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59-419: (Current Drivers in Italics) The headline race at Lernerville Speedway is the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup. The Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup is the most prestigious sprint race at Lernerville each year, with the High Limit Racing Series sanctioning the event. The World Of Outlaws sanctioned the event prior to the 2022 season. The first Silver Cup in 1992 paid $ 25,000 to the winner, Sammy Swindell . Following

118-830: A ignition magneto ) and require a push to be started. The safety record of sprint car racing in recent years has been greatly improved by the use of roll cages, and especially on dirt tracks, wings, which increase surface traction, to protect the drivers. Many IndyCar Series and NASCAR drivers used sprint car racing as an intermediate stepping stone on their way to more high-profile divisions, including Indianapolis 500 winners A. J. Foyt , Mario Andretti , Johnny Rutherford , Parnelli Jones , Johnnie Parsons , Al Unser Sr ., and Al Unser Jr. , as well as NASCAR Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon , Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson . The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum , located in Knoxville, Iowa , features exhibits highlighting

177-690: A 10-time winner of the Australian Sprintcar Championship , was the winner. Wingless cars were televised first when USAC had an ESPN television contract. The first national live television deal with winged sprint cars came on The Nashville Network (TNN) in 1992–93 and again in 1993–94 with a winter-based series in Arizona, which featured Mike Joy calling the action. Live coverage of the Knoxville Nationals on The Nashville Network began in 1995. A year later,

236-485: A 360 cubic inch (5.9 L) engine which generates approximately 650 horsepower (480 kW). They race with alcohol fuel and use mechanical fuel injection (MFI) to deliver it into the combustion chamber. The American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) sanctions both winged and wingless sprint car racing within the United States. ASCS winged cars use a 360 cubic inch engine which lead to fans calling the cars "360s". The series

295-573: A full season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1995 , driving for Akins-Sutton Motorsports ; he finished 12th in points, scoring five top-ten finishes in the series' inaugural season. 2007 was his 35th consecutive year as a race car driver, racing beside his 18-year-old son Kevin . He's a five-time winner of the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals , the only driver to win it more than three times, until his son Kevin won his fourth straight race in 2013. During

354-400: A neck restraint that meets a given safety rating, and at any time the car and equipment may be subject to inspection. The various SFI and Snell ratings may differ between sanctioning bodies, and many rule books include additional safety recommendations to be used at team or driver discretion. As for those hosting an event the sanctioning body will often place mandatory safety requirements on

413-587: A next-day tape deal with CBS for one race at Eldora Speedway aired while TNN coverage expanded. By 2000, CBS (which owned TNN at the time) announced TNN would air 15 live events, including the King's Royal at Eldora Speedway and the Knoxville Nationals. By the 2001 season, plans were to cover 18 live races, but midway through the season MTV Networks closed the CBS motorsports operations. This move relegated

472-457: A quad or truck. They also do not have flywheels, clutches or transmissions, but the direct drive systems can be engaged or disengaged from the cockpits. This is done both for weight reasons and tradition. Another tradition the WoO has pertaining their "A-main" (the last race of the event) is to have the cars line up four wide just before starting the race as a salute to fans in attendance, giving rise to

531-697: Is a division of wingless 410 cubic inch sprint cars that run throughout the United States on asphalt and dirt tracks. The USAC also sanctions regional 360ci wingless sprint car series: the USAC East Coast Sprint Cars, USAC Southwest Sprint Cars, and USAC West Coast Sprint Cars. The United Racing Company (URC) is a division for winged sprint cars that run mainly in the northeastern part of the United States in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The URC started in 1948 with 11 races in its season. It slowly progressed to 28 races. The URC uses

590-672: Is an American sprint car driver. He is a three-time champion and four-time runner-up in the World of Outlaws series; he has also competed in NASCAR and Champ Car competition and attempted to qualify for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 . Swindell is a three-time World of Outlaws champion. He won his first two titles in 1981 and 1982 driving the famous Nance Speed Equipment #1n house car. He won his third title in 1997 driving his own Channel Lock sponsored No. 1 team car. Sammy has 394 World of Outlaws A-main victories to his credit. He also competed in

649-987: Is held by Devin Moran at 14.750 seconds. Lernerville has had races televised on SPEED and ESPN2 , including the Firecracker 100, The Showdown in Sarvertown, and the Silver Cup WoO events. Lucas Oil Late Models Firecracker 100, High Limit Racing Silver Cup, All Star Late Model, All Star Sprint Car, Steel City Stampede, USAC Sprint Cars, BRP Modified Tour, FASTRAK Late Models, UFo Late Models, MACS Late Models, ULMS late models, UEMS Modifieds, High Limit Racing Commonwealth Clash. 40°44′19″N 79°45′36″W  /  40.738697°N 79.759873°W  / 40.738697; -79.759873 Sammy Swindell Samuel Alan "Slammin Sammy" Swindell (born October 26, 1955)

