For The Tribune
BROWNSTOWN
For most racers in the community, the Jackson County Fair races are the most sought after win on the racing schedule.
The backdrop of the carnival rides and the colossal crowd of local spectators creates an atmosphere for the racers that is unmatched throughout their regular season.
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Tampico’s Rick Gumm recalls his feature event win some 14 years ago as being one of the most memorable in his more than 20-year racing career.
“We went out and won our heat race that night and was able to hang on in the feature and win the thing,” said Gumm. “The fair attracts a lot of local people you know who normally don’t come to the races, so it’s really special anytime you can have a good night in front of that type of crowd. The atmosphere of the place is really cool.”
Gumm bested 51 other competitors on that night back in 2004, picking up the feature win in the modified division over Broc Burton, J.D. Roberts, Earl Plessinger, and Clint Demoss.
Fast forwarding to this year’s fair race, Gumm looks for his second Grand Champion win.
“I think this year we have a really good shot at winning again,” Gumm said. “Ryan and Deah (Scott) have me in really good equipment and after winning last weekend’s event here, our expectations are definitely high for this Saturday night.”
Gumm will be competing in the Pewter Hall Pure Stock division during Saturday night’s event in the Scott-owned No. 88 machine.
Brownstown’s Skyller Lewis came up one spot short of winning last season’s Indiana Pro Late Model feature event on Thursday night’s edition of the grandstand events.
Lewis competes in his family owned No. 22 with his father Jeff and grandfather Don Gardner by his side.
“The fair race has always been the race that we have wanted to win,” Lewis said. “To run second to Marty was exciting and humbling as he is pretty much the best crate racer around. It just motivates us that much more for this year. We really have a good car this year so we feel like we can compete with all of the crate guys, so hopefully we can improve one more spot from last year and come out on top.”
Marty O’Neal took the top spot over Lewis, Justin Shaw, Tyler Cain, and Issac Rainey.
The Print Worx Indiana Pro Late Models will be in competition on Thursday night’s “Thursday Thunder” grandstand event, with A&K Excavating Modifieds, Woolston Automotive Super Stocks, and Hornets also on the racing program.
Raymond Humphrey comes into the event leading the points standings over Seymour’s Tyler Cain, Tyler Neal and rookie of the year front runner Justin Bowling.
Seymour’s Dennis Boknecht currently leads the modified points standings over his son Matt Boknecht. Jeremy Owens is third with a pair of Jackson County residents trailing him, Ryan Thomas of Brownstown and Jeremy Hines of Seymour.
Brownstown’s Jason Hehman looks to repeat his performance and stretch his points lead in the super stock division.
Hehman’s stepdaughter Brycelyn Ruddick was the 2017 Jackson County Fair Queen.
Saturday night will feature the Jackson County Grand Champion Fair Race, the sixth annual Paul Crockett Memorial.
E-Z Lift Super Late Models, A&K Excavating Modifieds, Woolston Automotive Super Stocks, and Pewter Hall Pure Stocks will all be in competition.
Past winners of the Paul Crockett Memorial include Dustin Linville, Jeremy Hines, Cody Mahoney and Hudson O’Neal.
Mahoney won the event back-to-back in 2015 and 2016.
Events each night are set to begin at 7 p.m.
Adult admission on Thursday night will be $15 with children ages 6-12 being $2.
Admission for Saturday nights event sponsored by the Jackson County Fair is $20 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-12.