Martinsville native Hudson O’Neal, who now lives in Hope, picked up the biggest win of his career on Monday at Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo.

He won $100,000 for his win aboard the Mark Richards Racing/Rocket Chassis house car.

Brandon Sheppard finished second, followed by Bobby Pierce, Ryan Unzicker and Tanner English. Rounding out the top 10 were Mike Marlar, Tyler Erb, Brian Shirley, Jonathan Davenport and Dale McDowell.

Davenport wins Eldora Dream

Jonathan Davenport won the 29th annual Dirt Late Model Dream on June 10 at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

He took the lead on Lap 30 and led the rest of the way for his second Dream win worth $129,000.

Chris Madden finished second, followed by Bobby Pierce, Ricky Thornton Jr. and Mason Zeigler. Completing the top 10 were Tyler Erb, O’Neal, Devin Moran, Shane Clanton and Stormy Scott.

The preliminary night winners June 8 were Ricky Thornton Jr. and Tim McCreadie. The June 9 winners were Mike Marlar and O’Neal.

Seavey takes Indiana Midget Week title

Logan Seavey, the 2023 USAC Indiana Midget Week champion, truly thought it was all over after Circle City.

After the utmost heartbreak of seeing a surefire victory go to the wayside just three laps from the finish line due to an ignition switch failure, the Sutter, California, native was certain his opportunity to capture the Indiana Midget Week title had gone to the waste bin.

Yet, as it turned out, that’s only where the story of Seavey’s triumphant week began.

“Really, at that time, I didn’t think we had a chance,” Seavey admitted. “Up to that point, Jacob Denney had been lights out, but they had their issues, as well, but this is an odd week. Nobody was great all week, and everybody had something go wrong, made mistakes or whatnot. Ultimately, we filled that role of being the guys who were good every time at the racetrack and could make moves to get to the podium, qualify well and have a really stellar week.”

One race later on Wednesday night, Seavey conjured up a masterful late race drive at Gas City I-69 Speedway, zipping around the outside of Emerson Axsom with two laps to go despite the ailment of a destroyed left rear shock. The emotion was raw, and tears of joy were shed as Abacus Racing won its very first race, a goal they had set when they hired Seavey to be their wheelman late in the 2022 season.

Seavey, celebrating his 26th birthday June 9 at Bloomington Speedway, doubled up as both the official new Indiana Midget Week point leader and brand-new overall USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship point leader following a second consecutive third-place result.

With Sunday’s rainout in the intended series finale at Kokomo Speedway, Seavey had clinched the title in very much the same manner as he did during his first in 2019, escaping the rain at Kokomo to celebrate with his team in the drier climate of his team’s race shop, a sort of déjà vu moment, and a welcoming into an exclusive club.

Seavey became just the sixth driver to win the USAC Indiana Midget Week title on multiple occasions in his career, joining Shane Cottle (2005 and 2006), Tracy Hines (2008 and 2010), Bryan Clauson (2009, 2011 and 2016), Rico Abreu (2014 and 2015) and Buddy Kofoid (2021 and 2022).

Furthermore, Seavey joined Rico Abreu (2015) as the second driver to win both the Chili Bowl Nationals and the Indiana Midget Week title in the same season.

Elsewhere throughout Indiana Midget Week, Jacob Denney, who just graduated from high school a week earlier, stood tall when posed with the final exam of answering not one but two slide jobs levied by two-time USAC National Midget champ Kofoid during the final six laps en route to capturing the opening round of the series at Haubstadt’s Tri-State Speedway, his first win for the Tom Malloy-owned team.

Due to weekend sprint car obligations, Kofoid was only available to Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports for the first four rounds of the series; however, he sure made the most of his brief but thrilling appearances.

Kofoid was the lone multitime winner of the week, scoring victories at Circle City and Lincoln Park, plus a second at Tri-State and a fourth at Gas City. When he left after Thursday’s round, he held a commanding 46-point lead, but his absence for the final two rounds dropped him down to eighth in the final tally.

Gavin Miller made his grand introduction to the USAC National Midget racing stage during USAC Indiana Midget Week. The leading USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship Rookie of the Year contender, six-time USAC National .25 Midget champion and micro sprint standout earned his first career USAC national victory on the big stage at Bloomington Speedway. Additionally, he passed 35 cars throughout the week to earn the Indiana Midget Week ProSource Passing Master title.

After a tumultuous Indiana Midget Week without only one top-10 result in his first five starts, Ryan Timms broke through for a victory in what his first visit to Lawrenceburg Speedway during the series finale June 10, giving his Kunz/Curb-Agajanian its third straight IMW victory with a third different driver following Kofoid and Miller. Following Kofoid’s departure, Timms assumed duties in Kofoid’s ride and achieved a strong finish to the week.

In the end, Seavey captured the Indiana Midget Week championship by 31 points over Justin Grant, who finished as runner-up in the IMW standings for the second consecutive season. Meanwhile, Bryant Wiedeman earned a career-best third-place result in IMW points.

