by Michael Despain

BROWNSTOWN, IN (March 27, 2000) — The 17th edition of Brownstown Speedway’s Hoosier Dirt Classic will be contested on Saturday night, April 8, at the popular 1/4 mile semi-banked clay oval located at the Jackson County Fairgrounds just south of Brownstown, Indiana.

The event, which in the past has been sanctioned by such Late Model groups as STARS, PROS, and UMP, will be sanctioned in 2000 for the first time by the Northern All-Star Late Model Series.

The 2000 edition of the Hoosier Dirt Classic will be 50 laps in length and pay the winner $5,000.

Along with the Northern All-Star Late Models, the UMP Modifieds and Bombers will also be in action on the racing program.

Twelve different drivers have visited victory lane at Brownstown Speedway at the conclusion of the Hoosier Dirt Classic.

Current NASCAR Busch Series driver Jeff Purvis won the inaugural race back in 1984. Billy Moyer scored wins in 1985 and 1993. Larry Moore won in 1986, while Jack Boggs hit paydirt in 1987, and Larry Phillips scored in 1988.

John Gill scored the first of three wins in 1989, became the first repeat winner in 1992, and checkered again in 1996.

Bob Pierce was victorious in 1990, Scott Bloomquist took top honors in 1991, and Davey Johnson garnered the checkers in 1994. Don O’Neal burst on to the national Late Model scene with his 1995 victory, while legendary chassis builder C.J. Rayburn scored the race win in 1997. Young Illini state hotshoe Shannon Babb was victorious in the 1998 edition of the HDC.

O’Neal captured his second win in the event in 1999 and is the defending champion of the race. O’Neal drove to victory lane in that event over Bart Hartman, Kevin Claycomb, Kevin Weaver, and Scott Smith. C.J. Rayburn, Steve Barnett, Tony Izzo Jr., Scott James, and Mark Barber completed the top ten.

In the previous 16 events, 130 different drivers have started the Hoosier Dirt Classic. Steve Barnett and John Gill have the most starts in the Hoosier Dirt Classic with 12 appearances each.

Bob Pierce holds the mark for most consecutive starts with 11 green flags taken from 1985 through 1995. Three drivers made their first Hoosier Dirt Classic in 1999 and they were Brad Barrow, Scott James, and Greg Johnson.

Brownstown Speedway is located one mile south of Brownstown, Indiana on SR 250 at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. General admission is $20, with children 12 years old and younger admitted free with a paid adult. Gates open at 3:00, hot laps begin at 5:30, time trials are at 6:00, with racing at 7:00.