The 78th Annual Unified Group Services Little 500 Presented By ED Martin Automotive Group officially kicked off Wednesday afternoon with Practice Day.  Race teams had three hours of track time to dial their cars in for Thursday’s CB Fabricating Pole Day and Saturday’s Little 500.

There is nothing quite like Little 500 week at Anderson Speedway.

For nearly eight decades, the Little 500 has stood as the ultimate test in pavement sprint car racing. 500 grueling laps around Anderson Speedway’s quarter-mile oval where patience, strategy, durability, and speed all collide under the lights. It is the biggest pavement sprint car race on the planet, and on Saturday night, one driver will add their name to one of short-track racing’s most prestigious winner’s lists.

For 30 years, Anderson Speedway has been under the leadership of Rick Dawson, a milestone that now makes him the longest-tenured owner in the track’s history. In a sport defined by constant change, financial pressure, and generational turnover, three decades at the same helm represents more than longevity — it reflects persistence, adaptation, and a long-term commitment to keeping a historic racing venue alive.