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Six former winners of the Tony Hulman Classic are expected to compete Wednesday night in the 56th running of the annual USAC sprint car race at the Terre Haute Action Track.
That group includes last year’s Hulman Classic victor, Justin Grant. Also expected are three-time winner Robert Ballou (2015, 2016, 2022), J.J. Yeley (1997, 2003), Kevin Thomas Jr. (2017), Chase Stockon (2019) and Logan Seavey (2024).
Grant, Stockon and Seavey have already won in USAC National Sprint Car races this season.
Yeley will be returning to the Hulman Classic field for the first time since 2004. The 2001 and 2003 series champion also owns six USAC National Sprint Car victories in his career at Terre Haute, plus one special event.
Along with Wednesday’s feature race for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car circuit will be a UMP DIRTcar Modifieds race.
The schedule calls for pits to open at 3 p.m., followed by the front gates opening at 5 p.m., a drivers meeting at 6 p.m., and qualifications and racing afterward.
Tickets are available online at terrehauteactiontrack.com, with prices set at $30 for grandstand seating; kids ages 12 and under get in free. Pit passes are $40. Infield admission is $15 and allows for access to the grass infield through the Turn 1 tunnel.
The Hulman Classic debuted in 1971 and is USAC’s longest-running event. The racers are competing for the traditional Hulman Classic rifle trophy and a $10,000 top prize.
According to USAC historian Richie Murray, the rifle trophy dates back to 1966, prior to the advent of the Hulman Classic. A pair of rifles was the reward for winning each of the twin 30-lap USAC national sprint car features at Terre Haute. Symbolic of the race distance, the rifles included a 30-30 cartridge, referring to a .30 caliber bullet and 30 grains of powder.
The tradition stuck. One rifle has been annually awarded to the Hulman Classic winner dating back to 1971. To this day, it remains, perhaps, the most coveted trophy in all of USAC racing.
In Wednesday’s field, five drivers rank in the top 10 of the USAC sprint car point standings, but are still seeking their first career Hulman Classic victory. That quintet includes Kyle Cummins, Mitchel Moles, Jake Swanson, Briggs Danner and C.J. Leary.
Cummins (2021 and 2023), Swanson (2024) and Leary (2025) have all finished as the runner-up at the Hulman Classic in recent years. Moles was fourth in 2023 while Danner was 10th in 2025.
Thirty years after his 1996 Hulman Classic victory, Doug Kalitta will serve as grand marshal for Wednesday’s race festivities.
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That group includes last year’s Hulman Classic victor, Justin Grant. Also expected are three-time winner Robert Ballou (2015, 2016, 2022), J.J. Yeley (1997, 2003), Kevin Thomas Jr. (2017), Chase Stockon (2019) and Logan Seavey (2024).
Grant, Stockon and Seavey have already won in USAC National Sprint Car races this season.
Yeley will be returning to the Hulman Classic field for the first time since 2004. The 2001 and 2003 series champion also owns six USAC National Sprint Car victories in his career at Terre Haute, plus one special event.
Along with Wednesday’s feature race for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car circuit will be a UMP DIRTcar Modifieds race.
The schedule calls for pits to open at 3 p.m., followed by the front gates opening at 5 p.m., a drivers meeting at 6 p.m., and qualifications and racing afterward.
Tickets are available online at terrehauteactiontrack.com, with prices set at $30 for grandstand seating; kids ages 12 and under get in free. Pit passes are $40. Infield admission is $15 and allows for access to the grass infield through the Turn 1 tunnel.
The Hulman Classic debuted in 1971 and is USAC’s longest-running event. The racers are competing for the traditional Hulman Classic rifle trophy and a $10,000 top prize.
According to USAC historian Richie Murray, the rifle trophy dates back to 1966, prior to the advent of the Hulman Classic. A pair of rifles was the reward for winning each of the twin 30-lap USAC national sprint car features at Terre Haute. Symbolic of the race distance, the rifles included a 30-30 cartridge, referring to a .30 caliber bullet and 30 grains of powder.
The tradition stuck. One rifle has been annually awarded to the Hulman Classic winner dating back to 1971. To this day, it remains, perhaps, the most coveted trophy in all of USAC racing.
In Wednesday’s field, five drivers rank in the top 10 of the USAC sprint car point standings, but are still seeking their first career Hulman Classic victory. That quintet includes Kyle Cummins, Mitchel Moles, Jake Swanson, Briggs Danner and C.J. Leary.
Cummins (2021 and 2023), Swanson (2024) and Leary (2025) have all finished as the runner-up at the Hulman Classic in recent years. Moles was fourth in 2023 while Danner was 10th in 2025.
Thirty years after his 1996 Hulman Classic victory, Doug Kalitta will serve as grand marshal for Wednesday’s race festivities.
Continue reading...