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708-885: Is the premier dirt sprint car racing series. Famous tracks featured in the series included the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio , the Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania, the Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa and Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania . Each August, the Knoxville Raceway holds the Knoxville Nationals . In 1987, Australia followed suit with its own national series for winged sprint cars called

767-681: The CART series in 1985 and 1986 and failed to qualify for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 in a March - Pontiac . Swindell took off the wings in 1981, to win the prestigious Pacific Coast Nationals at Ascot. Swindell made his debut in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in the 1985 Atlanta Journal 500 ; in 1991, he planned to move full-time to the Winston Cup Series, competing for Rookie of the Year for Moroso Racing, but he

826-819: The Premier Speedway (home of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic ) in Warrnambool , Victoria. There is also a single meeting Australian Sprintcar Championship which has been run since 1963 and has been run under various class names before finally settling on the Australian Sprintcar Championship in 1979. While non-Australian drivers are free to race in the WSS and other meetings including the various state championships, only Australian drivers are permitted in

885-700: The World Series Sprintcars , founded by Adelaide based sedan driver and Speedway Park track promoter John Hughes. Famous Australian tracks used in the WSS have included Speedway Park/City in Adelaide, South Australia , Claremont Speedway and later Perth Motorplex in Perth , Western Australia, Valvoline Raceway in Sydney , New South Wales , Archerfield Speedway in Brisbane , Queensland, and

944-592: The "Beef Packers" team) (No. 83), Tony Stewart Racing (No. 20). After Brownfield Promotions' owner Fred Brownfield was killed in a crash, Kinser and principals of two other teams purchased the entire Brownfield promotion. That series folded after the 2006 season, while the Northwest tour, a regional tour, was sold. The SuperClean Summer of Money aired on ESPN2 starting in mid June 2008 with the World of Outlaws at Knoxville Raceway and for eight weeks straight leading up to

1003-663: The 1930s as a very common form of sprint car racing, still very popular today and also sanctioned by USAC , POWRI, and others. They are powered by four-cylinder engines developing around 350 horsepower (260 kW), but are only similar to their larger cousins in appearance. Mini sprints are similarly sized to midget cars, but have upright-style chassis and center-mounted, chain-driven four-cylinder motorcycle engines with displacements between 750 and 1200 cc. Micro sprints are small racecars that are smaller versions of full sprint cars. A starter class for striving sprint car enthusiasts. 250/270cc single-cylinder two-cycle and 600 cc are

1062-670: The 2008 season he raced in northern California winning a main event in the California Civil War Series in Placerville and also at the famed Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California. Swindell is considered one of the best driver/setup men in the business. He is known for experimenting with innovative technology. His father Sam, was a successful driver and his brother Jeff, is still an active and successful sprint car driver. On August 25, 2014, Swindell announced he

1121-566: The Australian Championship meeting. The Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Warrnambool is the largest sprint car meeting in the world; in the 2014–15 season, the 2015 Classic race outdrew the Knoxville Nationals in entries. Until the early 2000s, sprint cars in Australia were restricted to 6200 cc (372 cui) V8 engines as opposed to the 410 cui (6.7 L) engines used in the United States and New Zealand. Brian Healey,

1180-498: The Bill Emig Memorial in a $ 20,000 to win race every June. It is one of the highest paying races in all of Crate Late Model racing. Lernerville first opened for racing in 1967. The ground where Lernerville speedway currently is located was once a popular amusement park and skating rink. Their first full year was in 1968. Sprint cars, modifieds and late models were a part of the program. Since 1993, Lernerville has run

1239-520: The Knoxville Nationals which were live on Speed. In 2015, the World of Outlaws had several races broadcast on CBS Sports Network . Knoxville Raceway has their weekly series as well as World of Outlaws and National Sprint League events on MavTV . USAC currently has some races televised on MavTV, primarily through Jack Slash Media's Dirty 30 highlights program. Other series such as the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series, King of

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1298-496: The Sacramento-based Australian who owned Parramatta City Raceway, pushed for the change in 2003 to follow both nations to 410. Today, Australia follows the standard 410 ci formula, and has both the 410 and 360 cui (5.9 L) formulae. Both formulae have separate Australian Championship meetings. Midget cars are smaller versions of a full size sprint car, normally non-wing only. Midgets date back to

