[Chris Nunn]

I made my maiden voyage to the Gas City I69 Speedway in Gas City, IN for some USAC Indiana Sprint Week action, knowing I was headed into territory I wasnt used to. Being a supposed "Late Model" guy, going to Sprint Week puts me into a crowd of smart, educated, and passionate race fans who live and die by how their favorite Sprint Car driver finishes. Dave Darland, coined as "The Peoples Champ" has a rabin fan following unlike any other in the state of Indiana. A journeyman who has driven for different teams throughout his illustrious career, and by all rights, SHOULD BE racing in the Indianapolis 500, started out the night with a solid second place finish in his heat race. The invert for the feature put him in the front row for the main event, and he bolted out to an immediate lead ahead of Chris Windom, the Baldwin Brothers racing pilot, on a heavy, hammer down reworked race track. Windom played catch up throughout the first part of the event, closing within car lengths of Darland. My night decided to take a painful twist at around lap nine, as a baseball-sized dirt clod clobbered me in the left side of the face. Needless to say I didnt miss anything, as the top five remained the same with Darland leading the train around the bottom of the track. The track was so fast after being reworked, it was hard to pass on. The only car able to make some moves was Shane Cottle, who had started in the 14th starting spot quietly picked his way through the field into the top ten, then worked his way up to a top five finish at the end of the race. Up front, Darland was able to maneuver through lapped traffic and hold off Windom and Robert Ballou who wasnt in favor of the track conditions at the end, noting in the post race interview with USAC Announcer Blake Anderson that the conditions were not favorable for passing because it was so hammer down fast.

Night number one of USAC Indiana Sprint week started at Gas City I69 Speedway with great weather and 48 USAC None Winged Sprint Cars in the pits. The talent level that was packed into the pit area was uncanny. Jerry Coons, Jr started out the night in the Phillips #71 claiming fast time in Time Trials setting him up to start sixth in heat one. Heat one took a while to get put into the books as numerous cautions flew during the eight lap event. Cottle was able to score a convincing win over Ballou, Coons, and a hard charging Wes McIntyre, who came from the Non Qualifiers race, then spun during the heat, and charged from the tail to finish in the fourth and final transfer spot. Jon Stanbrough survived a slightly smoking motor to claim Heat Race two over Darland, second fastest qualifier Coleman Gulick, and Levi Jones who started in the eighth position and finished fourth. California’s Mike Spencer cruised from his pole position to win the third heat over Brady Short, Windom, and Jonathan Hendrick, who moved around Bobby East on the final lap. Thomas Meseraull scored the fourth heat win over Ryan Pace, Andrew Elson, and fourth fastest qualifier Bryan Clauson. The B-Main was won by Chad Boespflug, which put him into the feature event along with Daron Clayton, JJ Hughes, Bobby East, Tracy Hines, and Chris Gurley.

Onto the Kokomo Speedway for the first time ever tomorrow for myself, a track that has held the distinction of being the mecca of great racing in the state of Indiana. Needless to say I am pretty damn excited to see this place for the first time. I hope it lives up to its billing, as I don’t believe ill be leaving Kokomo disappointed.

[Sausage]

You won't be dissapointed by Kokomo. My first ISW race was there and the quality of the driving and whole show about knocked me out. Can't imagine the adrenaline the drivers must feel as the competition level is so intense. One caution though, you will be spoiled by the end of the night and may never look at a weekly show the same :2: