RYAN NEWMAN RETURNS FOR “RICH VOGLER CLASSIC” THURSDAY

Former USAC Silver Crown Champion Ryan Newman returns to the series Thursday night, July 21, to compete in the “Rich Vogler/USAC Hall of Fame Classic” at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Ind. Newman competed in last July’s LOR race and finished third after starting on the front row.

Newman’s USAC career at the track includes five victories in Midgets (1997-1999) and one in the Silver Crown machines (1999). He was the 1999 Silver Crown champion and three years earlier had been named the series “Rookie of the Year.” He has two series victories, the last coming in a 1999 race at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill.

Newman will pilot an entry for Bowman/Armstrong Racing of Brownsburg, Ind. and will team with Tanner Swanson, the winner of five of USAC’s last six Silver Crown races at the .686-mile paved oval.

Thursday’s race salutes the career of the late Rich Vogler, who amassed more USAC victories than any driver in history.

Thursday’s 100-lap race is the sixth in the 2016 Silver Crown series. C.J. Leary (Terre Haute, Ind.), Kody Swanson (Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis), Chris Windom (Williams Grove, Pa.) and Tanner Swanson (Lucas Oil Raceway and Gateway Motorsports Park) have been this year’s race winners so far.

Thursday’s event also includes USAC’s fifth Hall of Fame induction ceremonies honoring 2016 inductees Steve Butler, Russ Clendenen, Jimmy Davies, Willie Davis, Bob Higman, Tommy Hinnershitz, Dick King, Rick Mears, Pat O’Connor, Kevin Olson, Tony Stewart and Bob Tattersall.

Pits open at 2:00pm, grandstands at 4:00, Silver Crown practice at 5:30, Silver Crown qualifying at 6:30, the USAC Hall of Fame Induction ceremony begins at 8:00 while the green flag waves for the Silver Crown “Rich Vogler Classic” 100-lap race at 8:45.

Adult general admission is $25.  Advance tickets are available at https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/track-enterprises.