Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones...
 

The Vincennes University Midwest TQ Racing League will open their 2009 racing season on Saturday night May 16th when Hometown Country WIFE-FM 94.3 presents the “Salute to the Hall of Fame” at the Rush County Fairgrounds in Rushville, IN. This event will honor some of the all-time great drivers that are enshrined in the National Sprint Car and National Midget Hall of Fames.

Hall of Fame drivers that are scheduled to appear include:

GARY BETTENHAUSEN
1969 & 1971 USAC Sprint champion, 1980 & 1983 USAC Silver Crown champion

TOM BIGELOW
1978 USAC Sprint champion, 1984 USAC Midget champion

STEVE CHASSEY
President of the Midget Racing Hall of Fame

LARRY DICKSON
1968, 1970 & 1975 USAC Sprint champion

BUBBY JONES
1983 & 1984 CRA Sprint champion

MEL KENYON
1964, 1967, 1968, 1974, 1977, 1981 & 1985 USAC Midget champion

LARRY RICE
1973 USAC Midget champion, 1977 & 1981 USAC Silver Crown champion

The “Rushville Rocket,” Tony Stewart will also be honored. Stewart is unable to attend the festivities due to his NASCAR commitments at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC, but he will be represented by his father Nelson Stewart. Nelson will also bring along his #59 three-quarter midget and will be competing later in the evening.

Mel Kenyon will also be behind the wheel driving a TQ owned by Jay Parks. Others expected to compete alongside Stewart and Kenyon include former TQ champions Kenny Byrge and Robert Nichols, Rushville’s own Tate Martz, Jason Willis, Kyle Lux, Rick Robinson, Tad Cheek, Tim Lynch, Chris Mann, Chad & Brett Hankins, Eddie Gagnon, Tony Giltner, and Don “Rocket” Epley of Newton, AL.

The grandstand gates will open at 4:00 pm and the Hall of Fame drivers will be introduced to the crowd at 6:00 pm. After introductions there will be a meet & greet/autograph session while the Vincennes University TQ’s qualify. At 7:00 pm Rushville Mayor Merv Bostic will present each of the Hall of Fame drivers with a “Key to the City.”

Racing will start at 7:15 pm with the Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel pitting the fastest four qualifiers against each other. Following the Duel will be two rounds of heat races and a B main. Capping off the night will be a 50-lap feature.

Admission is $10.00 for adults 16 and over, $5.00 for children 6 to 16, children 5 and under are free.

For more information on the Vincennes University Midwest TQ Racing League please visit their website at www.mtqrl.com.

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Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

:8:

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Awesome! This is a great idea!

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

All of those guys were childhood heros' of mine, man I wish I could be there. There were rumors lately of Larry Rice and health issues, hope they were just stupid rumors. Hopefully we will be able to make Lawrenceburg! Oh and....NO MORE RAIN!
David.

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Sandy, if the posts concerning Larry Rice's health are true, and I have it from a pretty good source that they are, then I doubt he will be attending.

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

I think it is a great idea to have a hall of fame race, but what do any of these guys have to do with TQ racing? I know they all are racers but not one of them minus Tony Stewart have ever raced a TQ, and he wont even be there. Save those HALL OF FAMERS for USAC or another race club where those drivers actually have something to do with the club.

And....As for Nelson Stewart coming to your race, I doubt it, considering "The One and Only" Ronnie Combs put his car together and Tony raced in the UMRA not your club. But it is a good idea

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

I must say, excuse the MTQRL for trying to do something for the fans. However, it's not only a cool deal for the fans, but also the owners, drivers and officials! Plus, they are choosing to honor the sport of midget, sprint and silver crown racing, which I think is very cool! Why? Because I'm a race fan, along with many others. Along with this event, everything that this series has done is for the drivers, owners and (you guessed it) the fans.

One last thing, you're doing nothing but making the other club look bad. As a matter of fact, you're showing a classic example of why there was ever a thought of a new series. You're not the only one, but then again, maybe you're all the same person (i.e. - violin). I was involved with the other series for a long time and I know how it works and what goes on. I don't know everything, but don't think I'm just some fan in the stands that hasn't seen what goes on. Your best bet is to focus your energy into making the other series better and move on.

Thanks!

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

SHAWN
You are correct. And thanks for signing your name.

Dale
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Shawn, this persons identity is known, someone from UMRA should put a muzzle on them, they're only hurting the TQ image, and especially the group that they think they are helping, this phony stuff has to cease, it only casts a shadow, over an already shakey racing venue, it is not helping the UMRA, and is not hurting the MTQRL! My name is Bob McClure, as if you didn't know, and I approve this message! Bob

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

I think Nelson, like a few other drivers, is going to race with both clubs -- choosing which is the most convenient for him when his schedule is considered. At least, that's what he told me earlier this year.
I think it might be interesting to learn just who among that Hall of Fame group has driven TQs before. You might be surprised. Here's a short list of some that I know did -- Mario Andretti, Tim Richmond, Pancho Carter, Butch Wilkerson, Sonny Ates.
Jim Morrison

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Jim, this person, who continues to try to agitate, doesn't realize, that this is the reason, at least one reason, this split has happened, and yes, early on, I think several were going to run in both series, but this person, can take all the credit, for changing this line of thinking, and driving them to the new League, so keep it up, you are the one who will be sorry. Bob

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Jim, I agree that most people would be surprised at the caliber of drivers who have raced TQs. I know I was. There is such a deep and fascinating history tied to TQ racing. I am surprised that it has been kept such a secret all these years.

