Carb Night Classic Explained

Race Title:Dave Steele Carb Night Classic
Track Map:Indianapolis Raceway Park-Oval.svg
Series Long:USAC Silver Crown Series
Series Short:Silver Crown
Venue:West 16th Street Speedway (1946-1958)
Kokomo Speedway (1959-1961, 1965-1968)
Indianapolis Speedrome (1962-1964, 1979)
Indiana State Fairgrounds (1972-1973)
Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis (1969- 1971, 1974-1978, 1980-2017)
Location:Brownsburg, Indiana
Coordinates:39.8128°N -86.3408°W
First Race:1946 AAA Midgets
First Series Race:2015
Distance:68.6 miles
Laps:100
Previous Names:Famous Night Before the 500 (1958-1960)
Coca-Cola Night Before the 500 (1979)
Budweiser Night Before the 500 (1989-2000)
Toyota Night Before the 500 (2007)
NOS Energy Drink Night Before the 500 (2010)
Visit Hendricks County Night Before the 500 (2013-2014)
Day Before the 500 (2015)
Carb Night Classic...The Race Before the 500 (2016-17)
Most Wins Driver:Eddie Haddad (4)
Surface:Asphalt
Length Mi:0.686
Turns:4
Record Time:0:19.581
Record Driver:Mark Smith
Record Car:Ralt RT5
Record Team:Ralt of America
Record Year:1989
Record Class:Formula Super Vee

The Dave Steele Carb Night Classic is a United States Auto Club dirt track car race held near Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, which takes place in late May before the Indianapolis 500 at the nearby Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Over its history, the event has been held at several different short tracks in Indiana, but since 1980, it has permanently been hosted at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Indiana. The event has long been considered one of the Indianapolis 500 traditions, along with the Hoosier Hundred and Little 500, which are also held over the same weekend at different venues in Indiana. Over the course of its history, numerous Indy 500 drivers have competed in the Night Before the 500, some winning.

For nearly 70 years, the event was better known as the Night Before the 500 and was traditionally scheduled the night immediately before the Indianapolis 500 and held under-the-lights. From its inception in 1946 through 2014, the event was held as a midget car race. In 2015, the race was switched to the USAC Silver Crown Series and held in the afternoon. In 2016, it was renamed Carb Night Classic and moved to Friday night of the Memorial Day weekend, to avoid conflicting with the Little 500 at Anderson Speedway. In 2018, the race was named after Dave Steele, a former USAC driver killed in a 2017 racing crash.

Various support races have accompanied the Midget main event including stock cars, Formula Super Vee, Formula Ford, and the Mini Indy series. Since 2010 (except in 2017), the Mazda Road to Indy U.S. F2000 and Pro Mazda racing series supported the event. The current name of the event is derived from "Carb Day", the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier in the afternoon. While the two events are not directly linked, they share a long and rich history of co-existence.

History

16th Street Speedway

The first Night Before the 500 event was held in 1946 at 16th Street Speedway (formerly Indianapolis Midget Speedway, and sometimes known as West 16th Street Speedway), a short track that was once located across the street from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The headline event was a double feature of Midget car racing sanctioned by the AAA Contest Board, held the night before the 1946 Indianapolis 500. The features were won by Benny Emerick and Leroy Warriner. The event quickly grew in popularity and prestige, and drew large fields of cars and large crowds.

After doubleheader features in 1946–1947, the event expanded to a tripleheader of features beginning in 1948. The three races were considered entirely separate events, each with their own practice and time trials, and occasionally a consolation race. The first race typically began around 2 p.m., the second race began around 7 p.m., and the third race (sometimes nicknames the "owl" race), began as late as 10 p.m. or even midnight. The racing typically continued well into the overnight hours, ending sometimes after 2 a.m. After the first feature, the grandstands were emptied, and the fans were required to exit the gates. After a brief wait, fans could buy tickets for the second feature, and re-enter. The process repeated after the second feature. Many spectators in attendance watched the races then walked across the street to get in line to wait for the gates to open at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 the following morning.

In the first few years, the event had no official name. In 1954, the first appearance of the traditional moniker appeared, as the race was officially advertised as the "Now Famous - Night Before the 500".

The 1951 races were cancelled, then in 1952-1953 the program was changed to a single 100-lap feature. The tripleheader format returned in 1954. After 1955, AAA withdrew from automobile racing.

