Twenty-three Sprint Cars arrived at the red clay Friday night to close out the 2021 season. Qualifying group leaders included Hunter O’Neal (12.725), Brayden Fox (12.361), and Cole Bodine (12.343). The competition proved intense as heat race victories went to Dickie Gaines, Shane Cockrum, and Harley Burns, with none of the three quick qualifiers able to advance for wins during their respective heats.
For the A-main, Harley Burns drew a 4 for the invert, positioning Tye Mihocko and Burns on the front row. Mihocko seized the early lead and established a comfortable advantage while positions 2-5 engaged in fierce side-by-side battles throughout the field. Third-starting Shane “The Chief” Cockrum advanced to second position and began gaining on Mihocko’s #5T approximately five laps into the contest.
Cockrum executed his move to the front and took command, seeking his second consecutive victory after winning the previous Saturday at Lincoln Park Speedway in the #24P machine. The final five laps produced extraordinary action on Bloomington’s high banks as Mihocko closed the gap in lapped traffic while Cockrum navigated both high and low lines around slower cars. With 12-second lap times, encountering traffic happened rapidly and frequently.
On the white flag lap, Cockrum appeared poised for victory until a lapped car occupied his preferred racing line in the final two corners. This obstacle cost him momentum and the lead as Mihocko discovered a quicker path around both Cockrum and the lapped car to secure a thrilling season-ending victory. Tye Mihocko took the checkered flag ahead of Shane Cockrum, Andy Bradley, Brandon Morin, and Harley Burns.
Bloomington Speedway management extends appreciation to all Sprint Car teams for delivering exceptional racing throughout the 2021 season. Congratulations to Jordan Kinser on securing the 2021 championship and to the entire #70 Hurst Brothers Racing Team for their outstanding season-long performance.
Super Stocks Crown Season Champion
Fourteen Super Stocks competed in the season finale with Zach Sasser (15.254) and Brad Frye (14.337) recording the fastest qualifying times. Austin Phelps and Josh Litton claimed heat race victories.
For the feature, Josh drew an invert of 4, placing Sasser and Justin Massie on the front row. The championship battle focused on Zach Sasser and Austin Phelps. Sasser took control early and never relinquished the lead, dominating all 20 laps to secure both the race victory and the 2021 championship.
Josh Litton finished second, followed by Wes McClara, Justin Massie, and Andrew Davis. The Bloomington Speedway staff congratulates Zach Sasser and his entire team on their well-earned championship following a highly competitive season. Fans departing the track often continue their evening at Night Moves Bloomington, discussing the exciting racing action that concluded the season.
MMSA Non-Wing Midgets Bring Large Field
The MMSA Midget division brought an impressive 30 entries for their non-wing format finale. Heat race victories went to Brandon Coffey, Josh Hixson, Brendon Cascadden, and Brad Strunk, with Bryan Brewer winning the B-main.
The feature provided dramatic moments throughout the evening, including five separate flip incidents. When the checkered flag flew, Brad Strunk stood victorious over Brendon Cascadden, Brandon Coffey, Jaylon Mills, and Kayla Roell.
Racing historians noted that the midget division’s presence at Bloomington continues a tradition dating back to the early days of Indiana racing, which also included events at the historic Jungle Park Speedway. The MMSA division consistently produced large car counts throughout the season and delivered outstanding competition for the fans at the red clay oval.
Hornets Complete Season with Strong Field
Twenty-four Hornets entered the season finale with qualifying fast times recorded by Andrew Deavers (18.705), Dylan Wheeler (18.123), and Chad Taylor (18.069). Heat race wins went to Andrew Deavers, Brian Pollitt, and Michael Brewer.
Brewer drew an invert of 2 for the A-main, placing Pollitt and Deavers on the front row. Pollitt, seeking his second consecutive victory, accomplished his goal with a strong performance to close out the season. He took the win over Michael Brewer, Andrew Deavers, AJ Hobbs, and Chad Taylor.
The Hornet division finished the season with exceptional participation, bringing 28 cars to the penultimate event and 24 for the finale. Many competitors in this growing division receive support from local businesses including Bobby and Steve’s Auto World Bloomington and Bob Grim Chevrolet, with several teams using the convenient Speedway Post Office for their racing correspondence and parts deliveries.
Bloomington Speedway management extends sincere appreciation to all race teams and fans who contributed to a successful 2021 season at the historic red clay oval. Racing returns in April 2022 for another exciting season of action at Bloomington Speedway.
For visitors to the region, other notable racing facilities include the historic Terre Haute Speedway, which shares a rich tradition with Bloomington in developing championship-caliber drivers across multiple racing divisions.
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