History is made at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – USAC Honda Youth .25 Series “Once in a Lifetime Experience”
(Indianapolis) – The 2015 USAC Honda .25 “Battle at the Brickyard” is in the books! There were 352 cars signed in, 107 races ran and the greatest spectacle in Quarter Midget Racing was born!
This is the 7th time that the USAC “Battle at the Brickyard” has taken place. This time it was anything but routine. USAC history was made as this was the largest car count for the USAC Honda .25 Midget series. But yet another historical moment was seen as 178 cars presented on the grid at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We are told it is the most cars ever on the 2.5 mile oval. They say the Indy 500 is the biggest spectacle in racing – we just saw the biggest spectacle to ever hit Quarter Midgets!
Young Ben Burchard, a Quarter Midget driver, 12 years old, from Indianapolis, was on the pole. Ben served as Grand Marshall of the event. “Just last year we were here racing with everyone. “Now Ben is fighting Metatastic OsteoSarcoma, a form of bone cancer. We are so thankful to USAC for giving Ben this opportunity. I hope they know how happy they have made my son,” said mom, Tammy.
Haulers entered the hallowed grounds at Indy on Thursday, July 9th at noon. Practice began at 8 am on Friday morning but rained cancelled the 2nd round. After the track was dry, heats races began. As the sun began to set, officials worked with the IMS crews to re-schedule the ‘one lap around the track’ drive for the .25 drivers. Saturday morning, heats were finished and 40 lower mains ran before drivers began to grid at IMS. Spots were marked off and every driver had a number where they would be placed. Families pulled their cars to their assigned spot and lowered them from their pit carts. Parents all loaded on pit road as photos were taken. “Just standing out here at IMS is unbelievable,” said Joe Hyland of Colorado. The IMS Chevrolet Safety Crew Trucks started the pace car led quarter midget lap and the IU ambulances brought up the rear. “We lost just a few of the cars around the track, but it really was very cool for our families,” said Kyle McCain USAC Director. “Man, I’ve been coming here since I was 7 years old,” said Joe Axsom,” father of young racer Emerson. “We live here in Indy and we are at the 500 every year. But absolutely nothing can top this. I’m kinda little jealous actually.” “It was totally awesome!” said Tanner Reif of Henderson, NV, after he jumped out of his car. “I had a lump in my throat as I saw all of the kids start coming down the front stretch,” said Kelly Yonchuk. Mom of driver’s Connor and Katie.
One of the best stories of the weekend was when one young driver just couldn’t get going as the large field passed by him. After most of the kids had returned and were out of their cars, they jumped over the wall and began pushing him so that he too could experience the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. Quarter midget drivers are very competitive, but their camaraderie tends to build life-long friendships.
Sunday morning racing started off with Race #21 – the Hvy Honda C Main won by Will Edwards. A Mains began around noon with Grand Marshall, Ben Burchard waving the first green flag. There were 35 races to complete all of the 2015 “Battle at the Brickyard.” One of the highlights of the event is the “Race of Champions,” the inaugural event won last year by Berklee Jimenez of San Antonio, TX. Due to weather and time constraints, the event was cancelled.
Brady Johnson of Terrell, NC (Jr Honda, Briggs Jr Animal), Connor Gross of Middleton, MA (Lt ‘AA, Briggs Lt World Formula), Famous Rhodes, II of Parkland, FL (Briggs Sr Animal, Lt Mod) and Carson Hocevar of Portage, MI (Honda Hvy 160, Briggs Hvy World Formula all doubled up winning the top spot on their podium. Kolby Hannah of Great Falls, MT took his first ever USAC National win in the Briggs Un-restricted Animal class. Justin Oplinger of Mt Holly, NC won Sr Honda, Hudson Halder of Cumming, GA took Hvy Honda, Chase Burda of LaPeer, MI won Honda Lt 160 and Zeb wise captured the checkered in Hvy ‘AA. Stone Christy of Sheridan, IN won in Blue Rookie and Braden Etchison finished first in the Red Rookie #1 Main. Former USAC Champions Jerry Coons, Jr and Jeremy Sherman saw their young sons Cale and Drew battle it out in the second Red Rookie race with Cale crossing the line first.
All Rookie drivers received participation medallions and the top 3 drivers in each class received a gold, silver or bronze USAC Medallion along with an engraved special edition “Battle at the Brickyard” brick. Awards were distributed in Victory Lane while Julian Macias of Honda congratulated all of the drivers.
Special thanks to Impact Racing for their donation of a Mini Vapor Helmet won by the Spicola Family of Colorado.
