Sprint cars will return to the high banks at Salem Speedway for the 65th running of the historic Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial Race.
Sprint cars will be returning this Saturday night to the Salem Speedway. The 500 Sprint Car Tour will challenge the high banks, as well as each other. It will be the 65th running of the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial race.
The last Joe James/Pat O’Connor race held at the Speedway was in 2020, when the USAC Silver Crown cars took to the track. The last race that had Non-Winged Sprint Cars was 2010.
The track record for sprint cars was set by Tracy Hines on August 2, 2000 at 15.181 seconds. Will this 24-year record hold or will we hear “It’s a new track record” booming over the track speakers.
USAC no longer has an asphalt sprint car division.
Second only to the “Little 500,” this is one of the nation’s longest running race events.
For the last two years, the race has been held at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Racing with the 500 Sprint Car Tour will be Kody Swanson, who won the Silver Crown races from 2016 through 2020 at Salem.
The past winners of this historic event are a “who’s who” of open wheel racing, including Pat O’Connor (back 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.
Added to this day’s program is the legendary USA Kenyon Midget Series and the Diesel Boys Race Car Parts Legends. Plus, on the track will be the Midwest Vintage Race Car Club.
Friday will be practice, with pits opening at 3 p.m. Saturday racing begins at 7p.m.
The program looks like this: Kenyon Midgets 10 lap heats and a 25-lap feature; Legends 25 lap feature; and The Joe James/Pat O’Connor will be 50 laps.
General admission is $25, chair back seat tickets are $30., kids 12-6 are $5. Kids under 12 are free. The Salem Speedway is located at 2729 W. State Road 56, Salem.