For more than a half century, the Tony Hulman Classic has been an event that every USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car driver desires to win.
The 56th annual chapter of the longest running USAC National Sprint Car event, dating back to 1971, returns to western Indiana’s Terre Haute Action Track on Wednesday night, May 20.
Up for grabs is the glory of winning the Hulman Classic, the coveted rifle trophy and the $10,000 reward for a night’s worth of work on Indiana’s only 1/2-mile dirt oval.
Here are six storylines to watch!
THE HULMAN SIX
Six past Hulman Classic winners are expected to compete this Wednesday, including three-time winner Robert Ballou (2015-2016-2022), J.J. Yeley (1997 & 2003), Justin Grant (2025), Kevin Thomas Jr. (2017), Chase Stockon (2019) and Logan Seavey (2024).
Grant, Stockon and Seavey have already won in USAC National Sprint Car competition this season. Thomas Jr. and Ballou are among those looking to add their first tally of 2026 at the Action Track this weekend.Yeley, meanwhile, returns to the Hulman Classic for the first time since 2004! Yeley, the 2001 and 2003 series champion, owns six USAC National Sprint Car victories in his career at Terre Haute, plus one special event.
ON THE HUNT FOR A RIFLE
Half the drivers currently ranking inside the top-10 of the USAC National Sprint Car point standings are seeking a first Hulman Classic victory. That’s a list that includes the likes of Kyle Cummins, Mitchel Moles, Jake Swanson, Briggs Danner and C.J. Leary.
Cummins and Leary already own USAC National Sprint Car feature wins at Terre Haute, but they’d also like to add the Hulman Classic’s famous rifle trophy to their collection this Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Cummins (2021 & 2023), Swanson (2024) and Leary (2025) have all finished as the runner-up at the Hulman Classic in recent years. Moles was 4th in 2023 while Danner was 10th in 2025.
CUMMINS’ CHECKLIST
Speaking of Cummins, he continues to roll with 11-straight top-five USAC National Sprint Car feature finishes entering the Hulman Classic, including a 1st and a 2nd last weekend at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway.
The defending champ enters the week as the series point leader by 74 markers, and back in April of this year, he scored his first career Terre Haute USAC National Sprint Car victory in the Jim Hurtubise Classic.
Twice, Cummins has finished as the runner-up at the Hulman in 2021 and 2023, and the coveted rifle is calling his name.
LEWIS HAS BEEN EVERYWHERE, MAN
Ricky Lewis’ best career USAC National Sprint Car feature finish came at the Tony Hulman Classic in 2025 where he finished 3rd after starting 10th.
This year, Lewis leads all drivers with eight USAC sanctioned sprint car victories across three different series: six with CRA and once each with the Southwest series and the MRA series.
However, a first USAC National Sprint Car win has eluded him thus far. Perhaps the Hulman Classic will be the night. Seven drivers have earned their first USAC National Sprint Car victory during the Hulman Classic: George Snider (1971), Joe Saldana (1973), Chet Johnson (1982), Cary Faas (1992), Dave Darland (1993), J.J. Yeley (1997) and Terry Pletch (1999).
GRAND MARSHAL KALITTA
Thirty years after his 1996 Tony Hulman Classic victory, Doug Kalitta will serve as grand marshal for the 56th running of the event featuring the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship at Indiana’s Terre Haute Action Track on Wednesday night, May 20.
Prior to becoming the 2023 and 2025 NHRA Top Fuel dragster champion, Kalitta rose to prominence in USAC competition between 1990-1998, culminating in a National Sprint Car driving championship in 1994.
Across the USAC National Sprint Car and National Midget disciplines, Kalitta won 10 sprint features and seven in midgets. Twelve of his 17 career USAC national victories came at the paved high banks of Indiana’s Winchester Speedway with four more coming at Indianapolis Raceway Park’s paved oval.
However, there is one particular victory that stands out – his lone dirt USAC victory at the Terre Haute Action Track on May 12, 1996, where he passed Kevin Thomas with five laps remaining to win the 26th running of the Tony Hulman Classic.
HISTORY OF THE RIFLE
On June 19, 1966, prior to the advent of the Hulman Classic, the reward for winning each of the Twin 30-lap USAC National Sprint Car features at Terre Haute was a pair of rifles, each of which would hold a 30-30 cartridge, referring to a .30 caliber bullet and 30 grains of powder.
