Published: July 07, 2009 11:57 pm      

BOWMAN: Sprint Week promises excitement

Series hits Kokomo Speedway on Sunday

A couple weeks back I noted that the excitement that goes hand in hand with a United States Auto Club (USAC) event is almost second to none.

Well, this week Christmas comes early for sprint car fans as the annual running of the USAC National Sprint Car Series Indiana Sprint Week kicks off. So, the small RV communities will dot the parking lots of race tracks across the states as fans get ready for the busiest sprint car week of the year.

The teams and drivers are set to embark on a week that will see them compete at seven different tracks in eight nights, beginning Friday at the Lawrenceburg Speedway.

From there the teams will converge at the Gas City I-69 Speedway on Saturday before heading to the local oval, Kokomo, on Sunday. After a couple days off to give the teams time to repair and recuperate, the action resumes next Wednesday at the Terre Haute Action Track. The Kamp Motor Speedway takes center stage the following day before embarking on Bloomington (July 17) and the Tri-States Speedway in Haubstadt (July 18). Following the Tri-State event, a new Indiana Sprint Week champion will be crowned.

Last year while in the pits sitting alongside a crew member for Tony Stewart’s entries of Levi Jones and Tracy Hines, I had the time to ask him a few questions regarding what all went into getting ready for the mid-summer mini-series.

He noted that he was working around 85 hours per week to make sure that there were extra cars race ready, making sure that all the extra parts were loaded up and in good order and that all the motors were humming as they should be.

Sleep … well, that was pretty much an afterthought the crew member explained. He told me that night he was glad that the series was going to be at Kokomo the following event so he wouldn’t have to drive through the night. He went on to say that what the team would do was leave Gas City, head to Kokomo, bunk down for the night then get up the next day and go over the race cars with a fine-tooth comb to make sure everything was right.

It’s no easier on the drivers either. Although now it isn’t quite as tough as it once was according to Kokomo standout Shane Cottle.

“It’s not as bad now as it was two, three years ago,” he said. “Then you might be running Haubstadt one night, then have to be across the state the next night. Now they’ve moved the schedule around where it’s not as hard on everyone to get from race to race.”

For other teams that are hitting their stride at the right time, change may not be necessary.

“We’ve been working at the shop putting together a new car just for sprint week,” said Arizona second-generation driver Chad Boat after winning his second straight sprint car feature at Kokomo on Sunday night. “Now though, with the way this car is running, maybe if we can keep it all together we can leave the new car at the shop.”

By far, the Indiana Sprint Week title is one that is coveted by all who take part. In its infancy, the event was nothing compared to what it is today. I can recall in the early 1990s when maybe 25-30 cars in the pits was a good night. Car counts a year ago averaged around 45 and this year should be no exception as a few of the West Coast contingent has already made their way to the Midwest in anticipation of what is about to transpire.

Regardless, with the grind that awaits the teams, whoever emerges victorious on July 18 as the champion will have proved they were the best — if only for that arduous week.

Robbins claims first win

Kyle Robbins parlayed an inside row two starting slot into his first career sprint car feature win Friday night at the Gas City I-69 Speedway.

Kokomo’s Shane Cottle was second after dueling wheel-to-wheel with another Kokomo driver, Josh Spencer, for the better part of the 25-lap feature event. Spencer, still riding the momentum of his first career feature win a few weeks back, finished 19th after having a water line let go in the final two laps, denying him at worst a third-place showing.

“I was watching the other heat races,” said Cottle, “and I could tell that Josh was gonna be fast. It was a heckuva battle with him. After he went off the track I was hoping for a yellow but that’s the way it goes in racing sometimes.”

Blake Fitzpatrick was third, Andrew Elson fourth and Matt Westfall fifth.

Glenn Bradley picked up the win in the modified feature over Bub Patrick, J.D. Francis, Bradley Sterrett and Jim Mallery. It was Mike Fredrick taking the checkers over Josh Owens in the Thunder Car A-Main event. D.J. Holt was third, Ron Flaugh fourth and Pete Thompson fifth.

Aaron Wolf held off Ervin Turner and Caleb Nutter in the Street Stock feature. Brett Clark and Derrick Davis rounded out the top five.

The Gas City track will host the USAC National Sprint Car Series for the second round of Indiana Sprint Week this Saturday. Cars should be on the track around 6:30 p.m. with the first race slated to push off at 7:30. Those planning on attending should plan on leaving a bit earlier than usual as an overflow crowd is the norm when the national cars and stars visit the track.

East takes Toledo win

Bobby East got past Jacob Wilson in the closing laps to capture the USAC National Sprint Car Series win Friday night at the Toledo (Ohio) Speedway.

Wilson led the first 44 laps of the 50-lap affair before pavement specialist East took the point. Wilson settled for second with Darren Hagen claiming third. Jerry Coons and Shane Hmiel rounded out the top five. Lincoln’s Dave Darland was 13th.

Heading into Indiana Sprint Week, Levi Jones holds a 14-point lead over Darland (791-777). Both Cole Whitt and Coons are easily within striking distance of the front two as the have 749 and 741 markers, respectively.

• Brett Bowman may be reached at brettbowman29@aol.com or through the sports department.