Tag: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Race Preview- IMSA Battle on the Bricks

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Sports cars return to IMS fo0r the third consecutive year as the IMSA Weather Tech Championship presents a six hour race on the road course. The3 first event in 2023 was a sprint race- 2 hours, 40 ,imutes in length. In 20924 and this year the race will be a six hour endurance affair. In 2026, the shorter version returns as the six hour race moves to Road America.

I am not upset about the change for next season. I think the 160 minute version works better on this track. I felt the six hour race was a bit too long for the IMS configuration. Endurance races just work better on natural road courses.

The race is the seventh of eight on the IMSA schedule for the series, and the fourth of five endurance events. In addition to the overall champion, an endurance champion is also crowned.

The weekend begins with a single IMSA Weather Tech practice tomorrow at 11:15 am Eastern time. Friday also features the first races for Porsche Carrera Cup and Lamborghini Super Trofeo Cup.

Team Penske Porsches have won four of the previous races. Car 7, driven by Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, has won at Daytona, Sebring, and Long Beach. Car 6, with Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell sharing the3 cockpit, has a victory at Weather Tech raceway Laguna Seca.

The Acuras of Meyer Shank Racing each have won a race, the 93 winning at Detroit, and the 60 at Watkins Glen.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s BMW number 24 won the last race at Road America. The BMWs finished 1-2 in 2024 at IMS.

Campbell and Jaminet lead the standings with 2214 points, 75 points ahead of Nasr and Tandy.

In LMP2, Dane Cameron and P. J. Hyett in car 99 lead with 1,682 points.

GTD Pro leaders are Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims have 2,254 points in the number 3 Corvette. They have a 30 point lead over the number 81 Ferrari driven by Albert Costa.

Phillip Ellis and Russell Ward in the number 57 Mercedes lead the GTD category with 2,147 points, a 112 point advantage over Jack Hawksworth and Parker Thompson in the number 12 Lexus.

I look for the BMWs to do well again this weekend, but I would keep an eye on the Penske Porsches and the Acuras. All three teams have IndyCar ties.

‘Plan Ahead’ for Battle on the Bricks with IMS.com

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From IMS:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025) – Fans attending the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which features the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Michelin Pilot Challenge, are encouraged to “Plan Ahead” through IMS.com/PlanAhead, an interactive web page that serves as a home base for fans heading to the track this weekend.
The “Plan Ahead” page features detailed information about the entire fan experience at IMS, including directions, parking, schedule, gate regulations, digital ticket and parking guides, ADA accessibility and much more.All Speedway patrons should be aware of the following to ensure a successful day at the track:
Tickets: Tickets for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks are available for purchase at IMS.com
.Friday, Sept. 19: $20 for General Admission seating for the grandstands and infield viewing mounds. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Reserved seats in the Hulman Terrace Club, which include private club access, are $100.
Saturday, Sept. 20: $50 for General Admission seating for the grandstands and infield viewing mounds. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Reserved seats in the Hulman Terrace Club, which include private club access and gate admission, are $175.
Sunday, Sept. 21: $60 for General Admission seating for the grandstands and infield viewing mounds. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Reserved seats in the Hulman Terrace Club, which include private club access and gate admission, are $300.
Multiday tickets also are available for this event:Friday-Sunday General Admission: $120. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.Saturday-Sunday General Admission: $105. Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
Friday-Sunday Hulman Terrace Club Reserved: $515. Includes private club access and gate admission.
Camping:A variety of overnight camping options are available for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks, including infield camping. Visit IMS.com for options.
Public Parking:Parking for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is available in a variety of locations around the track. Parking can be purchased on site or in advance. Race fans can visit IMS.com to purchase available parking passes.Friday ParkingFree auto parking (including ADA) is available in the Hulman Lot off Georgetown Road. Availability is limited.
Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Main Gate for $10 and Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $25. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $10 and Gate 1 for $25. Motorcycle parking is free in Gate 1 (Parcel B).Saturday ParkingFree auto parking (including ADA) is available in Lot 6A and the Hulman Lot off Georgetown Road. Availability is limited.Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Main Gate for $20 and Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $50. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $20 and Gate 1 for $50. Motorcycle parking is free in Gate 1 (Parcel B).Sunday ParkingFree auto parking (including ADA) is available in Lot 6A and the Hulman Lot off Georgetown Road. Availability is limited.Paid parking is available in Lot 2 and Main Gate for $20 and Gate 1 (Parcel B) for $75. Paid ADA parking is available in Lot 2 and Lot 3P for $20 and Gate 1 for $75. Paid motorcycle parking is $20 in Gate 1 (Parcel B).
Cashless Operations: IMS is a cashless facility for all ticketing, parking, concessions and retail purchases. Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions.
Pedestrian Gate Entry: Gate hours: Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Public pedestrian gates open (all three days): Gate 1, Gate 2, Gate 4, Gate 6S, Gate 7SFans attending IMS for the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks will pass through magnetometers as part of the gate entry process.
Weekend Street Parking: Three-hour parking on Main Street in Speedway, between 10th Street and 16th Street, will be monitored and enforced from Sept. 19-21 during the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks.
Additional Resources and Information:
No coolers larger than 18 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches can be brought into the facility, which will be strictly enforced. Fans will be allowed to bring one cooler and one standard backpack or book bag per person.
Drivers can learn the locations of work zones and highway restrictions by calling INDOT’s TrafficWise at 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or viewing an online map at 511.in.org or visiting @TrafficWise on X.
For more information regarding access to IMS, visit IMS.com. For additional information, follow on X the Indiana State Police @IndStatePolice, the Speedway Police Department @SpeedwayPD or listen to radio stations WFNI-FM 107.5/WFNI-AM 1070 or WIBC-FM 93.1.
The Speedway Police Department can be reached for non-emergency services by dialing 311 on a cell phone. The goal of 311 is to provide an easy-to-remember number for non-emergency services while freeing up 911 lines for timely emergency response.