1956 - 1978

USAC took over sanctioning of the event beginning in 1956. The popular tripleheader format at 16th Street Speedway was maintained, and used through 1958. However, after the 1958 season, 16th Street Speedway was closed and later demolished. Over the next two decades, the event bounced around between several short tracks in Indiana. Kokomo Speedway, about an hour north of Indianapolis, held the event from 1959 to 1961, then it moved to the Indianapolis Speedrome for 1962–1964. It returned to Kokomo for 1965 to 1968, then moved to Indianapolis Raceway Park beginning in 1969.

In 1956, Shorty Templeman became the first and only driver to sweep all three features of the tripleheader in a single night. Templeman had failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 that year, and pocketed about $1,500 in prize money for the three-race sweep.

By 1959, the doubleheader and tripleheader formats had been mostly abandoned in favor of one longer feature. In addition, support races were filling the docket to improve the show for fans. The event moved to the Indiana State Fairgrounds oval in 1972-1973 and was held as two 50-lap features. But the 1973 Night Before the 500 was plagued by rain, much like the 1973 Indianapolis 500. The Night Before the 500 twin 50-lap Midget races were rained out on Sunday May 27 and initially rescheduled for June 17. However, a scheduling conflict saw the event rescheduled a second time until July 4 and the race was renamed the "Firecracker Fifties." On July 4, the event was cancelled due to heavy rain, and never rescheduled. After that much-maligned event, the Night Before the 500 returned to IRP the following season.

Beginning in 1974, the Indianapolis 500 was permanently moved to Sunday, which meant the Night Before the 500 races were likewise permanently moved to Saturday night each year.

During the period when the "Night Before the 500" was held at Kokomo, the Speedrome, or the Fairgrounds, IRP sometimes also held their own docket of races the same night (and vice versa). But these races were not considered part of the continuous lineage of the traditional "Night Before the 500" classic. When the races were at Kokomo, organizers regularly set up bus service from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to Kokomo (which was about an hour to the north) in an effort to boost attendance.

1979

For 1979, a one-time doubleheader of two separate Midget racing events were scheduled for the same day (Saturday May 26). The first event was held at Indianapolis Raceway Park, a doubleheader of the USAC Midgets and the Formula Super Vee-based Mini Indy Series. The management at IRP decided to move their event to the daytime due to the rising cost of lighting the track. The event was billed as the Volkswagen's Day Before the 500, as the Formula Super Vee cars used Volkswagen engines. Later in the evening, a second USAC Midget event was scheduled across town at the Indianapolis Speedrome, and was held under the traditional name Coca-Cola Night Before the 500. Many USAC Midget drivers were entered for both events. Arrangements were made for the drivers to be transported from one venue to the other by police escort. The first midget event was held as scheduled at IRP, but the Super Vee event was rained out and rescheduled for Sunday evening (May 27) after the conclusion of the Indy 500.[1] Likewise, the "Night Before the 500" midget race at the Speedrome were also rained out, and postponed until Sunday night May 27.

1980 - 2014

In 1980, IRP completed an improvement project which included new lights, and the Night Before the 500 classic was moved back to the facility permanently.[2] In addition to the traditional Midget feature, various support races began being scheduled as part of the evening. Formula Super Vee ran at the oval for five races. Mark Smith won the race in 1989. His fastest lap of 0:19.581 is still the current track record. In 1983, Jeff Andretti won a Formula Ford race.[3] From 2010 to 2016, the Road to Indy U.S. F2000 National Championship and Pro Mazda Championship supported the event.

During the 1980s and 1990s, several future stars of NASCAR and IndyCar headlined the event. Drivers such as Ken Schrader, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Jason Leffler were among those with wins in the midget feature.

2015

Following USAC ceasing sanctioning of paved midget cars, for 2015 the event switched to the USAC Silver Crown Series. In addition, the event was moved up to Saturday afternoon in an effort to boost attendance and give fans a better opportunity to take in the event, without conflicting with the many other events of the busy racing weekend. The name of the event was changed to the Day Before the 500 and was part of four days of USAC events in the area including also the Hulman Classic, the Hoosier Hundred, and the Little 500.[4]

2016 - present

The move to daytime was short-lived, and for 2016, the event was revamped once again. For many years the Night Before the 500 classic was held on the same night and at the same time as the Little 500, splitting fans (and some competitors) between both events.[5] It was decided to move the event permanently to Friday night of Memorial Day weekend. Once again, it would be held under-the-lights, and it was renamed the Carb Night Classic...The Race Before the 500.[6] The name derived from Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the traditional final day of practice for the Indianapolis 500, which was earlier in the afternoon. The move made for four USAC events over four consecutive nights, leading up to the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. The Hulman Classic would be scheduled for Wednesday night, the Hoosier Hundred Thursday night, the Carb Night Classic Friday night, and the Little 500 on Saturday night.

