The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
The 2026 Tri-state racing season is almost over. This year suffered because of the weather. Winter lingered into late spring and then we were hit by cold and rainstorms, cancelling early local races and National events in our area. Tracks suffered because of low attendance and battling each other trying to put on big events to lure fans from other tracks.
Many fans, drivers and crews were excited about Mansfield Speedway coming to life again. Unfortunately, after the first weekend of racing, parts of the speedway had to be dug up and rebuilt. They had their share of growing pains early on but each week the racing surface became better and now it can host any big National Dirt Racing Series.
October 17th, Montpelier Speedway IN-hosted the Hoosier Hussle. It was the last time in 2026 for the 410 Non-wing Sprints. Thirty seven Sprints showed up to qualify. Zack Pretorius, set fast time 14.783. The 4 heat winners, Trey Osborne, Gunnar Setser, Jack Hoyer and Dustin Ingle. Two B Features were run with the top two finishers in each transferring to the A-Main. 20 Sprints started the 25 lap Feature, Ricky Lewis from Oxnard CA parked his car in Victory Lane, Trey Osborne and Jakeb Boxell made the podium. Race veteran Todd Sherman won the UMP Modified Feature. Kory Glassburn took the checkered flag in the Street Stocks. Montpelier Speedway will close out 2026 on October 23rd and 24th with the Annual Monster Mash. Six classes of cars over the 2 nights of racing.
Tony Stewart Racing added another Championship to their trophy case last week. Rico Abreu won the High Limit 410 Sprint Season Championship. This is Tony Stewart Racing’s 24th National Championship and Rico’s first year driving for Stewarts team. Rounding out the 2026 Top 5 in the point standings Giovanni Scelzi, Aaron Reutzel, Tyler Courtney and Justin Peck.
Other High Limit news, a few days after the 2026 season concluded, there will be a new contender for the 2027 Rayce Rudeen Foundation Rookie of the Year Award with Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing; and he’s already one of the most popular figures in the sport. After finishing the final 10 races of this season aboard the Vermeer Motorsports Sprint, team owner Tony Vermeer signed Brady Bacon as the full-time driver when they return to High Limit next year.
The 36-year-old future Hall of Fame driver has already built a great career headlined by his four championships and 64 wins with the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series. Both stats ranking second all-time in the 70-year history of the United States Auto Club.
Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out!
