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By: Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Jim still has his sprint car.

Who could ever forget driving their sprint car on the world-famous track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

Jim and his wife, Sandra.

I recently had the pleasure to interview Jim McIntosh, an original spectator of the first race at the Salem Speedway in 1947.

McIntosh now 86 years old, and he was nine years when he saw his first race at the Speedway. He attended with his grandfather, James McIntosh.

The speedway opened in June 22, 1947. It was a banked .555-mile oiled dirt track in ’47. His grandfather was an uncle to Jim Summer, who started the speedway on the outskirts of Salem. Jim said Summers didn’t have a lot of money so he partnered with Everett “Foxy“ Roberts, a lumber buyer who helped build the grandstands. He can remember the metal roof over the grandstand and how it amplified the roar of the cars.

On the first lap of the first race, sadly two driver went over the wall. Jim said one driver, Clay Corbett, was killed and one was paralyzed. This was very dramatic for a nine-year-old to observe, and he still remembers that.

He remembers the large crowd. The parking lot was full and cars lined the highway. People came from all over to see this race. The price to attend the infield was fifty cents, general admission was two dollars, and box seats went for two dollars and fifty cents.
The infield was Jim’s hang out. At that time the races were sanctioned by AAA. That’s right—the American Automobile Association. They ran races from 1904 to 1955, then USAC took over. USAC stands for “United States Auto Club.”

AAA pulled out in 1955, citing the Le Mans disaster and the death of Bill Vukovich at Indianapolis.

Ted Horn was the AAA champion in 1947. Tommy Hinnershiz was the winner of the twenty-five-lap feature. Besides the main race, there was a 20-car semi feature. Jim remembers the trophy dash for the fastest qualifiers, several heat races and the semi feature.
Mcintosh made his living with a different horse power, training real horses all his life. He also has a stable in Fortville, which is now run by his daughter.

Originally from Hardinsburg, he now lives in Fortville, Indiana. He said he was “Lucky enough to go to Indianapolis and drive my old sprint car.” He drove around the 2 ½ mile track. Jim is now in poor health but would love to see the Joe James/Pat O’Connor race coming to the track on Saturday, September 7. At that time the 500 Sprint car series will take to the track.
USAC no longer has a sprint car division that runs on asphalt. The Silver Crown division is the only group that does.

If you have fond memories of local stories like this or at any track in Indiana, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By: Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Bob Gruelich was thrilled to visit the Salem Speedway after many years.

Bob's Salem Speedway shirt will be one of his prized possessions.

Bob, sitting in the middle of the front row, was able to share this special afternoon with family and friends.

Bob kept the ticket that the Salem Speedway provided for him.

Scenic Hills At The Monastery in Ferdinand had a big surprise for one of their residents.

Jeremy Kramer, CNA, filled out “Live A Dream” card for resident Bob Greulich. Kramer stated in the card “If it has four wheels and goes fast, Bob is watching.”

The Life Enrichment Team decided that a trip to The Salem Speedway would fill that dream. They loaded the bus and 17 of Bob’s family members plus staff set off for a trip to the speedway. Salem Speedway furnished Bob with a ticket and arranged for seating for all in the wheelchair section.

Bob was a fan of Salem Speedway and used to go there and watch races years ago. Bob’s group got to watch the Firecracker 200, the main event.

The activities director and life enrichment team leader at Scenic Hills is Tiffany Braun.

This will be a day Bob will remember forever. Our hats are off to the fine people at Salem Speedway and Scenic Hills at the Monastery for making this possible.

By:

Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Jacob Robertson won the Ford Figure-8 races Friday and Saturday and was the fastest qualifier.

Young Chase Bohanon was the Bandeleros winner.

Max Olmsted won the Legends race Friday evening.

Brian Rose was the Salem Super Cars winner Friday.

Galen Clark was the Legends race winner Saturday.

Kade Cook was the Oval race winner Saturday.

The family of Red Worrall was on hand for the inaugural Red Worrall Big Bang 100 race for Ford Crown Vics.

Chuck Barnes, Jr. was the winner of the CRA/GAS Firecracker 200.

Ronnie Basham was winner of the Red Worrall Big Bang 100.

All photographs by Jim Michels

The Salem Speedway powered by the Hoosier Lottery was alive with racing for two days July 5 and 6. Some groups ran both days supporting the main feature races on the high banks.

A new format was introduced by setting a time limit on each race to help keep to the schedule. Basically, this amounts to about a minute per lap. Twenty-five laps/twenty-five minutes, which-ever came first. This did shorten a few races that were plagued with yellow flags. Red flag will stop the clock.

The first race Friday was the Bandoleros a entrant level group. These are scaled-down model cars with small motors with slow acceleration, but they can reach speeds of seventy miles per hour. The roof flips up so the driver can get into the car, they are that small. Winning that race was young Chase Bohanon.

Next was the next bigger division the Legend cars. The winner in that division was Max Olmsted; second place, Xavier King; and third place, Galen Clark.

Still on the small track were the Ford Crown Vics for Figure 8 excitement. The guy dominating the Ford Figure 8 races was fastest qualifier Jacob Robertson. Robertson won after holding off Alex Bube in a caution-free race.

