Dick Gaines Memorial Winners
Since its inception sixteen years ago some of the best drivers in Indiana dirt track racing have competed in and won the “Dick Gaines Memorial” at Lawrenceburg Speedway.
In its inaugural running in 2004, 15-year-old Bryan Clauson captured his first win at “The Burg” after battling wheel-to-wheel for 30-laps with Dick’s son Dickie. After a caution flag late in the race bunched the field, Gaines’ last ditch charge off turn four at the checkered wasn’t enough. “I want to thank Dickie for racing me clean the entire race. He had chances where he could have put a wheel under me, but he didn’t,” Clauson said in victory lane.
USAC Triple Crown Champion Jerry Coons, Jr. (2009), current USAC Sprint point leader Justin Grant (2013), USAC Ironman Chase Stockon (2014), and three-time National Sprint Car Driver of the Year Jon Stanbrough (2015) have also raced their way to “Dick Gaines Memorial” wins.
2015 USAC Sprint Champion Robert Ballou is the only driver with multiple “Dick Gaines Memorial” victories. In 2017 Ballou prevailed in a late race battle with Kevin Thomas, Jr. taking the win by 0.449 seconds. His victory the following year was even more spectacular, passing Jarett Andretti coming out of turn four on the final lap, to win by a mere 0.121 seconds.
Andretti, the 2016 Lawrenceburg Speedway Champion, has been the most consistent driver over the last four Dick Gaines Memorial’s with four top-3 finishes, his aforementioned second place in 2018, and third place finishes in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Current Kelsey Chevrolet Sprint point leader Nick Bilbee is the most recent Dick Gaines Memorial winner, passing Scotty Weir with seven laps to go in 2019. Bilbee has been on a tear recently at Lawrenceburg with four wins in the last eight Kelsey Chevrolet Sprint features dating back to mid-August last season.
Although Dickie Gaines has multiple wins on the Dearborn County oval, and is the defending Kelsey Chevrolet Sprint Champion, his runner-up finish in 2004 has been his best to date in the Dick Gaines Memorial. Gaines has also finished fourth (2008), fifth (2017 and 2018), sixth (2006, 2015 and 2019), seventh (2011) and ninth (2007), and would love to park the Jason Soudrette Racing #44 in victory lane Saturday night taking home the $3,000 winner’s check, but more importantly, the trophy honoring his late father.
DICK GAINES MEMORIAL WINNERS
2004 Bryan Clauson
2005 Kevin Briscoe
2006 AJ Anderson
2007 Jimmy Light
2008 Hunter Schuerenberg
2009 Jerry Coons, Jr.
2010 John Memmer
2011 Coleman Gulick
2012 Jonathan Hendrick
2013 Justin Grant
2014 Chase Stockon
2015 Jon Stanbrough
2016 Josh Hodges
2017 Robert Ballou
2018 Robert Ballou
2019 Nick Bilbee
August 22, 2020 – Lawrenceburg Speedway
17th Annual Dick Gaines Memorial
Racing to feature:
• Kelsey Chevrolet Sprints ($3,000 to win / $300 to start)
• KOI Auto Parts UMP Modifieds
• Impact Sports Pure Stocks
• Bessler’s U Pull & Save Hornets
4:00 pm Pit Gate Opens
5:00 pm Front Gate Opens
6:00 pm Practice
7:00 pm Opening Ceremonies
General Admission:
Adult $18
Children (7-12) $7
Under 6 FREE
Pit Passes:
• All Ages $30
Special promotions, tickets, and Family Four Packs are only redeemable at the main front gate entrance.
Pit passes cannot be purchased as an upgrade from a promo ticket, Family Four Pack, or a theme night.
For more information please visit
www.lawrenceburgspeedway.com or the “Lawrenceburg Speedway” Facebook page.