INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 12, 2016) — The “Jim Hurtubise Classic” and the “Haubstadt Hustler” are on tap in Indiana this week for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship. Friday, September 16th’s “Jim Hurtubise Classic” unfolds at the Terre Haute Action Track while Saturday, September 17th’s “Haubstadt Hustler,” co-sanctioned by MSCS, is at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt.
Brady Bacon, fresh from his victory in last Saturday’s USAC/CRA “California Sprint Week” finale at Hanford, Calif., leads the series into this weekend’s National Sprint events. He has a 173-point lead over Robert Ballou, who is sidelined following a neck injury over a week ago at Calistoga, Calif. Chase Stockon, of Fort Branch, Indiana, sits third in the standings, 60 behind Ballou and 233 behind Bacon.
Friday’s Terre Haute spectacular honors the driver who scored five consecutive USAC Sprint race wins at the legendary half-mile between 1960 and 1962. Ballou won the “Tony Hulman Classic” there in May, while the “Don Smith Classic” Indiana Sprint Week finale in July went to Stockon.
Stockon, who won in 2012, joins other previous “Hurtubise Classic” winners Jon Stanbrough (2010), Chris Windom (2011), Jerry Coons, Jr. (2013) and Bacon (2014) in Friday night’s field.
Stockon also won at Haubstadt in April and Carson Short was the Indiana Sprint Week winner at Tri-State in July while Brady Short won last year’s “Haubstadt Hustler.” Cullman, Alabama’s Kevin Thomas, Jr., who has been on a tear of late, winning three of the four most recent USAC Sprint races – all at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway – won the “Haubstadt Hustler” back in 2013.
Friday night’s “Jim Hurtubise Classic” gets underway with pit gates opening Wednesday at 3pm and grandstands at 4pm. Cars hit the track with hot laps set for 6:30pm, ProSource Qualifying slated for 7pm and racing scheduled to begin at 7:30.
Saturday night’s “Haubstadt Hustler” has the pit gates opening at 3:30pm and grandstands at 4:30pm. ProSource Qualifying starts at 6:30pm with racing to begin at 7:30pm. (CST)