History is made at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – USAC Honda Youth .25 Series “Once in a Lifetime Experience”
(Indianapolis) – The 2015 USAC Honda .25 “Battle at the Brickyard” is in the books! There were 352 cars signed in, 107 races ran and the greatest spectacle in Quarter Midget Racing was born!
This is the 7th time that the USAC “Battle at the Brickyard” has taken place. This time it was anything but routine. USAC history was made as this was the largest car count for the USAC Honda .25 Midget series. But yet another historical moment was seen as 178 cars presented on the grid at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We are told it is the most cars ever on the 2.5 mile oval. They say the Indy 500 is the biggest spectacle in racing – we just saw the biggest spectacle to ever hit Quarter Midgets!
Young Ben Burchard, a Quarter Midget driver, 12 years old, from Indianapolis, was on the pole. Ben served as Grand Marshall of the event. “Just last year we were here racing with everyone. “Now Ben is fighting Metatastic OsteoSarcoma, a form of bone cancer. We are so thankful to USAC for giving Ben this opportunity. I hope they know how happy they have made my son,” said mom, Tammy.
Haulers entered the hallowed grounds at Indy on Thursday, July 9th at noon. Practice began at 8 am on Friday morning but rained cancelled the 2nd round. After the track was dry, heats races began. As the sun began to set, officials worked with the IMS crews to re-schedule the ‘one lap around the track’ drive for the .25 drivers. Saturday morning, heats were finished and 40 lower mains ran before drivers began to grid at IMS. Spots were marked off and every driver had a number where they would be placed. Families pulled their cars to their assigned spot and lowered them from their pit carts. Parents all loaded on pit road as photos were taken. “Just standing out here at IMS is unbelievable,” said Joe Hyland of Colorado. The IMS Chevrolet Safety Crew Trucks started the pace car led quarter midget lap and the IU ambulances brought up the rear. “We lost just a few of the cars around the track, but it really was very cool for our families,” said Kyle McCain USAC Director. “Man, I’ve been coming here since I was 7 years old,” said Joe Axsom,” father of young racer Emerson. “We live here in Indy and we are at the 500 every year. But absolutely nothing can top this. I’m kinda little jealous actually.” “It was totally awesome!” said Tanner Reif of Henderson, NV, after he jumped out of his car. “I had a lump in my throat as I saw all of the kids start coming down the front stretch,” said Kelly Yonchuk. Mom of driver’s Connor and Katie.
One of the best stories of the weekend was when one young driver just couldn’t get going as the large field passed by him. After most of the kids had returned and were out of their cars, they jumped over the wall and began pushing him so that he too could experience the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. Quarter midget drivers are very competitive, but their camaraderie tends to build life-long friendships.
Sunday morning racing started off with Race #21 – the Hvy Honda C Main won by Will Edwards. A Mains began around noon with Grand Marshall, Ben Burchard waving the first green flag. There were 35 races to complete all of the 2015 “Battle at the Brickyard.” One of the highlights of the event is the “Race of Champions,” the inaugural event won last year by Berklee Jimenez of San Antonio, TX. Due to weather and time constraints, the event was cancelled.
Brady Johnson of Terrell, NC (Jr Honda, Briggs Jr Animal), Connor Gross of Middleton, MA (Lt ‘AA, Briggs Lt World Formula), Famous Rhodes, II of Parkland, FL (Briggs Sr Animal, Lt Mod) and Carson Hocevar of Portage, MI (Honda Hvy 160, Briggs Hvy World Formula all doubled up winning the top spot on their podium. Kolby Hannah of Great Falls, MT took his first ever USAC National win in the Briggs Un-restricted Animal class. Justin Oplinger of Mt Holly, NC won Sr Honda, Hudson Halder of Cumming, GA took Hvy Honda, Chase Burda of LaPeer, MI won Honda Lt 160 and Zeb wise captured the checkered in Hvy ‘AA. Stone Christy of Sheridan, IN won in Blue Rookie and Braden Etchison finished first in the Red Rookie #1 Main. Former USAC Champions Jerry Coons, Jr and Jeremy Sherman saw their young sons Cale and Drew battle it out in the second Red Rookie race with Cale crossing the line first.
