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Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, in conjunction with the 500 Sprint Car Tour, has released the event logo for the upcoming 65th running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial Presented by Hard Truth Distilling Co. and NOS Energy Drink, which will take place on Saturday, September 7th. Also racing that day will be the USSA Kenyon Midget Series and the Diesel Boys Race Parts Legends on the ¼ mile inner Salem track. The Midwest Vintage Racecar Club will also be on hand with vintage race cars on display and making laps on the ½ mile.

The Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial is the second longest running pavement sprint car race in the world behind the Little 500. After traditionally being held at Salem Speedway, with the exception of a few years when the race was held on dirt, the race was held the last two years at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park after not being held in 2021. The race was last held at Salem Speedway in 2020.

The Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial will be sanctioned by the 500 Sprint Car Tour, who sanctioned the event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2022 and 2023. This year’s event marks the return of non-wing Sprint Cars to the historic ½ mile oval. The last non-winged Sprint Car event at Salem was the 2010 Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial that was won by Shane Hmiel and sanctioned by USAC. The event was run with Wing Sprint Cars from 2011 through 2015. The event was then sanctioned by USAC Silver Crown, where Kody Swanson won the event a record five times in a row from 2016 through 2020.

The past winners of this historic event is a who’s who of open wheel racing including Pat O’Connor (When it was just the Joe James Memorial), Eddie Sachs, Bob Sweikert, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Rollie Beale, Gary Bettenhausen, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, Greg Leffler, Rich Vogler, Steve Butler, Jim Keeker, Kenny Irwin Jr., Tony Stewart, Chet Fillip, Dave Steele, Dave Darland, Eric Gordon, Tracy Hines, Brian Tyler, Bryan Clauson and Brian Gerster.

Hines currently holds the non-wing Sprint Car track record at Salem Speedway at a 15.181 set on August 12, 2000.

Pit gates open on Saturday, September 7th at 12 p.m., with spectator gates opening at 3 p.m. Practice will begin at 3 p.m., with qualifying set to begin at 6 p.m. The racing action begins at 7 p.m. There will be an open practice on Friday, September 6th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and grandstands seating will be free of charge to watch the open practice on Friday.

Advanced tickets are now on sale for the 65th running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial Presented by Hard Truth Distillery and NOS Energy Drink through the Salem Speedway website at www.salemspeedway.com or by calling the track office at 866 2GO-RACE. General Admission tickets are $25, chairback seat tickets are $30, kids’ tickets for ages 6 to 12 are $5, kids 5 and under are free.

More information on Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery and the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial is available on the track’s website and via social media on Facebook and Twitter (X).

More information on the 500 Sprint Car Tour 2024 season can be found online at 500SprintCarTour.com and via social media on Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram.

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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery will present “A Night of Classic Fun,” including “Classic Car Cruise-in on the High Banks,” on Saturday, Aug. 17. Five different divisions will challenge the storied track for 150 laps of high- speed action.

The Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman will return with a 40-lap feature. Will Kimmel will be racing CRA for the first time. Last year’s winner was Cassten Everridge. We will see if he can repeat that victory.  

The Diesel Boys GAS cars, a mainstay of the speedway, will do 50 fast laps.  

Salem Super Cars will flex their powerful 602 engines.

The Mike’s Muffler & Brakes Crown Vics will battle for 50 laps.

There will be four great features.  All divisions will qualify.

The program sponsors are Walls Equipment Sales and Ace Hardware of Salem.

All the action will be on the high banks as they compete for a spot in the Red Ball Winner’s Circle.  

At intermission the classic cars will hit the track. If you would like to drive your classic car around the high banks of the Salem Speedway, call the speedway at 866-246-7223.

The high-speed action starts Saturday, with the pits opening at 12 p.m. Practice begins at 3 p.m. Spectator gates open at 3 p.m., and racing will begin at 7 p.m.

The Salem Speedway is located at 2729 Hwy. 56 West, Salem.