By: Ron Burt
This column normally doesn’t cover the big two, but you must mention both when you mention racing on Memorial weekend. This year’s Indy 500 winner was Marcus Ericsson, a 31-year-old from Sweden. The win wasn’t easy, his last two laps were a shoot-out. He had to hold off Pato O’Ward (runner up} and Tony Kanaan (3rd place) to capture his first Indy victory. After dominating most of the race Scott Dixon had to serve a penalty for speeding down pit lane. Dixon set a record for most laps led at the Indy 500 in his career. If you’re my age or older, it will always be The World 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR and has always been one of racings crowned jewels. This year’s winner was Denny Hamlin, with Kyle Bush and Kevin Harvick right behind him. The multiple overtimes made it the longest NASCAR race of all-time. The best way to describe the 600, lots of yellow flags were waving. Not to upset die-hard NASCAR fans, it was the Coca-Cola 600.
Keeping up with Midwest racing traditions, the 74th Annual Little 500, took place Saturday, May 28th in Anderson Indiana on one of the countries most famous quarter mile asphalt short tracks. Anderson Motor Speedway is home to this very prestigious non wing USAC Sprint Car race. It’s a 33-car starting field of the nations top Sprint Car drivers running 500 laps around the high banked track. Over the years this race has changed locations and it hasn’t been that many years ago when Indy 500 drivers raced this event the night before Indy. Some older race rans remember it was first run by AAA/USAC Roadsters which over the years different designs developed cars into Sprints or Super Modifieds. This year’s winner and pole sitter was Tyler Roahrig. It was back-to-back victories for him on the fast high banks. He led 219 laps. The capacity crowed cheered when the Plymouth Indiana driver took the lead on lap 375 from Dakoda Armstrong. From that point Roahrig had to keep working his way through lapped traffic and several cautions and red flags. Armstrong finished 2nd but gave several runs for the lead in the last five laps. C.J. Leary, Kyle O’Gara and Caleb Armstrong all finished on the lead lap.
In our local racing area Memorial weekend Friday night was a wash out due to the rains. The pits and staging area at Attica and Limaland were a mess and Gas City took the weekend off. Saturday was a little better and many asphalt tracks were offering big payouts in the tri-state for the Outlaw Late Models. It was also the new reopening of Plymouth Motor Speedway. The dirt was removed during the winter and the 3/8th mile ovel is back to asphalt. It was a capacity crowd for the reopening and 114 cars showed up to race. Shawn Amor won the Outlaw Late Model feature. Austin Maynard making his debut at Plymouth won the Sportsman Late Model Feature. Slick Nick Pressler took the checker in Street Stocks. The track also will run FWD’s and Hornets weekly. Fremont Motor Speedway was rained out Saturday, May 28th, so the 410 Sprints and Dirt Late Models had to haul to Wayne County Speedway. Chris Myers won the 410 Sprint A-main and Mitch Caskey won in the Late Model division. At Eldora Speedway, Tyler Erb won the Late Model Feature to bring home the $5,000.00 in the Johnny Appleseed Classic. Dylan Woodling won in the Modified feature, and Earnie Woodard took the checker in the Stock Cars. I have more race coverage on my facebook sports page Ohio Sports Blitz, along with my takes on other sports topics. You’re welcome to reach me at my email. ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
Ron Out!
