Little 500 Set for 76th Annual Running

On Saturday, May 25th, 2024, nearly 10,000 fans will descend upon Anderson, Indiana for the 76th consecutive year to witness the largest pavement sprint car race in the world. Each year, on Memorial Day Weekend, the best sprint car racers in the world call Anderson Speedway their temporary home with the hope of becoming the next Little 500 Champion. A career defining moment awaits one of 33 drivers at the end of 500 grueling laps around Anderson Speedway for the 76th Annual Little 500 presented by UAW.

Jake Trainor in Victory Lane after winning the 2023 Little 500. - Jack Kessler Photo

This year’s event marks the 76th consecutive year that Anderson Speedway has hosted the Little 500. Beginning in 1949 as an experiment, the race has grown to be held with great prestige and is a race that can alter a driver’s career. In 2023, 18 year old Massachusetts native, Jake Trainor outlasted the rest and went to victory lane as the youngest winner in Little 500 history. A win the Champion claimed was the “biggest win of my career”. Trainor and his winning team from Matt Seymour Racing have entered his #29 Spirit of Boston machine into the 76th Annual Little 500 presented by UAW to defend his crown.

Including Trainor, there are five former winners entered into this year’s Little 500. Kody Swanson (2016, 2018, 2019) and Jeff Bloom (1972, 1977, 1991) each enter the event as three time winners. Tyler Roahrig (2021, 2022) stands as the most recent driver to win the Little 500 in back-to-back years as he enters the event as a two time champion. Bobby Santos III (2020) and Jake Trainor (2023) each have their name on the Little 500 Champions Trophy and look to become the next multi-time winner of the historic event.

Six rookies are entered into the 76th Annual Little 500 presented by UAW. Leading the way are 500 Sprint Car Tour Rookie of the Year contenders Nathan Byrd, Trey Burke, and Brady Allum. 2023 500 Sprint Car Tour Rookie of the Year Jackson Macenko looks to make his first career start in the Little 500 after sitting out last year to observe the event. Anthony Nocella and Garrett Saunders round out the list of rookies ready to qualify for the prestigious sprint car race.

Dayton 500 Champion and NASCAR veteran Ryan Newman will also be making his second attempt at competing for a win in the 76th Annual Little 500 presented by UAW. The effort comes after an eighth place finish in the 2022 edition of the historic Sprint Car Classic. Newman will be entering a newly acquired chassis and will once again join forces with Tim Clauson and Richard Marshall to form Clauson Marshall Newman Racing. Newman will have a wealth of knowledge by his side during this year’s Little 500 as nine time Little 500 Champion, Eric Gordon, will be coming on board as Newman’s race strategist and crew chief. Gordon is the winningest driver in Little 500 history and has completed more than 10,000 laps in his Little 500 career.

Other notable entries for the event include: Dakoda Armstrong, Emerson Axsom, CJ Leary, Caleb Armstrong, Davey Hamilton Jr, Shane Butler, Travis Welpott, Shane Hollingsworth, Scott Hampton, Logan Seavy, Kyle O’Gara, Justin Grant, and Billy Wease.

Full Entry List for the 76th Annual Little 500 presented by UAW

The 76th Annual Little 500 presented by UAW will be held on Saturday, May 25th at 8:00pm. Tickets for the event are available now and are reserved seating only. All tickets are $45 and can be purchased online HERE or by calling Anderson Speedway Monday through Friday from 10am-4pm. Practice for teams begins on Wednesday, May 22nd from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. CB Fabricating Pole Day is scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd from 11:30am – 3:30pm. Final practice and Bump Day is set for Friday, May 24th from 11:30am to 3:30pm. Grandstand admission is free for fans Wednesday through Friday and race day tickets are reserved seating only.The event, including practice and qualifying, will also be streamed live on DIRTVision. For more information on the Little 500, visit us at andersonspeedway.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and X.