Friday’s next raced moved to the high banks for the Salem Super Cars. This 25-lap feature was won by Brian Rose out of the Kimmel racing stable. Second was Jamie Mosley, and third Shayne Slider. These are retired ARCA race cars with crate engines to add to the close competitive race. All crate motors are the same.

The main feature was the inaugural Red Worrall Big Bang 100 for Ford Crown Vics. This race honored the memory of Red Worrall. He had a big impact on local short-track racing. He was also a giving person, and with that in mind the family started the Red Worrall Foundation. He was always there to help others in need. Worrall had also served on the Clarksville Town Council.

This race on the high banks for Ford Crown Vics paid $1500. The race was full of the usual excitement. The lead car was Ronnie Basham, driving the Jeff Roberts Ford, followed by Noah Allison and Chase Adams most of the race. It the last laps, when the pressure is on to go for it, Allison got shuffled back to eighth place. Basham won holding off second-place Dillion Kaelin and third-place Chase Adams.

Saturday’s race started with a short track Ford Crown Vic race for 25 laps on this flat track. Pulling out the win was Nick Cook; second-place Brandon Decker; and third-place, Nick Payne.

The second Ford Figure 8 with a 22-car field was again won by Jacob Robertson with Alex Bube second and third was Kyle LaFever. It was a three-car battle

The Legend cars returned Saturday with Galen Clark the winner, second Ashton Murello, and third, Xavier King.

The main event was the Washington County Tourist Firecracker 200 for the GAS/CRA cars. There were a few yellows in this race, but it lasted the whole 200 laps. Caution laps count in this race until the end so it doesn’t end under caution. In this race there was a competition stop at the half way mark for 10 minutes. A horn marks the time to start and blows again after the ten minutes is over. The crew can change two tires, make adjustments and add gas with the car still on the track.

The twist at the stop was a pill drawn for the top eight cars to draw for places in the restart. Chuck Barnes Jr, who lead most of the way, was second. He continued to dominate until the end. He had to hold off a very determined Brett Hudson that challenged him the last few laps. In the mix was Heath Helton who finished third behind Hudson. This was a 22-car field with 14 cars finishing on the lead lap. All restarts use the choose cone in all divisions. This symbol is painted on the track. Definitely shuffles the field at times.

At the Choose Cone a driver can pick which lane is wants high or low. The high side is usual best on the high banks but the low side the driver may gain positions.

The next race is the ARCA Menards series plus the GAS division on Saturday, July 27.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Salem Speedway, fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, will present "Semis on the High Banks" Saturday, June 22.

First there will be 10-lap heat races. Then, American Big Rig Racing Series will race for 30 laps on the High Banks of Salem Speedway.

The American Big Rig Racing Series is a traveling division. Supporting this group will be the popular On Site Plumbing Heating & Air 25-lap race on the small track.

The Scrappers will have a 25-lap Kidney Bean feature on the small track. Next, Mike’s Muffler & Brake Crown Vics on the High Banks for thirty-five laps of action.

Racing starts at 7 p.m.

Here are the entries for the TLG Peterbilt of Louisville 30. Notice that Brian “The Salem Slayer” is first on the list and more may join:

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

The Salem Speedway fueled by The Hoosier Lottery was the second leg of “The King of The High Banks.”

The first stop of this series, that includes the Vores Compact Tour, The Midwest Modifieds Tour and the CRA Street Stock/Diesel Boys Gas Series, was at Bristol Speedway in Tennessee. Collective points will be awarded at each track for the driver in each series. The three winners in each series will be the King and receive a ring.

The last time The Midwest Modified had been at the Salem track was June 6, 2009.

In that time things have improved, and Chuck Barnes Jr. set a new track qualification record at 17.332 sec. for an average speed of over 115 M.P.H.

Barnes Jr. also did double duty in his Gas car in a later race.

First on the high bank track were the VORES Compact Tour with a 40-lap race.

This race was plagued with a few yellows on lap 19, six cars collided between turns 3 and 4, taking out all six. Kyle Farmer, leading at the 31st lap, crashed in-between turns 1 and 2. Also, Justin Brown and Nick Cooper got together-- Brown had a broken left front wheel.

Jake Albright won the race with Nick Cooper second and third Chris Jennings third. The Vores series are front wheel drive cars.

The next series on the track were the Midwest Modified Tour. Matt Dimit of Ft. Wayne won, with Brett Hudson placing second and Danny Jackson third.

Chuck Barnes Jr., the fastest man of the day, had engine problems on lap 30 and finished 12th. Six cars of the 19 entries were on the lead lap.

The main and last event was the 75-lap CRA/GAS Street Stocks. The winning driver was Brett Hudson, second-place was Chuck Barnes Jr. and third-place, Dalton Conner. The 2023 champion Heath Helton was fourth.

Listed as Kid’s Night there were several things for the kids to do including bouncy houses and free kids' spectator rides. The kids could ride in the Fisher Towing Craftsmen truck or the ARCA Menards Series, two-seaters on the ½ mile during intermission.

The next race will be June 22 when the Semi’s return to the high banks. Supporting them will be the Crown Vics on the high banks as well as on the smaller track. Scrapper will also be present.