1357-492: The Sprints, Late Models, Modifieds and Sportsman divisions, thus being the only track in the country to run the "Big 3" (Sprints, Big Block Modifieds, and Super Late Models). Don Martin was promoter of the track until his death in 1993. Dave Bauman took this duty along with Albert "Ouch" Roenigk until Bauman's death in 1998. Ouch Roenigk then took over as sole promoter until 2004, when Barb Bartley and Tom Roenigk were assigned to

1416-451: The US has resulted in a large number of groups and sanctioning bodies supporting wingless sprint cars. Wingless sprint cars are considered the traditional sprint cars, dating back to the first sprint cars in the 1930s and 1940s (that ultimately evolved into Indy cars). Today, they are essentially the same car as a winged sprint car, only without wings. In fact, many of them have the "stub outs" in

1475-793: The West Sprint Cars, King of the Wing Pavement Sprint Cars, and several weekly regional series on MavTV. In Australia, the World Series Sprintcars was formerly televised on free-to-air channel One HD . In New Zealand, the Hydraulink War of the Wings is streamed only by RJPTV on a pay per video program. However Sprintcar racing can be seen from Western Springs in Auckland or the Bay per View from Baypark Speedway

1534-636: The best traveling late models drivers from the northeast and midwest to compete in the 100 lap feature. In addition, the Uncle Sam 30 is run for those that do not qualify for the 100 lap A-main. In 2022, the event will be sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series , ending its affiliation with World Of Outlaws after 14 years. The track hosts the RUSH Late Model Series , a Crate Late Model series, for

1593-544: The biggest Sprintcar track in New Zealand Safety in sprint car racing has continuously evolved over the years as the cars have gotten faster and teams look to garner any advantage with weight and horsepower. While many regulations are centered around the class or division, each sanctioning body typically has a section in its rulebook dedicated to safety. These can vary between sanctioning bodies, and many even set safety standards for those hosting an event. Some of

1652-407: The cheapest race cars that are very competitive, costing around $ 5,000. Most tracks are one sixth of a mile or less. Outlaw karts run side-mounted engines of various types. The beginner boxstock and boxstock divisions run pull start clone motors and are usually for the younger drivers first getting their start. The intermediate division run 250 cc dirt bike engines with the drivers or teams having

1711-419: The choice of running a four-stroke or a two-stroke. At some tracks, the intermediate division has to run a harder compound of tire. The biggest division in outlaw karts is the open division. The opens can run 450 cc four strokes, 500 cc two strokes, or 550 cc four-strokes. The 450 cc and 500 cc motors are the more popular options because the 550 cc motors are not run at all tracks, and

1770-438: The crate engine divisions which include the weekly Pro Stock class, Sportman Modified, Late Model and Wingless Sprint classes. The track has had tremendous success in its 56 years of racing. The highest-paid winner ever was $ 50,000 for a High Limit Sprint and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races. The qualifying track record for 410 sprint cars is held by Brad Sweet , with a lap of 12.300 seconds. The late model track record

1829-560: The death of track promoter Don Martin, the Silver Cup was named in memory of Martin. In 2009, the race was split into two separate features, each paying $ 15,000 to win, with the highest average finisher in the two features being crowned the Silver Cup Champion. This was the only World of Outlaws sanctioned sprint car race to have two "A" Features each on a single date. To set up the second feature, all cars that remained on

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1888-423: The driver) and power outputs of over 900 horsepower (670 kW), which give them a power-to-weight ratio besting that of contemporary F1 cars. Typically, they are powered by a naturally aspirated, methanol -injected overhead valve American V8 engine with a displacement of 410 cubic inches (6.7L) and capable of engine speeds of 9000 rpm. Depending on the mechanical setup (engine, gearing, shocks, etc.) and

1947-540: The event, won by Kraig Kinser. In 2003, Johnson sold his organization to DIRT Motorsports . Because of complaints about DIRT Motorsports and the lack of television coverage, Northwest Sprint Tour owner Fred Brownfield formed the National Sprint Tour as a rival to the World of Outlaws Sprint for the 2006 season. Notable teams in the NST included Steve Kinser Racing (No. 11), Roth Motorsports (sometimes known as

2006-447: The facility including guard rails, retaining walls, concrete walls, and electronic caution lights. It is also typically the facility's responsibility of having an ambulance on site that meets DOT standards, fire equipment and staff, properly licensed medical staff and equipment, track communications, and safety equipment such as tow trucks. It is common for a facility to be visited prior to an event for inspection and updates be made prior to

