by Eldon Butcher

Haubstadt, IN. Feb 4, 2008. The 51st season of racing at Tri-State Speedway will get underway on April 19th with the appearance of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car drivers. The race will be held on a Saturday night and will attract the fastest drivers in the nation. This opening night race will be the only appearance of winged sprint cars at the track this season. The reigning WoO National Champion is Donny Schatz and the winner at Haubstadt in the WoO show last season was the King of the Outlaws Steve Kinser.

Ten other special events make up the complete schedule at the quarter mile high banked dirt track. The MSCS Sprints will make the first appearance at the track on Saturday night May 10th. That show and the two holiday weekend shows later in the season will all pay $3,000 to win. Those three enhanced purses with a travel day afterwards should beckon to more distant teams and fans. The holiday races are scheduled for Sunday May 25th which is Memorial Day Weekend and again Labor Day Weekend on Sunday August 31st.

On June 7th the Midwest Sprint Car Series drivers will meet the King of Indiana Sprint Series drivers in a second encounter. The first match-up was last season and the race was won by Daron Clayton. The feature pays $2,500.

On Sunday June 15th the UMP Late Model Summernationals will stop for an appearance at Tri-State Speedway. This year the annual event will have support from the UMP Open Wheel Modifieds as well as the Tri-State Vintage Racers. It will be a fun packed triple header.

The UMP Modifieds will be racing a total of 9 times at the track during the season. Those dates in addition to 6-15 are 4-19, 5-10, 5-25, 6-7, 7-19, 8-2, 8-31, and 9-27. The modifieds have appeared at the track every season since the inception of the class back at the track in 1993.

The POWRI Midgets will make a return visit this season on June 28th in a doubleheader with the MSCS Sprinters. Some drivers are expected to avail themselves of an opportunity to run in both classes of cars. With a seat behind the wheel of both a sprint and a midget that night one driver could pick up both feature purses.

The USAC Sprint Cars will be at Tri-State Speedway on Saturday July 19th for Indiana Sprint Week. It will be one of 8 appearances at a total of 6 Indiana sprint car tracks to crown a 2008 champion. The Champion for Indiana Sprint Week will be crowned on the Haubstadt oval after that final race.

Two weeks later on August 2nd the third annual Hoosier Sprint Nationals will be held at Tri-State Speedway and it will pay a whopping 10 grand to the winner. The feature that night will be for 50 laps of MSCS green flag racing. Hunter Schuerenberg reigns as the defending champion of the Hoosier Sprint Nationals.

The Speedway usually closes for the season after the Enduro Race and Demolition Derby. That event is set for Sunday afternoon September 14th. Kids of all ages have enjoyed this day of Rock’em, Sock’em action for decades.

However this year there will be one more event. Something new for fans and competitors is in the offering. Track promoters Tom and Loris Helfrich have decided to add a new event for 2008. That event will now serve as this season‘s final event. It will be known as The Haubstadt Hustler Sprint 50 and be held on Saturday September 27th.

The MSCS Sprint Car drivers will compete that day in a 50 lapper for $10,000 to win. Teams will have ample travel time before and after this race. Drivers not having MSCS licenses will be able to purchase temporary permits to race. The purse is commanding! The pits should be full of contenders! This has the potential to be the biggest event of the year.

The annual August 2nd Hoosier Sprint Nationals and the new September 27th Haubstadt Hustler Sprint 50 now provide not one but two ultra spectacular non-wing, national caliber sprint car races for avid race fans to enjoy at Tri-State Speedway.

Don’t miss a thrilling event. Season tickets can be purchased by contacting the Speedway office! Phone 812-768-5995 or 768-6025 for ticket information.

Haubstadt, IN - August 4, 2007.  Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston, MO, won the third annual installment of the Hoosier Sprint Nationals at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN.  The 50 lap event paying $10,000 to win and sanctioned by the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series drew 42 non-wing sprint car teams.  Schuerenberg drives for the Truckers 24 Hr. Race Team owned by Roger & Barb Tapy with Jim Whiteside serving as the crew chief.  In post race comments he thanked them and the fans.  “Thank you all for cheering me on!”  He had already saluted the crowd with two victory doughnuts in turn four after a race designed to create fan appeal.  Other sponsors include Minors Harley Davidson, Napa, Jockish Flowers, and Indy Race Parts.       

