ARCA Midwest Tour & ARCA Menards Series With Major Events
(West Allis, WI) The oldest operating motor speedway in the world is ready for two big events in 2021, featuring a number of popular touring series. The Milwaukee Mile, located at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, WI, will host events on Sunday, June 20 and Sunday, August 29.
After a one year hiatus due to the pandemic of 2020, the ARCA Midwest Tour will return to the Mile on Sunday, June 20 to headline a Father’s Day Special. In racing’s return to the oval in 2019, Roscoe, IL driver, Austin Nason, bested a field of 36 drivers to take the victory. The Midwest Truck Series, Mid American Stock Cars, and Upper Midwest Vintage Series will also be on track for the event.
A second exciting event is set for Sunday, August 29, as the ARCA Menards Series will make its first appearance at the track since 2007 when Frank Kimmel claimed the victory. Other former ARCA winners at the Milwaukee Mile include Dean Roper, Dave Weltmeyer, and Phil Bozell. The Big 8 Late Model Series will also be in action.
“We had a great event in 2019 with full fields in all of the classes and a lot of fan support. Everyone is looking forward to seeing the Super Late Models on track again in June as well as ARCA’s return in August,” stated Track Enterprises promoter, Bob Sargent.
Reserved tickets for the two events are available now. Advanced sale reserved tickets are $25 each, a savings of $5 per ticket. Tickets for kids 11 and under are $5. To order, go to www.trackenterprises.com or by calling the Wisconsin State Fair Park box office at 414-266-7100.
For more information on the event, visit the Track Enterprises website at www.trackenterprises.com or call 217-764-3200. For information on the ARCA Midwest Tour, visit www.midwesttour.racing or www.arcaracing.com for details on the ARCA Menards Series.
HAMMOND, IN: One of the most amazing motorsports winning streaks in history came to an abrupt halt Saturday night as multiple USAC champion Bryan Clauson was able to hold back Kevin Swindell’s bid for a fifth straight Golden Driller Trophy at the 2014 Chili Bowl. Barely!
During the last four decades, the Swindell family has held an almost supernatural grip on the Golden Driller (no pun intended). World of Outlaw original Sammy Swindell began the family ownership of the Chili Bowl by winning the second-ever running in 1989, adding victories in 1992, 96, 98 and 2009. Son Kevin then took over victory lane in 2010 and refused to be beaten for the next four years!
With nearly 300 midgets entered annually at the Chili Bowl, the idea of someone…ANYONE…winning four in a row seems unrealistic, if not downright impossible. This year, Kevin Swindell made things a bit tough on himself in his bid for a fifth consecutive victory, having to win his “B” feature in order to qualify for the tail-end of the Main Event. Meanwhile, father Sammy had already locked himself into the Big Show, and the annual “Swindell Benefit Race” appeared to be on track for yet another success story.
However, someone forget to tell Bryan Clausen.
After winning his preliminary feature the night before, the Indy 500 veteran passed early leader Caleb Armstrong on the second lap and set sail. Meanwhile, Kevin Swindell was mounting his expected charge from the rear of the field, and father Sammy was locked in an intense battle with the great Kyle Larson which ended badly for both. Following contact, Sammy lost a lap to the leaders, and Larson eventually retired with engine trouble.
With Bryan Clausen holding an almost comfortable advantage, the focus shifted to the amazing charge of Kevin Swindell, as he zeroed in on the leaders. With only a handful of laps remaining, Kevin fought his way past battling teammates Chris Bell and Rico Abreu with only Bryan Clausen separating him from his fifth consecutive Golden Driller. Could “Little Swindell” do it again?
When Clausen won his preliminary feature the night before, his comment in Victory Lane should have been a warning to his Chili Bowl foes. “Wow. This thing has been really hooked-up since we got here. It would be a shame if we can’t put it in Victory Lane Saturday night!”
In the end, Bryan Clausen held off Kevin Swindell to cop his first Golden Driller trophy. Even so, Kevin’s record of four wins and a second in five years almost beyond comprehension. And who’s to say the streak won’t begin again in 2015?
“I’m just really relieved I didn’t throw it away because these guys are really good,” said Clauson.“I said it last night in the Press Conference that I felt like I had a car that could compete for the win tonight from the time we unloaded the car. It was really going to be a matter of not burying ourselves.”
Is this the beginning of the “Bryan Clausen Era” at the Chili Bowl?
