One of the biggest fall racing events in the region takes place this weekend at the Salem Speedway in Salem, Indiana. It is the 34th annual Halloween 200 for the Lucas Oil Great American Stocks. The high banked half-mile track is about an hour from Louisville. There is action Friday and Saturday. It all leads up to the 200 lap Halloween race on Sunday. New track owners are putting on a show. Fans will love it! Along with the Lucas Oil Great American Stocks showdown on Sunday, the Friday and Saturday races includes Crown Vics, the 602 Series, Scrappers, Modified Figure 8, Pro FWD Series, Winged Mini Sprints and more. There will be plenty of food and toss in music and other activities. Learn more at www.salemspeedway.com. For the latest, changes, weather-track updates, and more always check out the social media pages. Let's hope mother nature cooperates. This is a mega racing weekend!
A reminder for those liking real and raw speed! The NHRA Fall Nationals in Texas takes place this weekend. What teams do, to prepare, is just incredible. The drivers have a tough job too! Texas does it right holding the huge "Stampede of Speed' leading up to the competition. It is a ten-day festival of food, music, and fan experiences. You see similar excitement at other NHRA events. You can watch the NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas on Fox Sports 1. Lucas Oil has been a longtime sponsor of the series
Defending NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Larson was simply dejected Sunday after failing to advance in the playoffs. He was bumped by Mitchell, Indiana's Chase Briscoe (Stewart-Haas Racing) by just two points. Another driver, Ross Chastain was 6 points in front of Larson. Larson said too many mistakes during the Charlotte Roval race led to his downfall, as well as other mistakes during the year. His comments simply mean that every race and ever lap matter from the Daytona 500 in February and through the playoffs. Eight drivers have advanced for a shot to win the season ending title in November at Phoenix. Only two, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano are past champions. Six others desperately want a first Cup title, including veteran Denny Hamlin. Emotions and tensions will be high. One mistake can knock a driver out of championship hopes. This weekend it is Vegas!
Louisville's Ben Rhodes is holding on to the 4th position in points (Out of eight drivers) in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He's ahead of the 5th place driver by just 3 points. After the truck race at Homestead on Saturday October22, the playoff field will be cut down to just 4 drivers. They will run for the truck title. Ben is the defending series championship. In 2021, the truck did not race at the Homestead-Miami track. It is a track where car set-up and handling must be just right. In 2020, Ben started the race there in the 5th spot, and finished 18th. He'll need to win this year at Homestead or finish in the top 3 to have a chance to advance and defend his title.
Fall is always exciting with season ending races locally, and the playoffs and battle for points in other series. We also like to give a shout out to the Indianapolis Colts! They play home games at Lucas Oil Stadium! If you've enjoyed Kentuckiana Motorsports over the past 20 years, you know Lucas Oil has been a huge backer of all we do. We thank Lucas Oil as a longtime sponsor. We're able to talk racing locally and in other ways, thanks to Forrest, Charlotte, and Morgan Lucas and the entire Lucas Oil Family. Other backers: PNC Bank (Sponsor of Scott Dixon's Indy Car Series Car), Sportsdrome Speedway (Celebrating more than 75 years of Racing!) locally owned Bright Pest Control and Bright Retail in Louisville, (Offering Do-It-Yourself Professional Pest Products with a retail store), and Knox Ford in Radcliff (KY). KMS supporters also include: VoiceTel Kentucky (Offering telephone service for $25.00 a line, and that includes all taxes and fees), Temco Roofing, Andriots Paint, Flooring, & Blinds, ICA Dumpsters, Kentucky Raceway Ministries, St. Matthews Cycling, Nimlok Kentucky, Dynamic Healthcare, and Lyndon Mower Repair. We also thank our media connections in all series, especially NASCAR and with NASCAR Media for helping us bring the sport to the fans!
A quick note. A-J Almendinger has more than proved himself in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season. And he's raced a handful of Cup events too. Almendinger appeared as our guest on Kentuckiana Motorsports a few years back. He's a great guy, very dynamic. After some personal bumps in the road a decade or so back, A-J had to bring more dedication and focus into his career. It has paid off. In 2023, he'll get a full-time ride in the Cup Series with Kaulig Racing. He'll add excitement. We wish him the best.
Keep the entries coming for the Fall Gas Card KMS Giveaway! Once the racing season is over, we'll select the winners! Click on the Giveaway tab for more!
Enjoy the racing!
