab the extra money added to the purse, mostly by the Josh Burton family. Competition was sure to be intense with so many quality teams.
After opening ceremonies, which were a tribute to the memory of Josh Burton, racing began.
It began right away as Max McGhee won the first heat with Dave Darland, Kevin Thomas Jr. and Chris Babcock all transferring to the 30 lap feature.
Nick Bilbee held Short at bay to win the second heat. Brandon Morin was third with Kyle Robbins taking advantage of a last lap slide-off by Jeff Bland, the sentimental favorite who drives the Burton family 04. Bland had run the high groove to perfection after starting eighth. He would head for the B Main. Michael Koontz took a wild ride, flipping several times as he sailed over the turn three banking. He exited the car, shaken but okay.
Jon Stanbrough was the lone pole sitter to win a heat. He took the third heat with Casey Shuman hounding him every lap. Behind Little Shu were Chad Boespflug and Kent Christian, who edged Brent Beauchamp for the last transfer spot.
Shane Cottle won the fourth heat with Ethan Barrow coming from seventh to second. Robert Ballou came from eighth to third and Joe Ligouri was fourth, guaranteeing him a 16th starting position in the feature.
Kyle Cummins had come up short in his heat, but romped to the checkered flag in the first B Main. Only one other would transfer to the A and that was Logan Hupp, edging Jeff Bland, who again made a late charge to make the feature and came up just a bit short.
Brent Beauchamp won a wild B Main #2 that suffered two flips. Bradley Sterrett took a trip in turn four, flipping end over end. Later Cole Smith slid into second place Brandon Mattox and had a hard ride in turn three. All were okay.
Bland did come back out to lead the field before the race began as one more gesture of respect and remembrance of Josh and the Burton family.
Short and Bilbee shared the front row and Short took the lead at the outset. He quickly built a straightaway lead, missing a great race behind him. Only two cautions slowed the Bedford, Indiana native. The second of those, on lap 23, took out contender Shane Cottle, who had contact with Robert Ballou and slid over the turn two banking.
Much of the race saw a good bit of slicing and dicing among Bilbee, Shuman, Darland, Cottle, Boespflug, Ballou and Stanbrough. But no one had anything for Brady Short.
Bilbee was a distant second, but had his hands full for most all of the 30 laps. Darland was third and gave young Bilbee most of his attention. Boespflug rambled from 11th to finish fourth on a track that eventually was a tough place to pass. Thomas was fifth.
The second five was Shuman, who ran as high as second early in the race, Stanbrough, Ballou, Christian and Babcock.
Short took home at least $3500 and a Henry Golden Boy Rifle valued at $515 retail.
Luke Bland won the Racesaver 305 sprint car feature.
Feature:
1. 11P – Brady Short
2. 17B – Nick Bilbee
3. 11D – Dave Darland
4. 66B – Chad Boespflug
5. 17RW – Kevin Thomas, Jr.
6. 2X – Casey Shuman
7. 81 – Jon Stanbrough
8. 12 – Robert Ballou
9. 1C – Kent Christian
10. 35X – Chris Babcock
11. 3R – Kyle Cummins
12. 17R – Kyle Robbins
13. 15 – Ethan Barrow
14. 16R – Joe Ligouri
15. 34 – Brent Beauchamp
16. 17 – Max Mcghee
17. 57 – Shane Cottle
18. 98 – Brandon Morin
19. 94 – Logan Hupp
20. 28 – Brandon Mattox
B-Main #2:
1. 34 – Brent Beauchamp
2. 28 – Brandon Mattox
3. 4J – Scott Hampton
4. 12G – Chris Gurley
5. 17S – James Scott
6. 42 – Conner Donelson
7. 3 – Jake Simmons
8. 29S – Cole Smith
9. 21K – Bradley Sterrett
10. 38W – Chet Williams
11. 56W – Tyler Waltz
B-Main #1:
1. 3R – Kyle Cummins
2. 94 – Logan Hupp
3. 4 – Jeff Bland, Jr.
4. 44G – Dickie Gaines
5. 11 – James Lyerla
6. 21 – Carson Short
7. 22V – Shelby Vangilder
8. 77 – Hunter O Neal
9. 57S – Kevin Studley
10. 71B – Braxton Cummings
Heat Race #4:
1. 57 – Shane Cottle
2. 15 – Ethan Barrow
3. 12 – Robert Ballou
4. 16R – Joe Ligouri
5. 12G – Chris Gurley
6. 28 – Brandon Mattox
7. 4J – Scott Hampton
8. 21K – Bradley Sterrett
9. 38W – Chet Williams
Heat Race #3:
1. 81 – Jon Stanbrough
2. 2X – Casey Shuman
3. 66B – Chad Boespflug
4. 1C – Kent Christian
5. 34 – Brent Beauchamp
6. 42 – Conner Donelson
7. 29S – Cole Smith
8. 3 – Jake Simmons
9. 17S – James Scott
10. 56W – Tyler Waltz
Heat Race #2:
1. 17B – Nick Bilbee
2. 11P – Brady Short
3. 98 – Brandon Morin
4. 17R – Kyle Robbins
5. 94 – Logan Hupp
6. 57S – Kevin Studley
7. 71B – Braxton Cummings
8. 4 – Jeff Bland, Jr.
9. 77 – Hunter O Neal
10. 17K – Michael Koontz
Heat Race #1:
1. 17 – Max Mcghee
2. 11D – Dave Darland
3. 17RW – Kevin Thomas, Jr.
4. 35X – Chris Babcock
5. 3R – Kyle Cummins
6. 22V – Shelby Vangilder
7. 44G – Dickie Gaines
8. 21 – Carson Short
9. 11 – James Lyerla
10. 9M – Joss Moffatt
Winged 305 Sprint Cars:
Feature:
1. 100 – Luke Bland
2. 77 – Ryan Tusing
3. 7F – Ethan Fleetwood
4. 21X – Zach Hampton
5. 17 – Kendall Ruble
6. 99K – Kerry Kinser
7. 56 – Jared Fox
8. 14 – Eric Smith
9. 22T – Sondi Eden
10. 45 – James Mills
11. 12B – Don Ryder
Heat Race #1:
1. 21X – Zach Hampton
2. 00:00.0 – Luke Bland
3. 99K – Kerry Kinser
4. 56 – Jared Fox
5. 00:00.0 – James Mills
Heat Race #2:
1. 77 – Ryan Tusing
2. 14 – Eric Smith
3. 22T – Sondi Eden
4. 17 – Kendall Ruble
5. 7F – Ethan Fleetwood
6. 12B – Don Ryder
7. 9C – Zach Clark