Glen Niebel Classic Set to Kick Off 2024 Season
The third season of competition for the 500 Sprint Car Tour begins this Sunday, April 14th with the 24th Running of the Glen Niebel Classic presented by CB Fabricating. It will be the second consecutive season that the Glen Niebel Classic at Anderson Speedway will be the scene of the first race of the season. Although this is the first points race of 2024, many teams will be using the event as a tune up race for the 76th Annual Little 500 presented by UAW on Saturday, May 25th.
In the 2023 edition of the Glen Niebel Classic, Kyle O’Gara dominated the field in a clean 75-lap sweep to claim his first win of the 2023 season. O’Gara went on to have a stellar season, winning a second event at Lorain Raceway Park and finishing third in the points championship. Now a perennial front runner, O’Gara will once again be looking for fortune to be in his favor at Anderson Speedway as he chases his first 500 Sprint Car Tour Championship.
Kyle O’Gara in victory Lane after winning the 2023 Glen Niebel Classic – Rick Kimball Photo
Defending series champion, Tyler Roahrig, will be back with the 500 Sprint Car Tour full time in 2024 to defend his crown. If Roahrig were to repeat as Series Champion, he would become the first multi time champion for the series heading into its third year. Roahrig won three races in 2023 including seven top three finishes. Although Roahrig has struggled at Anderson Speedway in recent visits, the two time Little 500 Champion considers the high banked oval as one of his best tracks and will look to start the season strong with yet another victory in his #56 machine.
Both Billy Wease and Dakoda Armstrong broke through a barrier they had tried to break for many years as both drivers went to victory lane for the first time in 2023. Wease drove to a convincing victory when the series visited Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway for the first sprint car victory of his career. Armstrong went to victory lane at Anderson Speedway to claim the Tony Elliott Classic after a tough battle with Tyler Roahrig and Taylor Ferns. It was his first victory with the 500 Sprint Car Tour and a major confidence boost as he heads into the 2024 season with momentum on his side.
Many new faces will be joining 500 Sprint Car Tour veterans as four Rookie of the Year contenders make their 2024 debut. Brady Allum, Trey Burke, Nathan Byrd, and Timmy Creech will all be in attendance as they not only will be competing for top rookie, but also for a race win. All four drivers have competed with the series on different occasions, but all have committed to the full 2024 season as qualifying rookies.
Other notable entries for the event include: Caleb Armstrong (New Castle, Indiana), Shane Butler (Bushnell, Florida), Travis Welpott (Pendleton, Indiana), Jackson Macenko (Cincinnati, Ohio), Kaylee Bryson (Muskogee, Oklahoma), Chris Jagger (Warsaw, Indiana), Derek Bischak (Angola, Indiana), Justin Harper (Denver, Indiana), Taylor Ferns (Shelby Township, Michigan), Justin Grant (Ione, California), Bobby Santos III (Franklin, Massachusetts), Garrett Saunders (Lakeville, Indiana).
The 2024 500 Sprint Car Tour season will see nine points earning events across a ten race schedule from early April to mid October. The 76th Annual Little 500 will once again be a non-points earning event for the series, filling out the ten race schedule in its traditional Memorial Day Weekend slot. All races, including the 76th Annual Little 500, will be streamed LIVE on DIRTVision. For more information on the 500 Sprint Car Tour visit: 500sprintcartour.com and be sure to follow on social media (Facebook: 500 Sprint Car Tour | Twitter (X): @500SprintTour | Instagram: @500sprintcartour).
Entry List:
1 Dakoda Armstrong New Castle, Indiana C&A Motorsports
7 Caleb Armstrong New Castle, Indiana Randy Neal
8 Olivia Shelbo Columbus, Ohio Kevin Shelbo
18 Shane Butler Bushnell, Florida Shane Butler
18 Travis Welpott Pendleton, Indiana Welpott Racing
24 Jackson Macenko Cincinnati, Ohio Brad Hayes Racing
26 Kaylee Bryson Muskogee, Oklahoma Aaron Pierce
26 Chirs Jagger Warsaw, Indiana Chris Jagger
31 Tim Creech Greenfield, Indiana Tim Creech
40 Nathan Byrd Goodyear, Arizona Legacy Autosport
53 Justin Harper Denver, Indiana TCJ Racing
55 Taylor Ferns Shelby Township, Michigan Taylor Ferns Racing
56 Tyler Roahrig Plymouth, Indiana Tyler Roahrig
64 Trey Burke Alvin, Texas Tom Brewer
67 Kyle O’Gara Camby, Indiana SFH Racing Development
69 Justin Grant Ione, California Dynamics Inc. d.b.a Hoffman Auto Racing
80 Billy Wease Noblesville, Indiana Amanda Wease
87 Brady Allum Taylorsville, North Carolina Gen 3 Motorsports
98 Bobby Santos III Franklin, Massachusetts DJ Racing
99 Garrett Saunders Lakeville, Indiana Brad & Tara Arnstrong
