By: Ron Burt
USAC Champion To Retire
The big announcement came from USAC. The “People’s Champ” Dave Darland, one of racing all time greats announced his retirement. He has raced for 52 years, and 42 of those in a Sprint Car. Many times, he had 100 races a year on his schedule. He raced the USAC National Tour driving Sprints, Midgets, and Sliver Crown Cars. He’s traveled thousands of miles every year to compete in the sport he loves. He set and broke track records all over the country. Darland, is one of seven USAC Triple Crown champions and the winningest driver in USAC national sprint car history. Darland achieved his USAC Triple Crown status by winning the USAC Silver Crown title in 1997, the National Sprint Car crown in 1999 and back-to-back National Midget driver championships in 2001-02. The only others to do this, Pancho Carter, Tony Stewart, J.J. Yeley, Jerry Coons Jr., Tracy Hines and Chris Windom belong to this exclusive club.
The Indiana driver has 1,334 USAC National starts, which ranks first in series history, including 797 in the USAC Sprint Cars, 336 in the Midgets and 201 Silver Crown. His first USAC start came in September 1986, with the National Sprint Cars in the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway. The first of Darland’s record 62 career USAC National Sprint Car victories came in May of 1993 during the Tony Hulman Classic at the Terre Haute. His total of 115 USAC feature victories nationally and regionally ranks fifth all-time, and also includes 30 National Midget wins and 14 in the Silver Crown series. The Peoples Champ will be in his final race October 13th at “The Bullring”, Kokomo Speedway. Darland plans to spend time with his family and 5 grandchildren.
Millstream Lives Again
Matt and Beth Cogley recently purchased the 1/2-mile Millstream Speedway near Findlay Ohio. Race fans enjoyed many Sunday races from the 50’s until 2016 at this famed Ohio track. Racing greats including Gordon Dukes, Gordon Johncock, Rollie Beale, Jan Opperman, and Jeff Gordon have raced on this dirt oval. Matt, Beth, and an army of volunteers are busy doing repairs and groundwork to get the racetrack ready. The new owners have Lighting and 360 Sprint backgrounds. Until the track is up to their standards car classes and schedules won’t be announced.
Bits and Pieces
Last Saturday at the Toledo Speedway, Jesse Love became the youngest champion in the 71-year history of the ARCA racing series. William Sawalich won the Shore Lunch 200, the final race of the 2023 ARCA series. Love finished second. In the Outlaw Late Models, Trevor Berry won the 50-lap feature. Phil Gressman won the final GLSS/NRA feature at Waynesfield for the sprints. Anderson Speedway closed out their 2023 season featuring to 500 Sprint Car Tour. Dakoda Armstrong won the 100-lap feature.
