Tyler Courtney outdueled Robert Ballou through heavy race traffic to win the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series main event in Friday’s Josh Burton Memorial. Ryan Thomas collected his first modified feature at Bloomington this year, Jason Hehman earned his third win of the season in super stocks, and Owen Cosman was a repeat winner in the hornets.
Wheeling the Clauson-Marshall-Newman Priority Aviation sprinter, Courtney raced to an early lead with Ballou and Kevin Thomas Jr. on his heels. When they began lapping slower cars, Courtney smoothly worked past them. But when he caught several cars battling side-by-side, Ballou and Thomas quickly closed the gap and Ballou grabbed a brief lead. But Courtney fought back, retaking the point as they continued to muscle through the traffic. In the closing laps, “Sunshine” surged ahead and scored the victory by 2-car lengths over Ballou and Thomas. Thomas Meseraull finished fourth, with Carson Short coming home fifth.
Courtney, Ballou and Brandon Morin collected Tom White & Company Real Estate Sprint Car heat race wins and Hunter O’Neal took the B Main. In addition to the $2,500 MSCS winner’s payday, Courtney earned the legendary Henry lever-action rifle that has become the traditional trophy for the Josh Burton Memorial, and a $500 bonus. Jeff Bland Jr. was awarded the Josh Burton Spirit Award, in addition to collecting the $1,000 fast qualifier bonus, presented by Eddie Gilstrap Motors in memory of Calvin Gilstrap.
In his third appearance this year in the AJ Bowlen Realtor RE/MAX Acclaimed Properties UMP Modifieds, Ryan Thomas scored a close victory over division point leader Jacoby Hines. Derek Groomer finished third, followed by Jordan Wever and Kent Robinson. Groomer, Hines and Thomas took heat race wins.
The Brandeis Machinery Super Stocks are being dominated by Jason Hehman with three victories in five races. Steve Hawkins took second, followed by Wes McClara, Jack Frye and Steve Hollars. Hawkins and McClara won heat races.
Owen Cosman collected the victory in the Bloomington Hornets, with Jeremy Smith, Dan Smith, Felisha Lucas and Chad Taylor filling the top 5. Andy Brown, Cosman and Smith were heat race winners.
Next Friday’s racing is a big night with USAC’s Indiana Midget Week convening on the red clay. Sponsored by Bobcat of Bloomington, the program also includes the Tom White & Company Sprint Cars and MMSA Winged MiniSprints.
Bloomington Speedway
5th Annual Josh Burton Memorial
Results, May 25, 2018
Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series Feature (25 laps)
- Tyler Courtney, 2. Robert Ballou, 3. Kevin Thomas Jr., 4. Thomas Meseraull, 5. Carson Short, 6. Stevie Sussexx, 7. Jon Stanbrough, 8. Kyle Cummins, 9. Brandon Morin, 10. Shelby VanGilder, 11. Kellen Conover, 12. Daylan Chambers, 13. Hunter O’Neal, 14. Garrett Aitken, 15. Lee Underwood, 16. Clinton Boyles, 17. Donny Brackett, 18. Brandon Mattox, 19. Matt McDonald, 20. Jeff Bland Jr., 21. Braxton Cummings
AJ Bowlen Realtor RE/MAX Acclaimed Properties UMP Modifieds (25 laps)
- Ryan Thomas, 2. Jacoby Hines, 3. Derek Groomer, 4. Jordan Wever, 5. Kent Robinson, 6. Jeremy Owens, 7. John Clippinger, 8. Jeff Deckard, 9. Kenny Carmichael, 10. Sam Wray, 11. RJ Pruitt, 12. Cole Parker, 13. Tim Asbell Jr., 14. Jay Humphrey Jr., 15. Jason Clark, 16. Devin Gilpin, 17. Logan Mounce
Brandeis Machinery Super Stocks
- Jason Hehman, 2. Steve Hawkins, 3. Wes McClara, 4. Jack Frye, 5. Steve Hollars, 6. Josh Divine, 7. Zach Sasser, 8. Sam Arthur, 9. Chris Hanners, 10. Chip Slagle, 11. Jaden Mayhan, 12. Jim Turner, 13. Justin Jeffries
Bloomington Hornets
- Owen Cosman, 2. Jeremy Smith, 3. Dan Smith, 4. Felisha Lucas, 5. Chad Taylor, 6. Mark Gott, 7. Reece Novak, 8. Misty Cosman, 9. Trent Adams, 10. Daniel Hobbs, 11. AJ Hobbs, 12. Andy Brown, 13. Tom Houston, 14. Dallas Isbell, 15. Leroy Sherfield, 16. Larry Babbs, 17. Mark Houston, 18. Abby Sherwalt, 19. Robert Sexton, 20. Donnie Modesty, 21. JP Matthews, 22. Dale Hobbs, 23. Timothy Arthur, 24. James Lane
- Mike O'Leary on May 28, 2018
- Article Date: 5/28/2018