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INDY 500: Speedway to salute open-wheel winners on Champion's Day

4 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing Northern Light Series will play host to more than a dozen 1999 short-track open-wheel series champions on May 17 with Champions Day.

Drivers will take laps around the 2.5-mile oval with Johnny Rutherford, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Northern Light Series driver coach. The champions will also attend seminars on how to advance their careers and will "meet and greet" with Northern Light Series drivers and team owners in the garage area and on the pit lane.

Its only appropriate that Champions Day takes place May 17, since the Speedway will also salute one of its great all-time champions, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears, on that day.

Mears will be a featured speaker at the driver seminars, along with Northern Light Series driver Davey Hamilton and team owner Larry Cahill, who owns the Cahill Racing Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone driven by former short-track standout Donnie Beechler.

"Our focus is to assist the drivers in their goal to reach the next level in open-wheel racing," said Andy Hall, director of events for the Northern Light Series. "The Speedway and the Northern Light Series have a strong and historic affiliation with short-track open-wheel racing, and we want to foster that relationship in every way possible. We hope Champions Day will serve the drivers well in achieving their goals."

Drivers scheduled to participate (as of May 3):

  • Bill Tempero, American IndyCar Series
  • Mike Wilson, American Motor Racing Association international champion
  • John Burdette, AMRA Road Warrior Tour
  • Bryan Kobylarz, American Racing Drivers Club
  • Daniel Boorse, Badger Midget Auto Racing
  • Donny Goeden, IRA Outlaw Sprints
  • Dale Hammaker, Keystone Auto Racing on Speedways
  • Don Lehmann, Midwest Auto Racing Association
  • Kevin Newton, NAMARS
  • Terry Goff, United Midget Racing Association
  • Steve Thinnes, United Midget Auto Racing Association
  • Ron Smoker, 16th Street Speedway series champion, United States Auto Club
  • Michael Lang, Indianapolis Speedrome series champion, USAC
  • Troy Regier, Supermodified Racing League
  • Marc DeBeaumont, Western Midget Series champion, USAC
  • Josh Wise, Western TQ Midget Series champion, USAC
  • French Grimes, Virginia Sprint Series
  • Eric Edwards, American Mini Sprint Association

Text provided by Paul Kelly

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.