Jade Avedisian earned the best points finish by a woman in IMW history, taking fourth while also tying as the best finishing woman in an IMW feature event. Her third-place run at Lawrenceburg equaled the third-place result by Holly Shelton at Lawrenceburg in 2017. Emerson Axsom rounded out the top five in the standings, topping off with back-to-back runner-up feature finishes at Gas City and Lincoln Park.

This week in racing history

From 70 years ago in 1953 at Columbus Speedway, Jim Quillen won the feature race over Red Carmichael and Larry Fleener.

Also in 1953, at Brownstown, Crowbar Taylor won the stock car feature over Garland Skinner, Gene Minor, Erni Brewer and Earl Schmidt.

From 60 years ago in 1963 at Bloomington, Dick Gaines won the super modified feature over Cecil Beavers, Bob Kinser, Roy Robbins and Orval Yeadon.

In 1963 at Lawrenceburg, Roy Robbins won the super modified feature over Dick Gaines and Mike Johnson.

Also in 1963, Columbus Go-Kart Club winners were David Metz, David Smith, Dick Smith, Mike Green and John Arrington.

From 50 years ago this weekend in 1973 at Brownstown, Jim Curry won the late model feature over Jack Owens, Don Hobbs, John Davis and Luther Burton.

Also in 1973 at Sweet Owen Speedway in Spencer, Steve Bowlen won the stock car feature over John Sharp, Horace Lake, Bill Cummings and Bob Ham.

From 50 years ago at Haubstadt, Bubby Jones won the sprint car feature, and Tom Helfrich took the late model main event.

From 1973, Columbus Go-Kart Club feature winners were Kevin Rice, David Murray, Joe Hoban, Ottis Martin, Mel Worrell, Bob Shipley and Frank Hoban.

From 40 years ago this weekend in 1983 at Brownstown, Ray Godsey won the late model feature over Russ Petro, Kenny Simpson, Steve Barnett and Don Hobbs. Don Barnett won the street stock feature over Bob Johnson, Ron Hoover, Bob Hayse and Rodney Gaines. Carl Collins won the limited late model feature over Mike Jewell, Jim Ruddick, Rick Hines and Dave Barnett.

Also in 1983, at Bloomington, Mike Johnson won the sprint car feature over Randy Kinser, Terry Shepherd, Bernie Graybeal and Bob Kinser. Gary Barrow won the limited late model feature over Ernie Barrow, Pete Willoughby, Lee Fleetwood and John Davis.

From 1983 at Paragon, Danny Smith won the sprint car feature over Dale Blaney, Fred Linder, Kenny Jacobs and Kerry Norris. Marvin O’Neal won the limited late model feature.

From 40 years ago at Haubstadt, Kevin Claycomb won the late model feature over Jim Elliott, W.T. Harris and Terry Messenger.

From 30 years ago in 1993 at Twin Cities, Steve Barnett won the STARS Late Model feature over Donnie Moran, Kevin Claycomb, Davey Johnson and Chub Frank. Randy Petro won the street stock feature over Darren Davis, Nelson Gingery, Joey Kramer and Willie Sallee. Larry Long won the bomber feature over Bob Davis, Don Walp, Roger Vanosdol and Jerry Corson.

In 1993 at Haubstadt, Kevin Briscoe won the sprint car feature over Jason Smith and Eric Davis. Doug McCammon won the late model feature over Terry Woehler and Greg Williams.

From 30 years ago at Bloomington, Tony Elliott won the USAC Midget feature over Randy Koch and Chris Malone. Randy Kinser won the sprint car feature over Danny Smith, Mike Bowling, Bob Kinser and Brad Devereaux.

From 1993 at Brownstown, Billy Moyer won the Hoosier Dirt Classic for late models over John Gill, Greg Williams, Jim Curry and Delmas Conley. Darin George won the street stock feature over Scott Patman, Tim Clark, Cale Kern and Earl Plessinger. Mark Barber won the modified feature over Tony Godsey, Gary Bland, Danny Claycomb and Scott Smith. Murl Robinson took the bomber feature over Bobby davis, Jay Deckard, Bruce Turner and Don Walp.

Upcoming local racing schedule

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

Today: Paragon Speedway – Sprints, super stocks, bombers and modifieds. For information, visit paragonspeedway.com.

Today: Lawrenceburg Speedway – BOSS Sprints, modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For information, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.

Friday: Bloomington Speedway – Sprints, modifieds, super stocks and hornets. For information, visit racebloomingtonspeedway.com.

Friday: Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis – Modifieds, micros, TQ midgets and super stocks. For information, visit circlecityraceway.com.

June 24: Brownstown Speedway – Super late models, pro late models, super stocks, pure stocks and crown vics.

June 24: Paragon Speedway – Johnson Memorial – Sprints, super stocks, bombers, hornets and mod-lites.

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