Fordyce Racing excited for the 70th Pay Less Little 500 presented by UAW-GM
Anderson, Indiana (May 10, 2018): Craig and Jessica Fordyce have entered a car into the Pay Less Little 500 presented by UAW-GM for the second year in a row. They have tabbed United States Auto Club (USAC) standout, CJ Leary to pilot the sprint car for the 2018 race.
The team will be attempting to make the race once again in 2018. Craig a former winged sprint car driver, leads the team. Craig, has been around racing since he was a little kid, racing with his father. He drove in the Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Series (HOSS) and Auto Value Sprint Car Series in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. He stopped driving once his first daughter was born. When he got out of the driver’s seat he still came to the Little 500. “Once racing gets in your blood you always want to do it,” said Craig Fordyce.
Craig returned to racing once all four of his daughters were born. When he got back into racing he team up with Jason Cox and drove a winged Sprint Car. Shortly thereafter he moved away from the winged sprint car racing all together. The Little 500 was still at the forefront of his mind. In 2017, Fordyce decided he would buy a car and put together a program for the Little 500. “We decided to put together a team and asked CJ Leary to drive for us,” explained Fordyce. “I admit when I was first told about CJ, I didn’t know much about him. When I first met with him he wasn’t even able to meet with me in a bar. We had to meet at the local Cracker Barrel.”
The team was able to come together right before the 69th Pay Less Little 500 presented by UAW-GM. The team kind of flew under the radar with other well-known rookies (Tony Stewart and Kenny Schrader) entering the field. They ran a Kercher engine with CJ and his father Chuck making the set-up decisions. The team grabbed everyone’s attention on pole day qualifying. Leary was able to qualify in fourth place ahead of both Tony Stewart and Kenny Schrader. This was a great result since Leary was making his very first pavement sprint car start. The race didn’t end up how they wanted, as an overheating problem forced them out of competition on lap 63.
The team for 2018 is excited to bring back the same core group with additional sponsorship. The sponsorship includes BB Vape, ASC Graphics, Open Door Rentals and Real Estate, Guns by Scotty/HP Customs, and Double Barrell Concessions. “Last year we put the team together, but didn’t have any sponsors,” said Fordyce. “I didn’t even have a trailer to bring the car to the track, so I had to borrow one. This year we have a lot of local companies that have stepped up to help us. We couldn’t be more excited for the race and the support.”
Tickets for the 70th Pay Less Little 500 presented by UAW-GM are on sale today. Tickets continue to sell at a rapid rate, so don’t wait to purchase yours. You can purchase tickets by calling (765) 642-0206 ex.21 or by stopping at the track.
Entry List: 70th Pay Less Little 500 presented by UAW-GM
0 Doug Dietsch Vicksburg, Mich. Dietsch Brothers Racing
1 Davey Hamilton Jr Indianapolis, Ind. Davey Hamilton Racing
2 TBD TBD Jerry Powell TBD
3 Jerry Coons Jr. Tucson, Ariz. Nolen Racing
4 Kody Swanson Kingsburg, Calif. Nolen Racing
4 Shane Cottle Kokomo, Ind. Contos Racing Inc.
4 CJ Leary Greenfield, Ind. Craig and Jessica Fordyce
5 Kyle Hamilton Indianapolis, Ind. Klatt Enterprises Inc.
5g Chris Windom Canton Ill. Goacher Racing
7g Kevin Thomas Jr. Cullman Ala. Goacher Racing
8 Dameron Taylor Indianapolis, Ind. Leon Taylor
8 Chris Neuenschwander New Haven, Ind. Tony Neuenschwander
8 Anthony McCune Sylvania, Ohio Jim McCune
9 Jason Fuller Milford, Ind. Jeff Fuller
11 Tom Paterson Argos, Ind. Tom Patterson
12 Billy Wease Noblesville, Ind. Jerry Powell
18 Travis Welpott Pendleton, Ind. Travis Welpott
20 Shane Hollingsworth Lafayette, Ind. Nolen Racing
22 Johnny Gilbertson Tampa, Fla. Pop N Sons Racing
22 Bobby Santos Franklin, Mass. DJ Racing
26 Jeff Bloom Bangor, Mich. Jeff Bloom Racing
26 Aaron Pierce Daleville, Ind. Sam Pierce Chevrolet
27 Brian Gerster Fishers, Ind. Davis-Gerster Racing
27 Chris Jagger Warsaw, Ind. Chris Jagger
41 TBD TBD Contos Racing Inc.
44 Brian Tyler Mt. Pleasant, N. Car. Contos Racing Inc.
45 Mark Hall New Palestine, Ind. Ronald Hall
55 Tommy Nichols Plant City, Fla. Tommy Nichols Ent. LLC
55 Garrett Green Valrico, Fla Tommy Nichols Ent. LLC
59 Scotty Hampton Morristown, Ind. Jerry Powell
59 John Inman Dover, Fla. John Inman
63 Carlie Yent Tampa, Fla. Charles Yent
68 Mickey Kempgens Tampa, Fla. PCS Racing, Inc.
69 Eric Gordon Fortville, Ind. Hoffman Auto Racing
71 Brian Vaughn Shirley, Ind. Brian Vaughn
74 Tony Main Ridgeville, Ind. Glen and Virginia Main
81 Joey Schmidt Ellisville, Miss. Mike Blake Racing
88 Jimmy McCune Toledo, Ohio Jim McCune
91 Troy De Caire Tampa, Fla. Lenny Puglio