INDIANAPOLIS — Charlie Schultz took advantage of a lap-23 double-file restart to capture his second Must See Racing Sprint Car Series presented by Engine Pro triumph Saturday night at the Indianapolis Speedrome.
Winged sprint cars made their second appearance at the fifth-mile track and first in nearly 21 years. Due to the small nature of the track, a 100-lap feature event was presented to a healthy crowd.
Qualifications and qualifying races were held Friday night to set the field for Saturday night’s 100-lap affair. To date, it was the most laps that Must See Racing had contested.
Outside front row starter Adam Biltz got the jump over Dylan Watson and led the first 23 laps before a red flag waved after Anthony McCune rode up over the left front tire of three-time Little 500 champion Jeff Bloom.
When the race resumed, Schultz powered past teammate Biltz for the led on the double-file restart. Schultz began to build a sizeable lead over the next 50 laps.
Joe Liguori, who had initially started the race in the fifth starting position, slowly began to reel Schultz in.
Liguori had caught Schultz in lapped traffic near lap 77 and it appeared it would be Liguori’s only serious shot to challenge for the lead. Schultz was able to dispose of lapped cars quickly, however, and end Liguori’s bid for a win.
Schultz beat Liguori to the finish by .563 seconds, followed by Nolan Allison, Dylan Watson and Biltz.
Schultz became the fourth different winner in as many races to kick off the Must See Racing season.
“The Indianapolis Speedrome is definitely nothing like we normally run with a sprint car,” Schultz explained. “This deal here was like racing midgets indoors at Ft. Wayne or karts at Columbus. I really think that my indoor experience really paid off for me tonight. I was able to hit my marks lap after lap and get into a good rhythm. I was able to distance myself and get through lapped traffic.”
The finish:
Charlie Schultz, Joe Ligouri, Nolan Allison, Dylan Watson, Adam Biltz, Tom Jewell, Jacob Dolinar, Tom Gerem, Todd McQuillan, Anthony Linkenhoker, Jeff Bloom, Anthony McCune, Jimmy McCune, Rick Holley.