Auto Racing: 4-Crown up for grabs at Eldora Speedway

Former Piqua resident Justin Grant pulls into Eldora Speedway as the defending sprint car winner at the 4-Crown Nationals. Leaving the same way would certainly help in his bid to capture his first USAC national sprint car points championship.

“You kind of view yourself a little differently,” Grant said of a 4-Crown victory. “You’re strapped in and sometimes you have little moments of self-doubt. When you have that win on your resume you can sit there and tell yourself, ‘You won the 4-Crown. You can do this.’”

»RELATED: Grant wins ‘one of the big ones’ at Eldora

Grant, a California native currently living in Avon, Ind., holds a 70-point lead over fellow Hoosier Chris Windom. It’s a two-car breakaway for the title chase with the next closest driver 153 points behind with nine races remaining.

»RELATED: Grant wins second straight title at Eldora

The 4-Crown Nationals weekend starts Friday with the winged World of Outlaws sprint cars and Eldora stock cars in action. Gates open at 2 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 8. USAC takes over Saturday as all three national divisions – sprint, midget and Silver Crown – run the only time this season at the same track on the same day. The All Star Circuit of Champions also run to make up the event’s fourth crown.

Here are five things to know about the 4-Crown:

Outlaws in action: The World of Outlaws winged sprint car series visits Eldora for the final time this season on Friday. Three-time defending champion Donny Schatz – a driver who Eldora fans both love and love to hate – holds an 88-point lead over Brad Sweet in the points standings. Schatz has dominated the series with 18 victories and if he continues will capture his ninth overall WoO title.

Crown jewel: The 4-Crown arrives Saturday with USAC's three national divisions in action (along with the ASCoC). As of earlier this week, Brady Bacon was the lone driver known to have four rides in all four divisions. He attempts to join Jack Hewitt (1998) as the only driver to win all four features in the same night. The Silver Crown division will decide its champion with the final race on the schedule as Kody Swanson leads Jerry Coons Jr. by 105 points. Four midget car races remain as Spencer Bayston leads Bacon by 60 points and Shane Golobic by 74.

King of the Crown: Troy's Hewitt holds the record for 4-Crown victories with 19 (eight Silver Crown, five sprint, four midget, two modified). His record remains safe for awhile. Dave Darland ranks second in 4-Crown wins with seven. Darland has rides in all three USAC divisions for Saturday.

Undercard action: Anticipate an exciting finish to the Eldora stock car season. Entering the final race four drivers are all within eight points of the lead with Frank Paladino holding a slim margin over Gary Rahe Jr., Donnie Jeschke and Rob Trent. Another two drivers are only 17 points back. … Chad Kemenah is on cruise control in the The All Star Circuit of Champions standings. He holds a 340-point lead over runner-up Ryan Smith. … The racing isn't limited to the big track, either. Little Eldora, located on the northeast corner of the property, expects more than 225 quarter-midget cars for a three-day USAC .25 event that runs Friday through Sunday.

Write on: With all three national divisions on one place, Eldora offers a unique opportunity for fans to meet their favorite drivers. An autograph session will be held in the Fan Zone (located between turns 3-4) starting at 3 p.m. and ending a little before 4 p.m.

About the Author