Joe Speakman prepares to roll on to the track at Lucas Oil Speedway in Indianapolis to turn in his first laps of 2020. (Photo submitted)
Editor’s note: This story was submitted by Todd Ridgeway. He is auto racing writer and photographer for Area Auto Racing News.
BROWNSBURG (IN) – Richwood native driver Joe Speakman turned his first laps in competition recently at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indiana.
Setting in the shadows of the holy grounds of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil is 5/8 very fast oval, formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP).
It had been almost a decade since non winged pavement Sprint Cars made the rounds at Lucas Oil, but the Indy Summer Nationals all changed that over the past weekend.
Sanctioned by the Must See Racing Series, the race teams would unbolt the wings and put on a thrilling 30-lap feature event as 24 cars would start the event. Speakman would first qualify and then run a heat race.
He would then win the B-Main to transfer into the main event.
Speakman would wheel the No. 72s to a fifteenth place finish. In a field of who’s who in pavement Sprint Car racing this was a very formable respectable finish. Speakman will run the entire series in pursuit of the points final.
His next event will be at Lorain County (OH) Speedway July 13.