The 2023 racing season for Brownstown Speedway finally got underway on April 8 with the return of the Northern Allstars Late Model Dirt Series and the running of the Inaugural Ira Bastin Memorial. There were 54 “Slicker Graphics” Super Late Models on hand for the event.

The 40-lap feature went caution free with three different leaders. Bobby Pierce took the lead for good just past half-way and went on to score the $6,000 victory. Nick Hoffman, Spencer Hughes, Josh Ric, and Tanner English trailed Pierce at the finish. Rounding out the top ten were Dennis ErbJr., Stormy Scott, Adam Stricker, Gordy Gundaker and Devin Gilpin.

Josh Rice pocketed a $1,000 bonus offered by Slicker Graphics for the fastest qualifier. Heat race winners Josh Rice, Nick Hoffman, Adam Stricker and Spencer Hughes picked up $500 each for their heat race wins. Heat race sponsors were Brad Arthur Heating and Cooling, PopBit, Delph Communications and MasterSbilt Race Cars. Hughes won the special “dash for cash” sponsored byGrant Simpson Racing and Alan Norman Contracting.

Branden Carr powered his way to a Pewter Hall Super Stock feature win. Zach Sasser, Trey Chastain, Tanner Chastain and Austin Perry completed the top five.

In the All in One Pools Pure Stock feature, Josh Turner recorded his first-ever Brownstown feature win. Following Turner at the checkers were Hunter Perry, Brent McMillan, Josh Hayes and William Burton.

Defending Hornet points champion Michael Brewer started off a new racing season with a win. Brewer took the win over Davey Waggoner, Scott Smith, Jeremy Ogle and William Wingate.

Northern Allstars Late Model feature results: Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Spencer Hughes, Josh Rice, Tanner English, Dennis Erb Jr., Stormy Scott, Adam Stricker, Gordy Gundaker, Devin Gilpin, Trevor Landrum, Jared Bailey, James Rice, Dustin Nobbe, R.J. Conley, Jason Jameson, David Webb, Jordan Wever, Daulton Wilson, Kent Robinson.

Super Stock feature results: Branden Carr, Zach Sasser, Trey Chastain, Tanner Chastain, Austin Perry, Isaiah Sasser, Colton Sullivan, Craig Markel, Blake Hull, Danny Hupp, Sam Lee, Keaton Streeval, Chris Batchelor, Jenna Boknecht, Webb Lee, J.T. Huffman, Broc Burton, Hayden Groomer, Jack Roberts, Shayne Wilson, Skyler Cohee, Ethan Braid.

Pure Stock feature results: Josh Turner, Hunter Perry, Brent McMillan, Josh Hayes, William Burton, Daniel Moore, Eric Lewis, Tommy Fleenor, Donnie Wilson, Kevin Streeval, Buddy Stearns, Bobby Woods, Davey Waggoner, A.J. Wilson, Derek Powell, Paul Ortman, Jerry Adams, Daniel Hupp, Jordan Turner, David Bloom III.

Hornets feature results: Michael Brewer, Davey Waggoner, Scott Smith, Jeremy Ogle, William Wingate, Josh Hallett, Marshall Claycamp, Kiah Wingate, Caleb Arthur, Jason Acree, Doug Watson, Jeremy Shemwell, Robert White IV, Josh Arthur, Zach Johnson, Brian Pollitt, Kameron Arthur, Curtis Roccia, Lucas Jackson, Max Claycamp.

Tragedy at Lawrenceburg

Justin Owen, a competitor in the sprint car ranks for more than a decade, succumbed to injuries sustained in a qualifying crash during the April 8 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship event at Lawrenceburg Speedway.

The remainder of the event was canceled following the incident involving the 26-year-old Harrison, Ohio, native after his car made contact with the outside wall and flipped multiple times in Turn 3.

Owen was the reigning track champion at Lawrenceburg Speedway, scoring two feature wins and the title in 2022. It was Owen’s first crown at the 3/8-mile dirt oval in southeastern Indiana, where he’d been a regular competitor in the sprint car division for the past several seasons.

Among his greatest achievements were a victory in the season-closing Dick Gaines Memorial during his Lawrenceburg championship season in 2022. Back in 2019, Owen collected three victories, one with the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series at Pennsylvania’s Lernerville Speedway, once at Indiana’s Paragon Speedway and again at Lawrenceburg’s Night of Champions event. In 2016, he was victorious with BOSS at Lernerville.

With USAC, Owen made two feature starts, both at Lawrenceburg in 2019 and 2021.

This week in racing history

From 50 years ago, Don Hobbs won the opening night feature to kick off the 1973 racing season at Brownstown Speedway. Ezra Bastin was second followed by Mel Vails, Woody Smith,and Teako Ray.

Also from 50 years ago, Johnny Robbins won the feature at Twin Cities over Paul Crockett, Larry Wilcox, Bill Arnold and Mike Stewart.

From 50 years ago in 1973, Gene Petro won the late model feature at Whitewater Valley Speedway in Liberty. Roger French won the super six feature.

From 30 years ago in 1993 at Brownstown, Mike Balzano won the STARS Late Model feature over Don O’Neal, Kevin Weaver, John Mason and Dion Deason. Scott Patman took the street stock main event over Tim Clark, Darren Davis, Willie Sallee and Greg Kendall. Tony Godsey won the modified feature over J.D. Largent, Danny Claycomb, Merrill Downey and Tim Johnson.

From 20 years ago in 2003 at Brownstown, John Gill won the late model feature over Dennis Erb Jr., Jim Curry, Steve Hillard and James Huff. Jay Deckard won the super stock feature over Chris DeWeese, Mickey Hines, Kris Starks and Randy Moore. Steven Godsey won the bomber feature over Jason Combs, Clifton Barron, Rusty Smiley and Bobby Davis.

Local racing schedule:

Tonight: Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing – season opener – first points race – events are held at Tony Stewart Speedway at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Tonight: Brownstown Speedway – Indiana Pro late models, super stocks, pure stocks, hornets and crown vics. For more information, visit brownstownspeedway.com

Tonight: Lawrenceburg Speedway – sprints, modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For more information, visit lawrencburgspeedway.com

Tonight: Tri-State Speedway – USAC Sprints plus modifieds.

Tonight: Florence Speedway – 47th Annual Spring 50 for late models, crate late models, modifieds and hornets. For more information, visit florencespeedway.com

Tonight: Paragon Speedway – super late models, bombers, hornets and super stocks. For more information, visit paragonspeedway.com

Sunday: Salem Speedway – Season opener – for more information, visit salemspeedway.com

Sunday: Terre Haute Action Track – Season opener – USAC Silver Crown, plus modifieds.

Sunday: Eldora Speedway – Castrol FloRacing Night in America – late models, modifieds, Eldora stocks. For more information, visit eldoraspeedway.com

Wednesday: Brownstown Speedway – Castrol FloRacing Night in America – late models and modifieds.

Friday: Bloomington Speedway – sprints, 305 IMCA sprints, hornets. For more information, visit racebloomingtonspeedway.com.

Friday: Circle City Raceway – steel block sprints, crate late models, modifieds, crown vics and pure stocks. For more information, visit circlecityraceway.com

April 22: Lawrenceburg Speedway – sprints, modifieds, pure stocks,and hornets.

April 22: Brownstown Speedway – super late models, modifieds, super stocks, pure stocks and hornets.

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