After former winner Dave Steele's death, the track began starting in 2018, to name the event in his memory.[7] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Indianapolis 500 was postponed to August 23, therefore the Carb Night Classic was held on August 21, whereas a revival of the Night Before the 500 race was held on August 22. The sprint and midget races are non-championship, because USAC does not sanction midget or sprint car championship races on pavement. The USAC midgets continued having a non-points race the following editions of the event.

Race winners

AAA Midgets

From its inception in 1946 through 1955, the Night Before the 500 was part of the AAA Midgets championship.

YearDayDateWinnerLocationReport
1946WednesdayMay 29Benny EmerickIndianapolis Midget Speedway [8]
Leroy Warriner
1947ThursdayMay 29Sam HanksIndianapolis Midget Speedway [9] [10]
Ted Duncan
1948SundayMay 30Eddie HaddadIndianapolis Midget Speedway [11]
Eddie Haddad
Johnnie Parsons
1949SundayMay 29Mike O'HalloranWest 16th Street Midget Speedway [12]
Eddie Haddad
Eddie Haddad
1950MondayMay 29Mike NazarukWest 16th Street Midget Speedway [13]
Leroy Warriner
Manuel Ayulo
1951Race cancelled
1952ThursdayMay 29Potsy GoacherWest 16th Street Midget Speedway [14]
1953FridayMay 29Johnnie TolanWest 16th Street Midget Speedway [15]
1954SundayMay 30Potsy GoacherWest 16th Street Midget Speedway [16] [17]
Johnny Kay
Tony Bonadies
1955SundayMay 29Eddie SachsWest 16th Street Midget Speedway
Forrest Parker

USAC Midgets

After AAA withdrew from racing, the Night Before the 500 feature event became part of the USAC Midgets national championship series.