2065-601: The frame for adding wings. They generally use the same 410 cubic inches (6,700 cc) and 360 cubic inches (5,900 cc) aluminum engines as their winged counterparts (although many local tracks have rules mandating steel blocks and some 305 cubic inches (5,000 cc) displacements, this is mostly a cost control). Some newer regional groups, specifically POWRi and Elite have chosen to allow open engines with no limit to engine size. Their tuning and gearing are different for performance at lower RPMs than winged cars. Chassis set ups and tires are also different. While they do not have

2124-439: The front and top of their cars. The added wings increase the downforce generated on the car, with the opposite direction of the sideboards helping to turn the car in the corners. The increased traction makes the car faster and easier to control. The wing also affects safety. The added downforce lessens the likelihood of going airborne. When cars do go airborne, the wings contact the ground first and break off or crumple upon hitting

2183-416: The ground, lessening the impact on the driver and the car. For these reasons, winged cars are safer to drive. Often teams are able to replace the wing during the ensuing stoppage and are able to continue once the race resumes. In 1978, Ted Johnson formed the promotional body for winged sprint cars called the World of Outlaws . Racing throughout the United States from February to November, the World of Outlaws

2242-596: The history of both winged and wingless sprint cars. There are several sanctioning bodies for wingless sprint cars. Once dominant United States Automobile Club (USAC) became USAC/California Racing Association (USAC/CRA) after taking over the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA). USAC/CRA remains popular on the West Coast, East Coast and in Indiana . However, lack of leadership in much of

2301-409: The latter are sometimes called "micro midgets" or "600 cc sprints". The general minimum weights for the cars to pass tech is 775 lbs for winged and 725 lbs for non-wing. Micro sprints are generally a cheaper alternative than racing mini sprints or midget sprints, but they can be as expensive as full-sized sprint cars. Outlaw karts are go karts with roll cages and wings. They are some of

2360-450: The lead lap were inverted to set up the second feature. Starting in 2011, the format changed again with the overall winner of the Silver Cup required to win one of the two features. This was put into place after the 2010 race, when Donny Schatz won the overall Silver Cup title without winning one of the features. In 2011, NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne and 2011 NASCAR champion Tony Stewart competed in this race. Stewart failed to qualify for

2419-415: The most common safety requirements placed on the teams are: an emergency shut-off switch, a quick-detach steering wheel, aluminum seats with high impact head rests with shock absorbing materials, fire resistant suits, underwear, shoes, and gloves, a full face helmet meeting that meets or exceeds a specified Snell or SFI rating, safety harness (most common is a 5-point harness) that meets a specified SFI rating,

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2478-428: The most popular micro sprint classes. They run side-mounted 600 cc motorcycle engines developing around 140 hp and are chain driven. They have chassis and bodies styled like those of full-sized sprint cars or midgets. Micro sprints are generally run on small dirt tracks that are usually a fifth of a mile or less in size, though they sometimes run on larger tracks. They can be either raced with or without wings;

2537-623: The popular PA message "you want the best, now you have them four abreast". The All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) is an American motorsports sanctioning body of winged sprint car racing founded in 1970. The series sanctions 410ci sprint car races in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, and Florida. On average the series runs 40 races per year, starting February and ending in October each year. The United States Automobile Club (USAC) National Sprint Car Championship

2596-476: The position. World Racing Group purchased the speedway in 2005. In 2006, long-time motorsports competitors and fans Gary Risch, Jr. and his dad, Gary Sr., were assigned to the promote the weekly program. In 2015, Tomson Scrap Metal purchased the speedway under an agreement that WRG would operate it for the remainder of the 2015 racing season. The track operates mainly on Friday nights from late March through early September. There are also various specials throughout

2655-539: The purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Historically known simply as " big cars ," distinguishing them from " midget cars ," sprint car racing is popular primarily in the United States and Canada , as well as in Australia , New Zealand , and South Africa . Sprint cars have very high power-to-weight ratios , with weights of approximately 1,400 pounds (640 kg) (including

2714-551: The race was sanctioned by the FAST on Dirt 410 series. High Limit Racing now has sanction for the race. Before the World of Outlaws moved the race to September, the Commonwealth Clash served as the spring race for the sprint cars. Most recent Commonwealth Clash winners Inaugural - Stevie Smith The largest paying race for the late models is the Firecracker 100, held on the third weekend of June. The race draws some of

2773-567: The race, while Kasey Kahne qualified for the race, and sat on the front row of the second feature. Stewart returned in 2012 to dominate the second 30 lap feature. For 2016, the Silver Cup race reverted to a single feature format, with David Gravel scoring the win. Recent Don Martin Silver Cup Winners The largest paying sprint car race in Lernerville Speedway history (as of 2023) with a purse of $ 50,000 to this years winner. The World of Outlaws sanctioned this race until 2022 when