IMSA Race Week at IMS- 53 Entries for Battle on the Bricks

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Sports cars take over the IMS road course this weekend for a six hour race on Sunday. While no current IndyCar drivers will participate, several former drivers from IndyCar and Indy Lights will take part.

Romain Grosjean will drive the number 63 Lamborghini in the GTP class, and Sebastien Bourdais is part of the team in the number 8 LMP2 entry.

Benjamin Pedersen drives the number 52 LMP2 car. Former American F1 driver Logan Sargent is one of his teammates.

Toby Sowery, who had a couple of IndyCar starts, is in the 04 LMP2 car, and Hunter McElrea drives the number 11 LMP2 entry.

Find the full entry list on the IMSA website Battle on the Bricks page. You will need to scroll down to race events.

https://www.imsa.com/events/2025-tirerack-com-battle-on-the-bricks/

The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is the penultimate event of the Weather Tech Sports Car Championship season. The final race is petit Lemans at Michelin Raceway near Atlanta on October 11.

Activity begins Thursday night with a Street Festival on Main Street in Speedway.

A new at track feature this year are pickleball courts. Four courts will be in the midway, and a fifth court will be in Pagoda Plaza. Corts are open from 9 am to 4 pm Friday and Saturday.

Team Penske Porsches have dominated the season to date, and there is no reason to doubt that they will have a good weekend at IMS.

This will be the final ye3ar for the race at its six hour length. In 2026, the race will return to the 2 hour, 40 minute sprint format. which I think better suits the facility.

I’ll be taking a look at each class this week, and i hear there may be some IndyCar news coming. I may have a thought or two about that.

Street Festival Sept. 18 in Speedway To Celebrate IMSA Endurance Race at IMS

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From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025) – Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMSA will kick off the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks event weekend with the return of the IMSA Street Festival Thursday, Sept. 18 on Speedway’s Main Street.The family-friendly Street Festival will take place with free admission from 6-8 p.m. ET on Main Street in Speedway, just across the street from the Racing Capital of the World.

IMSA returns to IMS Sept. 19-21 with a six-hour endurance race on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.

“The IMSA Street Festival celebrates the IMSA Tirerack.com Battle on the Bricks and allows fans an opportunity to get an up-close look at the cars, drivers and teams who will be competing during the six-hour endurance race to capture a win and kiss the bricks at IMS,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said.

“Speedway’s Main Street is the perfect place to kick off a full weekend of on-track sports car action at IMS.”
Activities at the event include more than 20 IMSA race cars on display for photos from a variety of classes and three pit stop demonstrations featuring one of the Penske Porsche Motorsport GTP cars that will race at IMS.

More than 70 IMSA drivers, including drivers from the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, are expected to attend and participate in two autograph sessions. IMSA stars Matt Campbell, Tom Gamble, Mathieu Jaminet, Casper Stevenson, Dries Vanthoor and Philipp Eng also will interact with fans during a Q&A session, hosted by Chris Wilner, on the IMS Stage on Main Street.