YearDayDateWinnerLocationReport
1956TuesdayMay 29Shorty TemplemanWest 16th Street Midget Speedway [18] [19]
1957Chuck RodeeWest 16th Street Midget Speedway
Len Sutton
1958ThursdayMay 29Mauri Wilson16th Street Speedway [20] [21]
Gene Force
Tony Bonadies
1959FridayMay 29Gene ForceKokomo Speedway[22] [23]
1960SundayMay 29Jimmy DaviesKokomo Speedway[24]
1961MondayMay 29Jimmy DaviesKokomo Speedwayhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/105732817/
1962TuesdayMay 29Indianapolis Speedromehttps://www.newspapers.com/image/106299159/?terms=midget
1963WednesdayMay 29Indianapolis Speedromehttps://www.newspapers.com/image/105139356/?terms=midgethttps://www.newspapers.com/image/105139127/?terms=mel%2Bkenyon
1964FridayMay 29Chuck RodeeIndianapolis Speedrome[25]
1965SundayMay 30Mel KenyonKokomo Speedway
1966SundayMay 29Chuck ArnoldKokomo Speedway
1967MondayMay 29Mike McGreevyKokomo Speedway[26]
1968WednesdayMay 29Rained outKokomo Speedway
1969Bob WenteIndianapolis Raceway Parkhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/12246111/
Henry Pens
1970FridayMay 29Lee KunzmanIndianapolis Raceway Park[27]
1971FridayMay 28Jimmy CaruthersIndianapolis Raceway Park[28]
1972FridayMay 27Tom BigelowIndiana State Fairgrounds[29]
Pancho Carter
1973SundayMay 27*||Rained out|| Indiana State Fairgrounds||align=center||-|1974||Saturday||May 25||Tommy Astone|| Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[30] |-|1975||Saturday||May 24||Bill Engelhart|| Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[31] |-|1976||Saturday||May 29||Bob Wente|| Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[32] [33] |-|1977||Saturday||May 28||Mel Kenyon|| Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[34] [35] |-|1978||Saturday||May 27||Rich Vogler|| Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[36] |-|rowspan=3|1979||Saturday||May 26||Mel Kenyon|| Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[37] |-|Sunday||May 27||Sleepy Tripp|| Indianapolis Speedrome|| align="center" | https://www.newspapers.com/image/10389320/?terms=sleepy%2Btripp%2Bjeff%2Bnuckles|-|Sunday||May 27||Jeff Nuckles|| Indianapolis Speedrome|| align="center" ||-|1980||Saturday||May 24||Mel Kenyon|| Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[38] |-|1981||Saturday||May 23||Mack McClellan|| Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[39] |-|1982||Saturday||July 3*||Greg Leffler||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[40] |-|1983||Saturday||May 28||Ken Schrader||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[41] |-|1984||Saturday||May 26||Steve Lotshaw||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[42] |-|1985||Saturday||May 25||Nick Fornoro, Jr.||Indianapolis Raceway Park||https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12214714/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/12214804/|-|1986||Saturday||May 24||Sam Isenhower||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[43] |-|1987||Saturday||May 23||Nick Fornoro, Jr.||Indianapolis Raceway Park ||align=center|[44] |-|1988||Saturday||May 28||Jack Calabrase||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[45] |-|1989||Saturday||May 27||Jeff Gordon||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[46] [47] |-|1990||Saturday||May 26||Jeff Gordon||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[48] [49] |-|1991||Saturday||May 25||Mike Fedorcak||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[50] [51] |-|1992||Saturday||May 23||Doug Kalitta||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[52] |-|1993||Saturday||May 29||Mike Bliss||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[53] [54] |-|1994||Saturday||May 28||Ted Hines||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[55] [56] |-|1995||Sunday||May 28*||Andy Michner||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[57] |-|1996||Saturday||May 25||Kenneth Nichols||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[58] |-|1997||Saturday||May 24||Ryan Newman||Indianapolis Raceway Park ||align=center|[59] [60] |-|1998||Sunday||May 24*||Dave Steele||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[61] |-|1999||Saturday||May 29||Ryan Newman||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[62] [63] |-|2000||Saturday||May 27||Kasey Kahne||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[64] [65] |-|2001||Sunday||May 27*||Kasey Kahne||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[66] [67] |-|2002||Saturday||May 25||Jason Leffler||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[68] |-|2003||Saturday||May 24||Aaron Fike||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[69] [70] |-|2004||Saturday||May 29||Ron Gregory||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[71] [72] |-|2005||Saturday||May 28||Michael Lewis||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[73] [74] |-|2006||Saturday||May 27||Bobby Santos III||Indianapolis Raceway Park||align=center|[75] |-|2007||Saturday||May 26||Kevin Swindell||O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis||align=center|[76] |-|2008||Saturday||May 24||Bobby East||O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis|||-|2009||Saturday||May 23||Chuck Gurney, Jr.||O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis|||-|2010||Saturday||May 29||Tanner Swanson||O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis||align=center|[77] [78] |-|2011||Saturday||May 29||Darren Hagen||Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis||align=center|[79] [80] |-|2012||Saturday||May 26||Tracy Hines||Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis||align=center|[81] |-|2013||Saturday||May 26||Darren Hagen||Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis||align=center|[82] |-|2014||Saturday||May 24||Tracy Hines||Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis||align=center|[83] |}

USAC Silver Crown Series (Carb Night Classic)

See also: Hoosier Hundred. Beginning in 2015, the headlining event switched to the USAC Silver Crown. The race moved to Friday nights starting in 2016. In 2023, the event took the Hoosier Hundred name, reviving the Hoosier Hundred event after it was cancelled following its 2020 running at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The race length was increased to 146 scheduled laps (100miles).[84]

YearDayDateWinnerSanctionLocationReport
2015SaturdayMay 23Tanner SwansonUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
2016FridayMay 27Tanner SwansonUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis[85]
2017FridayMay 26Kody SwansonUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis[86]
2018FridayMay 25Kody SwansonUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis[87]
2019FridayMay 24Kyle HamiltonUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
2020FridayAugust 21*Tanner SwansonUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis[88]
2021SaturdayMay 29*Kody SwansonUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis[89]
2022FridayMay 27Bobby Santos IIIUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park[90]
2023FridayMay 26Bobby Santos IIIUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
2024SaturdayMay 25*Kody SwansonUSAC Silver CrownLucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