2832-488: The remainder of the World of Outlaws season to tape delay races. A tape delayed deal with Speed Channel followed for the next season. Television coverage began on the Outdoor Channel in 2003. Events are usually tape delayed for two weeks or more. The Knoxville Nationals were on Speed Channel. The 2004 Knoxville Nationals did not air as bad weather postponed the event, and there was not enough space for Speed to air

2891-516: The same top speed as a winged car (because they lack downforce for traction), they are thought by many to be more entertaining to watch. Their relative lack of grip creates different driving characteristics than their winged counterparts, causing them to be more difficult to control through the corners. This, and the lack of roll-over protection a wing provides, makes them more dangerous than winged cars and their crashes are known for their spectacular nature. The world's first small-track winged race car

2950-527: The season on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, along with season-ending specials on Saturdays in September and October. Lernerville runs a weekly program under UMP sanctioning, which includes a tire rule with Hoosier for the Super Late Model division. Most divisions that run at track are UMP sanctioned: 410 Sprints, Super Late Models, Big Block Modifieds, UMP Modifieds, 4 Cylinders. RUSH sanctions

3009-450: The team with testing and keeps him active in the sport he loves. As of September 2020, he has 394 World of Outlaws Sprint Car wins. ( key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) ( key ) ( Bold  – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics  – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ) Sprint car racing Sprint cars are open-wheel race cars , designed primarily for

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3068-449: The track layout, these cars can achieve speeds in excess of 160 miles per hour (260 km/h). A lower-budget and very popular class of sprint cars uses 360-cubic-inch (5.9L) engines that produce up to 775 horsepower. Sprint cars do not utilize a transmission but have an in-or-out gearbox and quick-change rear differentials for occasional gearing changes. As a result, they do not have electric starters (or even electrical systems other than

3127-544: The tracks that do run them make the kart weigh extra. The weight range for the karts is 150 lb to 500 lb. The NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws (WoO) is a division of 410ci (6.7L) winged sprint cars that run all over the United States and have a few events in Canada. The cars have 15-inch (380 mm) wide right rear tires and 410 cubic inch engines with mechanical fuel injection. These sprint cars have no batteries or starters in them, necessitating push starts by

3186-500: The various state championships and other meetings held around the country. Unlimited (2018+) Despite over 50 years of sprint car racing, the category has only ever held one unofficial "world championship". This was in 1987 at the ⅓ mile (586 metres (641 yd)) Claremont Speedway in Perth , Western Australia. The event attracted a collection of drivers from Australia, NZ, Canada, and South Africa, as well as several World of Outlaws drivers. Australian veteran Garry Rush from Sydney ,

3245-518: Was driven by Jim Cushman at the Columbus Motor Speedway (Ohio) in 1958. Cushman drove with his winged super-modified (wing created by Gene and Floyd Miller) in several races and even won with it, starting a new trend of winged cars in sprint and super-modified racing. By 1959, up to half of the field was racing with a wing at Columbus Motor Speedway. In the early 1970s, many sprint car drivers began to put wings with sideboards on both

3304-477: Was fired by the team following several spins during Speedweeks and crashing again in qualifying for the second race of the year at Richmond International Raceway . Following his release he returned to sprint car racing. Swindell ran a limited schedule in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1993; the team closed mid-season, and he returned to sprint car racing once more. Swindell also competed in

3363-716: Was organized in 1915, and is currently the oldest active auto racing sanctioning body in the United States. It sanctions traditional 305 non-winged and winged sprint cars under the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car class. In Australia, sprint car racing is controlled by the Sprintcar Control Council of Australia (SCCA) who sanction the Australian Championships and the World Series Sprintcar series as well as

3422-475: Was retiring from racing, though he intends to race in the Chili Bowl Nationals. In 2015 Swindell made short work of retirement and signed with Chad and Jenn Clemens owners of CJB Motorsports out of Telford, PA. Sammy ran a partial schedule and will do the same in 2016. Sam stated he has no intention of running a full schedule anymore, but picks and chooses the races he wants to run. This benefits

3481-558: Was started by well-known racing promoter Emmett Hahn. The series national headquarters were located in Tulsa, Oklahoma for much of its history, but moved to Concord, North Carolina in 2024 following World Racing Group's purchase of the series. The all-time leader in wins for the series is Texan Gary Wright with 127 A main victories under his belt. Engine rules for the non-wing cars vary by series with some having unlimited displacement engines. The International Motor Contest Association (IMCA)

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