2023 USAC IN Sprint Week at Kokomo Speedway

C.J. Leary Rebounds To Win Indiana Sprint Week Feature At Kokomo Speedway

After a crash at Gas City I-69 Speedway, C.J. Leary and team rebuilt a car that was sitting in the shop to win Indiana Sprint Week at Kokomo Speedway.

Jul 23, 2023 by Tyler Burnett

C.J. Leary Rebounds To Win Indiana Sprint Week Feature At Kokomo Speedway

After enduring a vicious flip during the previous night's feature that wiped out their primary ride, C.J. Leary and BGE Dougherty Motorsports turned to a car that had been sitting on jackstands for the past three years and had never seen a racetrack, let alone even touched the ground.

With body panels adorned in the look Leary sported during the 2020 season when he drove the family-owned No. 30, the Greenfield, Ind. native and his Altoz – Hornbeck Concrete - Highsmith Guns - Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts/DRC/1-Way Chevy hit the ground running during Saturday night’s Darland Classic at Kokomo Speedway.

Starting fifth on the grid, Leary became the third and final driver to race into first place when race leader Brady Bacon stumbled upon the turn two cushion with six laps remaining, opening the door for Leary to drive past and earn his seventh career USAC NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week Presented By Honest Abe Roofing victory, moving him into a tie for fifth all-time alongside Bryan Clauson and Justin Grant.

Leary, who captured the Indiana Sprint Week title in 2019, also moved inside the top-30 in all-time USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship feature victories. His 22nd career triumph moved him ahead of 1967 series champion Greg Weld and into a four-way tie for 29th all-time alongside Rick Hood, Bubby Jones and Sammy Sessions.

Clawing his way back from the depths of despair following a massive feature crash on Friday night at Gas City I-69 Speedway to the joy of achieving his third USAC win of the season, and first since early May, Leary was overjoyed with the result of his hard work coming to fruition.

WATCH REPLAY

USAC Indiana Sprint Week Highlights From Kokomo Speedway

Watch highlights from Kokomo Speedway July 22, 2023

Winning Quote From CJ Leary

“Man, this is huge, I’m sick, I’m worn out, and the last night really put a hurt on me. Last night was unfortunate and I feel like we had a good car; it just happened so fast. We stayed up all night last night building this thing. This car has never been raced, and tonight’s the first night on it. We built this thing new in 2020 and it’s just been sitting.”

USAC Sprint Cars at Kokomo Speedway Results

1. C.J. Leary (5)

2. Brady Bacon (3)

3. Carson Garrett (1)

4. Emerson Axsom (8)

5. Logan Seavey (7)

6. Robert Ballou (12)

7. Justin Grant (11)

8. Shane Cottle (20)

9. Kevin Thomas Jr. (13)

10. Daison Pursley (17)

11. Stevie Sussex (10)

12. Brent Beauchamp (18)

13. Chase Stockon (9)

14. Braxton Cummings (22)

15. Brandon Mattox (15)

16. Jake Swanson (2)

17. Matt Westfall (16)

18. Geoff Ensign (21)

19. Kyle Cummins (6)

20. Trey Osborne (14)

21. Zack Pretorius (19)

22. Mitchel Moles (4)

USAC National Sprint Car Point Standings

Brady Bacon cut into Emerson Axsom's points lead and brought the number separating them to 12 in the season long point standings. Justin Grant took over third, with Jake Swanson and Kyle Cummins completing the current top five.

Full USAC Sprints Points Standings