Two names synonymous with winning in non-wing sprints since 2005 are the Fox Brothers Racing team and Jon Stanbrough.
With the team working in unison, Stanbrough has picked up National Non-Wing Sprint Car Driver of the Year honors in addition to being named the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans (HARF) Driver of the Year.
When the green flag falls on the 2012, the familiar white and black Foxco/Fatheadz Eyewear No. 53 will be driven regularly by someone other than Stanbrough for the first time since the 2006 season. Well, make that multiple someones.
“We are going to go back to like we did in 2005,” said Brad Fox, who along with brother Steve form the potent Fox Brothers team. “It will be kind of a week-to-week thing with who will be in the car. We plan on running three times a week and have had a lot of interest from a lot of guys who are out there.”
When the team last used the multiple-driver system, the car had a streak of five wins in six races running an abbreviated schedule. The only time the team failed to win, it saw the car finish second. Pretty impressive stats for one of the few teams remaining that is reminiscent of the old days when the car owners were “hands on” in the race-night operations.
Brad Fox noted the change for this season isn’t due to any ill feelings between the team and Stanbrough, but rather a change that might be beneficial for all involved.
“With the team being my brother, Dad [Galen] and I … coupled with USAC traveling more and more, we just couldn’t commit to a solid schedule and that isn’t really fair to our driver,” Brad Fox said. “It takes a whole lot to commit to the full USAC schedule and be competitive. To run the full series we need more cars and a lot more spare parts.
“The way it is now, we build motors all day long, then after work, we work on the race cars and if we tore up a car or blew up a motor, we have to wait until we can get everything put back together before we race again,” he continued.
Since the team formed six seasons ago, it has been arguably the best around, garnering more than 100 feature wins. Looking ahead to this season, Fox noted that there is a short list of drivers the team is considering and that by no means is the team thinking of ceasing to exist.
“We are going to race,” Fox stated. “Like I said, it is just going to be a week-to-week thing. We would like to race three nights a week but there might be instances that we just can’t go race. Racing is still a lot of fun and a lot of hard work, but we have made some great friends at the race track and we look forward to getting to the track each night.”
Sympathies to Hullinger family, friends
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Jim Hullinger, the founder of the Bunker Hill Drag Strip, as the drag racing pioneer passed away Monday at age 86 following a brief illness.
When Hullinger constructed the Bunker Hill Drag Strip in 1956, it was the first permanent drag strip in the state. Hullinger and his family owned and operated the facility until 1997.
Prior to building the drag strip just north of Kokomo, Hullinger was an established shoe at dirt tracks, competing in stock cars and modifieds at the Kokomo Speedway as well as the now-defunct Warsaw Speedway along with other dirt bullrings around the Midwest.
In his career as a track operator, Hullinger designed and built the “Safe-Start” roller platforms to help eliminate the danger of having to push-start drag cars. Following his implementing the platforms, over 40 were installed at tracks around the country.
In addition, he served on the Steering Committee, which paved the way for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) North Central Division E.T. Racing Series. That series is now sponsored by Summit Racing Equipment and the 2012 will mark the 36th year of its existence.
In addition, Hullinger was the first track owner in the country to commit to the Junior Dragster Division for up-and-coming racers between the ages of 8-17.
• Brett Bowman is the Tribune’s lead auto racing columnist. He may be reached by email at brettbowman29@aol.com or through the sports department.
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