Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, in conjunction with the 500 Sprint Car Tour, has released the event logo for the upcoming 65^th running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial Presented by Hard Truth Distillery and NOS Energy Drink, which will take place on Saturday, September 7^th.

Also racing that day will be the USSA Kenyon Midget Series and the Diesel Boys Race Parts Legends on the ¼ mile inner Salem track. The Midwest Vintage Racecar Club will also be on hand with vintage race cars on display and making laps on the ½ mile.

The Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial is the second longest running pavement sprint car race in the world behind the Little 500.

After traditionally being held at Salem Speedway, with the exception of a few years when the race was held on dirt, the race was held the last two years at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park after not being held in 2021. The race was last held at Salem Speedway in 2020.

The Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial will be sanctioned by the 500 Sprint Car Tour, who sanctioned the event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2022 and 2023. This year’s event marks the return of non-wing Sprint Cars to the historic ½ mile oval. The last non-winged Sprint Car event at Salem was the 2010 Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial that was won by Shane Hmiel and sanctioned by USAC. The event was run with Wing Sprint Cars from 2011 through 2015. The event was then sanctioned by USAC Silver Crown, where Kody Swanson won the event a record five times in a row from 2016 through 2020.

The past winners of this historic event is a who’s who of open wheel racing including Pat O’Connor (When it was just the Joe James Memorial), Eddie Sachs, Bob Sweikert, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Rollie Beale, Gary Bettenhausen, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, Greg Leffler, Rich Vogler, Steve Butler, Jim Keeker, Kenny Irwin Jr., Tony Stewart, Chet Fillip, Dave Steele, Dave Darland, Eric Gordon, Tracy Hines, Brian Tyler, Bryan Clauson and Brian Gerster.

Hines currently holds the non-wing Sprint Car track record at Salem Speedway at a 15.181 set on August 12, 2000.

Pit gates open on Saturday, September 7^th at 12noon, with spectator gates opening at 3pm. Practice will begin at 3pm, with qualifying set to begin at 6pm. The racing action begins at 7pm. There will be an open practice on Friday, September 6^th from 5 to 8pm, grandstands seating will be free of charge to watch the open practice on Friday.  

Advanced tickets are now on sale for the 65th running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial Presented by Hard Truth Distillery and NOS Energy Drink through the Salem Speedway website at www.salemspeedway.com or by calling the track office at 866 2GO-RACE. General Admission tickets are $25, chair back seat tickets are $30, kids’ tickets for ages 12 to 6 are $5, kids 5 and under are free.

More information on Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery and the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial is available on the track’s website and via social media on Facebook and Twitter (X).

More information on the 500 Sprint Car Tour 2024 season can be found online at 500SprintCarTour.com and via social media on Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram.

As part of the Indianapolis Colts High School Football Tour, Salem High School will be the final stop on Friday, October 18 with activities 90 minutes before the kickoff of the Lions vs. West Washington Senators game at 7p. 

Hellas Construction recently installed new turf at the Colts Stadium in Indianapolis and the first high school turf in Indiana – on the Jim Ralston Field at Salem, which was dedicated with a Friday night ceremony on August 9. 

The 2024 Friday Night Football Tour, presented by Hellas Construction and sponsored in part by Certor Sports and Indiana University.

Hellas is a premier sports services company committed to delivering superior solutions to communities and institutions across the United States.

By providing innovative products and services, Hellas has earned a reputation as a preferred partner for K-12, collegiate, and professional sports teams.

Hellas has proudly served renowned organizations such as the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers.

The festivities and the game will be broadcast on WSLM 97.9 FM, which is the official  Kentuckiana Indianapolis Colts radio affiliate. 

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Force Construction Company plans to begin a bridge rehabilitation project on U.S. 50 over Sandy Creek on on or after Tuesday, August 20, in Jackson County.

Work will take place on U.S. 50 just west of Seymour between North County Road 400 East and North County Road 475 East and is expected to be complete by late October, weather permitting.

Temporary traffic signals will be utilized while work is in progress. Signage will be placed in the area prior to the start of construction.

The work currently taking place on U.S. 50 over Heddy Run is expected to be complete in late August.

This work is part of a $2.2 million contract awarded to Force Construction in January 2024. INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution and avoid distractions when traveling in and near work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.