The family-friendly fan zone also will be available for attendees of all ages with various activities, including music, caricatures, face painting, partner activations and more.

All four classes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will race Sept. 19-21 in the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at IMS, with prototype and GT machinery competing at the same time. Other series competing include the Michelin Pilot Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Porsche Carrera Cup North America.

Visit IMS.com for more information or to buy tickets. 
 

IMS Statement on Passing of H.A. ‘Humpy’ Wheeler 

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 From IMS:
 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025) – A statement from Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles about longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway General Manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, who died Aug. 20 at age 86:
“Auto racing as a sport has been captivating since the invention of the automobile, but it was personalities and energetic promoters like Humpy Wheeler who helped broaden the appeal of auto racing by focusing on the entertainment that racing events could provide spectators. Humpy set the bar high for other tracks and other events, and his efforts to make racing popular and grow its fan base changed the way promoters thought about racing. Much of what you see today, from building the personalities in our sport to adding activities to racing weekends that engage fans off track, have roots in the example Humpy set for the sport. He will be missed, but his spirit, energy, passion and focus on fan experiences will continue to be a reminder that racing is so much more than just what happens on the track.”

1970- 10 Wins for Al Unser

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Photo: Al Unser on his way to his first 500 victory in 1970

Winning10 races remains a possibility for 2025 champion Alex Palou, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since 1970 when Al Unser dominated the season. Here is a look back at that season 55 years ago.

The early races in 1970 gave no indication of how dominant Al Unser would be. He won the opening race at Phoenix, then did not win again until the Indianapolis 500. Unser was winless in June and won just one race in July, at the end of the month at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

The schedule had a large gap, and racing didn’t pick up again until late August. Unser won the first races after the break on August 22nd and 23rd at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and Milwaukee respectively, which put his win streak at three.

Following a ninth-place result in the California 500, Unser won the next five races-DuQuoin, the Hoosier Hundred, Sedalia, Trenton, and Sacramento.

Unser won the pole for the season finale at Phoenix but finished second to Swede Savage. Savage was the ninth different race winner of 1970.

Unser became the second and last driver to win 10 races in a season. A. J. Foyt won 10 of 13 races in 1964. It could be argued that Unser’s achievement was more difficult. Unser won on dirt, pavement, and a road. course. He switched from rear engine pavement cars to front engine dirt cars during the season. On two occasions, a Saturday race was one surface, and the Sunday race was the other. Unser won both races those weekends.

Unser was on the pole for six races, and he won five of those events, losing only the last race of the year from the pole. His worst finish was 18th at Michigan.

Of course, Al Unser ran away with the championship, beating his brother Bobby by more than 2,000 points. Bobby had also won a race in 1970, giving the Unser family 11 wins in 18 races.

Unser the morning after winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1971

For any skeptic who thought 1970 was a fluke, Unser won five of the first six races of 1971, including his second straight Indianapolis500. The 500 would not see another back-to-back winner for thirty years. The 500 would not see another back-to-back winner for thirty years. He went on to win two more 500s in 1978 and 1987.

Fox Corporation Acquires One-Third Interest in Penske Entertainment 

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From Indycar. My thoughts will be posted in a bit.
 Strategic Investment and Partnership Launches New Era of Growth Across INDYCAR that Includes a Multi-Year Extension of INDYCAR’s Media Rights with FOX Sports

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, July 31, 2025) – Penske Entertainment and Fox Corporation (“FOX” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX), the parent company of FOX Sports, today announced an investment in the future of North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, with FOX’s acquisition of a one-third interest in Penske Entertainment, inclusive of INDYCAR and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The investment is expected to supercharge a new era of growth for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the most competitive and dynamic motorsport on the planet. This includes: Innovative and industry-leading racing and entertainment events. A hyper-engaged digital strategy and immersive content focus. Enhanced promotion and star-building opportunities for NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers
Today’s announcement also includes a multi-year extension of INDYCAR’s media rights with FOX Sports.“This partnership is built on long-standing trust and a shared vision for the future,” Roger Penske said. “FOX sees the incredible potential across our sport and wants to play an active role in building our growth trajectory. Lachlan Murdoch and his team, starting with Eric Shanks, are committed to our success and will bring incredible energy and innovation to INDYCAR.”
FOX Sports acquired INDYCAR’s media rights in 2025, bringing fresh promotional resources and significantly larger reach to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. This year’s Indianapolis 500 on FOX averaged 7.01 million viewers, a 41 percent increase over the previous edition and a 17-year high. So far, the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is averaging a 31 percent increase in viewership year-over-year
“We’re thrilled to join the INDYCAR ownership group at such a pivotal time for the sport,” said Eric Shanks, CEO & Executive Producer, FOX Sports.
“INDYCAR represents everything we value in live sports — passionate fans, iconic venues, elite competition and year-round storytelling potential. This investment underscores our commitment to motorsports and our belief in INDYCAR’s continued growth on and off the track. We’re excited to help elevate the sport to new heights across all platforms.”