John Atlas is a native of Hammond, IN who has followed auto racing all his life. As a youngster, he has been attending the Indianapolis 500 since the mid-1950’s and still reveres the Speedway today. A fan of all types of motorsports, John has attended races from Watkins Glen (at the bog) to the old Ontario Motor Speedway, from Ascot to Pocono. He has a cat named Parnelli and loves the music of Frank Zappa, John gives us a unique view of racing.
NORWALK, Ohio (August 11, 2015) – The International Hot Rod Association™ (IHRA) Nitro Jam tour is returning to Grand Bend Motorplex after rain forced the event to be postponed in June. Sunny skies are in the forecast for this weekend and there will be plenty of drag racing action taking place over the course of two days.
The professional classes will include: AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car presented by Aeromotive, Nitro Harley, Pro Modified, Pro Stock, Jet Dragsters and Top Fuel. The Summit Pro-Am Series racers will also run in conjunction with the professional classes and compete for Ironman’s in Grand Bend, Ontario. In addition, the ever-popular Harley Destroyer’s will be on-site to compete on the quarter-mile dragstrip.
With only three events remaining on the 2015 Nitro Jam schedule, the competition is fierce and every point counts towards becoming the IHRA World Champion. Every class championship is up for grabs as teams head into the Mopar Nationals presented by Williams Racing. Jason Ruppert is enjoying the best lead with 87 points over Mike McIntire Jr. after winning four Ironman trophies in a row. Pro Stock has the tightest championship battle as only 34 points separate Cary Goforth from leader John Montecalvo.
The Mopar Nationals presented by Williams Racing takes place August 15 – 16, 2015 at one of Canada’s premiere racing facilities. Grand Bend Motorplex is located just a few miles from the shores of Lake Huron on 407-acres in Huron County off of 407.
Did you know?
Bruce Litton will return to the Mopar Nationals presented by Williams Racing fresh off his latest Top Fuel win at the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The four-car Top Fuel entry list includes: Litton, Paton Racing, Bob Leverich and Jeff Veale.
A strong AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car presented by Aeromotive field is expected to return for round two of the Mopar Nationals presented by Williams Racing. Driver entries include: Jason Rupert, Mike McIntire Jr., Tim Boychuk, “Mr. Explosive” Mark Sanders, Steve Nichols, Shawn Bowen, Gary Kraus and “Bullet” Bob Floch.
The Dragon’s Fyre Jet Truck will make its first Canadian appearance this weekend. The beautiful 1949 Ford pick-up truck is powered by a General Electric J-85 after-burning turbot jet engine and is operated by David Modder.
Noteworthy items:
This weekend marks the 10th Nitro Jam drag racing event of the season and the final appearance in Canada during the 2015 season. Two events remain after the Mopar Nationals presented by Williams Racing – San Antonio Nationals, September 25 – 26 and the World Finals at Memphis International Raceway, October 9 – 10.
Testing will take place at Grand Bend Motorplex on Friday, August 14 for the professional and sportsman classes. Pros from 1 – 4 p.m. and sportsman from 4 – 7 p.m.
Tickets from the June event will be honored this weekend. Fans must show their wristband or receipt at the gate in order to attend the rescheduled Nitro Jam.
Schedule:
Friday, August 14 Racer Gate Credentials Open 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Professional Testing 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sportsman Testing 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 15 Racer Gate Credentials Open 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Summit Sportsman Qualifying 9:30 a.m. Nitro Jam Qualifying Rd 1 3 p.m. Summit Sportsman Eliminations After qualifying Nitro Jam Qualifying Rd 2 5 p.m. Summit Sportsman Eliminations After qualifying
Nitro Jam Qualifying Rd 3 8 p.m.
Sunday, August 16 Racer Gate Credentials Open 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Summit Sportsman Eliminations 9:30 a.m. Pre-race Ceremony 11:15 a.m. Nitro Jam Eliminations Rd 1 11:30 a.m. Summit Sportsman Eliminations After Rd 1 NJ Nitro Jam Eliminations Rd 2 1:30 p.m. Summit Sportsman Eliminations After Rd 2 NJ
Nitro Jam Eliminations Rd 3 3:30 p.m.
Tickets to the 2015 Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals presented by Williams Racing at Grand Bend Motorplex can be purchased online or at the gate on the day of event. For more information, please visit www.nitrojam.com, www.grandbendmotorplex.ca or call (519) 238-7223.
Gary Bettenhausen signs and chats with the fans in Indianapolis in 2005. [John Atlas Photo]
HAMMOND, IN: If you were an auto racing fan and lived in the Chicagoland area during the ’50’s, the legendary Tony Bettenhausen of suburban Tinley Park, IL was your guy. It was just that simple.
