Jay Deckard and the late Carl Collins were both inducted into the Brownstown Speedway Hall of Fame during a ceremony Aug. 6.

Deckard, a native of Brownstown, first raced a couple of races in the hobby stock division after graduating high school in 1980. In 1985, he ran the first enduro held at Brownstown Speedway. In 1986, he would run in two more enduros.

From 1988 to 1994, he raced in the bomber division. He ran in 90 bomber races at Brownstown with five feature wins. He also picked up a Bloomington Speedway points championship in bombers during that time.

In 1995, Deckard switched to the street stock division. From 1995 to June 1998, he raced in 48 Brownstown street stock races. In June 1998, he was involved in a nasty flip that resulted in a broken sternum. He sat out the rest of 1998 and all of 1999 to recover from his injury.

He returned to the track in 2000 in the super stock division in a new Fly-by-U chassis with a Travis Kern racing engine. Deckard ranin the super stock division from 2000 thru 2010 and found his most success at Brownstown during that time.

During his 11 years in super stocks, he had 35 heat race wins and finished in the top three in heat races 90 times. He made 124 features out of 127 races.

Deckard had 16 super stock feature wins, including 63 top-five finishes, and finished in the top 10 in super stock features 95 times.

In 2003, Deckard won the super stock points championship. Along with that championship, he finished second in super stock points five times, third twice, fourth once and sixth two times.

What makes all of his 11 years of super stock racing success even more remarkable is the fact that he raced in the exact same car all 11 years that he ran in that division.

Collins got his start in racing as a car owner from 1964 to 1966 for driver Sonny Lucas of Cortland. In 1967 with new promoters Ted Collins and Kenny Woods at the helm, which began a new era at Brownstown Speedway with V-8 late model stock car racing, Collins was part of that as he began his driving career that would last for several years.

Collins raced in the late model, limited late model, street stock and modified divisions during his lengthy career. His final season was in 2001 in the modified class at Brownstown.

His best season at Brownstown was in 1983 while racing in the limited late model division, a new class started at Brownstown that season. In the 13 races the division ran, he won six features, finished second once and third one time as he dominated the division that year. He also was leading on three other occasions during the feature when mechanical failures forced him pitside. He also won a street stock feature at Brownstown during that season.

Collins drove for several people during his career, including Bill Stigdon, Paul Crockett, Gene Dalton, Don Kriete, Harold and Herman Burton, Earl Sims, the Hurst brothers, Kelly Eisele, Bob Ratcliff, Gene Sutton, Moody Rigel, Calvin Brishaber, Oscar Crockett and Moenning brothers.

The Jackson County native died in 2010 at the age of 72.

Gilpin wins again at Brownstown

Devin Gilpin of Columbus came from his 18th starting spot to capture the Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series 18th annual Hall of Fame Classic for Slicker Graphics Super Late Models on Aug. 6 at Brownstown Speedway.

Gilpin was able to avoid an early race crash that eliminated several cars and then begin his march to the front and eventual victory.

This was Gilpin’s third straight super late model win and fourth win of the year. Gilpin led Skyller Lewis, Michael Chilton, Greg Johnson and Joe Godsey at the finish. Rounding out the top 10 were Kent Robinson, Tristan Chamberlain, John Clippinger, Austin Lay and Brayton Laster.

Tyler Nicely of Owensboro, Kentucky, led flag to flag in U.S. Air Force modifieds and picked up his first Brownstown win of the year. He crossed the checkers ahead of Derek Groomer, Cole Falloway, Jordan Wever and John DeMoss.

Branden Carr of Scottsburg survived a good Pewter Hall Super Stock battle with Tucker Chastain, Zach Sasser and Matt Boknecht to get his first win of the year. Tucker Chastain, Sasser, Boknecht and Tanner Chastain completed the top five.

In Flag 2 Flag Crown Vic action, Brandon Cranmer visited victory lane for the second time in 2022. He took the checkers ahead of Phillip Boudreaux, Michael Cranmer, Darrell Basham and Aaron Seay.

