April 20th was opening night for the Bloomington Speedway, but it also proved to be chance for all the top USAC sprint car teams in Indiana to get in a warm-up race before the National season starts. Fifty-seven cars and a stellar field of drivers showed up for the event.

Chad had his work cut out for him as he had never seen the track before and was racing against the best drivers in the nation. In qualifying, Kevin Swindell in the Kasey Kahne sprint car set the pace at 10.88, but Chad was close behind at 11.08, good enough for 6th fast time. It was an outstanding performance considering Chad’s limited time on the track.

Chad lined up 6th in the first heat and raced hard at the drop of the green flag. A heavy track made passing difficult, and Chad ended in the 6th position, moving him to the B-main. Chad started 4th and finished 5th in the B, moving him to the A main.

By virtue of his 6th fast time, Chad started on the pole position for the main and brought the field down to the green flag. Outside starter Chris Windom got the jump at the green followed by 2-time 2007 USAC winner Ricky Stenhouse on the outside with Chad falling into 3rd position. The Bloomington Speedway was fast, tacky, and rough, and Chad was getting experience racing with the best in the business. Chad raced hard with former USAC champ Dave Darland, Tracey Hines, Jon Stanbrough, Levi Jones and Dustin Morgan before settling for 7th at the checkered flag. Dave Darland took the victory, but it was a great drive for Chad in his first race in Indiana.

“It was great to get to race with these guys, and I learned a lot tonight. I think these laps will really help when we come back here to race in May,” Chad said after the race