Fall Harvest Classic at Terre Haute October 20

Saturday October 20, 2001

            United States Auto Club
            "Thunder and Lightning"
            Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series
            HARVEST CLASSIC


                Terre Haute Action Track, Terre Haute Indiana 
    

Macon, IL-September 23, 2001

The city of Terre Haute, Indiana is bracing itself for the final 2001 invasion of the United States Auto Club Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series with the running of the "Harvest Classic" Saturday night, October 20. This is a makeup for the event originally scheduled October 6 that fell victim to rain.  Nearly fifty of the wingless warriors of USAC’s "Thunder and Lightning" division are expected to be in the pit area that night, with the USAC Regional Midget Series and the UMP Modified series also on the card. Two 30-lap main events for the sprint cars highlight the evening, the first 30-lapper is the makeup for the rained out "Jan Opperman Classic" during Pennzoil Indiana Sprintweek. This will be the first time in 34 years that the "Action Track" has hosted more than 1 USAC sprint feature on the same day.

The Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car title is hotly contested at the moment, with Jay Drake recently taking over the top slot in the standings over J.J. Yeley after the last race in South Boston, Virginia, a 50-lap affair won by Tracy Hines.  It is entrirely possible the Harvest Classic could go a long way to determining the 2001 championship. 

Many of the top drivers in the Midwest are expected to participate in the Harvest Classic including defending USAC Sprint Car champ Tony Elliot in the Jeff Walker machine, Tracy Hines, winner of the Tony Hulman Classic at the Action Track in May, "K.T." Kevin Thomas, Levi Jones, Brandon Petty, John Stanbrough, Jay Drake, Eric Burns, legend Jack Hewitt, who is now tied with Larry Dickson for second on the all-time USAC Sprint Car feature win list with 45, former USAC Sprint champ Brian Tyler, Robbie Rice, Justin Marvel, Dickie Gaines, Yeley and Derek Davidson.

At this time, it is unknown if Dave Darland, a the 1999 USAC Sprint Car champion, will be able to compete in the Harvest Classic.  Darland was injured at the Four Crown Nationals at Eldora, and may be out of action until next month.

Racing with the sprint cars will be the USAC Regional midget series, with that champion to be crowned after their 20-lap main event at the "Hut".  Presently, Shane Hollingsworth and John Wolfe are separated by only three points in the title chase.

The "Action Track" has a history of auto racing that goes back nearly fifty years to it’s first season, 1953. Built on the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds on the southwest side of Terre Haute, the half-mile dirt oval was surrounded by cornfields and grassy pastures. Since then, retail stores and restaurants have sprung up in the commercial district on U.S. 41.

Race fans have been lured to the premier half-mile in droves by the name drivers who helped give the race track it’s moniker, the "Action Track". Sprint car winners on the "Action Track" over the last 48 years include the late Jim Hurtubise, Johnny Rutherford, Jan Opperman, Pancho Carter, Steve Kinser, Steve Butler, Hewitt and Jay Drake. Terre Haute has been the home for the majority of the runnings of the "Tony Hulman Classic", the annual USAC Sprint Car event held in honor of the late owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, himself a native of Terre Haute.

Terre Haute has been the host of many other types of auto racing as well, the "Hut Hundred" USAC midget race was a fixture at the "Action Track" through 1999, USAC and ARCA Stock Cars have rumbled on the Indiana clay as have the long wheel based dirt championship machines of the USAC Silver Crown Series. World of Outlaw and All Star winged sprint cars, Late Models, Modifieds, and even motorcycles have churned the Terre Haute dirt.

Drivers such as A.J. Foyt, Gary and Tony Bettenhausen, Larry Dickson, Rollie Beale, Toby Tobias, Roger McCluskey, Rodger Ward, Johnny Parsons, Jimmy Bryan, Butch Hartman, Jack Bowsher, Jud Larson and Tommy Hinnershitz all competed before thousands of fans in the city near the Wabash River. 

Gates for the Harvest Classic are slated to open at 4 p.m. Saturday, with practice at 5. The 30 lap "Opperman Classic" will be the first racing event of the night, followed by the complete USAC Sprint Car program, the midget card along with the UMP Modifieds,  and the 30 lap Harvest Classic feature. Tickets can be obtained by calling 217-764-3200.