The tradition stuck, and nowadays, one treasured rifle has been annually awarded to the Hulman Classic winner dating back to 1971. To this day, it remains, perhaps, the most coveted trophy in all of USAC racing.
RACE DETAILS
This Wednesday’s May 20th 56th annual Tony Hulman Classic features the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship, plus UMP DIRTcar Modifieds. Pits open at 3pm Eastern with front gates opening at 5pm, the drivers meeting at 6pm and cars on track at 6:30pm with qualifying and racing immediately following.
Advance tickets are on sale now at https://www.terrehauteactiontrack.com/. Advance tickets are $30 for grandstand seating. Kids age 12 and under are free. Pit passes are $40. Grandstand seating is included as well as access to the controlled Pit Pass area. Infield admission is $15 and allows for access to the grass infield of the Action Track through the tunnel at the far right (turn one side) of the main grandstand.
The event can be watched live in its entirety on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/usac2026.
USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1-Kyle Cummins-918, 2-Justin Grant-844, 3-Mitchel Moles-828, 4-Logan Seavey-780, 5-Jake Swanson-760, 6-Briggs Danner-744, 7-Chase Stockon-736, 8-Kevin Thomas Jr.-725, 9-C.J. Leary-659, 10-Robert Ballou-637.
TRACK RECORDS FOR USAC NATIONAL SPRINT CARS AT THE TERRE HAUTE ACTION TRACK
1 Lap - 5/21/2014 - Brady Bacon - 19.225
4 Laps - 5/4/1986 - Larry Gates - 1:36.18
6 Laps - 5/17/2003 - Kurt Gross - 2:07.21
7 Laps - 5/21/2024 - Shane Cottle - 2:35.29
8 Laps - 10/12/2012 - Hunter Schuerenberg - 2:39.40
10 Laps - 6/17/2000 - Jon Stanbrough - 3:29.13
12 Laps - 9/10/2011 - Jon Stanbrough - 4:02.90
30 Laps - 10/1/2021 - Chris Windom - 10:31.97
40 Laps - 5/4/1975 - Pancho Carter - 15:52.96
50 Laps - 8/13/1967 - Rollie Beale - 22:41.72
TONY HULMAN CLASSIC WINS
3-Robert Ballou, Cary Faas, Levi Jones & Chris Windom
2-Steve Butler, Pancho Carter, Jerry Coons Jr., Dave Darland, Jack Hewitt, Jon Stanbrough, Rich Vogler & J.J. Yeley
1-Brady Bacon, Gary Bettenhausen, Jeff Bloom, Daron Clayton, Tyler Courtney, Jay Drake, Eric Gordon, Justin Grant, Tracy Hines, Rick Hood, Chet Johnson, Bud Kaeding, Doug Kalitta, Sheldon Kinser, Cory Kruseman, Eddie Leavitt, James McElreath, Jan Opperman, Terry Pletch, Joe Saldana, Logan Seavey, Ron Shuman, George Snider, Chase Stockon, Kevin Thomas Jr., Dick Tobias & Bruce Walkup
TONY HULMAN CLASSIC WINNERS
1971: George Snider
1972: Bruce Walkup
1973: Joe Saldana
1974: Gary Bettenhausen
1975: Pancho Carter
1976: Jan Opperman
1977: James McElreath
1978: Dick Tobias
1979: Pancho Carter
1980: Eddie Leavitt
1981: Sheldon Kinser
1982: Chet Johnson
1983: Jack Hewitt
1984: Rick Hood
1985: Ron Shuman
1986: Rich Vogler
1987: Steve Butler
1988: Steve Butler (Indianapolis Raceway Park)
1989: Rich Vogler (Indianapolis Raceway Park)
1990: Jeff Bloom (Indianapolis Raceway Park)
1991: Eric Gordon (Indianapolis Raceway Park)
1992: Cary Faas
1993: Dave Darland
1994: Cary Faas
1995: Jack Hewitt
1996: Doug Kalitta
1997: J.J. Yeley
1998: Cary Faas
1999: Terry Pletch
2000: Jay Drake
2001: Tracy Hines
2002: Jon Stanbrough
2003: J.J. Yeley
2004: Cory Kruseman
2005: Levi Jones
2006: Daron Clayton
2007: Jon Stanbrough
2008: Levi Jones
2009: Levi Jones
2010: Jerry Coons Jr.