For more information about the USAC Honda .25 program log on to http://www.USACRacing.com or follow us on Facebook – USAC25, USAC Developmental.
RED ROOKIE - FEATURE #1
Braden Etchison
Kaine Lowry
Kanon Posey
Christopher Paladino
Madison Imus (DNF)
Evan Hooley (DNA)
RED ROOKIE - FEATURE #2
Cale Coons
Drew Sherman
Cooper Hokanson
Waylan Roese
Maxim Thompson
John David Camden (DNF)
BLUE ROOKIE - FEATURE #1
Stone Christy
Tyler Taulman
Ethan Burdett
Phillip Lowry
Aalyi Ohab
Johnny Weaver
Kenzie Lynch (DNF)
JR. HONDA – A MAIN
Brady Johnson
Colby Sokol
Bryce Lucius
Tyler Reif
Preston Lattomus
Creed Kemenah
Easton Combs
Delana Hodge (DNF)
Gavan Boschele (DNF)
Johnny Venezia (DNF)
JR. HONDA – B MAIN
Delana Hodge
Tyler Reif
Gavan Boschele
Creed Kemanah
Dalton Dowdy
Dawson Knaul
Date Hettinger
James Andrichuk
Cade Randall
Caidyn Brinkman
JR. HONDA – C MAIN
Delana Hodge
Caidyn Brinkman
Cade Randall
Dalton Dowdy
Miles Massie
Alex Sexton
Preston Auld
Koulten Herbert
Katie Yonchuk
Justis Sokol (Racing DQ)
JR. HONDA – D MAIN
Delana Hodge
Koulten Herbert
Miles Massie
Justis Sokol
Lucas Johnson
Levi Lux
Max Hulisz
Noah Dininger
Zac Massie
Kaylee Boston (DNF)
JR. HONDA – E MAIN
Delana Hodge
Miles Massie
Zac Massie
Noah Dininger
Conor Jencik
Ryan Arieta
Hailey Vallerand
Jensen Vadnais
Gavin Miller (DNF)
P.J. Majors (DNF)
JR. HONDA – F MAIN
Delana Hodge
P.J. Majors
Enzo Spicola
Miles Massie
Ryan Arieta
Kayla Martin
Alyssa Long
Jace Clark (DNF)
Seth Pugh (DNF)
Maddox Miller (DNA)
JR. HONDA – G MAIN
Jace Clark
Kayla Martin
Maddox Miller
Alyssa Long
Billy Lieb
Zane Marlin (DNF)
Brayden Crow (DNF)
SR HONDA - A MAIN
Justin Oplinger
Dylan Zampa
Billy Green
Christopher Oplinger
Emerson Axsom
Chase Burda
Nick Loden
Charlie Auld
Bryson Shaffer
Brayden Clark (DNF)
SR HONDA - B MAIN
Chase Burda
Dylan Zampa
Emerson Axsom
Christopher Oplinger
Jackson Slone
Beau Brandon
Holly Clark
Nick McFarland
Chase Randall
Tanner Reif (DNF)
SR HONDA - C MAIN
Emerson Axsom
Chase Burda
Dylan Zampa
Jackson Slone
Chase Spicola
Michael Crafton
Scotty Milan
Joe Valento
Sam Johnson
Michael Donoho
SR HONDA - D MAIN
Emerson Axsom
Michael Crafton
Chase Spicola
Jackson Slone
Charlie Allen
J.J. Venezia
Sam Butler
Mickey Leach
Dylan Andrix
Ariana Jencik
SR HONDA - E MAIN
Emerson Axsom
Jackson Slone
Charlie Allen
Mikey Leach
Chase Hyland
Max Hennebal
Thomas Prychka
Blaise Rush
Greyson Springer
Brooke Vallerand (DNF)
Devon Jencik (DNF)
SR HONDA - F MAIN
Emerson Axsom
Charlie Allen
Devon Jenick
Thomas Prychka
Chase Hyland
Najah Lott
Ryan Hise
Houston Ling (DNF)
Justin Bruck (DNF)
Kadin Insch (Racing DQ)
SR HONDA - G MAIN
Thomas Prychka
Houston Ling
Chase Hyland
Kadih Inscho
Ashton VanSparrentak
Hunter Forrester
Steven Emerick
Auston Newby
HVY. HONDA - A MAIN
Hudson Halder
Jacob Borst
Carson Hocevar
George Kutz
Harrison Halder
Taylor Nibert
Will Edwards
Febe Wolf
Ben McFarland