Notes

  • 1973: The twin 50-lap Midget races were rained out on Sunday May 27 and initially rescheduled for June 17. However, a scheduling conflict saw the event rescheduled a second time until July 4 and the race was renamed the "Firecracker Fifties." On July 4, the event was cancelled due to heavy rain, and never rescheduled.
  • 1979: For 1979, a doubleheader of two separate Midget racing events were scheduled for the same day (Saturday May 26). The first event was held at Indianapolis Raceway Park, a doubleheader of the USAC Midgets and the Mini Indy Series. The event was billed as the "Day Before the 500". Later in the evening, a second USAC Midget event was scheduled across town at the Indianapolis Speedrome, and was held under the traditional name "Night Before the 500." Most USAC Midget drivers were entered for both events. The first midget event was held as scheduled at IRP, but the Formula Super Vee event was rained out and rescheduled for Sunday evening May 27 after the Indianapolis 500.
  • 1982: Race rained out on Saturday May 29 and rescheduled for July 3.[91] [92]
  • 1995: Race rained out on Saturday May 27 and rescheduled for Sunday May 28.[93]
  • 1998: Race rained out on Saturday May 23 and rescheduled for Sunday May 24.[94]
  • 2001: Race rained out on Saturday May 26 and rescheduled for Sunday May 27.[95]
  • 2020: Race delayed and rescheduled for August 21 due to COVID-19 pandemic[96]
  • 2021: Race rained out on Friday May 28 and rescheduled for Saturday May 29.
  • 2024: Race rained out on Friday May 24 and rescheduled for Saturday May 25.

Support races

YearWinner
Formula Super Vee
1979 Ken Nichols
1985Mike Hooper
1986
1987E. J. Lenzi
1988Mike Smith
1989Mark Smith
Star Mazda
1997Tony Buffomante[97]
1998Tony Buffomante
Pro Mazda/Pro 2000
2010Conor Daly
2011Connor De Phillippi
2012Connor De Phillippi
2013Matthew Brabham
2014Garett Grist
2015Weiron Tan
2016Patricio O'Ward
2018Parker Thompson
2019Danial Frost
2020Kody Swanson[98]
2021Christian Rasmussen
2022Louis Foster
2023Salvador de Alba
2024Braden Eves
YearWinner
Pro Formula Ford
1983 Jeff Andretti
1984 Steve Ice
Formula Ford 2000
Greg Tracy
1993Clay Collier
1995
1996
2000Aaron Justus
2001Piero Rodarte
2002Tom Dyer
U.S. F2000
Patrick McKenna
Petri Suvanto
Spencer Pigot
Neil Alberico
Aaron Telitz
Jake Eidson
2016Anthony Martin
2018Kyle Kirkwood
2019Cameron Shields
2020Christian Rasmussen
2021Michael d'Orlando
2022Michael d'Orlando
2023Mac Clark
2024Tanner DeFabis
Stock cars
YearWinner
2001Matt Lux (Baby Grands)
2002Danny Trent (Baby Grands)
Keith Tolf (Legacy cars)
2003Danny Trent (Baby Grands)
Chris Tomasik (CARS Super Trucks)
Wes Bullock (CARS late models)
2004Troy Turner (Baby Grands)
Neil McCleland (Legacy cars)
Tommy St. John (CARS Super Trucks)
Tim Ewers (CARS late models)
2005Tom Miller (trucks)
Steve Balir (cars)
2006Joe Hill (trucks)
Stuart Quakenbush (cars)
2007Keith Lyons (trucks)
Quay Gregory (cars)
USA Modifieds
2002 Kyle Jones
2003 Rodney Scott
2004 Mike Stacy
2005 Harold Scott
2006 Bob Curry
2007 Tony Dager
Mid-American Stock Car Series
2017 Dan Gilster

References

]