My first memory of the Indy 500 veteran and 1951 National Champion came in 1954 at Soldier Field on the Chicago lakefront during a AAA midget race. It was a rough night for Tony, who suffered major injuries in a grinding crash. Even as a eight year old kid, I realized that I had witnessed something bad, because of the reaction of those around me.
“Don’t worry”, my Dad told me. “Tony is as tough as nails. He’ll be back.”
My relationship with the Bettenhausen’s had begun.
Another vivid memory came in 1956 while attending my first Indianapolis 500. We were seated in the old Grandstand “D” located between the first and second turns when Tony’s Belenger Spl. loudly blew a rear tire and pounded the wall directly in front of us! His injuries were relatively minor this time, but now I was curious. How could a hard luck driver like Bettenhausen be so popular?
As I’m sure we all know, Tony’s story ends in 1961 as he searched in vain for that elusive Indy 500 victory. After proving himself to be the man to beat during pre-race testing, 44 year old Bettenhausen crashed to his death testing buddie Paul Russo’s car as a favor prior to the race. The long-held hope that the Bettenhausen name would someday grace the Borg-Warner trophy appeared to die that day as well.
Not so fast. Tony’s oldest son, 19 year old Gary, had other ideas!
My next Bettenhausen encounter took place the following year, while attending an indoor drag held in Chicago’s International Amphitheatre. Young Gary Bettenhausen was there, and he was racing! I spoke to him for a few minutes, and he said his plan was to “make it to Indy”. Chapter Two in the Bettenhausen saga was about to begin.
In 1963, 21 year old Gary Bettenhausen entered the Yankee 300 USAC stock car race at Indianapolis Raceway Park’s road course. Not only was it his first USAC event, it was also his first professional auto race of any kind! Unbelievably, Gary was able to hold his own in an all star field that included the likes of A.J. Foyt, Fireball Roberts, Rodger Ward, Troy Ruttman and Parnelli Jones. It seemed almost too easy. Had it been a fluke? Could the 21 year old novice actually carry on the Bettenhausen tradition?
For me, the answer came later that summer of ’63 at the Indiana State Farigrounds dirt oval during the running of the “State Fair Century” USAC stock car event. Young Bettenhausen had only run dirt once before but, at the drop of the green flag, the little green Dodge was running with the leaders and, at the checkered flag, only Gary remained on the lead lap with the winner, A.J.Foyt! It was a truly stunning performance for a pure rookie and, to me, it proved that he did have the Right Stuff to carry on the Bettenhausen legacy.
A few years later Gary was able to move from stock cars to open wheel midgets and sprint cars, and things then really began to happen. Teaming with USAC sprint car owner Willie Davis lead to the legendary years of the “Larry (Dickson) and Gary Show” which produced two Sprint Car Championships and countless memories. During this era Gary B. made his rookie appearance at the Indy 500 in 1968 and began performing at a championship level in all forms of open wheel competition.
One standout performance during this period occurred at the “Astro Grand Prix”, an all-star midget race for the ages held on a 1/4 mile dirt track built in the Houston Astrodome. That night Gary B. lapped arguably the best midget field in history, turning in a virtuoso performance on a badly prepared track that is still talked about today. Houston’s own A.J. Foyt could only manage a distant second place.
The goal, of course, was victory at the Indianapolis 500. In a story told all too often, Gary, driving for Roger Penske, led 138 laps and had the race in the bag in 1972 when the engine melted with only 18 laps standing between Bettenhausen and Victory Lane. It was close as a Bettenhausen would ever get to winning the Big One.
On Independence Day weekend in 1974, things changed forever as Gary B. suffered crippling injuries to his right arm in a crash at the Syracuse, NY mile. His Penske IndyCar ride was gone and, for the rest of his career, Bettenhausen would be virtually a one-armed race driver. In light of this setback, his accomplishments over the next 20+ years were beyond remarkable. For example, he is the only “one armed race driver” to win two Silver Crown Championships (1980 & 83) and put up the best qualifying speed for an Indy 500 (1991).
Gary Bettenhausen left us on Sunday, March 16th, 2014. It’s unlikely that his kind will ever pass our way again. Happily, what he was able to accomplish throughout life and career will continue to inspire us. I can still close my eyes and see Gary B. lapping the field, bouncing through the ruts in the Astrodome with his best years still ahead of him.
Baby, it was one heck of a ride…
John Atlas is a native of Hammond, IN who has followed auto racing all his life. As a youngster, he has been attending the Indianapolis 500 since the mid-1950’s and still reveres the Speedway today. A fan of all types of motorsports, John has attended races from Watkins Glen (at the bog) to the old Ontario Motor Speedway, from Ascot to Pocono. He has a cat named Parnelli and loves the music of Frank Zappa, John gives us a unique view of racing.