Late model feature: Devin Gilpin, Skyller Lewis, Michael Chilton, Greg Johnson, Joe Godsey, Kent Robinson, Tristan Chamberlain, John Clippinger, Austin Lay, Brayton Laster, Matt Bex, Jeremy Creech, Chad Stapleton, Hudson O’Neal, Scott James, Jared Bailey, Steve Peeden, Steve Casebolt, Keegan Cox, Ryan Dunagan, Corey Lewis

Modifieds feature: Tyler Nicely, Derek Groomer, Cole Falloway, Jordan Wever, John Demoss, Brayden Watson, Jimmy Lennex, Jerry Bland Jr., Jerry Davis, Nathan Vawter, Zachary Stalker, Brent Lee, Nathan Voorhies, Steve Haefke, David Winters Jr., Mike Bechelli, Blaze Melton, Jarod Deckard, Oscar McCown, Jarod Fleetwood, Bob Sterrett, Karlie Holt

Super stock feature: Branden Carr, Tucker Chastain, Zach Sasser, Matt Boknecht, Tanner Chastain, Austin Perry, Greg Amick, Blake Hull, Tommy East, Isaiah Sasser, Grant Simpson, Dalton Fleenor, Sam Lee, Glynn Neal, Harley Ellison, Colton Sullivan

Crown Vic feature: Brandon Cranmer, Phillip Boudreaux, Michael Cranmer, Darrell Basham, Aaron Seay, Jeff Roberts, Anthony Finley, Holly Heil, Ryan Woods, Adam Grimsley, Joel Smith, Brayden Reed, Austin Burton, Eric Lewis, Billy Heil, Jon Ortman, Blake Daniels, Charles Turner, Kenna Day, Donnie Blancher-DNS

Brownstown will be idle tonight for the Sunoco North-South 100 at Florence Speedway. The next scheduled race is Aug. 20 with the pro late models, modifieds, super stocks, pure stocks and hornets. For information, visit brownstownspeedway.com.

Lawrenceburg off tonight

After getting rained out last Saturday, Lawrenceburg Speedway will be off tonight for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Florence. The next scheduled race is Aug. 20 with the Dick Gaines Memorial for sprint cars. Also competing will be modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For information, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.

North-South 100 tonight

The 40th annual Sunoco North-South 100 presented by Lucas Oil will take place tonight at Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky, paying a record $75,000 to win. The event will be streamed live on MAVTV on FloRacing at 6:30 p.m. and live on the MAVTV Motorsports Network (channel 214) on DirecTV at 10 p.m. For ticket information, visit florencespeedway.com.

Martz wins All-Star Midgets

Tate Martz picked up his second feature victory of the year with the All-Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets at Paragon Speedway on Aug. 6. It also was his sixth podium finish of the year for the four-time TQ champ.

Earlier in the evening, Martz won his heat race. The other heat race winners were Joey Paxson and Ashlea Albertson.

The All-Star Circuit of Champions TQs will be in action again tonight at Tony Stewart Speedway at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds in Columbus.

This week in racing history

From 70 years ago in 1952 at 25th Street Fairgrounds Raceway in Columbus, Gene Minor won the feature race over Harry King, Bud Greathouse and Lee Roberts.

From 60 years ago in 1962, Columbus Kart Club winners were Jim Devening, Jon Boeschen, Ron Hoover and Mike Devening.

From 50 years ago this weekend in 1972 at Brownstown, Ira Bastin won the late model feature over Jim Curry, Paul Crockett, Russ Petro and Woody Smith.

Also, from 1972 at Twin Cities, Hillbilly Ogle won the feature race over Norm Swift, Johnny Robbins, Danny Eichler and Carl Collins.

From 50 years ago, Columbus Kart Club winners were Dick Phillips, Wayne Chapman, James Ross, Eddie Phillips, Kerry Norris and Frank Hoban.

From 40 years ago in 1982 at Brownstown, Don Hobbs won the late model feature over Ray Godsey, Jim Curry, Ira Bastin and Kenny Simpson. Danny Blackwell won the street stock main event over Troy Burton, Mark Elzey, Chuck Winders and Dave Barnett.

Also, from 1982 at Twin Cities, Lee Fleetwood won the limited late model feature over Steve Boley, Darrell Smallwood, Jim Moore and Bob Gullion. Scott McKeand took the street stock feature over Tom Franks, Larry Gingery, Clyde James and Willie Sallee.

From 40 years ago, Columbus Kart Club winners were Tony Stewart, Taulby Donnell, Darrin Scudder, Terry Shirley, Morris Boling, Jay Hall, Marvin Maners and David Scott.

From 30 years ago in 1992 at Brownstown, Billy Moyer won the Jackson 100 over Steve Barnett, Kevin Weaver, John Gill and Bob Pierce. Mark Barber won the street stock feature over Randy Petro, Scott Patman, Tim Clark and Darren Davis. Darin George took the bomber feature over Kevin Sebastian, Don Walp, Ray Hughes and Bobby Davis.

From 20 years ago in 2002 at Brownstown, John Gill won the late model feature over Dan Sturgeon, Frankie Coomer, Mike Jewell and Darren Miller. Steve Trabue and Brent Londeree crossed the finish in a dead heat as both were awarded the win in the modified feature race. Matt Boknecht was third, followed by Matt Bex and Earl Plessinger.

James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Tribune. Send comments to [email protected]