Notes and References

  1. News: Kenyon Wins USAC Midget Race At IRP. The Indianapolis Star. 22. Newspapers.com. May 27, 1979. July 9, 2017.
  2. News: Midgets Are 'Go' At IRP. The Indianapolis Star. 17. Newspapers.com. May 24, 1980. August 16, 2017.
  3. News: Jeff Andretti wins IRP Pro-Ford event. The Indianapolis Star. 57. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1983. May 9, 2016.
  4. News: New Timetable Greets Indy's "Day Before the 500" Classic. USACracing.com. May 11, 2015. August 17, 2017.
  5. News: Carb Night Classic...The Race Before the 500. Lucas Oil Raceway. August 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170816234834/http://www.lucasoilraceway.com/oval/carb-night-classicthe-race-before-the-500/. August 16, 2017. dead.
  6. News: Carb Night Classic Continues USAC's Memorial Day weekend tradition at Lucas Oil Raceway. USACracing.com. February 26, 2016. August 16, 2017.
  7. Web site: Hoseheads Sprint Car Photos & News.
  8. News: Emerick Winner Of Midget Event. The Indianapolis Star. 15. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1946. July 25, 2017.
  9. News: Get Set for the 500-Mile Race. The Indianapolis Star. 21. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1947. July 25, 2017.
  10. News: Duncan Cops Midget Race. The Indianapolis Star. 15. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1947. July 25, 2017.
  11. News: Offenhausers All-Star Midget Races (1948). The Indianapolis Star. 36. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1948. July 25, 2017.
  12. News: Offenhausers All-Star Midget Races (1949). The Indianapolis Star. 52. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1949. July 25, 2017.
  13. News: Offenhausers Nation's Finest Cars and Drivers. The Indianapolis Star. 15. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1950. July 25, 2017.
  14. News: Goacher Wins Race. The Indianapolis Star. 14. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1950. July 25, 2017.
  15. News: Tolan Captures 100-Lap Feature. The Indianapolis Star. 11. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1953. July 25, 2017.
  16. News: 78 Ready for Midget Carnival. The Indianapolis Star. 57. Newspapers.com. May 23, 1954. July 25, 2017.
  17. News: 16th Street Speedways Now Famous - Night Before the "500". The Indianapolis Star. 45. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1954. July 25, 2017.
  18. News: Midgets Go Today. The Indianapolis Star. 22. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1956. July 27, 2017.
  19. News: Lady Luck's Beam Shines On 500-Winner Flaherty. Bill. Eggert. The Indianapolis Star. 26. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1956. July 27, 2017.
  20. News: Famous Night Before The 500. The Indianapolis Star. 9. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1958. July 27, 2017.
  21. News: Wilson, Force Win Top Midget Races. The Indianapolis Star. 15. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1959. July 27, 2017.
  22. News: Famous Nite Before "500". The Indianapolis Star. 53. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1959. July 28, 2017.
  23. News: Gene Force Winner Of Kokomo Race. The Indianapolis Star. 13. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1959. July 28, 2017.
  24. News: Famous Night Before the "500" Classic. The Indianapolis Star. 50. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1960. July 28, 2017.
  25. News: Rodee Captures Midget Feature. George. Moore. The Indianapolis Star. 20. Newspapers.com. June 27, 1964. July 9, 2017.
  26. News: Midget Racing. The Indianapolis Star. 36. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1967. July 9, 2017.
  27. News: Kunzman Wins In Midget Event. The Indianapolis Star. 67. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1970. July 9, 2017.
  28. News: Caruthers Wins Midget Event; McClung Is 2d. The Indianapolis Star. 46. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1971. July 9, 2017.
  29. News: Bigelow, Carter Cop Twin 50 Victories. Dave. Overpeck. The Indianapolis Star. 41. Newspapers.com. May 27, 1972. July 9, 2017.
  30. News: Astone Captures IRP Midget Race. The Indianapolis Star. 5. Newspapers.com. May 26, 1974. July 9, 2017.
  31. News: Bill Englehart wins IRP Midget Feature. The Indianapolis Star. 34. Newspapers.com. May 25, 1975. July 9, 2017.
