“The World’s Fastest High-Banked Quarter Mile Oval”
On the way back to Iowa from Pittsburgh, we stopped at the Anderson Speedway in Indiana for some non-winged sprint car action. It was the first time I had witnessed a sprint car race on asphalt, as well as a quarter mile track.
As it turned out, it was the first midget race I have seen as well. Spencer Bayston, in his rookie season won the Mel Kenyon Midget series.
We were sitting near Tony Hunt’s crew, and naturally pulling for him to win the “Glen Niebel Classic”. Muncie’s Aaron Pierce won the event,however, with Hunt slipping into third place on the final lap to get a place at the podium.
Anderson Speedway is best known for its “Little 500”, which runs on the Saturday of Memorial Weekend, the night prior to the Indianapolis 500. That’s 500 laps around a 1/4 mile track, with the field of 33 cars starting out in 11 rows of 3. That’s got to be insane to watch.
The best quote I found on the Anderson Speedway: “It’s Like racing jet fighters in a gym.” It’s been attributed to noted short track driver Dick Trickle.
Little 500 photo courtesy of Anderson Speedway