Schuerenberg started 17th in the Competition Welding Chassis powered by a FOXCO engine.  That starting spot was earned with a second place finish in the 12 lap B Main.  The added distance of the race worked to his advantage as he began working through the 21 car field which included some of the best drivers from 8 states.  Schuerenberg was seventh at lap 25 having already advanced 10 spots.  At the 30 lap mark he was fifth.  And he was already up to second  and the event’s Hard Charger at the 40 lap mark.  Fans watched an overwhelming all out ground attack.  A blitz was shaping up and 100 % Sure-n’ Berg had his sights trained ahead.  Along the way and in those final laps circumstances created even more opportunities that would change the direction the race was taking.     

The field for the feature was hurried to the starting grid and pushed off with wet weather approaching.  At the green flag of starter Mo Will,  pole sitter  Danny Holtsclaw shot into the lead.  He stayed there for most of 9 laps and  through the first red flag brought out as Kevin Thomas Jr. flipped end for end on the backstretch.  Holtsclaw took  on the role of the crowd favorite with a determined effort at the outset using an opportunity based on a lucky fan’s pill draw to invert the established line-up continuing the Hoosier Nationals tradition.     

On lap ten Jon Stanbrough found the lead and once he was ahead began to pull away.  The race developing was then for second.  Stanbrough was fast!  Mat Neely took second but the spot was Shane Cottle’s 7 laps later.  Stanbrough’s engine compartment erupted in smoke on lap 32 and his car came to a stop in turn two changing the entire complexion of the race.       

Shane Cottle led the restart to the green and continued to protect the lead until the one final restart on lap 43.  It was then that Cottle’s car dug in momentarily in turn one and Schuerenberg sailed by.  This final opportunity was all that the seventeen year old 2006 National Non-Wing Sprint Car Rookie of the Year needed.  Cottle finished second to collect the $5,000 runner-up’s share of the purse.   Mat Neely was third followed by Cory Kruseman and  Chris Urish.  Brent Beauchamp, Hud Cone, Danny Holtsclaw, Chris Gentry, and Kyle Cummins rounded out the top ten  Only eleven  drivers finished the event.  Attrition or accidents cut the field by almost half.  Alex Shanks received the Wilwood Tuff Brakes Award!  Shanks finished despite some flames that flared up.     

The five heat race winners were Holtsclaw, Stanbrough, Gaines, Briscoe, and Short.  Chris Babcock won the C Main to lead 5 drivers into the B-Main which produced a 20 car B-Main won by Hud Cone.  Cone and crew had worked all the previous night to repair his car.          

Haubstadt, IN.  Zac Fair of Petersburg, IN, was credited with a win in the rain shortened UMP Modified feature Saturday night.  Fair‘s victory was his first of the season at Tri-State.     

Weather became the deciding factor in a race hampered first by early cautions.  The start brought out a yellow as drivers went for the lead with Everett Bradham‘s car stopping on the track.  Bradham was looking for a quick way around Jason Webster and Fair.  The three drivers started at the front by virtue of heat race wins.  In braking to avoid trouble Bradham’s engine died.   He would restart at the tail.     

Subsequent yellow flags combined with moisture on the track forced the race to  be flagged early.  The last racing on the track was cut short by a 4 or 5 car incident.  With cars back in line to restart showers returned.      

Jason Webster finished second with Adam Turpen, Chris Moore, and Tim Dierlam scored in the top five.  Jesse Syder won the Consolation race which was completed under more favorable conditions.   Twenty-five cars entered the night’s competition.

The UMP Modifieds will return on Sunday night September 2nd.  The Midwest Sprint Cars will be running for $5,000 to win that night.  This will be the next racing event at Tri-State Speedway and it will be on Labor Day Weekend.

