ANDERSON, Ind. – A year after suffering an injury to his left hand in an industrial accident, Colin Grissom made the starting field for the 76th running of the Little 500.
Just as has been the case all week pole sitter Emerson Axsom was again the fastest car during the Friday practice session.
He will lead to the green flag Saturday joined by Tyler Roahrig and Dakoda Armstrong on the front row.
Grissom entered a backup car owned by Travis Welpott, putting himself solidly in the 33-car starting field for Saturday’s race.
For Grissom, it was his first time in a pavement sprint car and has experience at Anderson Speedway with the Kenyon Midget Series.
During a practice run, Grissom spun in turn three, making slight contact with the outside retaining wall.
“I’ve been helping Welpott all week, and this morning, he said get the backup car,” Grissom said. “Got the car here and got it already.
“I’ve been watching this race so many years, a hometown kid,” he said.
Grissom said because of his injury in 2023, it sidelined his racing and he wasn’t sure how long it would take to recover.
“I hope tomorrow we have a good day,” he said. “I’ve been trying for a lot of years to find a ride in the Little 500.”
In an unusual happening rookie driver Jerry Kobza withdrew his Thursday qualifying time which had him sitting 33rd in the field and an assured spot in the starting field.
John Inman made the trip to Anderson from Florida after being offered a ride in a back-up car to Scotty Adema.
Inman turned four laps at 72.79 mph, which was not fast enough to make the field.
Kobza found enough speed on his final qualifying attempt to bump Inman from the field with a four-lap average of 74.03 mph.
He said the decision to pull his initial qualifying run was made to make sure the engine was running properly.
“The crew did a great job, but the driver didn’t today,” Kobza said.
“I’m been wanting to come and run this race for many years,” he said. “My dad passed away last year and I wanted to run this race for him. He wanted the car painted yellow.”
Kobza said the team didn’t come to Anderson to start last in the field.
“But we put it in the show,” he said.
STARTING LINEUP:
- Emerson Axsom
- Tyler Roahrig
- Dakota Armstrong
- Logan Seavey
- Jake Trainor
- Davey Hamilton Jr.
- CJ Leary
- Kody Swanson
- Caleb Armstrong
- Billy Wease
- Bobby Santos lll
- Ryan Newman
- Anthony Nocella
- Justin Grant
- Bryan Gossel
- Shane Hollingsworth
- Shane Butler
- Jackson Macenko
- Kyle O’Gara
- Donnie Adams Jr.
- Scott Hampton
- Justin Harper
- Brady Allum
- Travis Welpott
- Tony Main
- Trey Burke
- Garrett Saunders
- Colin Grissom
- Scotty Adema
- Chris Jagger
- Jeff Bloom
- Rob Keesling
- Jerry Kobza
- John Inman