  32. News: Wente Wins IRP feature; Astone Is Tripped Up. Robin. Miller. Robin Miller (journalist). The Indianapolis Star. 55. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1976. July 9, 2017.
  33. News: Raceway Results. The Indianapolis Star . 62. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1976. July 9, 2017.
  34. News: Kenyon Winner In Midget Race. The Indianapolis Star. 18. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1977. July 9, 2017.
  35. News: Raceway Park. The Indianapolis Star. 26. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1977. July 9, 2017.
  36. News: Vogler Strikes Again In 'Night Before' Race. The Indianapolis Star. 18. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1978. July 9, 2017.
  37. News: Richhart Hurt In Race Crash. The Indianapolis Star. 36. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1979. July 9, 2017.
  38. News: Kenyon Captures IRP Midget Show. The Indianapolis Star. 30. Newspapers.com. May 25, 1980. July 7, 2017.
  39. News: McClellan cops midget feature. The Indianapolis Star. 65. Newspapers.com. May 24, 1981. July 7, 2017.
  40. News: Leffler triumphs, Kenyon second. The Indianapolis Star. 48. Newspapers.com. July 4, 1982. July 7, 2017.
  41. News: Jeff Andretti wins IRP Pro-Ford event. The Indianapolis Star. 57. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1983. July 7, 2017.
  42. News: IRP Results. The Indianapolis Star. 67. Newspapers.com. May 27, 1984. July 7, 2017.
  43. News: Raceway Park. The Indianapolis Star. 82. Newspapers.com. May 25, 1986. July 8, 2017.
  44. News: IRP Midgets. The Indianapolis Star. 76. Newspapers.com. May 24, 1987. July 8, 2017.
  45. News: USAC Midgets. The Indianapolis Star. 28. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1988. July 8, 2017.
  46. News: Smith, Gordon grab feature wins at IRP. The Indianapolis Star. 18. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1989. July 8, 2017.
  47. News: Raceway Park. The Indianapolis Star. 30. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1989. July 8, 2017.
  48. News: Gordon repeats IRP midget victory. Curt. Cavin. The Indianapolis Star. 48. Newspapers.com. May 27, 1990. July 8, 2017.
  49. News: USAC Midgets. The Indianapolis Star. 61. Newspapers.com. May 27, 1990. July 8, 2017.
  50. News: Fedorack holds on in Night Before 500. Curt. Cavin. The Indianapolis Star. 31. Newspapers.com. May 26, 1991. July 8, 2017.
  51. News: USAC Midgets. The Indianapolis Star. 33. Newspapers.com. May 26, 1991. July 8, 2017.
  52. News: Kalitta finally on of USAC Midgets. Curt. Cavin. The Indianapolis Star. 67. Newspapers.com. May 24, 1992. July 8, 2017.
  53. News: Determined Bliss holds off challengers. Curt. Cavin. The Indianapolis Star. 69. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1993. July 8, 2017.
  54. News: USAC Midgets. The Indianapolis Star. 73. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1993. July 8, 2017.
  55. News: Hines wins some respect with easy victory. Curt. Cavin. The Indianapolis Star. 49. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1994. July 8, 2017.
  56. News: USAC Midgets. The Indianapolis Star. 37. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1994. July 8, 2017.
  57. News: Raceway Park. The Indianapolis Star. 44. Newspapers.com. May 29, 1995. July 8, 2017.
  58. News: USAC. The Indianapolis Star. 52. Newspapers.com. May 26, 1996. July 8, 2017.
  59. News: USAC. The Indianapolis Star. 42. Newspapers.com. May 25, 1997. July 8, 2017.
  60. News: Villeneuve grabs seventh Grand Prix win. The Indianapolis Star. 37. Newspapers.com. May 26, 1997. July 8, 2017.
  61. News: Steele records first Midget win. The Indianapolis Star. 62. Newspapers.com. May 25, 1998. July 8, 2017.
  62. News: Purdue student blazing his own trail at IRP. Phillip B.. Wilson. The Indianapolis Star. 45. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1999. July 8, 2017.
  63. News: Short Track. The Indianapolis Star. 55. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1999. July 8, 2017.
  64. News: Night Before The 500 turns into real winner for Kahne. Phillip B.. Wilson. The Indianapolis Star. 165. Newspapers.com. May 28, 2000. July 8, 2017.
  65. News: Short Tracks. The Indianapolis Star. 46. Newspapers.com. May 28, 2000. July 8, 2017.
