Justin Harper: The Ironman of the 500 Sprint Car Tour
Justin Harper: The Ironman of the 500 Sprint Car Tour
In pavement sprint car racing, where precision and determination collide every race night, few stories stand as tall as that of Justin Harper. The Denver, Indiana native has become known across the Midwest as the Ironman of the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour. A title earned not through championships or headlines, but through something far more meaningful. Since the tour’s inaugural season in 2022, Harper and his family-led operation have started all 35 races in series history.
What makes their streak remarkable is the nature of the team behind it. Harper’s program is powered by a small circle of family and close friends who devote countless hours to keeping their No. 53 sprint car competitive. Their home base is a modest shop in Denver, Indiana. It transforms into a hive of activity in the evenings, long after the workday ends. The atmosphere is equal parts determination and togetherness, the kind of place where racing isn’t just a hobby but a shared mission.
Justin Harper practicing for the 2025 Unified Group Services Little 500 - Jack Kessler Photo
Their resilience was put to the ultimate test following a brutal accident at the championship race in the 2023 season at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The crash left their chassis destroyed, a setback that could have easily ended their perfect attendance streak. Instead, Justin and his father, Tony, chose a path that would define their team’s identity. Over the offseason, in anticipation of the 2024 campaign, they built a brand-new chassis from the ground up.
It was a painstaking process of late nights welding, fabricating, and double-checking every detail. Fellow competitors provided information and the shop lights burned long more than once. But every hour spent was driven by the same goal: to keep the No. 53 on track and keep Justin’s dream alive.
Through it all, Justin and Tony credit the person who makes their racing life possible: Justin’s mom Cheri is the quiet backbone of the operation. The one who supports the travel, the long hours at the shop, and the countless weekends dedicated to sprint car racing. Justin and Tony openly thank her for allowing them to chase this passion, knowing full well the sacrifices she makes behind the scenes.
For Tony, helping his son pursue his dream is one of the greatest joys racing has given him. He loves turning wrenches and solving problems, but above all, he loves being part of Justin’s journey. Helping make decisions that impact performance, working side by side in the shop, and watching his son grow as both a driver and a competitor.
Justin Harper (Right) talking with fellow competitor Jackson Macenko - Jack Kessler Photo
But even Ironman streaks are tested. Late in the 2025 season, the team suffered major engine issues that threatened to end their run of consecutive starts. With the final race looming, they launched a hail-mary thrash to piece together a powerplant just strong enough to go racing. Against all odds, the No. 53 rolled onto the grid, keeping the streak alive and finishing 14th at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Harper’s best finishes in tour competition is a pair of sixth-place runs at Toledo in 2023 and Salem in 2025. It stands as proof of what this small team can accomplish.
As the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour continues to grow, so does the legend of Justin Harper. Thirty-five races. Zero misses. A hand-built chassis. A family that refuses to quit. The Ironman from Denver, Indiana proves that racing isn’t just about horsepower, it’s about heart, perseverance, and the people who make every lap possible.
