With the month of May rapidly approaching all eyes will be on the state of Indiana.
The IndyCar Series will be competing twice next month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a race on the road course and the May 24th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The 78th running of the Unified Group Services Little 500 will be held at Anderson Speedway on May 23.
Both races have been among my favorites for many years.
I have followed the Indy 500 for many years first starting to listen to the race on radio before the television broadcasts.
As of Tuesday there are 32 teams set to attempt to make the 33-car starting field at IM.
There is the potential for two more teams with Katherine Legge expected to get a ride with AJ Foyt Racing and Noblesville native Conor Daly securing a ride.
Former race winners Helio Castroneves and Takuma Sato are entered along with NASCAR champion Kyle Larson and a possible ride for former IndyCar competitor Jack Harvey.
I attended my first Little 500 in 1971 and have only missed two of the events at Anderson Speedway since that time.
I will never forget my first Little 500 and what has to be considered one of the best, maybe the best, start on any race track.
To watch 33 sprint cars take the green flag in the traditional 11 rows of three charging into turn one is a sight not to be forgotten.
There are currently 34 teams entered in the Little 500 and more are expected before practice starts on May 20 with pole day qualifying on May 21 and “bump day” on May 22.
Defending race winner Jake Trainor is entered along with former winners Kody Swanson, Tyler Roahrig and Bobby Santos III.
Other notables include Dakoda Armstrong, Jackson Macenko, CJ Leary, Billy Wease, Ryan Newman, Shane Hollingsworth, Logas Seavey, Justin Grant and Taylor Ferns.
In racing news: Tyler Reddick continued his magical season with another victory this year this time at Kansas Speedway in overtime.
NASCAR this week travels to Talladega Speedway where everyone will be anticipating the “big one” that will knock several contenders out of a win.
Local driver John Robbins continued to show the way when the Beaver Contracting Thunder Roadsters compete on the altered “roval” layout at Anderson Speedway.
Robbins is always among the top qualifiers for the race and has dominated the action in the past as he did again this past weekend at Anderson Speedway.