Holt Halder (Racing DQ)
HVY. HONDA - B MAIN
Ben McFarland
Taylor Nibert
George Kurtz
Will Edwards
Philip Peters
Jaxson Lutz
Jagger Parker
Dylan LaDuke
Madilyn Blanch
Taylor Kohoe (DNF)
HVY. HONDA - C MAIN
Will Edwards
Philip Peters
Dylan LaDuke
Madilyn Blanch
Cody Miles
Caleb Pratt
LT. 160 – A MAIN
Chase Burda
Emerson Axsom
Connor Yonchuk
Justin Oplinger
Connor Gross
Dylan Zampa
Famous Rhodes
Townsend Wright
Nick Loden
Chase Randall
LT. 160 – B MAIN
Justin Oplinger
Famous Rhodes
Connor Yonchuk
Nick Loden
Gage Painter
Tanner Reif
Christopher Oplinger
Neal Allison
Nick McFarland
Gage Bowers (DNF)
LT. 160 – C MAIN
Justin Oplinger
Neal Allison
Famous Rhodes
Connor Yonchuk
Christian Bruno
Chase Spicola
Jake Garcia
Connor Wolf
Charlie Auld
Scotty Milan
LT. 160 –D MAIN
Famous Rhodes
Jake Garcia
Neal Allison
Connor Wolf
Preston Lattomus
Owen Carlson
Bryson Shaffer
Brady Johnson
Evan Spaulding
Colby Sokol
Jackson Slone (DNS)
LT. 160 – E MAIN
Famous Rhodes
Jake Garcia
Owen Carlson
Connor Wolf
Bryson Shaffer
Dylan Andrix
Colsen Cochran
Ariana Jencik
Charlie Allen
Chase Hyland
LT. 160 – F MAIN
Famous Rhodes
Jake Garcia
Connor Wolf
Charlie Allen
Holly Clark
Hunter Lynch
Mikey Leach
Taylor Imus
Mike Donoho
Max Hennebal
LT. 160 – G MAIN
Famous Rhodes
Connor Wolf
Holly Clark
Hunter Lynch
Delana Hodge
Thomas Prychka
Troy Hokanson
Matt Vallerand
Bryan Brewer
Landon Hathaway
LT. 160 – H MAIN
Famous Rhodes
Thomas Prychka
Hunter Lynch
Troy Hokanson
Greyson Springer
Devon Jencik
Dalton Dowdy
Isaiah Pugh
Houston Ling (Racing DQ)
Riley Wolfe (DNA)
HVY. 160 – A MAIN
Carson Hocevar
Hudson Halder
Harrison Halder
Kolby Hannah
Jaxon Bishop
Zeb Wise
Corey Heim
Jacob Borst (DNF)
Holt Halder (DNF)
Canon Cochran (DNF)
HVY. 160 – B MAIN
Holt Halder
Hudson Halder
Corey Heim
Harrison Halder
George Kurtz
Cody Dyke
Philip Peters
Carden Cochran
Ben McFarland (DNF)
Jagger Parker (DNF)
HVY. 160 – C MAIN
George Kurtz
Jagger Parker
Corey Heim
Harrison Halder
Daytona Spicola
Will Edwards
Febe Wolf
Jessica Lutz
Taylor Sexton
Mason Levesque
HVY. 160 – D MAIN
Corey Heim
Harrison Halder
Will Edwards
Jessica Lutz
Cody Miles
Makenna Long (DNF)
JR. ANIMAL - A MAIN
Brady Johnson
Preston Lattomus
Miles Massie
Colby Sokol
Gavan Boschele
Tyler Reif
Dalton Dowdy
Dawson Knaul
Delana Hodge
Bryce Lucius (Racing DQ)
JR. ANIMAL - B MAIN
Gavan Boschele
Delana Hodge
Colby Sokol
Miles Massie
Koulten Herbert
Creed Kemenah
Caidyn Brinkman
Preston Auld
Jace Clark
Enzo Spicola
JR. ANIMAL - C MAIN
Delana Hodge
Caidyn Brinkman
Preston Auld
Colby Sokol
Easton Combs
Conor Jencik
Ryan Arieta
Kaylee Boston
Noah Dininger
Kate Hettinger (Racing DQ)
JR. ANIMAL - D MAIN
Noah Dininger
Conor Jencik
Preston Auld
Easton Combs
Lucas Johnson
Justis Sokol
Seth Pugh
Zac Massie
P.J. Majors
Johnny Venezia (DNF)
Gage Thompson (DNS)
JR. ANIMAL - E MAIN
Preston Auld
Johny Benezia
Justis Sokol
Easton Combs
P.J. Majors
