NOBELSVILLE, Ind. – There once was a man named Dickson — Larry, to be precise — who set the record for all-time wins in USAC National Sprint Car Series competition. The number was 35, set in 1972. When his brilliant career was finished, Dickson owned 45 victories.
Along came a man named Bigelow — Tom, that is — who pushed the all-time wins number to 52 in 1981. That record stood for 33 years.
Enter a man named Darland — Dave, of course — who pushed the all-time win number to 62, his most recent victory coming in 2018.
Today, a man named Bacon — Brady, you know — stands poised not only to break Darland’s record, but raise the all-time win number significantly.
One can’t help but contemplate the possibilities and the vast runway in front of Bacon as he is in the prime years of his impressive career.
The “Macho Man” tied Bigelow with USAC win No. 52 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sept. 7, and then took sole possession of the runner-up spot with his 53rd career victory Sept. 16 at Tri-State Speedway.
In a delicious bit of irony, Bacon lives not far from Bigelow in Randolph County, Ind. If he hasn’t already, the classy Bigelow will be among the first to shake Bacon’s hand and congratulate his accomplishment.
Here’s a bit of context: Bigelow was 41 years old when he reached the 52-win mark in 1981. Darland was 47 years old when he hit 52 wins in 2014. The 33-year-old Bacon looks like a kid in comparison.
Bacon has added seven USAC National Sprint Car Series victories to his tally this season and is in the middle of a tight points race with Justin Grant. Bacon is a four-time USAC sprint car champion, looking to tie all-time leader Levi Jones with five titles.
Over the past few seasons Bacon has been a model of consistency, boosting his win total with six in 2022; five in 2021; six in 2020; six in 2019; and four in 2018. He is a winning machine and by all indications he isn’t done yet with a handful of races remaining this year.
Bigelow’s mark of 52 endured for so long that it seemed as though it would stand forever. But Bacon, among a younger group that now reigns over the sport, stands ready to rewrite the USAC record book in a big way before he is finished.
Of course … anything can happen. They don’t count ’em until you do ’em, and history is filled with shoulda-woulda-coulda. Still, the scenario is impossible to ignore. Bacon is alone in second place with 53 wins, and might not yet have reached his peak years.
His trajectory is impressive, to say the least.
A key factor here is Bacon’s steady personality. He is calm, rational and has proven more than capable of cultivating productive and lasting relationships with car owners and sponsors.
On the flip side, he isn’t afraid to be controversial. The sparks that fly between Bacon and Robert Ballou add some spice to the USAC scene. Bacon is also a good showman, with provocative T-shirts and a good social media presence.
Bacon also maintains a strong interest in racing history. His Union City, Ohio, shop is located alongside the D&R Racing Museum, maintained by Lawrence “Sham” Kiser. Bacon and Kiser have a close friendship and when Sham begins one of his stories of local racing heritage, Bacon pays close attention.
From a personal perspective, Bacon’s rise to greatness has provided an excellent reminder that with the passing of time, things change. As great as they might be, people come and go. Around the corner a new generation always awaits, ready to push the list of accomplishments to the next level.
I caught the tail end of Dickson’s greatness and can assure you, he was a giant. I watched Bigelow in all his glory and can attest to his titanic skill. The whole of Darland’s career has played out before my eyes, and he embodies what a champion is all about.
And now, here stands Brady Bacon, in a position to establish himself as the all-time great in USAC National Sprint Car Series competition.
Rock on, Macho Man. You’re on one heck of a journey. This is fun to watch.
This story appeared in the Sept 27, 2023 edition of the SPEED SPORT Insider.