2011: Chris Windom
2012: Bud Kaeding
2013: Jerry Coons Jr.
2014: Dave Darland
2015: Robert Ballou
2016: Robert Ballou
2017: Kevin Thomas Jr.
2018: Tyler Courtney
2019: Chase Stockon
2020: Chris Windom
2021: Chris Windom
2022: Robert Ballou
2023: Brady Bacon
2024: Logan Seavey
2025: Justin Grant
**Held at the Terre Haute Action Track 1971-1987, 1992-Present
**Held at Indianapolis Raceway Park 1988-1991
TERRE HAUTE ACTION TRACK USAC SPRINT CAR WINS
8-Gary Bettenhausen, Jack Hewitt & Chris Windom
6-Bubby Jones, Sheldon Kinser & J.J. Yeley
5-Jim Hurtubise, Levi Jones, Jon Stanbrough & Rich Vogler
4-Brady Bacon, Justin Grant, Bud Kaeding, Roger McCluskey & Chase Stockon
3-Robert Ballou, Don Branson, Steve Butler, Pancho Carter, Daron Clayton, Jerry Coons Jr., Tyler Courtney, Jay Drake, Cary Faas, Tracy Hines, Rick Hood & Joe Saldana
2-Rollie Beale, Tom Bigelow, Dave Darland, Cory Kruseman, Johnny Rutherford, Logan Seavey, Dick Tobias, Kevin Thomas Jr., Bruce Walkup & Greg Weld
1-Billy Cassella, Steve Chassey, Bryan Clauson, Mel Cornett, Kyle Cummins, Larry Dickson, Ed Elisian, Tony Elliott, Aaron Farney, A.J. Foyt, Richard Griffin, Chuck Gurney, Tommy Hinnershitz, Tray House, Chet Johnson, Tony Jones, Doug Kalitta, Frankie Kerr, Steve Kinser, C.J. Leary, Eddie Leavitt, Andy Linden, Bobby Marshman, Charlie Masters, Rusty McClure, James McElreath, Jim McElreath, Jim McWithey, Jan Opperman, Terry Pletch, Larry Rice, Eddie Sachs, Sammy Sessions, Ron Shuman, George Snider, Robbie Stanley, Brad Sweet, Kevin Thomas & Bobby Unser
TERRE HAUTE ACTION TRACK USAC SPRINT CAR WINNERS
1957: Ed Elisian (6/16) & Andy Linden (8/18)
1958: Eddie Sachs (6/22) & Tommy Hinnershitz (8/17)
1959: Don Branson (6/21) & Jim McWithey (8/16)
1960: Don Branson (6/12) & Jim Hurtubise (8/21)
1961: Jim Hurtubise (6/11) & Jim Hurtubise (8/13)
1962: Jim Hurtubise (6/17) & Jim Hurtubise (8/12)
1963: Roger McCluskey (6/16) & Bobby Marshman (8/11)
1964: A.J. Foyt (6/14) & Don Branson (8/9)
1965: Johnny Rutherford (6/13) & Johnny Rutherford (8/15)
1966: Roger McCluskey (6/19), Roger McCluskey (6/19) & Roger McCluskey (9/14)
1967: Bobby Unser (6/11), Greg Weld (6/11), Rollie Beale (8/13) & Greg Weld (9/10)
1968: Gary Bettenhausen (6/16), Larry Dickson (8/11) & Gary Bettenhausen (9/8)
1969: Gary Bettenhausen (8/10) & Gary Bettenhausen (10/19)
1970: Jim McElreath (6/21), Dick Tobias (8/9) & Bruce Walkup (9/13)
1971: George Snider (5/1) & Gary Bettenhausen (8/8)
1972: Bruce Walkup (4/30), Charlie Masters (6/11) & Rollie Beale (8/19)
1973: Joe Saldana (5/5), Mel Cornett (6/9) 7 Sammy Sessions (8/5)
1974: Gary Bettenhausen (4/14) & Sheldon Kinser (8/4)
1975: Pancho Carter (5/4), Joe Saldana (6/1), Gary Bettenhausen (8/3) & Tom Bigelow (9/21)
1976: Jan Opperman (5/1), Tom Bigelow (6/6), Gary Bettenhausen (8/1) & Chuck Gurney (10/31)