SUMMARY UMP Open Wheel Modifieds August 4, 2007

Heat Winners - Jason Webster, Zach Fair, Everett Bradham

Consy - Jesse Snyder

Feature - Zach Fair, Jason Webster, Adam Turpen, Chris Moore, Tim Dierlam,               Tyler Weiss, Danny Claycomb. Levi Kissenger, Clint DeMoss, Jay Jones,               Everett Bradham, Justin Kuhn. Brandon Dierlanm, Derrick Sinks,               Jesse Snyder, Kyle Decker, Willie Madison, Mark Cole  

by Eldon Butcher

Haubstadt, IN - July 21.  Daron Clayton won the USAC sanctioned Indiana Sprint Week finale held at Tri-State Speedway Saturday night.  The Missouri born, Indianapolis based driver prevailed in the 30 lap feature and earned the victory with just his third start in the Walker/Guiducci entry.  Clayton was offered the ride for the final weekend of ISW action and at Haubstadt, where he has had phenomenal success, he took on all challenges and all challengers in an exciting night of USAC Sprint Car racing.

Trouble presented itself early when Clayton’s car overturned in a wide pack of cars exiting turn two at the start of the second heat race.  Repairs followed after a tow to the pits and he responded with a win in the B-main.  He joined the feature line-up as the fifth starter in a whopping 25 car field which included three added provisions including ISW Points leader Dave Darland as well as Darren Hagen.

Clayton was fourth after a lap, third by lap 7, second by lap 11, and in the lead on lap 23.  Ricky Steinhouse Jr. of Olive Branch, MS, led all of those early laps and continued after the pass at a desperate  pace behind Clayton to place a strong second.  Chad Boespflug finished third with a solid performance after starting on the pole.  Jon Stanbrough would emerge from the thick pack of cars hunting top five spots to claim fourth.  Dustin Morgan was fifth in the team car to Clayton’s 11D.   

Clayton put down three complete doughnuts following the victory lap and before being pushed from the smoke and flying dirt to victory lane.  The fans in turn two had the ringside seat.  But everyone got a big thank you!  “I love this place!  I love the fans who come out to root me on!  This was a tough race but not as tough as the one with Stanbrough a few weeks ago.”  One final thank you was for Jeff Walker.  “Jeff has been great in offering me this ride.”        

The top ten included Shane Cottle in sixth followed by Levi Jones, Mat Neely, Hunter Schuerenberg, and Cole Whitt.  Dave Darland finished eleventh to preserve the points lead and earn him a third Indiana Sprint Week Title.  Darland collected 2 victories, 2 seconds, and a third in the package of 8 events held at the 6 tracks involved during the extended 11 day race week.

Fast qualifier for the program was Jerry Coons Jr. with a lap of 12.912 seconds.  Danny Holtsclaw then won the Non Qualifiers Race between the 13 drivers who failed to qualify fast enough to make the heat race lineups.  That gave 4 drivers another chance from the tail of four respective heat races.  Two of those Kevin Swindell and Scotty Weir made the feature.  Forty-five drivers had timed to begin the program.

John Memmer outraced Jesse Hockett and Jon Stanbrough in an exciting first heat.  Levi Jones in the Tony Stewart sprinter finished ahead of Brady Bacon and Kevin Swindell, who together make up the Kasey Kahne team in heat two.  Hud Cone squeezed out a victory at the line over Neil Shepherd in the third heat.  Cole Whitt was quick in winning the fourth heat.

The B-main served to add the final six cars to the feature line-up.  Kyle Wissmiller took the final spot using a last lap pass.  Shane Cottle actually finished second to Daron Clayton in a strong field of hopefuls.  Accidents produced two red flags and two yellow flags.  Cars driven by Chris Windom and Shane Hollingsworth took the brunt of the damage in separate flips.  Red flags in the feature allowed crews to quickly service cars on the track while damaged sprints were towed or pushed back to the pits.  Those accidents eliminated five more cars from competition.

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In the UMP modified feature John DeMoss passed Danny Claycomb  on the third lap and maintained the lead for the remainder of the 25 lap event to claim the victory.  Claycomb held off a charge by Everett Bradham to finish in second.  Bradham who started 14th by virtue of a win in the consolation race took third.  Tim Dierlam was fourth and Darrell McDowell moved up to fifth on the final circuit.   A yellow flag brought about a green, white, checker finish with six cars in contention for the top spots.  McDowell capitalized on the opportunity in passing Jesse Cramer who had run as high as third in the field.

