Devin Gilpin of Columbus made his first career World 100 late model race on Oct. 13 at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. The 28-year-old racer led the first 44 laps of the $51,000-to-win event before he yielded the lead to eventual winner Tim McCreadie of Watertown, New York.
Gilpin then ran in the top five for most of the rest of the event before finishing in the sixth position.
Gilpin’s sixth-place run in the most prestigious dirt late model event of the season was the highest finish for a Columbus racer since Russ Petro finished fifth in 1987. The best-ever finish in the annual event for a Columbus driver was third in 1973 by Petro’s older brother Gene.
In the 48-year history of the event which began in 1971, Gilpin is the fourth Columbus native to make the starting field joining Russ Petro (six times), Gene Petro (three times) and Dick Phillips (two times).
Gilpin, who has 13 overall feature wins this season in a late model and modified, clinched the 2018 Eldora Speedway track championship with his finish. Gilpin also collected the late model track title for the second year in a row at Brownstown Speedway. He has driven this year for his grandfather Don Fleetwood of Brownstown and North Vernon’s Jim Beeman.
Gilpin was in Beeman’s MasterSbilt Race Cars entry Oct. 13 at Eldora, when he battled the best dirt late model drivers in the nation for the full 100-laps.
“These guys race from January on until December," Gilpin said. "We run about 40 times a year, so for a regional driver to run well against those guys says a lot about our race team. My mom (Gina) and dad (Todd) first brought me to Eldora back in about 1994, and we came every year. To finally make the race is just phenomenal, but to start on the pole is even more satisfying.”
Gilpin led the most laps for a first-time World 100 participant since Scott Bloomquist led 51 laps back in 1988. McCreadie won his first-career World 100 when he was chased to the finish line by Jimmy Owens, Tyler Erb, Scott Bloomquist and Brandon Overton. There were two other Indiana drivers who made the race, including defending Eldora track champion Kent Robinson of Bloomington, who finished 10th, and Martinsville’s Don O’Neal, who recorded an 18th-place finish.
Gilpin also thanked his car owners, Jim and Teresa Beeman, his crew chief, Tader Masters, and his crew, which includes Curt Jarrell and John Schulte.
Bell wins for Stewart
Christopher Bell, driving a Tony Stewart-owned entry, won the season finale at Eldora Speedway on Sunday in the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series-sanctioned event. Bell took the lead on Lap 14 from Parker Price-Miller and went on for the win. He became the 20th different winner on the series tour in 2018.
Donny Schatz, who drives for Stewart, finished in second followed by Miller, Carson Macedo and Ian Madsen. A total of 40 sprints were on hand to close out the season at the Ohio track.
Brownstown ends season
The Brownstown Speedway concluded its 2018 racing season last weekend with 52 events run during the annual Fun Fest. Josh Cunningham of Spencer won the sprint car feature race over Jordan Kinser of Bedford, Brady Short of Bedford, Chris Phillips of Plainfield and Dickie Gaines of Mitchell.
Tyler Neal of Paragon won his first career super late model feature race over Steve Peeden of Paragon, Tyler Collins of North Vernon, Tyler Cain of Seymour and Jeff Bland Jr. of Bedford.
The Indiana Pro late models ran three feature events during the weekend. Tyler Cain won the odd feature over Steve Peeden, Isaac Rainey of Bedford, Tyler Neal and Mark Barber of North Vernon. Marty O’Neal won the even feature race over Steven Godsey of Bedford, Shelby Miles of Bloomington, Tyler Collins and Keaton Streeval of Edinburgh. O’Neal picked up his 16th overall feature win of the season by winning the finale over Tyler Cain, Steve Peeden, Tyler Collins and Shelby Miles.
Earl Plessinger of Lexington swept both features for the open wheel modifieds. Plessinger won the odd/even feature race over James Walters of Mooresville, Greg Amick of Story, Sam Wray of Bloomington and John Trowbridge of North Vernon. Plessinger then came back to win the finale over James Walters, Jeremy Owens of North Vernon, Greg Amick and Dustin Golden of Bedford.
Tim Eddelman of Taylorsville won two features in the super stock division for the weekend. Eddelman won the even feature over James Campbell of Greencastle, Tom Ault of Freetown, B.J. Frye of Bloomington and Charles Newby of Seymour. Jeremy Helton of Paris Crossing captured the odd feature race over Trey Chastain of Bedford, Ross Smith of Columbus, Roger Reichenbacker of Seymour and Tommy East of Bedford. Eddelman would win the finale over Trey Chastain, Tucker Chastain of Bedford, B.J. Frye and Tom Ault.
Rick Gumm of Tampico continued to rule the pure stock division, winning the two feature races he participated in. Gumm won the even feature over Dalton Fleenor of Salem, Jack Turner of Edinburgh, Joey Douglas of North Vernon and Donnie Wilson of North Vernon. Michael Cranmer of Jeffersonville took the odd feature race for the class over Jeremy Huebner of Loogootee, Trevor Cranmer of Jeffersonville, Josh Hayes of Seymour and Ronnie Pardue of Vallonia. Gumm won the finale over Michael Cranmer, Trevor Cranmer, Dalton Fleenor and Jack Turner.
Go-karts final race is today
The Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing will conclude its season with earlier starting times today. The gates will open at noon, with open practice to follow and ending at 1:15 p.m., with the drivers’ meeting scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The events take place at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds.
In racing results from Oct, 13, the class winners were Jake Roell of Dillsboro (rookie), Kayla Roell of Dillsboro (Jr. 1 and Jr. 2), Brandon Malone of Columbus (vintage), R.T. Lowe of Columbus (vintage), Jordan Hiner of Indianapolis (340), Travis Wilburn of Milan (410), and Kyle Willis (rwb).
Salem finale set for Sunday
Salem Speedway will wrap up it’s 2018 racing season Sunday with the 30th Annual Halloween 200. Also in competition will be the Lucas Oil Grand American Stocks. For more info, visit salemspeedway.com.
