Strong Field Headlines Second Annual Tom Bigelow Showdown at Winchester Speedway
Strong Field Headlines Second Annual Tom Bigelow Showdown at Winchester Speedway
One of the most prestigious names in Midwest open-wheel racing will once again be honored when the YourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour visits Winchester Speedway on Sunday, June 28, for the second running of the Tom Bigelow Showdown.
Named in honor of racing legend Tom Bigelow, the event pays tribute to one of short track racing’s most accomplished drivers, whose career included numerous starts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, sitting atop the USAC National Sprint Car ranks, and a memorable run in the Indianapolis 500. The inaugural Tom Bigelow Showdown in 2025 was captured by reigning Little 500 champion Kody Swanson, and the Kingsburg, California native returns looking to defend both his Winchester title and his Little 500 crown.
Swanson headlines a strong field of 19 entries assembled for the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour event on the historic high banks of Winchester Speedway. Driving the No. 33 machine for Nick Bohanon, Swanson enters as one of the favorites after adding another Little 500 victory to his legendary resume in May.
Joining Swanson is NASCAR veteran and Indiana native Ryan Newman, who will pilot the No. 39 Ed Martin Ford entry for Ryan Newman Motorsports. Newman has become a familiar face in pavement sprint car competition in recent seasons and will make another appearance on the high-speed half-mile where experience and patience are often rewarded.
Massachusetts standout Bobby Santos III returns aboard the No. 22 DJ Racing machine. Santos, one of the most versatile drivers in short-track racing, is always a threat on pavement and brings years of USAC and modified success to Winchester.
A talented mix of veterans and rising stars rounds out the field. Former USAC Silver Crown winner Davey Hamilton Jr. will compete in the No. 14 for Kirk Morgan Racing, while recent Little 500 Front Row Starter Jackson Macenko returns in the Brad Hayes Racing No. 24. Indiana favorites Donnie Adams Jr., Rob Keesling, Tony McVey, Justin Harper, and Tony Main are among the Hoosier drivers expected to challenge for the victory.
Ohio standouts Olivia Shelbo and Cord Ehrhart, North Carolina's Brady Allum, and Arizona’s Nathan Byrd add additional depth to a field that stretches coast-to-coast.
Byrd, driver of the No. 40 YourBIGplans.com entry for Meyer Auto Research, will represent the title sponsor in pursuit of his first series victory, while Anderson native Colin Grissom, Greenfield racers Tim Creech and Rylan Gray, and Florida's Colton Bettis complete the current entry list.
With Bigelow's legacy serving as the backdrop and a field loaded with proven winners and fan favorites, the second annual Tom Bigelow Showdown promises another thrilling chapter in the history of Winchester Speedway.
Practice and qualifying will set the stage before the green flag waves on the Tom Bigelow Showdown presented by Neal Metal Recycling & Processing on Sunday, June 28, as the stars of the YourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour battle on the world's fastest half-mile.
Tom Bigelow Showdown presented by Neal Metal Recycling & Processing Entry List
00 Colin Grissom Anderson, Indiana
0Z Cord Ehrhart Antwerp, Ohio
1 Dakoda Armstrong New Castle, Indiana
4 Donnie Adams Jr. New Castle, Indiana
8 Olivia Shelbo London, Ohio
14 Davey Hamilton Jr. Boise, Idaho
22 Bobby Santos III Franklin, Massachusetts
24 Jackson Macenko Cincinnati, Ohio
26 Colton Bettis Lutz, Florida
31 Tim Creech Greenfield, Indiana
33 Kody Swanson Kingsburg, California
39 Ryan Newman South Bend, Indiana
40 Nathan Byrd Goodyear, Arizona
42 Rob Keesling Alexandria, Indiana
47 Tony McVey Waldron, Indiana
53 Justin Harper Denver, Indiana
64 Rylan Gray Greenfield, Indiana
74 Tony Main Farmland, Indiana
87 Brady Allum Taylorsville, North Carolina