Kayla Martin
Levi Lux
Jensen Vadnais
Max Hulisz (DNF)
James Andrichuk (DNA)
SR. ANIMAL - A MAIN
Famous Rhodes
Connor Gross
Neal Allison
Gage Painter
Carson Hocevar
Zeek Torgeson
Joe Valento
Christian Bruno (DNF)
Chase Burda (DNF)
Emerson Axsom (Racing DQ)
SR. ANIMAL - B MAIN
Gage Painter
Emerson Axsom
Neal Allison
Zeek Torgesen
Jake Garcia
Connor Yonchuk
Charlie Auld
Nick Loden
Dylan Zampa
Colsen Cochran (DNF)
SR. ANIMAL - C MAIN
Jake Garcia
Zeek Torgesen
Neal Allison
Cole Christy
Gage Bowers
Colsen Cochran
Tanner Reif
Billy Green (DNF)
Townsend Wright (DNF)
Christopher Oplinger (DNF)
SR. ANIMAL - D MAIN
Jake Garcia
Colsen Cochran
Neal Allison
Billy Green
Judson Miller
Michael Crafton
Scotty Milan
Sam Johnson
Maxon Levesque
Cameron Wallace
SR. ANIMAL - E MAIN
Jake Garcia
Matthew Ferguson
Billy Green
Colsen Cochran
Troy Hokanson
Riley Wolfe
Devon Jencik
Matthew Ferguson
Sam Butler
Isaiah Pugh (DNF)
SR. ANIMAL - F MAIN
Billy Green
Riley Wolfe
Troy Hokanson
Sam Butler
Natalie Johnson
UR. ANIMAL - A MAIN
Kolby Hannah
Ethan Lamberson
Will Edwards
Evan Foster
Owen Foster
Harrison Halder
Hudson Halder
Holt Halder (DNF)
Daytona Spicola (DNF)
Taylor Nibert (DNF)
Hayden Sprague (DNF)
UR. ANIMAL - B MAIN
Evan Foster
Harrison Halder
Kilby Hanah
Taylor Nibert
Daytona Spicola
Matthew Hollon (DNF)
LT. WORLD FORMULA - _A MAIN
Connor Gross
Hunter Lynch
Chase Burda
Zeek Torgesen
Chase Randall
Gage Painter
Jake Garcia
Jacob Staten
Caden Hoyt
Emerson Axsom (Racing DQ)
LT. WORLD FORMULA - B MAIN
Chase Randall
Emerson Axsom
Zeek Torgesen
Caden Hoyt
Neal Allison
Famous Rhodes
Gage Bowers
Riley Wolfe
Billy Green (DNF)
Scotty Milan (DNF)
Evan Spaulding (DNA)
LT. WORLD FORMULA - C MAIN
Zeek Torgesen
Gage Bowers
Neal Allison
Scotty Milan
Riley Wolf
Owen Carlson
Chase Hyland (DNA)
HVY. WORLD FORMULA - A MAIN
Carson Hocevar
Zeb Wise
George Kurtz
Hudson Halder
Jaxon Bishop
Harrison Halder
Jackson Boone
Evan Foster
Ethan Lamberson
Hayden Sprague
HVY. WORLD FORMULA - B MAIN
Zeb Wise
Jackson Boone
Evan Foster
Ethan Lamberson
Canon Cochran
Jacob Borst
Kolby Hannah
Will Edwards
Corey Heim
Carden Cochran
HVY. WORLD FORMULA - C MAIN
Jackson Boone
Jacob Borst
Canon Cochran
Carden Cochran
Daytona Spicola
Cody Duke
Jagger Parker
Jessica Lutz
Holt Halder (DNF)
LT. MOD - A MAIN
Famous Rhodes
Miles Massie
Troy Hokanson
J.J. Venezia
Colby Sokol
Holly Clark
Matthew Ferguson
Owen Sprague
Cameron Wallace
Chase Burda (DNF)
Chase Spicola (DNS)
LT. MOD - B MAIN
J.J. Venezia
Troy Hokanson
Matthew Ferguson
Owen Sprague
Cameron Wallace
Drew Miles
Kaylee Boston (DNF)
LT. AA - A MAIN
Connor Gross
Caden Hoyt
Gage Painter
Jacob Staten
Jacob Dolinar
Chase Randall
Chase Hyland
Jake Garcia
Famous Rhodes (DNF)
HVY. AA - A MAIN
Zeb Wise
Jaxon Bishop
George Kurtz
Carson Hocevar
Hayden Sprague
Evan Foster
Jessica Lutz (DNS)
- administrator on Jul 15, 2015
- Article Date: 7/13/2015