7/28/2025
Bloomington Speedway
Sheldon Kinser Memorial Flashback: 1997 Darland Takes a Thriller
August 29, 1997
The roster for this race makes one appreciate what a classic era it was for Indiana sprint car fans. Defending race winner Kevin Thomas, racing for owner Dick Newkirk jumped to the lead from outside the front row and was immediately pressured by the always exciting Derek Davidson. Meanwhile Dave Darland, behind the wheel of his father's Competition Welding car was on the move.
Derek, who sometimes drove a sprint car on three wheels would bicycle over the cushion on the eighth lap - but he wasn't done. Robbie Rice would also bring the action to a halt when he caught an infield tire and went end over end. The battle that was about to unfold will go down as a classic. For a dozen glorious laps Darland and Thomas went wheel to wheel with the crowd going crazy. Two professionals at the top of their game. Finally with five laps to go Thomas, planted on the bottom was bottled up in traffic allowing Darland to break free. Tracy Hines still early in his sprint car career was third, and many were amazed that Davidson had fought all the way back to 4th.
The victory was worth $3,000 plus and additional $1,600 in lap money sponsored by the Rich Vogler Scholarship Fund.
In victory lane Darland said "The track was in perfect shape, For us to be able to race side by side like that it had to be perfect."
A side note. Denny Campbell took his fifth street stock feature of the year on this evening and in so doing took the Central Indiana Street Stock Championship for a second straight year.
John Mahoney photos of Darland, Thomas, Hines and Davison
Article Credit: Patrick Sullivan
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