It took Kevin Thomas Jr. just seven races into his new gig at the North Vernon-based Rock Steady Racing to return to winning form with the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship.

The Cullman, Alabama, native, who was last a USAC victor nearly 19 months ago, put that long wait to rest during the inaugural Justin Owen Memorial at Indiana’s Lawrenceburg Speedway on April 13.

Thomas and the Hank Byram-owned Inferno Armor/Eddie Gilstrap Motors/Creative Finishing/Mach-1/Stanton Chevy became the fourth and final different leader in the 30-lap main event at the 3/8-mile dirt oval, making the winning move on the bottom of Turns 1 and 2 to get by Logan Seavey on a restart with 14 laps remaining.

“Man, we finally got one in the 3R; it’s about time,” Thomas exclaimed. “I’m picky and it takes a lot for me to get comfortable, but they did it. I’m super proud of these guys and everybody that works hard and has to deal with me during the week asking them to change stuff. It means a lot. If you know me, you know I’m a lot to deal with. There’s a lot to be said about my wife and my team to put up with that just for the joy of winning. We’re finally winners here in 2024, and I couldn’t be happier.”

The win was a monumental one for Thomas, who notched his 40th career USAC National Sprint Car feature victory, equaling 1969 and 1971 series champion Gary Bettenhausen for 10th on the all-time list.

Thomas’ score was the sixth of his career in USAC National Sprint Car competition at Lawrenceburg, tied for second all-time behind only Dave Darland’s seven. Thomas also became the first driver to capture the annual springtime Burg USAC show twice, also doing so in 2013. Until last week, there had been 10 different winners in 10 spring Lawrenceburg USAC events dating back to 2006, and right from the moment race day began, a good omen was at hand.

USAC National Sprint Car feature finish: 1. Kevin Thomas Jr. 2. Brady Bacon 3. Logan Seavey 4. C.J. Leary 5. Jake Swanson 6. Daison Pursley 7. Kyle Cummins 8. Chase Stockon 9. Mitchel Moles 10. Nick Bilbee 11. Jadon Rogers 12. Carson Garrett 13. Matt Westfall 14. Joey Amantea 15. Shawn Westerfeld 16. Saban Bibent 17. Ryan Barr 18. Kayla Roell 19. Robert Ballou 20. Hunter Maddox 21. Garrett Abrams 22. Justin Grant.

Several winners at Brownstown

The Indiana Late Model Series made their first appearance of the year on April 13 at Brownstown Speedway, and Tyler Cain of Seymour recorded the first ILMS Pro Late Model win of 2024.

Cain led all 25-laps of the feature event with Jug Wethington hot on his heels for most of the event. Cain eventually stretched out his lead in the late stages of the race to get the win ahead of Wethington, Brent Lee, Rohn Moon and Tyler Neal. Rounding out the top 10 were Mark Bechelli, Zack Burton, Caleb Schryer, Elliott Despain and Brian Wilhite.

The Pewter Hall Super Stock feature was a good one. Greg Amick used the top side of the speedway to work his way through the field to be side-by-side with race leader Tucker Chastain at the white flag. Amick pulled ahead of Chastain at the checkers to take the win. Following Amick and Chastain were Jamey Wilson, Isaiah Sasser and Zach Sasser.

Mickey Hines led 17 of 20 laps in Crossroads Truck Equipment Pure Stocks but had mechanical troubles with two laps to go. Josh Turner of Edinburgh inherited the lead and went on to score his second straight win. Brent McMillan, Keaton Streeval, Ross Smith and Cody Ellison trailed Turner at the finish.

In crown vic feature action, Dustin Cross had to hold off Jeff Cranmer in a near photo-finish to score his first-ever Brownstown victory. Jeff Cranmer, Todd Cain, Jason Cranmer and Chris Young completed the top five.

The hornet division feature produced another first-ever Brownstown winner. Cordell Moore parked his ride in victory lane for the first-time ever over Jeremy Shemwell, Nathan Jones, Jeremy Ogle and Brian Pollitt.

Crate Late Model Feature finish: Tyler Cain, Jug Wethington, Brent Lee, Rohn Moon, Tyler Neal, Mark Bechelli, Zack Burton, Caleb Schryer, Elliott Despain, Brian Wilhite, Ethan Toedter, Patrick Shumaker, Robert Rainey, Blake Robertson, Jay Humphrey Jr., Alan Magner, Conner Mertens, Charles Newby, Chad Stapleton-DQ, Derek Groomer-DQ.

