By James Essex
Devin Gilpin of Columbus picked up his first late model feature win of 2021 on May 8 at Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky.
Trailing Gilpin across the finish line were Austyn Mills, Trevor Landrum, Robby Hensley and Kody Evans.
Gilpin’s Rocket Chassis is owned by his grandfather, Don Fleetwood of Brownstown, and sponsored by Clarkson Logging, Ind-Sol-Tech, Freedom Fireworks, South Central Roofing and RJ Recycling.
Trent Green won the crate late model feature over Josh Dietz, Jordan Hedger, Brad Rickels and Jim Couch.
Bryan Barber won the open wheel modified feature race over Trent Green, Daniel Dehner, Pete Holt and Dennis Roberson.
Florence will be idle tonight. The next scheduled event is May 22 with a $3,000-to-win late model feature race. For information, visit florencespeedway.com.
Larson takes midweek race
Making his first appearance at Brownstown Speedway, Kyle Larson won the FloRacing Night in America late model event May 12.
Larson led all but one lap in collecting $10,000 for his third career late model victory.
Tanner English finished second, followed by Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar, Tyler Erb, Devin Moran, Darrell Lanigan, Kent Robinson and Bobby Pierce.
Nick Hoffman won the open wheel modified feature over Tyler Nicely, Jordan Wever, Kyle Hammer and Jacoby Hines.
On May 8, Tyler Neal of Paragon won a rain-shortened pro late model feature. Shelby Miles was second, followed by Colton Sullivan, Steve Peeden, Greg Johnson, Keaton Streeval, Tyler Cain, Zack Burton, Robert Rainey and Alan Edsall.
Tonight, Brownstown will host a program of super late models, pro late models, open wheel modifieds, super stocks and crown vics. For information, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
Eldora hosts pair of events
Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, kicked off its 2021 racing season last weekend.
The USAC National Sprint Car Series along with the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars took to the track, which hosted spectators for the first time since 2019.
The May 7 events were rain-soaked and moved to May 8. Tyler Courtney and Robert Ballou took the USAC wins. Courtney won the afternoon event over Ballou, Jadon Rogers, Justin Grant and Chris Windom. Ballou won an exciting nightcap race over Courtney, Windom, Brady Bacon and Paul Nienhiser.
Tonight, Eldora will host a $5,000-to-win late model race along with modifieds and stock cars. For information, visit eldoraspeedway.com.
Sheldon Haudenschild and Brent Marks won the World of Outlaws Sprint Car feature events May 8 at Eldora Speedway.
Haudenschild won the night race, followed by Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz, Ian Madsen and Jacob Allen. Marks took the afternoon feature over Aaron Reutzel, Donny Schatz, David Gravel and Carson Macedo.
Lewis takes Lawrenceburg
Ricky Lewis won his first sprint car feature at Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 8.
Nick Bilbee finished in second, followed by Joss Moffatt, Cole Bodine and Travis Hery.
Kyle Schornick won the open wheel modified feature race over David Spille, Matt Hamilton, Scottie Williams and Jeffrey Jessup. Other feature winners were Gary Hume (hornets) and Will McRoberts (pure stocks).
Tonight, Lawrenceburg will host the BOSS sprint cars, open wheel modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For information, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.
Twin Cities racing tonight
Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon will be racing tonight with the American Modified Series, super stocks, pure stocks, hornets, 410 steel block sprints and crown vics. For information, visit twincitiestrack.com.
Jennings go-kart results
Jennings County Outlaw Kart Racing, which holds events at the Jennings County 4-H Fairgrounds in North Vernon, was rained out May 7.
The track was able to race April 30, and the division winners were Raelynn Kramer (rookies), Conner Smith (jr. 1), Jacob Chadd (jr. 2), Elijah Knoke (jr. 3), Daniel Cloud (jr. champ), Wyat Barr (sr. champ), Leroy Blevins (limited open), Derek Franks (rwyb), Johnny Smith (340 clone), Travis Wilburn (420 cloner), Cali Lucas (purestock pred) and Colton Lucas (flatheads).
The next scheduled event will be May 21.
Columbus go-karts racing tonight
Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing, which conducts events at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds in Columbus, will hold an event tonight with the Burris Racing King of Columbus with several classes racing. The drivers meeting will be at 5:30 p.m., followed by practice.
This week in racing history
From 60 years ago in 1961, Brownstown Speedway opened its racing season with Roy Robbins taking the feature win over Cecil Beavers and Dick Gaines.
Also from 60 years ago, Dick Gaines outran Cecil Beavers and Bob Kinser to win the feature at Paragon Speedway.
From 50 years ago tonight in 1971 at Brownstown, it was Jim Curry winning the late model feature over Kenny Simpson, Bob Fleetwood, Teako Ray and William Wampler.
Tommy Day made it five wins in a row to start the 1971 racing season at Twin Cities.
Also on this night 50 years ago at Paragon Speedway, Sheldon Kinser won the sprint car feature over Larry Miller, Bob Kinser, Allen Barr and Calvin Gilstrap.
From 50 years ago this weekend at Haubstadt, Chuck Amati won the sprint car feature over Larry Miller, Mike Johnson, Bob Kinser and Wes Stafford. The late model feature was taken by Jack Owens.
From 40 years ago in 1981 at Brownstown, Kenny Simpson won the late model feature race over Don Hobbs, Ray Godsey, Paul Crockett and Dick Phillips. Troy Burton won the modified street stock main event over Regis Scaggs, David Thomas, Gene Minor and Bob Johnson.
Also from 1981 at Paragon, it was Ricky Hood winning the sprint car feature over Andy Hillenburg, Bob Kinser, Frank Hollingsworth and Danny Milburn.
In 1981 at Twin Cities, Gary Herbert won the late model feature over Ross Smith, Lee Fleetwood, Dee Kramer and Dennis Noppert. Don Walp won the street stock feature over Willie Sallee, Bob Poole, Ted Pfeiffer Jr. and R.C. Calton.
From 30 years ago in 1991 at Brownstown, Scott Bloomquist won the Kenny Simpson Memorial Race over Bob Pierce, Jack Boggs, Kevin Claycomb and Tom Rients. Scott McKeand won the street stock feature over Mark Barber, Darren Davis, Scott Patman and Tony Godsey. Dale Hobbs won the bomber feature race over Jeff Helton, Ray Hughes, Rusty Smiley and Jay Deckard.
From 20 years ago in 2001 at Brownstown, it was Kevin Claycomb winning the late model feature over Mark Barber, Jim Curry, Dick Phillips and Steven Godsey. Matt Boknecht won the open wheel modified feature over John DeMoss, Darren Davis, Todd Gilpin and Adam Sasser. Bubba Woods won the bomber feature over Matt Bex, Robert Walters, Charlie Stevens Jr. and Jim Ruddick.
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Tribune. Send comments to [email protected].