Superstars Clash in Indy. Francis Jr Scores The Victory.

Have you ever wanted to see some legends of motorsports compete against each other on some of the best short tracks and dirt tracks in America every Saturday night during the summer? Let me introduce you to the Superstar Racing Experience, otherwise known as the SRX. It’s the modern-day version of the International Race of Champions (IROC) and so far these stars have made some fireworks on the track. The 4th race takes us to the Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. A track with a lot of history where legends like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart got their starts. Many of these drivers have either never ran here or haven’t in a long time. I was in attendance for the event for what was a picture-perfect Saturday evening for auto racing in general.

Heats one and two will be 12 minutes long to set the stage for a 76 lap feature. The feature is 76 laps to celebrate the 4th of July. Bobby Santos III is entered as the local superstar for the race. Scott Speed and Michael Waltrip line up on the front row to begin Heat one in Indy. Ernie Francis Jr was one that was on the move in Heat 1, getting around Paul Tracy and Bill Elliott. A yellow did come out for a green flag lap limit. Scott Speed led the way so far with Michael Waltrip 2nd and Tony Kanaan 3rd. On the restart, Kannan worked to 2nd while Tony Stewart put on a clinic to hold off Bobby Labonte and Bobby Santos III for 4th. Scott Speed went on to win Heat one. 

Heat 1 Top 5:

1. Scott Speed 
2. Tony Kanaan
3. Michael Waltrip 
4. Tony Stewart 
5. Bobby Santos III

There was an invert for Heat two. This will put two drivers who’ve had some beef in the SRX, Willy T Ribbs, and Paul Tracy, on the front row for Heat two, followed by Bill Elliott and Indy 500 winner, Helio Castroneves. Tracy was able to lead the opening laps but eventually, the crowd went wild as the four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Helio Castroneves, took the lead. Ernie Francis Jr also ended up passing Tracy for 2nd while Willy T Ribbs dropped back. Tony Stewart worked his way up the field to 4th and his chances at a good starting position were looking good. After a caution for the green flag limit, Francis Jr and Castroneves lead the field to a double-file restart with Tracy and Stewart behind them. Tony Stewart worked his way past Francis Jr and on the last lap was passed by his old Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Bobby Labonte for 2nd as Castroneves held on for the victory in Heat two. 

Heat 2 Top 5:

1. Helio Castroneves 
2. Bobby Labonte 
3. Tony Stewart 
4. Ernie Francis Jr
5. Marco Andretti 

After both heats, the drivers came down pit road for a 15-minute work session before the feature race. The starting field for the feature race is based on average finish from both heat races, thus giving Tony Stewart the pole. Scott Speed will start 2nd, Bobby Labonte 3rd and Castroneves 4th. 

Scott Speed led lap one, but the man on the move was Ernie Francis Jr as he climbed his way up and took the lead from Speed. Stewart starts to drop a bit and by lap 20 the fastest three looked to be Francis, Speed and Castroneves. Behind them was like watching a battle for position in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, with Labonte and Waltrip passing Stewart. As for Stewart, he began to drop back, losing sight for the top five. Caution came out on lap 25 via a green flag limit. Ernie Francis Jr continued to lead after the restart as Bobby Labonte worked to 3rd and Santos got by Stewart for 6th. 

Lap 48 would bring out another caution, once again green flag limit. So far a clean race with a few fenders being rustled. Francis has led most of the race at this point. On the next restart on lap 53, the leaders just about went three-wide but Francis was able to hang on, Speed in 2nd, and Labonte and Castroneves fight for 3rd. Marco Andretti meanwhile has quietly worked his way to 6th. The caution comes out with about 10 laps left in the feature and potential fireworks could ignite at Lucas Oil Raceway Park. Scott Speed took off at the restart on lap 69 and one lap later Tony Kanaan went spinning to bring out the first incident caution of the race. Francis and Speed line up side by side again and they fought for a few laps, not giving an inch until they were beating and banging enough to send Speed into the wall and fall out of contention as Francis pulled away. Back in the pack, Bobby Santos had enough of Paul Tracy and turned him in turn two! Tracy almost got drilled by Willy T Ribbs as well, setting up for a green-white-checkered finish. During that caution, Helio Castroneves turned Scott Speed which ended up in those two having a confrontation at the end of the race. Castroneves had heavy damage. Labonte gave it his all but Ernie had the edge and Ernie Francis Jr would go on to win the SRX Event in Indianapolis!

Francis said in victory lane, “I’m totally speechless. This is incredible. Those last 10-15 laps felt like it was an eternity out there.” That was then followed by a congratulations by Paul Tracy.

Final Results:

1. Ernie Francis Jr
2. Bobby Labonte
3. Scott Speed
4. Marco Andretti 
5. Bobby Santos III 
6. Michael Waltrip 
7. Tony Stewart 
8. Paul Tracy
9. Helio Castroneves 
10. Tony Kanaan 
11. Willy T Ribbs 
12. Bill Elliott 

After this race, Tony Stewart holds a 30 point lead over Ernie Francis Jr for the SRX Championship. Helio Castroneves is third in the standings, back by 40 points. The SRX heads next to Slinger Speedway on Saturday July 10th, then the season concludes July 17th at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Both races will be aired on CBS.