SALEM, Ind. — A familiar rumble returns to the high banks of Salem Speedway this weekend as the historic asphalt oval hosts the 32nd annual Halloween 200 for the Lucas Oil Great American Stock Cars.
An increase in the purse and added incentives for leading laps have a few drivers rethinking their strategies coming into Sunday’s prestigious 200-lap event.
“That’s going to change up how the race is ran. There’s a lot of money to lead laps now, when you can win $4,000 by leading laps it definitely changes the strategy,” said three-time and defending winner Chuck Barnes Jr. “That is not our style to lead every lap because it doesn’t pay anything. But now it does.”
A total of $4,820 was raised by selling lap sponsorships for Sunday’s main event that will now pay $7,500-to-win rather than $5,000 as in previous years.
Chuck Barnes Sr. looks for his eighth Halloween 200 title. The Louisville, Ky., veteran has more career wins at Salem Speedway than any other driver, with 55 victories.
Kentucky driver Brett Hudson has also won the Halloween 200 on four occasions.
Also on the list of repeat winners is Indiana’s Phil Jenkins, who won the event in 1993 and ’95.
Dan Baker has competed in every Halloween 200 since the event’s inception in 1989. The Des Moines, Iowa driver, finished second in last year’s event.
Salem Speedway track champion Brian Bayer looks for his first Halloween 200 victory. Bayer won the Lucas Oil Great American Stock series championship in 2009, ’13, ’17 and this year.
Other notables include four-time track champion David Bayens, who won the Halloween 200 in 2018. Will Kimmel is the 2019 Salem Speedway track champion, but he has yet to win a Halloween 200.
Jeff Chew won the inaugural Halloween 200 in 1989.
The Halloween 200 can be seen live on salemspeedway.tv courtesy of SPEED SPORT Network affiliate Dirt2Media. Sunday’s race is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. green flag.
Halloween 200 Winners
2019 Chuck Barnes Jr.
2018 David Bayens
2017 Chuck Barnes Jr.
2016 Brett Hudson
2015 Blake Hillard
2014 Brett Hudson
2013 Todd Kempf
2012 Brett Hudson
2011 Frank Kimmel II
2010 Brett Hudson
2009 Chuck Barnes
2008 Chuck Barnes
2007 Chuck Barnes
2006 Beau Mitchell
2005 Chuck Barnes
2004 Rich Boyer
2003 Johnny Magee
2002 Chuck Barnes Jr.
2001 Chuck Barnes
2000 Chuck Barnes
1999 Chuck Barnes
1998 Tony Conway
1997 Frank Kimmel
1996 Dwayne Klem
1995 Phil Jenkins
1994 Johnny Baker
1993 Phil Jenkins
1992 Joe Williamson
1991 Wayne Edwards
1990 Dan Banker
1989 Jeff Chew