Published: September 29, 2009 11:07 pm      

BOWMAN: Darland tightens USAC race

Courtney, Jarrett start and finish 1-2 at Miami County

Lincoln’s Dave Darland turned in a huge weekend at the Eldora Speedway, which possibly could parlay into his second USAC National Sprint Car Series title and sixth overall national title.

Saturday night in the 29th running of the Team Chevy 4-Crown Nationals, Darland took the win in the K&N Silver Crown Series 50-lap event following a a third-place showing in the Mopar National Midget feature and a fourth-place run in the sprint car series feature event.

In the Silver Crown feature, Darland took the lead from two-time series and current points leader Bud Kaeding on the sixth lap and never looked back, running the cushion to perfection the remainder of the event. Darland, aboard the famed Foxco No. 56 that he captured his first national title in over a dozen years ago, was chased to the checkered flag by Shane Hmiel and Jerry Coons Jr. Kokomo Speedway sprint car champion Cole Whitt was fourth and Josh Wise fifth.

Drivers with local interest in the event included Brownsburg’s Jon Stanbrough (18th), a regular at the local oval, and Peru’s Russ Gamester (19th).

Heading into the series finale at the Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway, Kaeding holds a 71-point lead over second-place A.J. Fike. Kaeding picked up series titles in both 2006 and ’07 and with a series title would tie Jimmy Sills as the only drivers to claim three championships in the series.

In the midget feature it was all Brad Sweet, who has been the driver to beat aboard a midget of late at the high-banked track.

The California driver led all 25 laps to cut into series points leader Brad Kuhn’s advantage as the season begins to wind down. Kuhn was second followed in the top five by Darland, Bryan Clauson and Darren Hagen. Whitt was seventh and Chad Boat, who won the midget portion of the Bob Darland Memorial at Kokomo this season, claimed 16th.

With the win, Sweet whittled Kuhn’s advantage to just 14 points (1,175-1,161) heading into the next event Oct. 8-10 at the Tri-City (Ill.) Speedway in the Gold Crown Midget Nationals.

Coons, like Sweet, never trailed in the 30-lap sprint car A-main. The Arizona driver who was at the Kokomo Speedway a week ago testing a midget, piloted the Hoffman Racing No. 69 to the win over Tracy Hines and 2008 Kokomo track champion Scotty Weir. Darland and Sweet rounded out the top five. Whitt claimed eighth and Stanbrough 12th.

Darland’s showing, coupled with points leader Levi Jones’ seventh-place run, allowed the popular veteran to creep within 15 points (1,438-1,423) with a big weekend awaiting the series.

Friday night the series will converge on the Lawrenceburg Speedway for a $10,000 to win purse in the Fall Nationals. From there, the series will close out the Midwest portion of its schedule on Sunday afternoon at the Winchester Speedway as part of the “Old Timers Weekend”.

Sweet to replace Dollansky

After a disappointing 2009, veteran standout Craig Dollansky is out of his ride with Kasey Kahne Racing’s World of Outlaw team.

Dollansky was pegged following the 2008 campaign to join Joey Saldana in Kahne’s stable, however with the results not meeting expectations, Dollansky was let go. With his departure, Sweet will pilot the second entry for KKR in events that won’t conflict with his pursuit of the USAC Mopar National Midget Series championship.

Sweet has piloted both sprint cars and midgets for KKR the last two years in USAC competition but cut his teeth racing winged sprints in California.

Courtney bags win, Jarrett second

Taylor Courtney started on the pole alongside second-generation driver Logan Jarrett and the pair crossed the checkered flag in that order in the Winged feature Saturday night at the Miami County Speedway.

Courtney earned the win over Jarrett, son of former Kokomo track champion Tony Jarrett. Following the pair to the checkered flag was Chad Gaddis, Stephanie Mockler and Sam Kimmel. Kokomo’s Conner Donnelson was seventh and Sharpsville’s Bob Bourff took 15th.

In the non-wing feature, Chris Miller held off the always-tough Brandon Rose and Joe Leek to garner the win. Zach Taylor was fourth and Laine Hite fifth. Jarrett, in just his second year aboard a mini-sprint and first in a non-wing, claimed 10th.

Tony Carlson topped Cory Angle to earn the Senior division feature. Former sprint car standout Warren Mockler, father of Stephanie Mockler, was third, Bruce Betzman fourth and Joe Taylor fifth. Kokomo’s Jeff Weideman was 12th.

Dax Kendall took the double checkers in the Restrictor feature with Lauren Longbrake taking second. Justin Peck was third, Tyler Huffman fourth and Zach Shepler fifth. Justin Weir topped Kaleb Kinsler to claim the Junior division main event.

Jered Van Ness, son of Kokomo Speedway Thunder Car standout Jeremy Van Ness, was third while Hallie Feuquay took fourth. Kayeleb Bolton rounded out the top five. Deavon Bolton was seventh.

The track returns to action Saturday night. For further details, visit the track’s Web site at www.miamicountyspeedway.com.

Gas City rained out

Rain washed out last week’s racing activities at the Gas City I-69 Speedway, leaving fans just one more opportunity this season to take in the action at the track this Friday with the annual running of the Jack Himelick Fall Finals.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with the first race slated for a 7:30 starting time.

Kokomo Klash approaching

In just a couple weeks the Kokomo Speedway will put the finishing touches on its 2009 campaign with the third-running of the Kokomo Klash.

Each of the first two Klash events have produced a record amount of race cars and, according to the track’s race night coordinator Rob Goodman, this year should be no exception.

“We are getting quite a few pre-entries,” said Goodman of the event. “There is a lot of buzz out there and a lot of drivers bookmark this event, so I’m expecting this year to be another good year as far as the turnout goes for race cars.”

The first night of the two-day event will be Oct. 16 featuring sprint cars, midgets, mini-sprints and Thunder Cars. The Saturday portion will see the Late Models, Street Stocks, Sportsman and Modified divisions take to the surface for the final race of the season.

Ticket information can be found at the track’s Web site, www.kokomospeedway.net.

Brett Bowman covers auto racing for the Tribune. He can be reached by e-mail at brettbowman29@aol.com