Top Storylines Heading into the Anderson Speedway
Top Storylines Heading into the Anderson Speedway
By: Kelland Sloan - yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour Media
The yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour hits its finishing stretch of the 2026 season as it heads to Anderson Speedway for the 11th Annual Tony Elliott Classic presented by CB Fabricating.
Four Former Tony Elliott Winners Highlight Competitive Field
In the past decade of contesting the Tony Elliott Classic at Anderson Speedway, only five drivers have been able to capture victory. Four of those five drivers will be in competition this Saturday for the 11th edition of the event presented by CB Fabricating. Dakoda Armstrong, Tyler Roahrig, Bobby Santos III, and Kody Swanson have all gone to victory lane in the Tony Elliott Classic in the past. Roahrig has the most Classic victories with four wins under his belt. Armstrong and Santos III both have two victories with Amrstrong winning his in consecutive years from 2023 to 2024. Swanson has one victory which came back in 2016. However, Swanson already has two victories at Anderson in 2026 including a Little 500 victory back in May. He, along with the other three former winners, will be ones to watch this weekend.
Exciting Stretch to finish 2026 Tour
Weather has played a major role in the 2026 season so far, causing reschedules and cancellations. Now, the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour officially reaches its final push to the season championship. Beginning this Saturday at Anderson Speedway, the Tour will see three races over the next four weeks. Following the Tony Elliott Classic at Anderson Speedway, the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour will make a trip to Toledo Speedway on Saturday, October 3rd. The event will be a makeup date from the previously scheduled event which was rained out in June. At Toledo the Tour will join the USAC Silver Crown series in a rare open wheel pairing. The series will then wrap up the season and crown its 2026 champion at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday, October 17th. Kody Swanson currently leads the championship standings and will be looking to win his third series championship and first since 2024.
Bobby Santos III being introduced to the crowd at Toledo Speedway in 2025 - Rick Kimball
Neuenschwander teams up with Ted Slinkard Racing
A familiar car will make its return to Anderson Speedway this weekend, but it will be with a different familiar face behind the wheel. The #96 Unified Group Services machine owned by Ted Slinkard will make its first yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour Start since the Little 500 back in May, and will have New Haven, Indiana native Chris Neuenschwander at the helm. Mario Clouser most recently piloted the car to a fifth place finish in the Little 500 with former driver, Scott Hampton, acting as crew chief. Hampton will be back as crew chief for the Tony Elliott Classic as Neuenschwander takes over the controls. Clouser had previous commitments with the USAC Silver Crown Series at Eldora.
The start will be Neuenschwander’s first of the 2026 yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour season. He has six total starts with the series over the past five seasons, and most recently competed in the 2025 Tony Elliott Classic when he finished fifth. He notably qualified on pole position for the 2024 edition of the Tony Elliott Classic before pulling off only 21 laps into the 100 lap event. Neuenschwander's has a career best Little 500 finish of 6th in 2014 and qualified on the front row in 2016. He will look to showcase his raw speed again this weekend in a car that has proven it is capable of running up front.
Swanson 2/2 at Anderson in 2026, can it become 3/3
Kody Swanson has been the driver to beat in 2026 thus far. Swanson has two points earning victories this season at Anderson Speedway and at Salem Speedway. Swanson also has a non points earning victory as he claimed the 2026 Little 500 back in May. Currently leading the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour Championship points, Swanson will be looking to win his third 2026 victory at Anderson in as many tries. This time, however, he will be behind a different wheel than he was for the first two events.
Kody Swanson in victory lane after winning his 4th Little 500 at Anderson Speedway - Rick Kimball Photo
Swanson began the 2026 season driving for Doran Enterprises, the team he won his first 500 Sprint Car Tour Championship with. The plan was simple, run together in April to get ready for May. The plan worked. Swanson went on to win the opening race at Anderson Speedway before going on to claim his fourth Little 500 crown. Now, he hops behind the familiar Nick Bohanon #33 machine to finish out the championship. Swanson and Bohanon won the 2024 series championship together in their first year and have been together ever since. He will look to extend his championship lead while also sweeping the 2026 races at Anderson Speedway.
Corn Fed, Harvest season, Racing, Coolest Drivers Suit in Racing
Fashion is not just for the red carpet and the runway, it is also for the straightaway and finish line. Dakoda Armstrong will no doubt be the most fashionable driver on the grid this weekend as he continues to showcase his new driver suit. Coming from a farming family and living in a farming town, there is no question that farm life is deeply ingrained in Armstrong. This harvest season, in partnership with main sponsor Meristem, Armstrong has been sporting a corn field themed driver suit that is sure to stand out from the crowd. Be on the lookout for one of the coolest suits in all of racing as Armstrong and his bright blue, green, and yellow suit will be looking to claim his third Tony Elliott Classic victory.
Dakoda Armstrong sporting his new Radical Race Gear Corn Fed Drivers Suit
Race Info
The 11th annual Tony Elliott Classic presented by CB Fabricating will feature the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour, USSA Kenyon Midgets and Front Wheel Drives. The 500 Sprint Car Tour will headline the evening with a 100-lap battle around Anderson Speedway, while the USSA Kenyon Midgets will crown their 2026 champion following a 75 lap event and the Front Wheel Drives will compete in the Inaugural Harvest 50. Pit gates open at 12:30 p.m., front gates open at 2:30 p.m., and racing is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $18 for adults, $5 for children ages 6–12, and free for children five and under. Fans can purchase tickets online at Andersonspeedway.com and are encouraged to arrive early to catch practice and qualifying action before the feature racing begins.
