In what has quickly become one of the most prestigious annual races on the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship calendar in its brief four-year run, Sprint Car Smackdown V returns on August 25, 26 and 27 at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway.
Kokomo Speedway favorite Dave Darland of Lincoln, Indiana has won three consecutive “Smackdown” championship night features in 2013-2014-2015. Darland, USAC’s winningest sprint car driver with 58 career feature victories has one lone triumph this season back in April at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway. Darland currently sits fifth in the series standings, one spot ahead of Chad Boespflug.
Hanford, California’s Boespflug races into Kokomo this week coming off the best weekend of his racing career after sweeping both features in back-to-back nights of the inaugural “Rock and Roll Gold Cup” at Badlands Motor Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota.
The pair of wins netted Boespflug and his NineEight/EZR team $60,000 in total prize money for the weekend in USAC’s richest event since 2005. Boespflug’s domination, however, did not result in any changes in the standings as both Badlands races were non-points “Special Events.”
Other top contenders at Kokomo include series point leader Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Okla. as well as past “Smackdown” preliminary night feature winners Chris Windom (2012), Jon Stanbrough (2014), Robert Ballou (2015) and Chase Stockon (2015).
The inaugural winner of Kokomo’s “Sprint Car Smackdown” in 2012 was the late, great Bryan Clauson, who recently lost his life while leading the “Belleville Midget Nationals” on August 6. A Celebration of Life will be held for Clauson at Kokomo Speedway on Wednesday, August 24 at 1pm., which leads into the night’s full racing program featuring a USAC Sprint Car non-points “Special Event.” Pit gates open at 4:30pm with hot laps set to begin at 6:30pm. General admission to the Celebration of Life as well as the race is free for all attendees.
Each of the two “preliminary nights” for the “Smackdown” on Thursday, August 25 and Friday, August 26 will sport a traditional USAC format with full, point-paying shows, concluding with 30 lap features. Both the front gates and pit gates open at 3pm while hot laps are scheduled for 6:30pm. General admission tickets are $25 for adults and kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Pit passes for all ages are $35.
For Saturday night’s main event, the format includes qualifying races, a unique two-lap “King of the Hill Shootout” to determine the first four rows of the feature, a semi-feature and a 40-lap A-Main. The front and pit gates open at 3pm with hot laps set for 7pm. General admission tickets are $35 for adults and free for kids 10 and under with a paid adult. Pit passes for all ages are $45.
All four nights of USAC Sprint Car action this week at Kokomo can be viewed via live stream from the comfort of a living room on http://www.thecushion.com/. Wednesday night’s stream is FREE for all fans beginning with Bryan’s Celebration of Life at 1pm throughout all the night’s racing activities. Thursday and Friday night’s streams are available for $25.99 ($23.75 for Premium/VIP members). Saturday night’s finale can be purchased for $35.99 ($32.75 for Premium/VIP members) while a three-race package for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night’s events can be bought for $81.99 ($75.99 for Premium/VIP members).
Bryan was well-known for his love for his two dogs – Chevy and Stewart. In honor of Bryan, race fans are encouraged to bring towels and blankets to help other four-legged friends. All towels and blankets will be collected at the Bryan Clauson merchandise trailer located in the midway behind the main grandstand, then donated to the Humane Society.