The ARCA Menards Series makes its return to the Milwaukee Mile Aug 29 (Rich Corbett Photo)
(West Allis, Wisconsin) This Sunday, August 29th the cars and stars of the ARCA Menards Series will be returning to the famed Milwaukee Mile for the first time in 14 years with the Sprecher 150. The young stars will be accompanied by three other racing series: the Big 8 Late Models, Upper Midwest Vintage Series, and the Mid-Am Series.
The ARCA Menards Series, with just five races remaining, has seen an incredible 2021 season. With two future stars of stock car racing going back and forth with blows week-after-week, Ty Gibbs and Corey Heim put on an incredible display of talent especially this weekend, when the series had a double header at the asphalt of Michigan and the dirt of Springfield. Gibbs was able to capture the win at Michigan while Heim, despite contact with a lapped car at Springfield, came back to dominate the entire field and capture his 6th win of the year.
Just one point separates both youngsters in the point race as they will set their eyes upon the historic Mile for a chance to move that much closer to points champion at the end of the season.
This will be the second set of races scheduled for the Milwaukee Mile this year. The Mile which has such a long and storied run is one of the greatest spectacles in all of motorsports. The intense high speeds around the tight banked corners make for some of the greatest racing action the sport has to offer.
Speedway. IN – Rain is often understood to be a participant in Indianapolis 500 qualifying each year. It played two minor roles in Sunday’s Bump Day; roles that almost cost some fast drivers a chance to make the field. Almost.
With twenty-four drivers already in the field from Saturday’s Pole Day, Canadian Paul Tracy became the fastest second-day qualifier at 224.939mph, finishing his run just before the second of two rainstorms hit the track.
Tracy, driving for Dreyer&Reinbold Racing, was almost a mile-per-hour slower than he practiced in the morning, but his speed was fast enough to bump Mike Conway out of the field.
“We knew we could run those kind of speeds if we got the opportunity to do it,” said the Canadian who almost won the 500 in 2002. “Indianapolis has dealt me a tough deck over my career. We missed the setup a little bit on the first day and didn’t get a chance to try again. But to go out (on today’s run) and have it start raining and still complete the run is great. I mean with ’02, last year (when he missed the race), and now qualifying a lap and a half in the rain, I definitely have a flair for the dramatic. We’ve got all four (Dryer & Reinbold) cars in the race,” he noted, but said that he hoped Danica would get a chance before it rained, because, “We want all the best drivers.”
Danica Patrick did put her Andretti Autosport car next to Tracy in row nine with a 224.861mph run. Patrick made her attempt after Tracy, but she had to wait for the track to be dried after the rain, and there was some concern that if it rained once more, she might not get back out before the 6:00pm gun.
“If I didn’t get out today, I just won’t be in the field,” Danica thought to herself as she waited in line, strapped in her green GoDaddy car. “Things weren’t going the way they should. We lost our spot in line before the rain when we failed tech and I thought maybe it’s not supposed to happen this year.
” I’m relieved to be in the race, but my emotions are between angry and happy, “said the six-time 500 starter, “but we need to find out why we’re fast and then not.”
Graham Rahal joined the Tracy/Patrick duo in row nine with a run of 224.380mph when a stroke of good fortune helped him avoid any possible rain problems.
“We got lucky. We got a good draw for the qualifying line and then, when Danica failed tech, we moved up,” said the son of Indy winner Bobby. “On my run I couldn’t see much in turn one because of the dark sky and my visor. This is the most demanding track in the world, yet it’s designed to be the simplest.”
The fates of the race track toyed with Marco Andretti at day’s end, bumping him out of the field with five minutes left in the session, and then allowing him to work his way back in with no time remaining.
Alex Lloyd of Dale Coyne Racing bumped the third-generation Andretti out with a speed of 223.957mph on his third and final attempt with five minutes remaining. Andretti was second in line to return to the track behind rookie James Jakes, but when Jakes pulled into the pits after two slow laps, Marco had one more chance.
So with his father/team owner, Michael, on the pit cart watching intently, Marco posted a brave 224.628mph run that not only put him securely in 28th spot, but, unfortunately bumped teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay out of the 500 field.
“The way we went out (on the qualification run) it was either stick it in the fence, or stick it in the show,” explained Marco. “Luckily we were on the upside of that. We were at the mercy of Mother Nature for awhile there. It was really a roller coaster day.
