Anderson Speedway Set for 3rd Annual Gene Nolen Classic
Anderson Speedway Set for 3rd Annual Gene Nolen Classic
As the summer stretch of the 2024 500 Sprint Car Tour schedule hits full force, the series heads back to Anderson Speedway for the 3rd Annual CB Fabricating Gene Nolen Classic presented by The Herald Bulletin. The event is the third installment of the Classic named after Gene Nolen in honor of his influential work in the pavement sprint car world. Kody Swanson, a former driver of Nolen’s, has won the first two Gene Nolen Classics and will look for his third in a row as he returns to the familiar #4 Nolen Racing machine.
The 2024 championship battle is starting to take shape as Kody Swanson and Kyle O’Gara maintain a close fight for the championship lead with Swanson leading by only 12 points. Billy Wease closed the gap after a strong performance in Toledo and trails Swanson by 29 points as he sits in third place. Wease, along with Jackson Macenko, Tyler Roahrig, and Bobby Santos III all advanced the points standing positions as only 85 points separate the top seven in the standings.
Kody Swanson, the 2022 series champion and current points leader, will be heading into the Gene Nolen Classic looking for his third podium finish in as many races. Swanson will also be looking to accomplish this feat with his third team in 2024. After beginning the season with a victory in the Mission Foods Doran-Binks Racing machine, Swanson followed suit with a third place finish at Toledo Speedway in the Salem Speedway sponsored sprint car owned by Nick Bohanon.
This Saturday, Swanson will return to his roots as he climbs behind the wheel of the #4 Nolen Racing machine that earned him two Little 500 victories in 2018 and 2019. After having a strong relationship with Gene Nolen himself, Swanson piloted his way to back-to-back Gene Nolen Classic victories in emotional fashion. He will be looking to find some of his old Nolen Racing magic in search of a third consecutive Gene Nolen Classic victory and the opportunity to extend his championship lead.
A familiar face along with a first time competitor will be making their first 500 Sprint Car Tour starts of the 2024 season at the Gene Nolen Classic. Competing in his usual #20 Nolen Racing sprint car, Shane Hollingsworth returns to Anderson Speedway to compete in the Gene Nolen Classic. It will be Hollingsworth’s first 500 Sprint Car Tour start of the season and his first trip to Anderson Speedway since the 76th Annual Little 500 presented by UAW. Making her 500 Sprint Car Tour debut, Macy Williams will be driving the well known #26 Sam Pierce Racing sprint car. Williams is known for her road course racing skills in a Go-Kart having sat atop the podium on multiple occasions. Williams has experience around Anderson Speedway’s high banks as she competed in a USSA Kenyon Midget in 2023.
Other Notable Entries Include: Donnie Adams Jr. (Yorktown, IN), Shane Butler (Bushnell, FL), Bobby Santos III (Franklin, MA), Jackson Macenko (Cincinnati, OH), Tim Creech (Greenfield, IN), Nathan Byrd (Goodyear, AZ), Rob Keesling (Alexandria, IN), Justin Harper (Denver, IN), Cole Sink (Fort Wayne, IN), Kyle O’Gara (Camby, IN), Joe Liguori (Tampa, FL), Brian Vaughn (Shirly, IN), Tony Main (Farmland, IN), Billy Wease (Noblesville, IN), and Brady Allum (Taylorsville, NC).
The 3rd Annual CB Fabricating Gene Nolen Classic from Anderson Speedway is this Saturday, July 13th at 7:30pm. Tickets for the event are $18 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and free for all kids aged 5 and under. Pit gates open for the event at 1:30pm and practice will begin at 3:30pm. Front gates will also open at 3:30pm followed by qualifications at 5:45pm. Fans may purchase tickets in advance online by visiting AndersonSpeedway.com or by visiting the Anderson Speedway ticket office.
The 2024 500 Sprint Car Tour season will see nine points earning events across a ten race schedule from early April to mid October. The 76th Annual Little 500 will once again be a non-points earning event for the series, filling out the ten race schedule in its traditional Memorial Day Weekend slot. All races, including the 76th Annual Little 500, will be streamed LIVE on DIRTVision. For more information on the 500 Sprint Car Tour visit: 500sprintcartour.com and be sure to follow on social media (Facebook: 500 Sprint Car Tour | Twitter (X): @500SprintTour | Instagram: @500sprintcartour).
2024 500 Sprint Car Tour Schedule:
April 14th - Anderson Speedway | Anderson, Indiana | 24th Running of the Glen Niebel Classic
Winner: Kody Swanson
May 22-25 - Anderson Speedway | Anderson, Indiana | 76th Annual Little 500 (Non-Points)
Winner: Caleb Armstrong
June 8 - Berlin Raceway | Marne, Michigan
Event canceled due to weather
June 28 - Toledo Speedway | Toledo, Ohio
Winner: Tyler Roahrig
July 13 - Anderson Speedway | Anderson, Indiana | 3rd Annual Gene Nolen Classic
August 23 - Kalamazoo Speedway | Kalamazoo, Michigan
August 24 - Berlin Raceway | Marne, Michigan
September 7 - Salem Speedway | Salem, Indiana | 65th Running of the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial
October 5 - Anderson Speedway | Anderson, Indiana | 9th Annual Tony Elliott Classic
October 19 - Indianapolis Raceway Park | Brownsburg, Indiana | Championship Night