All Rookie drivers received participation medallions and the top 3 drivers in each class received a gold, silver or bronze USAC Medallion along with an engraved special edition “Battle at the Brickyard” brick. Awards were distributed in Victory Lane while Julian Macias of Honda congratulated all of the drivers.
Special thanks to Impact Racing for their donation of a Mini Vapor Helmet won by the Spicola Family of Colorado.
For more information about the USAC Honda .25 program log on to http://www.USACRacing.com or follow us on Facebook – USAC25, USAC Developmental.
RED ROOKIE - FEATURE #1
- Braden Etchison
- Kaine Lowry
- Kanon Posey
- Christopher Paladino
- Madison Imus (DNF)
- Evan Hooley (DNA)
RED ROOKIE - FEATURE #2
- Cale Coons
- Drew Sherman
- Cooper Hokanson
- Waylan Roese
- Maxim Thompson
- John David Camden (DNF)
BLUE ROOKIE - FEATURE #1
- Stone Christy
- Tyler Taulman
- Ethan Burdett
- Phillip Lowry
- Aalyi Ohab
- Johnny Weaver
- Kenzie Lynch (DNF)
JR. HONDA – A MAIN
- Brady Johnson
- Colby Sokol
- Bryce Lucius
- Tyler Reif
- Preston Lattomus
- Creed Kemenah
- Easton Combs
- Delana Hodge (DNF)
- Gavan Boschele (DNF)
- Johnny Venezia (DNF)
JR. HONDA – B MAIN
- Delana Hodge
- Tyler Reif
- Gavan Boschele
- Creed Kemanah
- Dalton Dowdy
- Dawson Knaul
- Date Hettinger
- James Andrichuk
- Cade Randall
- Caidyn Brinkman
JR. HONDA – C MAIN
- Delana Hodge
- Caidyn Brinkman
- Cade Randall
- Dalton Dowdy
- Miles Massie
- Alex Sexton
- Preston Auld
- Koulten Herbert
- Katie Yonchuk
- Justis Sokol (Racing DQ)
JR. HONDA – D MAIN
- Delana Hodge
- Koulten Herbert
- Miles Massie
- Justis Sokol
- Lucas Johnson
- Levi Lux
- Max Hulisz
- Noah Dininger
- Zac Massie
- Kaylee Boston (DNF)
JR. HONDA – E MAIN
- Delana Hodge
- Miles Massie
- Zac Massie
- Noah Dininger
- Conor Jencik
- Ryan Arieta
- Hailey Vallerand
- Jensen Vadnais
- Gavin Miller (DNF)
- P.J. Majors (DNF)
JR. HONDA – F MAIN
- Delana Hodge
- P.J. Majors
- Enzo Spicola
- Miles Massie
- Ryan Arieta
- Kayla Martin
- Alyssa Long
- Jace Clark (DNF)
- Seth Pugh (DNF)
- Maddox Miller (DNA)
JR. HONDA – G MAIN
- Jace Clark
- Kayla Martin
- Maddox Miller
- Alyssa Long
- Billy Lieb
- Zane Marlin (DNF)
- Brayden Crow (DNF)
SR HONDA - A MAIN
- Justin Oplinger
- Dylan Zampa
- Billy Green
- Christopher Oplinger
- Emerson Axsom
- Chase Burda
- Nick Loden
- Charlie Auld
- Bryson Shaffer
- Brayden Clark (DNF)
SR HONDA - B MAIN
- Chase Burda
- Dylan Zampa
- Emerson Axsom
- Christopher Oplinger
- Jackson Slone
- Beau Brandon