  66. News: Kahne repeats as winner at IRP. Jeff. Rabjohns. The Indianapolis Star. 38. Newspapers.com. May 28, 2001. July 11, 2017.
  67. News: Short Tracks. Jeff. Rabjohns. The Indianapolis Star. 41. Newspapers.com. May 28, 2001. July 11, 2017.
  68. News: Short tracks. The Indianapolis Star. 50. Newspapers.com. May 27, 2002. July 11, 2017.
  69. News: Fike leads every lap at IRP for USAC win. Robin. Miller. Robin Miller (journalist). The Indianapolis Star. 43. Newspapers.com. May 25, 2003. July 11, 2017.
  70. News: Auto Racing. The Indianapolis Star. 44. Newspapers.com. May 25, 2003. July 11, 2017.
  71. News: Gregory takes IRP midget race. Tom. Hayes. The Indianapolis Star. 30. Newspapers.com. May 30, 2004. July 11, 2017.
  72. News: Auto Racing. The Indianapolis Star. 39. Newspapers.com. May 30, 2004. July 11, 2017.
  73. News: Noblesville racers provide fans with fantastic finish. Tom. Hayes. The Indianapolis Star. 35. Newspapers.com. May 29, 2005. July 17, 2017.
  74. News: Scoreboard. The Indianapolis Star. 39. Newspapers.com. May 29, 2005. July 17, 2017.
  75. News: Westfield teen proves a hit in midget race. Melissa J.. Phillips. The Indianapolis Star. C6. Newspapers.com. May 28, 2006. July 17, 2017.
  76. News: Son gets the edge over dad. Patrick. Dorsey. The Indianapolis Star. C7. Newspapers.com. May 27, 2007. July 17, 2017.
  77. News: Younger Swanson outruns Clauson (Part 1). Patrick. Dorsey. The Indianapolis Star. C1. Newspapers.com. May 30, 2010. July 17, 2017.
  78. News: Younger Swanson outruns Clauson (Part 2). Patrick. Dorsey. The Indianapolis Star. C6. Newspapers.com. May 30, 2010. July 17, 2017.
  79. News: Rain plagues annual 'Night Before the 500'. Ben. Jones. The Indianapolis Star. C8. Newspapers.com. May 29, 2011. July 20, 2017.
  80. News: USAC Midgets. The Indianapolis Star. C7. Newspapers.com. May 30, 2011. July 20, 2017.
  81. News: Next generation. James. Oldham. The Indianapolis Star. C2. Newspapers.com. May 27, 2012. July 20, 2017.
  82. News: Hagen Wire-to-wire in 68th "Night Before the 500". USACracing.com. May 26, 2013. August 16, 2017.
  83. News: Main event belongs to Hines. Autumn. Allison. The Indianapolis Star. C5. Newspapers.com. May 25, 2014. July 20, 2017.
  84. Web site: Hoosier Hundred Will Return As A Pavement Race In 2023. Brandon. Paul. October 21, 2022. May 25, 2024. floracing.com. FloSports, Inc..
  85. News: Tanner Takes "Carb Night Classic" as Swansons run 1-2 at Lucas Oil Raceway. USAC Racing. May 28, 2016. August 17, 2017.
  86. News: Kody Swanson Seizes the moment; ties Steele for 3rd all-time with Carb Night Classic. Lucas Oil Raceway. Richie. Murray. May 28, 2017. August 16, 2017.
  87. News: Kody Swanson wins 3rd straight in Dave Steele Carb Night Classic. USAC Racing. Richie. Murray. May 26, 2018. July 5, 2018.
  88. Web site: Murray . Richie . Tanner Swanson Stars In Carb Night Classic . Sprint Car & Midget Magazine . August 22, 2020 . August 22, 2020.
  89. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/indy-500/2021/05/29/usac-racing-kody-swanson-silver-crown-midget-feature-lucas-oil-raceway/5249545001/ Kody Swanson claims both USAC Silver Crown and Midget feature wins
  90. Web site: Bobby Santos sweeps USAC Carb Night Classic features at Lucas Oil Raceway. Christopher. DeHarde. May 28, 2022. July 1, 2022. indystar.com. The Indianapolis Star.
  91. News: Rain postpones IRP midget races. The Indianapolis Star. 62. Newspapers.com. May 30, 1982. July 7, 2017.
  92. News: Speedrome, IRP have heavy holiday slates. The Indianapolis Star. 27. Newspapers.com. June 27, 1982. July 7, 2017.
  93. News: IRP Night Before 500 postponed. The Indianapolis Star. 37. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1995. July 8, 2017.
  94. News: Rain halts IRL's Budweiser Night. The Indianapolis Star. 36. Newspapers.com. May 24, 1998. July 8, 2017.
  95. News: Green Holds off Kenseth for win. The Indianapolis Star. 38. Newspapers.com. May 27, 2001. July 11, 2017.
  96. News: DeHarde . Christopher . Kody and Tanner Swanson shine at Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway . August 22, 2020 . . August 22, 2020.
  97. Book: Hungness, Carl. 1997 Indianapolis 500 Yearbook. Carl Hungness Publishing. 1997. 77. 0-915088-80-0.
  98. News: Speed Sport Staff. Kody Swanson Wins In His Indy Pro 2000 Debut . August 22, 2020 . Speed Sport . August 22, 2020.