This news builds on wider momentum across the sport, marked by rising attendance and record crowds at several events this year, including a sell-out of the Indy 500.
INDYCAR has invested heavily in digital growth recently, launching a new mobile APP, web site and fantasy platform while also generating 1 million new social followers. The SERIES will also add a new showcase to its calendar in 2026, racing through Arlington’s entertainment district through a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. 
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport in North America with every race on U.S. network television. It features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses.
The 2025 season continues with the Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.
Also, part of the Penske Entertainment family, the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway is annually home to the largest single-day spectator sporting event on the planet, the Indianapolis 500. This year’s “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” featured a crowd of more than 300,000 people. The famed venue is steeped on more than a century of racing heritage and has the largest seating capacity of any sporting venue across the globe.
About Penske EntertainmentPenske Entertainment is a leading provider of world-class sports and entertainment, encompassing INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is a subsidiary of Penske Corporation, a closely-held, diversified, on-highway, transportation services company whose subsidiaries operate in a variety of industry segments, in retail automotive, truck leasing, transportation logistics and professional motorsports. Penske Corporation manages businesses with consolidated revenues of more than $45 billion, operating in over 3,300 locations and employs more than 73,000 people worldwide.
About Fox CorporationFox Corporation produces and distributes compelling news, sports, and entertainment content through its primary iconic domestic brands, including FOX News Media, FOX Sports, FOX Entertainment, FOX Television Stations and Tubi Media Group. These brands hold cultural significance with consumers and commercial importance for distributors and advertisers. The breadth and depth of our footprint allows us to deliver content that engages and informs audiences, develop deeper consumer relationships, and create more compelling product offerings. FOX maintains an impressive track record of news, sports, and entertainment industry success that shapes our strategy to capitalize on existing strengths and invest in new initiatives. For more information about Fox Corporation, please visit www.FoxCorporation.com.
About FOX SportsFOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing Fox Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and the UFL and a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
CONTACTS:Penske Entertainment: Alex Damron, Adamron@brickyard.com
FOX Sports: Andrew Fegyveresi, Andrew.Fegyveresi@fox.com
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements in this press release due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic and/or regulatory factors and other factors affecting the operation of FOX’s businesses. More detailed information about these factors is contained in the documents FOX has filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including FOX’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.Statements in this press release speak only as of the date they were made, and FOX undertakes no duty to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement made in this press release or to report any events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in FOX’s expectations, except as required by law. 

Returning to My Roots

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The first auto race I ever saw in person was on dirt. It was the 1958 Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It was part of USAC’s Championship trail. which included the Indianapolis 500, Milwaukee, Trenton, Sacramento, and Du Quoin, Illinois- a mix of pavement and dirt tracks. Somewhere in the next two years I went to a sprint race on dirt. Needless to say, I was captivated.

Dirt tracks eventually faded from the public eye and from major racing series, but I still remember what fun those races were. I loved the flying dirt, and was impressed witht he car control the drivers displayed, wheel their powerful machines sideways through the turns.

Last night Indianapolis Motor Speedway brought some of that back with the opening round of Indiana Sprint Week. The track has hosted the BC39 midget races for several years now. Don ‘t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the times I have watched them. Sprint cars, however, are a n entirely different beast, while sprinters are not as nimble as the midgets, they are larger and have more power. Basically, they throw more dirt and are a bigger handful on the short tracks.

Justin Grant, last night’s feature winner, admitted to not really liking the short tracks. I can see why. They are a lot of work.

Sprint cars had a 20 lap exhibition race as part of the BC39 last September. Last night was the first full Sprint car program at the IMs dirt track. I think it was fitting to add the sprinters to complement the midget program. It makes for a full return to the roots of the 500.