- Holly Clark
- Nick McFarland
- Chase Randall
- Tanner Reif (DNF)
SR HONDA - C MAIN
- Emerson Axsom
- Chase Burda
- Dylan Zampa
- Jackson Slone
- Chase Spicola
- Michael Crafton
- Scotty Milan
- Joe Valento
- Sam Johnson
- Michael Donoho
SR HONDA - D MAIN
- Emerson Axsom
- Michael Crafton
- Chase Spicola
- Jackson Slone
- Charlie Allen
- J.J. Venezia
- Sam Butler
- Mickey Leach
- Dylan Andrix
- Ariana Jencik
SR HONDA - E MAIN
- Emerson Axsom
- Jackson Slone
- Charlie Allen
- Mikey Leach
- Chase Hyland
- Max Hennebal
- Thomas Prychka
- Blaise Rush
- Greyson Springer
- Brooke Vallerand (DNF)
- Devon Jencik (DNF)
SR HONDA - F MAIN
- Emerson Axsom
- Charlie Allen
- Devon Jenick
- Thomas Prychka
- Chase Hyland
- Najah Lott
- Ryan Hise
- Houston Ling (DNF)
- Justin Bruck (DNF)
- Kadin Insch (Racing DQ)
SR HONDA - G MAIN
- Thomas Prychka
- Houston Ling
- Chase Hyland
- Kadih Inscho
- Ashton VanSparrentak
- Hunter Forrester
- Steven Emerick
- Auston Newby
HVY. HONDA - A MAIN
- Hudson Halder
- Jacob Borst
- Carson Hocevar
- George Kutz
- Harrison Halder
- Taylor Nibert
- Will Edwards
- Febe Wolf
- Ben McFarland
- Holt Halder (Racing DQ)
HVY. HONDA - B MAIN
- Ben McFarland
- Taylor Nibert
- George Kurtz
- Will Edwards
- Philip Peters
- Jaxson Lutz
- Jagger Parker
- Dylan LaDuke
- Madilyn Blanch
- Taylor Kohoe (DNF)
HVY. HONDA - C MAIN
- Will Edwards
- Philip Peters
- Dylan LaDuke
- Madilyn Blanch
- Cody Miles
- Caleb Pratt
LT. 160 – A MAIN
- Chase Burda
- Emerson Axsom
- Connor Yonchuk
- Justin Oplinger
- Connor Gross
- Dylan Zampa
- Famous Rhodes
- Townsend Wright
- Nick Loden
- Chase Randall
LT. 160 – B MAIN
- Justin Oplinger
- Famous Rhodes
- Connor Yonchuk
- Nick Loden
- Gage Painter
- Tanner Reif
- Christopher Oplinger
- Neal Allison
- Nick McFarland
- Gage Bowers (DNF)
LT. 160 – C MAIN
- Justin Oplinger
- Neal Allison
- Famous Rhodes
- Connor Yonchuk
- Christian Bruno
- Chase Spicola
- Jake Garcia
- Connor Wolf
- Charlie Auld
- Scotty Milan
LT. 160 –D MAIN
- Famous Rhodes
- Jake Garcia
- Neal Allison
- Connor Wolf
- Preston Lattomus
- Owen Carlson
- Bryson Shaffer
- Brady Johnson
- Evan Spaulding
- Colby Sokol
- Jackson Slone (DNS)
LT. 160 – E MAIN
- Famous Rhodes
- Jake Garcia
- Owen Carlson
- Connor Wolf
- Bryson Shaffer
- Dylan Andrix
- Colsen Cochran
- Ariana Jencik
- Charlie Allen
- Chase Hyland
LT. 160 – F MAIN
- Famous Rhodes
- Jake Garcia
- Connor Wolf
- Charlie Allen
- Holly Clark
- Hunter Lynch
- Mikey Leach
- Taylor Imus
- Mike Donoho
- Max Hennebal
LT. 160 – G MAIN