Modified heat races produced three winners.  Kyle Decker, Danny Claycomb, and John DeMoss ruled in those three preliminary events.  Decker finished ninth in the 18 car feature which was interrupted 5 times by incidents bringing out yellow flags.

Haubstadt, IN - July 8, 2007. Daron Clayton won the 30 lap inaugural MSCS - KISS Showdown at Tri-State Speedway Sunday night. But it was no easy task. The race had all the necessary ingredients for one of the most exciting races to ever be held at the tacky quarter mile oval. One of those ingredients was the fact that it was also the final Championship night for the 2007 KISS series. Both MSCS and KISS points were at stake for the 41 drivers on hand. And KISS points leader Jon Stanbrough would be a major factor in the feature competition on his way to collecting the KISS title.

The feature was a shootout among the front runners with Brady Short separating Stanbrough, who had the lead, from Clayton for five laps. A restart on lap five gave Clayton an opportunity to grab second. On lap nine he took the lead after pushing his car to the front in turn two, exchanging spots with Stanbrough in three, and back to the front again in four. This pattern would continue, especially during the last six laps of the feature. Clayton defended challenge after challenge. Jon Stanbrough would gain ground entering the corners using a slide job while Clayton would remain poised to dive back underneath and find the speed to undo the fleeting pass. Daron Clayton’s formable win was the seventh in his MSCS career and with the victory he becomes the leading all time winner for the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series with seven feature victories. Clayton followed the $2,500 win with victory doughnuts dirt track style in turn four. His turn at the microphone was short. “It was a great race! I had a lot of fun! Thanks fans! I am going to run Indiana Sprint Week next.” The native Missouri driver now races out of Indianapolis and is sure to be “Kick-in” some more Hoosier clay.

The second place finish brought Jon Stanbrough, of Jamestown, IN, a third KISS series title in an illustrious sprint car driving career. The KISS point fund was worth $1,400 to the champion along with the special King of Indiana Sprint Series Champion’s helmet designed by RockStar Paint and sponsored by Sprint Car &Midget Magazine and Simpson Performance Products. Brady Short finished third in the feature in the Lucas Oil Sprinter. Kyle Wissmiller was fourth and rookie Jeff Bland Jr. was fifth. Hud Cone, Matt Neely, Mitch Wissmiller, Brett Beauchamp, and Bobby Stines rounded out the top ten. Cone rolled off the track after the event with a flat left front tire. It was Mitch Wissmiller who improved 10 positions to capture the Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard Charger of the Race Award. John Memmer finished just outside of the top ten to collect the Wilwood Tuff Brakes Award. Hard luck followed Shane Hollingsworth all evening. The Indianapolis driver fell victim to a flat tire during his heat race and then flipped in the C-main in a series of rolls. He was the runner-up in KISS points going into the event.

Heat victories went to John Memmer, Todd Chandler, Jeff Bland Jr., Jon Stanbrough, and Daron Clayton. Fifteen year old Shane Golobic of Fremont, California, won the C-main in his first appearance at the Speedway. MSCS Points leader Kyle Cummins took the 20 car B-main. Dave Scott started on the pole of the B but had the misfortune of flipping his car in turn four. Tri-State Speedway will race next on Saturday July 21st. That is the USAC Indiana Sprint Week date for the track. The MSCS Sprints will be back in action on August 3rd and 4th, That upcoming two race weekend starts Friday night at Paducah International Raceway in Kentucky and is followed by the Hoosier Sprint Nationals paying $10,000 to win at Tri-State Speedway on Saturday.

Haubstadt, IN - June 9, 2007.  Jon Stanbrough drove to victory in the 50th Anniversary Race Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway.  The win was the second for the Brownsburg, IN, driver in as many days of Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series Competition.  This one paid $5,050.50 and continued a 2007 hot streak which is placing the Fox Brothers Sprinter in victory lane after victory lane at Midwestern tracks.