Super Stock Feature finish: Greg Amick, Tucker Chastain, Jamey Wilson, Isaiah Sasser, Zach Sasser, Blake Hull, Grant Simpson, Jenna Boknecht, Kenrick Neal, Jack Roberts, Tom Plotz, Colton Sullivan, Sam Lee, Skyler Cohee-DNS.

Pure Stock Feature finish: Josh Turner, Brent McMillan, Keaton Streeval, Ross Smith, Cody Ellison, Phillip Boudreaux, A.J. Wilson, Dalton Fleenor, A.J. Warren, Josh Hayes, Randy Shipley, Mickey Hines, Tanner Short, Jacob Owens, Davey Waggoner, Preston Carr, Brian Sims, Donnie Wilson, Daniel Hupp, Kevin Bloom.

Hornet Feature finish: Cordell Moore, Jeremy Shemwell, Nathan Jones, Jeremy Ogle, Brian Pollitt, Timothy Arthur, Scott Smith, Matt Miller, Trent Sutton, Todd Dasenbrock, Landon Hayes, Josh Arthur, Preston Righthouse, Cory Cox, Don Boling Jr., Phillip Fields, Michael Brewer, Marshall Claycamp, Curtis Roccia, James Simmons.

Crown Vic Feature finish: Dustin Cross, Jeff Cranmer, Todd Cain, Jason Cranmer, Chris Young, Kenna Day, Anthony Finley, Zachary Hall, Bobby Jackson, Stacie Fitzgerald, Eric Lynn, Brandon Lange, Ray Weston, Ryan Woods, Chris Hawn, Matthew Clouse, Josh Woods, Aaron Kruse, Blake Daniels, Eric Lewis, Coby Greenlee.

This week in racing history

From 60 years ago in 1964 at Bloomington, Sheldon Kinser won the both the figure 8 and stock car features.

From 1964 at Paragon, Bob Carrigan won the season-opening 100-lap feature race for the super modifieds.

From 50 years ago this weekend in 1974 at Brownstown, Russ Petro won the late model feature over Don Hobbs, Ray Godsey, Gene Petro and Bob Fleetwood.

Also from 50 years ago, Twin Cities opened its 1974 racing season with Johnny Robbins winning the feature race over Gary Herbert, Barry Ryan, Jim Giltner and Richard Cook.

From 1974 at the Whitewater Valley Speedway in Liberty, Dick DeBolt won the late model feature over Bubby James, Bruce Merz, Ron Edwards and Johnny Robbins.

From 50 years ago at Paragon Bob Kinser won the sprint car feature over Calvin Gilstrap, Tony Solomito, Frank Hollingsworth and Larry Curtis.

The season opener for the 1974 season at Bloomington went to Bobby Black as he took the sprint car feature win over Bob Kinser, Bob Frey, Tony Solomito and Mike Johnson. Buck Turpin won the stock car feature over Jack DuBois, Marvin Piercefield and William Wampler.

From 40 years ago in 1984 at Twin Cities, Randy Petro won his first career feature, taking the street stock main event over Bub Crawhorn and Gary Everroad.

From 30 years ago this weekend in 1994 at Brownstown, Don O’Neal won the late model feature over Jim Curry, C.J. Rayburn, Kevin Claycomb and Gary Barrow. Adam Sasser won the street stock main event over Darren Davis, Darin George, Delbert Ross and Jeff Hehman. Mike Hawley took the modified feature race over Dusty Chapman, Alan Magner, Buddy Cunningham and Scott Fleetwood. Murl Robinson won the bomber feature over Todd Richey, Tom Courtney, Randy Lucas and Larry Pratt.

From 1994 at Salem, Roland Isaacs won the late model feature over Brian Ross, Dill Whittymore, Dave Jackson and Tony Johnson.

From 30 years ago this weekend at Haubstadt, Randy Kinser won the sprint car feature over Larry Bland and Joey Nash. Kevin Claycomb won the late model feature over Terry Woehler and Greg Williams. Everett Bradham won the modified feature over Bill Shaw and Mark Johnson.

From 1984 at the Martin County Speedway in Loogootee, Denny Campbell won the street stock feature over Greg Kendall, Wally Moses, Charlie Tuell and Greg Benton. Lee Hobbs won the modified feature over Paul Hassfurther, Harry Shepherd, Ralph Klem and Danny Claycomb. Dale Hobbs took the bomber feature.

Upcoming local racing schedule

Today: Brownstown Speedway – crown vic special plus crate late models, super stocks, pure stocks and hornets. For more informatiom, visit brownstownspeedway.com

Today: Paragon Speedway – sprints, super stocks, bombers and hornets. For more information, visit paragonspeedway.com

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

Friday: Bloomington Speedway – sprints, modifieds, super stocks and mod-lites. For more information, visit racebloomingtonspeedway.com