1977: James McElreath (5/7), Sheldon Kinser (6/5), Bubby Jones (7/31) & Pancho Carter (9/25)
1978: Dick Tobias (5/6), Billy Cassella (6/4) & Bubby Jones (9/24)
1979: Pancho Carter (5/5), Bubby Jones (5/6), Bubby Jones (6/3), Bubby Jones (8/5) & Bubby Jones (9/23)
1980: Eddie Leavitt (5/3), Steve Chassey (5/4), Joe Saldana (6/29), Rich Vogler (8/3) & Rich Vogler (9/21)
1981: Sheldon Kinser (5/3), Rich Vogler (8/9) & Sheldon Kinser (9/7)
1982: Chet Johnson (5/9), Sheldon Kinser (6/20), Steve Kinser (8/8) & Larry Rice (9/5)
1983: Jack Hewitt (5/8), Rich Vogler (6/19) & Jack Hewitt (8/28)
1984: Rick Hood (6/10) & Steve Butler (8/26)
1985: Ron Shuman (5/5), Rick Hood (6/9) & Rick Hood (8/25)
1986: Rich Vogler (5/4) & Sheldon Kinser (8/3)
1987: Steve Butler (5/3) & Steve Butler (5/23)
1990: Jack Hewitt (7/8)
1991: Jack Hewitt (7/7)
1992: Rusty McClure (7/12) & Cary Faas (10/11)
1993: Dave Darland (5/2) & Robbie Stanley (7/11)
1994: Cary Faas (5/1) & Tray House (7/17)
1995: Jack Hewitt (4/30) & Jack Hewitt (7/16)
1996: Doug Kalitta (5/12), Kevin Thomas (7/12) & Jack Hewitt (10/5)
1997: J.J. Yeley (6/27), J.J. Yeley (7/23) & Jack Hewitt (10/4)
1998: Cary Faas (5/29) & Tony Elliott (8/14)
1999: Tracy Hines (5/8), Tony Jones (6/17), Jerry Coons Jr. (6/18), Frankie Kerr (6/19) & Terry Pletch (7/21)
2000: Jay Drake (6/15), Richard Griffin (6/16), Jay Drake (6/18) & Jay Drake (7/28)
2001: Tracy Hines (5/19), Bud Kaeding (10/20) & Bud Kaeding (10/20)
2002: Jon Stanbrough (5/11), Cory Kruseman (7/27) & J.J. Yeley (10/5)
2003: J.J. Yeley (5/17), Tracy Hines (7/26), J.J. Yeley (8/14 Special Event) & J.J. Yeley (10/4)
2004: Cory Kruseman (5/22), J.J. Yeley (7/24) & Bud Kaeding (9/4)
2005: Levi Jones (7/22), Levi Jones (9/30) & Levi Jones (10/1)
2006: Daron Clayton (10/6) & Daron Clayton (10/7)
2007: Jon Stanbrough (5/19)
2008: Levi Jones (5/22)
2009: Levi Jones (5/21), Brad Sweet (7/15) & Jon Stanbrough (9/12)
2010: Jerry Coons Jr. (5/27), Jon Stanbrough (7/14) & Jon Stanbrough (9/11)
2011: Chris Windom (7/13) & Chris Windom (9/10)
2012: Bud Kaeding (5/24), Daron Clayton (7/18) & Chase Stockon (10/12)
2013: Kevin Thomas Jr. (7/17) & Jerry Coons Jr. (8/31)
2014: Dave Darland (5/21), Bryan Clauson (7/16) & Brady Bacon (9/18)
2015: Aaron Farney (7/15) & Robert Ballou (9/18)
2016: Robert Ballou (5/25), Chase Stockon (7/17) & Chris Windom (10/15)
2017: Chris Windom (9/15) & Kevin Thomas Jr. (10/14)
2018: Tyler Courtney (5/23), Tyler Courtney (7/25) & Brady Bacon (9/14)
2019: Chase Stockon (5/22), Tyler Courtney (7/24) & Justin Grant (9/13)
2020: Chris Windom (7/1), Justin Grant (7/29) & Chris Windom (9/18)
2021: Chris Windom (5/26), Logan Seavey (7/28) & Chris Windom (10/1)
2022: C.J. Leary (5/20) & Robert Ballou (5/22)
2023: Brady Bacon (5/23) & Justin Grant (7/26)
2024: Logan Seavey (5/21) & Brady Bacon (8/1)
2025: Chase Stockon (7/31) & Justin Grant (10/3)
2026: Kyle Cummins (4/12)