- Famous Rhodes
- Connor Wolf
- Holly Clark
- Hunter Lynch
- Delana Hodge
- Thomas Prychka
- Troy Hokanson
- Matt Vallerand
- Bryan Brewer
- Landon Hathaway
LT. 160 – H MAIN
- Famous Rhodes
- Thomas Prychka
- Hunter Lynch
- Troy Hokanson
- Greyson Springer
- Devon Jencik
- Dalton Dowdy
- Isaiah Pugh
- Houston Ling (Racing DQ)
- Riley Wolfe (DNA)
HVY. 160 – A MAIN
- Carson Hocevar
- Hudson Halder
- Harrison Halder
- Kolby Hannah
- Jaxon Bishop
- Zeb Wise
- Corey Heim
- Jacob Borst (DNF)
- Holt Halder (DNF)
- Canon Cochran (DNF)
HVY. 160 – B MAIN
- Holt Halder
- Hudson Halder
- Corey Heim
- Harrison Halder
- George Kurtz
- Cody Dyke
- Philip Peters
- Carden Cochran
- Ben McFarland (DNF)
- Jagger Parker (DNF)
HVY. 160 – C MAIN
- George Kurtz
- Jagger Parker
- Corey Heim
- Harrison Halder
- Daytona Spicola
- Will Edwards
- Febe Wolf
- Jessica Lutz
- Taylor Sexton
- Mason Levesque
HVY. 160 – D MAIN
- Corey Heim
- Harrison Halder
- Will Edwards
- Jessica Lutz
- Cody Miles
- Makenna Long (DNF)
JR. ANIMAL - A MAIN
- Brady Johnson
- Preston Lattomus
- Miles Massie
- Colby Sokol
- Gavan Boschele
- Tyler Reif
- Dalton Dowdy
- Dawson Knaul
- Delana Hodge
- Bryce Lucius (Racing DQ)
JR. ANIMAL - B MAIN
- Gavan Boschele
- Delana Hodge
- Colby Sokol
- Miles Massie
- Koulten Herbert
- Creed Kemenah
- Caidyn Brinkman
- Preston Auld
- Jace Clark
- Enzo Spicola
JR. ANIMAL - C MAIN
- Delana Hodge
- Caidyn Brinkman
- Preston Auld
- Colby Sokol
- Easton Combs
- Conor Jencik
- Ryan Arieta
- Kaylee Boston
- Noah Dininger
- Kate Hettinger (Racing DQ)
JR. ANIMAL - D MAIN
- Noah Dininger
- Conor Jencik
- Preston Auld
- Easton Combs
- Lucas Johnson
- Justis Sokol
- Seth Pugh
- Zac Massie
- P.J. Majors
- Johnny Venezia (DNF)
- Gage Thompson (DNS)
JR. ANIMAL - E MAIN
- Preston Auld
- Johny Benezia
- Justis Sokol
- Easton Combs
- P.J. Majors
- Kayla Martin
- Levi Lux
- Jensen Vadnais
- Max Hulisz (DNF)
- James Andrichuk (DNA)
SR. ANIMAL - A MAIN
- Famous Rhodes
- Connor Gross
- Neal Allison
- Gage Painter
- Carson Hocevar
- Zeek Torgeson
- Joe Valento
- Christian Bruno (DNF)
- Chase Burda (DNF)
- Emerson Axsom (Racing DQ)
SR. ANIMAL - B MAIN
- Gage Painter
- Emerson Axsom
- Neal Allison
- Zeek Torgesen
- Jake Garcia
- Connor Yonchuk
- Charlie Auld
- Nick Loden
- Dylan Zampa
- Cole Christy
- Colsen Cochran (DNF)
SR. ANIMAL - C MAIN
- Jake Garcia
- Zeek Torgesen
- Neal Allison
- Cole Christy
- Gage Bowers
- Colsen Cochran
- Tanner Reif
- Billy Green (DNF)
- Townsend Wright (DNF)