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

I wish I could there! Sure have enjoyed watching all of there careers! My prayer's are with Larry
Rice! My life has been about Midgets-Sprints-Champ Dirt Cars. I would not have it any other way!
Best Regards,
John

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

It is quite amazing to know some of the drivers who have raced tqs. I know at least one indy car driver today did, Ed Carpenter, he didnt long but he did. Im also pretty sure I recall Mel Kenyon telling me a story of him building a tq and running not sure how much he ran but I seem to remember this story.
I know I am going to be running both series when we get the car done, Im just personally happy to have a choice of tracks to go to now. I can choose to not drive as far if one clubs 3 hours away and the other is within an hour. That is a very nice option and more oppurtunities to race.
The new club is looking very good and appealing even from a fans standpoint. They have a lot of good things happening. Should be a fun year for sure.
Nothing beats being at the track smelling those methanol burning racecars man what a smell.
Brad Wilson

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Zach,

I'm sorry you feel that honoring members of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the National Midget Hall of Fame at a TQ race in Rushville is a bad idea. The drivers that we are honoring did not limit their careers just to the organizations that they won championships in. For example, each of the 8 drivers have competed in the Indianapolis 500 and have a combined 57 starts between them.

It is the Month of May in Indiana and racing is popular in this state, including Rushville. Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate and this will be a good opportunity for race fans (of all divisions) to meet their heroes at the autograph session and possibly find some new drivers to cheer for later in the evening when the Midwest TQ's take the track.

Sandy

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Hey Jim,

I am going to go with your way of thinking. I do believe that Nelson will be there. He understands racing and I am sure he will use the circuit that fits his needs for that night.

I have talked to several drivers just to find that many are going to run both venues. I would like to say to those people... Good for you! You now have a choice. Use it.

You will always be welcome to run with us at MTQRL. :6:

Charlie Dwenger
MTQRL Chief Official

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

The weather sure isn't working in our favor, but hopefully some sunshine will help dry things out a little bit today. I'll keep my fingers crossed for some racing on Saturday Night! Good times and good racing on the fairgrounds dirt!

Also, I guess that I should have searched for LoveToRace and I would have found a name to associate it with. If it's the same Zach that I'm guessing it is, I'm very surprised. I won't say anything other than that, since I'm not 100% sure. I will say that it's not a very good business move to post on here that you're starting your own business, but then bashing a whole series. I will leave it at that...

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

ok...ran chances are down from 70% to 30% on Sat. :2:

Track is in pretty good condition. Things are looking good.

Lets go Racing!! :31:

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

If the MTQRL is about the fans, then they never should have started a new club. All this did was hurt car counts and and hurt the competition for both clubs. All it took was for one person to get mad and ruin something great, that has been around for 50 years. So maybe you should honor the UMRA in your Hall of Fame race for creating such a great sport, and making TQ racing what it is today. Dont get me wrong I dont have anything against the people that choose to run with the MTQRL, but this situation was handled totally the wrong way.

I finished 5th at the season opener at Brownstown, now usually I would be thirlled, but now that there is a new club and they have 3 or 4 of the front runners and few people decided not to run this year, I am almost dissapointed. Even though I know the UMRA still has the best competition I would still like to say I beat Tate Martz, Kenny Byrge, and Jason Willis.

In conclusion lets go out and get car counts of 20 or 21 cars and run aganist half ass competition and all be freinds.


ZACH COUGILL

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Yeah, maybe there will be a 10% chance by the time racing is due to start...haha! I'm looking forward to it, for sure, but it's still Indiana weather! :31:

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Please do not bash "The One and Only" Ronnie Combs. Ronnie earned his keep in UMRA history the hard way.

As for Nelson showing at MTQRL races, remember this...Tony (Nelson's son) is Ronnie's sponsor. Nelson wil race where and when Nelson wants.

Charlie Dwenger
MTQRL Chief Official

---------- Post added at 10:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:32 PM ----------

Let me get this straight...You finished 5th, and you say that MTQRL has 3 or 4 of the front runners? What does that tell you? You can still have the chance of beating them. Our schedule is posted at www.mtqrl.com .

See you at the track?

Charlie Dwenger
MTQRL Chief Official

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

As for Zach ladies and gents, lets not feed the trolls around here... mmm k?

As for the drivers, this is an awesome idea.

Lets not forget some of the USAC/Namars greats too...

-Jay Drake
-Johnny Hydenrich (spelling?)
-Ted Hines
-Tracy Hines
-Jason Leffler
-Ricky Shelton
-AJ Felker

Im sure there are a bunch others. Sandy, any help?

