Anderson Speedway to Host 22nd Glenn Niebel Classic
(Jack Kessler photo)
On Saturday, July 9th the 500 Sprint Car Tour Presented by Auto Value & Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores will return to Anderson Speedway for the 22nd running of the CB Fabricating Glenn Niebel Classic Presented by the US Air Force. The event marks the fourth race of the 500 Sprint Car Tour season, and the first time the non-wing sprint cars will be on the ¼ mile oval since the 74th Annual Lucas Oil Little 500 Presented by UAW. The 100 lap feature will headline a night that will also see Pavement Midgets, USSA Kenyon Midgets, and McGinegill Engine Performance Late Models in action.
The past four non-wing sprint car races to be held at Anderson Speedway have been impressively dominated by Tyler Roahrig. Roahrig (Plymouth, Ind.) began his dominance at the famed pavement oval with a win in the 73rd Annual Little 500 in May of 2021. He then went on to finish 2nd in the 21st Running of the Glenn Niebel Classic on July 11th, 2021 before claiming first again in the 6th Annual Tony Elliott Classic. Roahrig picked up where he left off when he returned to Anderson for the 74th Annual Lucas Oil Little 500 presented by UAW. Claiming the pole position with a record breaking qualifying run and then coming in first place once again for his second consecutive Little 500 victory. He proved that he has the car to beat whenever he shows up to Anderson Speedway. Roahrig will certainly be a favorite going into this weekend.
Kody Swanson (Kingsburg, Cali.) leap frogged into first place in the points standings after a solid second place finish at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Swanson takes a 45 point lead into a track where he has shown to be fast and competitive. A three time Little 500 winner (2016, 2018, 2019) and the most recent winner of the Glenn Niebel Classic, Swanson will look to extend his championship lead. He already has one win under his belt this season, taking first place in the inaugural points race for the 500 Sprint Car Tour at Plymouth Motor Speedway. Swanson has built his championship lead by way of consistency, finishing second and third at IRP and Berlin Raceway respectively.
Some notable names that fans will recognize from the 74th Annual Lucas Oil Little 500 Presented by UAW will be Jeff Bloom, Jake McElfresh, and Caleb Armstrong. Bloom (Bangor, Mich.), a four time winner of the Little 500, will make his 500 Sprint Car Tour debut in his return to Anderson Speedway. He failed to qualify for the Little 500 in what was the 50 year anniversary of his first Little 500 victory. Fans can look for his famed “”Old Yeller” car as he looks to find victory lane once again. Jake McElfresh (Elwood, Ind.) will return to a non-wing sprint car as he will be competing in the #64 Speed Chasers entry. McElfresh had a solid performance in this year’s Little 500, finishing in 12th place and completing 491 of the 500 laps contested. Caleb Armstrong (New Castle, Ind.) will make his first appearance in the 500 Sprint Car Tour and will return to Anderson Speedway after a top five finish in the 2022 Little 500. His fifth place finish ties his best finish in the prestigious race, which he has accomplished on three separate occasions.
Other notable entries for the event are: Dakoda Armstrong (New Castle, Ind.), Bobby Santos III (Franklin, Mass.), Billy Wease (Fishers, Ind), Kyle O’Gara (Camby, Ind.), Taylor Ferns (Shelby Township, Mich.), Davey Hamilton Jr. (Boise, Idaho), Shane Butler (Bushnell, Fla), and Quintin Saayman (Bapsfontein, Gauteng, SA).
The 22nd Glenn Niebel Classic Presented by CB Fabricating and the US Air Force will be this Saturday, July 9th at 7:30pm. Tickets for the event are all general admission seating and are $15 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and kids 5 and under are free. The front gates will open at 3:30pm with racing set to begin at 7:30pm. Racing action will include the 500 Sprint Car Tour Presented by Auto Value & Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores as well as the 75 lap Don and Mel Kenyon Classic with the USSA Midgets, a 50 lap pavement midget feature, and a rescheduled McGunegill Engine Performance Late Models 40 lap feature from a previous rain out. The 500 Sprint Car Tour feature can be seen by tuning in to MAVTV on FloRacing.