- Christopher Oplinger (DNF)
SR. ANIMAL - D MAIN
- Jake Garcia
- Colsen Cochran
- Neal Allison
- Billy Green
- Judson Miller
- Michael Crafton
- Scotty Milan
- Sam Johnson
- Maxon Levesque
- Cameron Wallace
SR. ANIMAL - E MAIN
- Jake Garcia
- Matthew Ferguson
- Billy Green
- Colsen Cochran
- Troy Hokanson
- Riley Wolfe
- Devon Jencik
- Matthew Ferguson
- Sam Butler
- Isaiah Pugh (DNF)
SR. ANIMAL - F MAIN
- Billy Green
- Riley Wolfe
- Troy Hokanson
- Sam Butler
- Natalie Johnson
UR. ANIMAL - A MAIN
- Kolby Hannah
- Ethan Lamberson
- Will Edwards
- Evan Foster
- Owen Foster
- Harrison Halder
- Hudson Halder
- Holt Halder (DNF)
- Daytona Spicola (DNF)
- Taylor Nibert (DNF)
- Hayden Sprague (DNF)
UR. ANIMAL - B MAIN
- Evan Foster
- Harrison Halder
- Kilby Hanah
- Taylor Nibert
- Daytona Spicola
- Matthew Hollon (DNF)
LT. WORLD FORMULA - _A MAIN
- Connor Gross
- Hunter Lynch
- Chase Burda
- Zeek Torgesen
- Chase Randall
- Gage Painter
- Jake Garcia
- Jacob Staten
- Caden Hoyt
- Emerson Axsom (Racing DQ)
LT. WORLD FORMULA - B MAIN
- Chase Randall
- Emerson Axsom
- Zeek Torgesen
- Caden Hoyt
- Neal Allison
- Famous Rhodes
- Gage Bowers
- Riley Wolfe
- Billy Green (DNF)
- Scotty Milan (DNF)
- Evan Spaulding (DNA)
LT. WORLD FORMULA - C MAIN
- Zeek Torgesen
- Gage Bowers
- Neal Allison
- Scotty Milan
- Riley Wolf
- Owen Carlson
- Chase Hyland (DNA)
HVY. WORLD FORMULA - A MAIN
- Carson Hocevar
- Zeb Wise
- George Kurtz
- Hudson Halder
- Jaxon Bishop
- Harrison Halder
- Jackson Boone
- Evan Foster
- Ethan Lamberson
- Hayden Sprague
HVY. WORLD FORMULA - B MAIN
- Zeb Wise
- Jackson Boone
- Evan Foster
- Ethan Lamberson
- Canon Cochran
- Jacob Borst
- Kolby Hannah
- Will Edwards
- Corey Heim
- Carden Cochran
HVY. WORLD FORMULA - C MAIN
- Jackson Boone
- Jacob Borst
- Canon Cochran
- Carden Cochran
- Daytona Spicola
- Cody Duke
- Jagger Parker
- Jessica Lutz
- Holt Halder (DNF)
LT. MOD - A MAIN
- Famous Rhodes
- Miles Massie
- Troy Hokanson
- J.J. Venezia
- Colby Sokol
- Holly Clark
- Matthew Ferguson
- Owen Sprague
- Cameron Wallace
- Chase Burda (DNF)
- Chase Spicola (DNS)
LT. MOD - B MAIN
- J.J. Venezia
- Troy Hokanson
- Matthew Ferguson
- Owen Sprague
- Cameron Wallace
- Drew Miles
- Kaylee Boston (DNF)
LT. AA - A MAIN
- Connor Gross
- Caden Hoyt
- Gage Painter
- Jacob Staten
- Jacob Dolinar
- Chase Randall
- Chase Hyland
- Jake Garcia
- Famous Rhodes (DNF)
HVY. AA - A MAIN
- Zeb Wise
- Jaxon Bishop
- George Kurtz
- Carson Hocevar
- Hayden Sprague
- Evan Foster
- Jessica Lutz (DNS)