TQ racing, from what I can see, will be great once again, with large car counts and the west/east/south coast all coming together.

Sounds like the boys on the west coast want to come out and play.

Great job MTQRL for getting this together. Looks like rain tonight, but breezy tomorrow. Every body bundle up and bring a canteen of some hot joe to the stands with a good blanket.

Who's prepping the track? Let me know - need to get in contact with them.

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

ok...wanted to give everyone an update.

95% of the water drained off the track last night. The rest should be gone today with the sun.

A little rain is expected tomorrow AM.....so everything is looking great.

Lets go racing!!!!!

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

That's great news, Mark! Looking forward to it...

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

jon
Throw on Derek Scheffel and Jason Knoke. I believe there's about five track championships.
And Billy Puterbaugh -- four titles in two years.
Jim

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Here's the list of drivers I came up with that raced in TQ's then went on
to win championships in other forms of motorsports:

Pete Abel
Mario Andretti
Lou Cicconi, Jr.
Pancho Carter
Gregg Cory
Jay Drake
Robby Flock
Nick Fornoro, Jr.
Alex Harris
Rick Hendrix
Todd Hunsaker
Austin King
Jason Knoke
Cory Kruseman
Josh Lakatos
Jason Leffler
Bill Luse
Tate Martz
Dave McKnight, Jr.
Bobby Michnowicz
Kerry Norris
Billy Puterbaugh
Robbie Ray
Derek Scheffel
Don Schilling
Jason Setser
Ricky Shelton
Dave Steele
Tony Stewart
Dude Teate
Travis Welpott
Josh Wise

If you know of any more let me know.

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

I would never bash Ronnie Combs he is a good friend, it was more of an inside joke than anything. As for the second part I know I can beat them, but with them not running with the UMRA that is not going to happen. What I meant by that comment was that I go out and I feel that I can beat anybody, just like any other racer, but when you don’t have all the top drivers running the same series then how can you feel satisfied with any finish.

I would like to see the UMRA and MTQRL get together at the end of the season and run like a MTQRL/UMRA Shootout. Then you could have the champion for both clubs and all the competition together. We could wear different colored streamers from or cages and see what happens, more for bragging rights then anything else. We could run at a Rushville or Greensburg and work out a deal for specs for the cars, sense both clubs are different.

Just an Idea!


ZACH COUGILL

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Doh! How could I have forgotten! :14::14::14::14::14:

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

I am SO ready!!! :23: :31: :2:

Charlie Dwenger

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

All together now, on 3, one, two, three, LET'S GO RACIN!!!!!

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

I looked at Rushville's track. This is the BEST I have EVER seen it!!! SMOOOOTH and tacky with moisture over 4 inches deep! This will be a fast track! Lots of room to race. I would not be surprised to see three wide in the corners. :6:

This is more than racing. Bring a camera and something for the autograph signings of the legendary racecar drivers that will be on hand. Mel Kenyon will also be racing with us! If you get hungry, we will have some of the best food you have ever had at a racetrack. Smoked-pulled-pork sandwiches, roasted corn on the cobb, potato salad along with the usual track hot dogs and 100% beef hamburgers. (not soybean burgers)

With Gary Lee announcing every move on the track and the history of racing, you will have a better insight to racing that you have never had before.

Remember to come early for tech inspection.
See you all at the track!

Charlie Dwenger
MTQRL Chief Official

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Dont let the rain coming through tonight scare anyone away.

Any rain will be done Sat AM and the track is in great shape.

Sat Night at the Rush County Fairgrounds is going to be exciting.

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Mike Streicher, Tracy Hines

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Any updates?
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Looks like it is a go, for Rushville tonight, should be a good night, for some good fun racin! Bob

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

AJ,

I omitted both of those drivers on purpose along with others such as Butch Wilkerson, Ted Hines, etc.
I tried to use the criteria of drivers who used the experience they gained in TQ's to win championships
in other forms of motorsports.

To the best of my knowledge Tracy only ran a TQ about 2-3 times. If I remember correctly his first TQ
race was in the Pierce #70 at Greensburg and he won the Hard Charger Award.

I don't remember Streicher running a TQ at all until after he was a winner in the midget ranks. But he has
won a couple of TQ races indoors.

Sandy

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

I just went by the track and saw a few people there, even walking on the track. So, it seems that with some drying time, it'll be good-to-go. I can't say for sure, but that's just my observation...

Any official updates?!

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Sandy's thread says tonight is a RAIN OUT.

https://www.indianaopenwheel.com/showthread.php?t=17222

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

This past weekend was great nights at Rushville. best track conditions ive seen in a long time and friday went green to checkered whole way through

Re: Salute to the Hall of Fame - Bettenhausen, Bigelow, Chassey, Dickson, Jones..
 

Did I miss something here? This thread is old, it goes from one thing to a totally different thing, all in the same thread. Meadowmuffins! What is this, a political manuever to pass something, with a "rider"? Strange stuff! Bob