Sprint Cars $2,200-to Win Headlines Friday Night Program
Jeff Bland Jr. will lead the parade when the Tom White & Company Real Estate Sprint Cars unload at Bloomington Speedway Friday night. With $2,200-to-win on the line, including a $1,000 bonus posted by the family of Calvin Gilstrap, Bland is the current point leader, pacing Brandon Morin and Jordan Kinser. It will be a busy night, with four racing divisions in the pits and a lot going on, on the hill.
In addition to the Tom White 410’s, racing action will include the highly-contested Green Earth Recycling and Composting RaceSaver winged sprint cars. Ethan Barrow is the current point leader, just ahead of John Paynter Jr. and Andy Bradley. Luke Bland is the most recent winner at Bloomington in the RaceSavers, joining Barrow, Jeff Wimmenauer and Ryan Tusing. But one to watch is Paynter, who has notched two wins this year, but has come up empty at the Bloomington oval. The A-Main winner will receive a $50 bonus if they have a Brandeis Machinery sticker displayed on their car.
The Brandeis Machinery Super Stocks will also be in competition. Jason Hehman collected three wins at Bloomington already this year, Josh Divine two, including the most recent round, and Jack Frye has one. It will be interesting to see if Hehman can bounce back, as he experienced mechanical problems last Friday. The feature winner will pick up an additional $50 if they have a decal for division sponsor Brandeis Machinery on their car.
The fourth group competing will be the American Vintage Sprint Car Association (AVSCA). They will compete with beautifully maintained historic sprint cars, many of which competed on the same clay Speedway several decades ago. They will run heat races and a main event.
The program Friday night will include a special tribute to the late Calvin Gilstrap. Members of Calvin’s family will participate in Friday’s tribute and in his honor, they have posted a $1,000 bonus for the winner of the night’s non-wing sprint car feature. Additionally, Ohio’s Sham Kiser is planning to bring the #19 Maude Smith sprinter that Gilstrap wheeled to much success for display.
As if this isn’t enough, Friday is Brandeis Machinery and Komatsu Night. Employees and guests of Brandeis Machinery will enjoy an evening of fellowship and fast racing on the hill. Friday is also Bloomington’s second HARF night of the season, with Hoosier Auto Racing Fans receiving $7.00 off general admission when presenting a current membership card.
General admission is only $15, with kids 12 and under admitted free with an adult. The gates will open at 5:30, hot laps beginning at 6:30 and racing at 7:30. The pit gate will open at 4:30 and pit passes are $30.
- Mike O'Leary on Jun 13, 2018
- Article Date: 6/13/2018