Just want to say thank you to Anderson Speedway for pushing through the rain and delays and completing the show Thursday night.

Despite a clear forecast (a 3% chance of precipitation when I left home), a band of rain came through during the final sprint car practice and pissed on the track for about an hour.

21 sprint cars, 16 Kenyon midgets, 5 or 6 Thunder Roadsters. For $18 it was a decent show. “Maybe” 3-400 people in the stands.

I really like sprint cars on pavement. However, sometimes, outside the Little 500, there’s not much passing at Anderson. Hate to say. Fortunately, there was a pass for the lead. But then Dakoda Armstrong ran away with it. 2nd through 7th was single file. No one really got out of line. 100 laps of that was painful to watch.

On the pavement-side of sprint car racing, the talent level is the best it’s been in years. There is now a solid group of veterans such as Armstrong, Swanson, O’Gara, Hamilton Jr, Santos and Roahrig. Mix in the new, young drivers such as Colton Bettis, Landon Butler, Jackson Macenko, and Chase Locke and the future of pavement looks very good.

Mark my words: Florida’s Colton Bettis has to be an odds-on-favorite for the Little 500 next month. He’s driving a V-6 for Aaron Pierce. Bettis set fast time at Anderson Thursday. That was a surprise. This kid’s one to watch.

Also, Scott Hampton took a nasty hit against the turn four opening during practice. The car shot down the banking with the throttle hung open and did about 30 360s in the infield grass before the engine expired. The whole scene felt like it went on forever. Hopefully he’s ok. He reported to be talking when he was removed from the car and transported by ambulance. Anyone know of his condition?