An appreciative crowd watched Stanbrough reel in the early leaders and then take command during the last third of the race.  Stanbrough was always in the right place at the right time!  Stanbrough shared the credit.  “You know Brad and Steve always do a great job with the car!  It fits my driving style.  We are on a roll now!  We’re just really good together. This was a long race.  The car wasn‘t quite as good when the night began but then the car came to me.”     The program began after a special recognition ceremony in honor of the Helfrich family who have been involved with the operation, ownership, and management of the speedway all of these years.  It then continued with racing headlined by the Midwest Sprint Car Series and featuring the UMP Modifieds as well as the Vintage race cars, some dating back to the very era in which Tri-State Speedway was constructed.

The Sprint Car feature began after a special 4 car wide salute to the fans.  In an added gesture drivers then formed into the missing man formation in honor of the late Ed Helfrich, the long time speedway owner.  Pole sitter Jared Fox dropped back in line to leave an open spot in the front row.  Earlier Irma Helfrich, Tom and Loris Helfrich, and other family members received a plaque from the many employees and friends of Tri-State Speedway.

Jared Fox set a blistering pace in leading the first 33 laps.  Fox flirted with the cushion and kept a high line.  Once Stanbrough drew close it took him about 4 laps to find an advantage on the track.  He had started fourth, fell to fifth, and had to battle his way through some strong resistance.  Shane Cottle was not far behind traveling from 9th to 2nd in the Edison Motorsports sprinter.  Critter Malone finished third after finding second on two different runs towards the front of the feature.  Fox settled for fourth,  Shane Hollingsworth was never out of the top five in finishing fifth.

The rest of the top ten included Mitch Wissmiller, MSCS Points leader Kyle Cummins, Chad Boat, Alex Shanks, and John Memmer.  Cummins finish on the same lap as the leaders was just short of a miracle.  The car rolled over on lap 48 up near the wall in turn one.  Once up righted Cummins elected to restart and finish the race.  His pace and determination combined to make him the Hard Charger of the race.  The top 8 were still on the lead lap at the conclusion of the feature.  Twelve of the 21 starters finished the race.  The Wilwood Tuff Brakes award went to Brent Beauchanp.

Heat winners included Critter Malone, Hunter Schuerenberg, Jared Fox, and Jon Stanbrough.  Kyle Cummins led Kevin Briscoe, and Brent Beauchamp to the line in the 12 lap B-Main.  Thirty-one drivers from eight states entered the overall competition.

MSCS will now have three weekends off from series competition before the next scheduled race which will be a match-up with the KISS series drivers on July 8th at Tri-State Speedway.  It will be the 2007 KISS finale and Championship.

Everett Bradham, of Olney, IL, won the 25 lap UMP Modified feature to conclude the Anniversary program at Tri-State Speedway.  Bradham used the outside pole to his advantage in leading the 18 car field to the final checkered flag of the night.  All three top spots went to long time veterans at the Speedway.  Bradham was followed by Danny Claycomb of Vincennes, and Mark Cole of Evansville.  Tyler Weiss came in fourth with Jim Shipman fifth.  Local driver Doug Vinnedge was sixth,  It was Vinnedge’s first appearance at the Speedway in a number of years!  Preliminary Modified heat winners were Jesse Snyder and Bradham.

The Modifieds will be on the program again on Sunday June 17th when the Tri-State Speedway presents the UMP Late Model Summernationals.

The month of June marks the start of our 50th Anniversary Celebration.  The Midwest Sprint Car Series will start the party with a 50 lap feature paying $5050.50 to the winner on Saturday, June 9th.  This special event will have the added bonus of the Tri-State Vintage Cars in action plus the UMP Modifieds.  Come and celebrate with us to mark this historic event and enjoy 50 cent hot dogs, 50 cent soft drinks, prize giveaways, the Hadi Funster clowns and for you die hard race fans – 50 hard charging laps for the MSCS sprints!  It will be a night you won’t want to miss!    

Hot laps will start at 6:30 PM with opening ceremonies at 7:15 and races set for 7:30 PM.  The pit gate will open at 3:30 and tickets for the grandstands will go on sale at 4:30 PM.  Prices for tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students (ages 13-18) and don’t forget about the kids – ages 12 & under are admitted FREE! 

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