In a momentous announcement, 500 Sprint Car Tour officials have revealed that the series will grace Winchester Speedway (located in Winchester, Indiana) for the very first time as a sanctioned body. The last time non-wing pavement sprint cars competed at this renowned track was in 2018, when the reigning Little 500 Winner, Caleb Armstrong, achieved victory. This upcoming event holds a special significance as it will pay homage to the legendary sprint car racer, Tom Bigelow.

Honoring Tom Bigelow - A Racing Icon

Jared Owen, the Series Director of the 500 Sprint Car Tour, expressed his excitement about partnering with Charlie Shaw and his team for the return of sprint cars to the half-mile track. "It is truly special to be able to honor Tom Bigelow in this sprint car return to Winchester. His racing prowess is unparalleled, and his love for Winchester and the track is unmatched. He is also incredibly persistent; I can't recall a single meeting in the past five years where he didn't ask me how we could bring sprint cars back to Winchester!" Owen said.Tom Bigelow, known as the "Mouse" in the racing industry, has had an illustrious career. He has competed in a wide variety of racing cars, ranging from midgets to full-size sprint cars and even national series stock cars and Indycars. Between 1974 and 1982, he participated in nine consecutive Indy 500s. Until recently, he held the second position on the all-time USAC National Sprint Car wins list with 52 total victories. He now ranks third, behind Dave Darland (62) and Brady Bacon (53). In recent years, Bigelow and his wife Judi have made Winchester, Indiana their home, and they remain actively involved in Winchester Speedway, helping new promoters shape the future of this historic speedway.

The Tom Bigelow Winchester Showdown - A Grand Event

The Tom Bigelow Winchester Showdown is scheduled for Sunday, June 29th. This event will feature an increased purse of $7500 for the winning sprint car team and a starting purse of $800. The decision to bring sprint cars back to Winchester Speedway was sparked by the successful return of the 500 Sprint Car Tour to Salem Speedway last season. After ensuring safety and completing track repairs, the series made the choice to bring the Joe James/Pat O'Connor Memorial back to Salem Speedway. The competitive race at Salem Speedway demonstrated that non-wing sprint car racing was ready to take on the challenging task of returning to Winchester Speedway.

Supporting Races on the Racing Card

The Sunday afternoon race with the 500 Sprint Car Tour will not only feature sprint cars but also Modifieds and Thunder Roadsters. This diverse lineup of races adds to the excitement and entertainment value for fans. More information about tickets and the entire 2025 Winchester Speedway Schedule will be made available soon.

The 2025 500 Sprint Car Tour Schedule - A Full Season

The entire 2025 500 Sprint Car Tour schedule will be released on Monday, December 9th. Races will take place from early April to mid-October, offering fans a full season of thrilling sprint car action. The 77th Annual Little 500 will once again be a non-points earning event, maintaining its traditional Memorial Day Weekend slot. For more information on the 500 Sprint Car Tour, visit 500sprintcartour.com and follow the series on social media (Facebook: 500 Sprint Car Tour | Twitter (X): @500SprintTour | Instagram: @500sprintcartour).