It wasn’t until Jakes pulled off the track, though, that the Andretti duo had the chance to get back in the race. “It was almost like a common courtesy that he pulled off. If I went out and did that (slow) speed, I would call it just to let somebody else have another go.”
And another go it was as Andretti took advantage of this final minute reprieve to put his Team Venom/Andretti Autosport ride into the show. “I knew if we could keep it off the wall we’d have a shot at it.”
And in the end Michael Andretti summed-up the whole month of May so far.
“The quality that was out there this year was unmatched in the history of the Speedway in my mind. From the drivers to the teams I think this was the toughest it’s ever been.”
Bump Day Notes:
• Rumors continue to make their way around the Speedway concerning the possible sale of the track. Several potential buyers have been noted whose names are well-known in the racing community. The stories say that an early summer sale is possible. No announcement is expected, if at all, until after the Centennial race is history.
• The Indianapolis 500 starting field will embark on a nation-wide media tour Monday to promote the Centennial race. They will visit fifteen cities from Boston and Chicago to Orlando and Las Vegas. Milwaukee and Toronto are also among the markets to be visited. Milwaukee drivers will include Buddy Rice, Bruno Junqueira, Charlie Kimball and Vitor Meira.
• Patrick Carpentier crashed hard into the first turn wall during morning practice Sunday, destroying the second Dragon Racing car this weekend. “I started to go sideways a little bit and I hit the white line. You don’t want to do that with these cars. It just swapped around on me.” Carpentier had flown into Indy at 12:30am to replace Scott Speed who couldn’t find enough speed in the car. He is cleared by the medical staff to drive. Team driver Ho-Pin Tung hit the barrier in the same turn Saturday with similar results to the other Dragon car.
• Indianapolis 500 veteran Willy T. Ribbs served as the honorary starter Sunday. This is the 20th anniversary of Ribbs becoming the first African-American to qualify for the 500. Ribbs is at the Speedway this month fielding an Indy Lights car in the Firestone Freedom 100 on May 27th for 21-year-old African-American driver Chase Austin.
• Danica Patrick’s car was taken out of the qualifying line for a minor infraction that allowed Graham Rahal to move up and get his successful run in before the first rain storm hit. She then was slightly quicker than Rahal when she qualified after the second storm.
• When Danica Patrick snuck into the race it tied a record with four women drivers in the field. Ana Beatriz, Simona de Silvestro, Pippa Mann and Danica made it this year. In 2010 Sarah Fisher was in the field and Mann wasn’t entered.
• James Jakes was applauded when he chose to pull into the pits rather than complete his run with just minutes remaining in the session, and Marco Andretti waiting in line to go out. Had Jakes stayed on the track for his full four laps, Andretti would not have been able to pull onto the track before the six o’clock gun went off.
• Four drivers were bumped from the starting line-up: Mike Conway, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Raphael Matos and Sebastian Saavedra.
• This is the closest field from fastest to slowest in Speedway history. The gap is 2.5399sec. Between pole-sitter Alex Tagliani, and Ana Beatriz in the 33rd spot.
Paul Gohde heard the sound of race cars early in his life.
Growing up in suburban Milwaukee, just north of Wisconsin State Fair Park in the 1950’s, Paul had no idea what “that noise” was all about that he heard several times a year. Finally, through prodding by friends of his parents, he was taken to several Thursday night modified stock car races on the old quarter-mile dirt track that was in the infield of the one-mile oval -and he was hooked.
The first Milwaukee Mile event that he attended was the 1959 Rex Mays Classic won by Johnny Thomson in the pink Racing Associates lay-down Offy built by the legendary Lujie Lesovsky. After the 100-miler Gohde got the winner’s autograph in the pits, something he couldn’t do when he saw Hank Aaron hit a home run at County Stadium, and, again, he was hooked.
Paul began attending the Indianapolis 500 in 1961, and saw A. J. Foyt’s first Indy win. He began covering races in 1965 for Racing Wheels newspaper in Vancouver, WA as a reporter/photographer and his first credentialed race was Jim Clark’s historic Indy win.Paul has also done reporting, columns and photography for Midwest Racing News since the mid-sixties, with the 1967 Hoosier 100 being his first big race to report for them.
He is a retired middle-grade teacher, an avid collector of vintage racing memorabilia, and a tour guide at Miller Park. Paul loves to explore abandoned race tracks both here and in Europe, with the Brooklands track in Weybridge England being his favorite. Married to Paula, they have three adult children and two cats.
Paul loves the diversity of all types of racing, “a factor that got me hooked in the first place.”