Through the Dust and Smoke

The 35 lap feature race had some of the best racing I have seen this year. The heavy air created a dust cloud which hung in turn 2. The occasional breeze blew the dust into t5urn three where your intrepid reporter sat. I am still shaking dust out of my hair and eyes. Of course, small chunks of dirt from turn also showered the spectators.

Robert Ballou, who started on pole and led the first 19 laps, lost two cylinders and his emitted plumes of white smoke the rest of the way. In turn 2, the smoke and the dust combined to make the cars nearly disappear for a second or two. Ballou somehow finished third.

Justin Grant was the driver of the night. He set a track record in qualifying at 12.039 seconds, finished second in his heat races, and started the feature in fifth. He held off Logan Seavey, who started eighth, for the win.

Grant is a great driver. He knows when to go high, when to go low, and when to attack. I could see it in his heat race. Grant relentlessly goes right after people. The only reason he did not win his heat was there wasn’t enough time in a 10 lap heat, which was interrupted by a couple of caution flags. If I were a driver, Grant is the last person I would want to see coming up behind me.

It’s a shame we will never see him in IndyCar or the Indianapolis 500. I saw Grant in the BC39, which he also won. He was by far the best driver in the field.

Now that IMS has fully returned to its roots, I need to follow the Speedway’s lead. I am going to plan to got more sprint and midget programs next year. There are a couple of dirt tracks I have wanted to go to, but time and priorites have kept me from attending. Next year, that changes.

Grant Finds IMS Victory Lane Again in Indiana Sprint Week Opener 

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Editor’s note: From IMS. I will have my story up later today, plus a preview of IndyCar at Laguna Seca.

 INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, July 24, 2025) – Justin Grant continued his knack for winning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, capturing the opening race of the 38th annual USAC NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week Presented by Honest Abe Roofing on Thursday night at The Dirt Track at IMS.Grant added his seventh USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship victory this season and 61st of his career to a win in the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship feature on the opening night of the BC39 Presented by Avanti Windows & Doors on July 1 at The Dirt Track.
Grant, from Ione, California, also won the BC39 feature race in 2023 on the 1/5th-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the 2.5-mile IMS oval.
“It’s the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Grant said. “I probably raced a little rougher than most of the sprint car guys like to race, but I come in here off the BC39, and maybe old habits die hard. I want to win at this place.”
Grant, who started fifth in the 20-car field, took the lead for the first time and for good with 16 laps remaining in the 35-lap feature. He earned $10,000 for the victory in the No. 4 TOPP Motorsports car.Logan Seavey finished second in the No. 57 Abacus Racing car, followed by pole sitter Robert Ballou in the No. 12 Ballou Motorsports machine.
Ballou led the first 19 laps, but Grant used both the top and bottom grooves of the clay oval to climb from fifth to second. With 16 laps to go, Grant used the high line in Turns 3 and 4 to power past Ballou, whose car started to emit white plumes of smoke from its left side.Seavey passed Ballou for second on the next lap and set his sights on Grant.
A three-car tangle in Turn 2 triggered the final caution of the feature race with nine laps to go.
Grant got a strong jump on the restart, pulling away slightly. But Seavey found grip and slid under Grant in Turns 1 and 2 to nose slightly ahead with eight laps remaining. But Grant used the low line to quickly power ahead of Seavey on the back straightaway and eased away over the final seven laps for the prestigious victory.
“It was really, really tough,” Grant said. “The pace was really fast, and the top was so fast you had to kind of make some things happen there. I’m sure I didn’t make too many friends, but I wanted to get down here to Victory Lane.
“I love racing here. I think this little track is amazing. I’m the biggest hater of small racetracks in the world, and one of my favorite ones is this one. It’s kind of funny. We’ve really come a long way on our short-track stuff. I’m kind of a half-mile kind of guy. Just super excited to be here.”
USAC Indiana Sprint Week, a cornerstone of sprint car racing in the Hoosier State since 1988, has captivated fans for decades with its thrilling action and rich legacy. The 2025 Indiana Sprint Week schedule consists of eight events at eight different racetracks across a 10-night span between July 24-Aug. 2.
C.J. Leary captured the only previous visit by the USAC National Sprint Cars to The Dirt Track at IMS in September 2024, a 20-lap, non-points exhibition race during the BC39.]
The focus at the Racing Capital of the World now turns to Brickyard Weekend, featuring the Pennzoil 250 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday and the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG for the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday. Practice for both series takes place Friday. Visit IMS.com to buy tickets or for more information.