This year's Little 500 welcomes back several familiar faces

ANDERSON — For the competitors, fans and track officials, the annual Unified Group Services Little 500 is more than just a race.

“It’s a family reunion,” Jarod Owens, president of Anderson Speedway, said of the annual event. “We get to see fans and competitors we only get to see once a year.”

With an expected list of 38 teams competing for 33 starting spots in the 78th running of the race, the two days of qualifying are critical to competing in the Little 500.

The fastest 15 drivers are locked in during CB Fabricating Pole Day on May 21, with the traditional “bump day” to complete the 33-car field on May 22.

The Unified Group Services race is set for May 23.

“The competition continues to increase,” Owens said. “We are looking at having a very strong field.”

He said there are four former Little 500 winners entered, but added a first-time winner could be crowned as Little 500 champion.

New England driver Jake Trainor has won two of the last three races and is the defending champion.

Kody Swanson has won three races, and on four occasions has set the fast time during qualifying.

Tyler Roahrig has two wins and holds the track record during qualifying of 10.799 seconds for one lap and 43.477 seconds for four laps.

Bobby Santos III has one win and one pole position.

“Swanson looked really strong during the Glen Niebel Classic,” Owens said of the tuneup race for the Little 500. “I think his team has figured things out.”

Owens said Colton Bettis, driving for Aaron Pierce, should contend along with Jackson Macenko and Derek Bischak.

Local drivers competing in the race include Donnie Adams Jr., Colin Grissom, Rob Keesling and Jacob McElfresh.

Owens said there is a chance that Anderson Speedway track champion Josh Poore could attempt to compete in his first Little 500 with the Pierce team.

The field consists of several drivers who could score that elusive first win including Dakoda Armstrong, who was disqualified a year ago after an apparent victory.

Other strong contenders include Kyle O’Gara, coming off a second-place finish last year; Shane Hollingsworth, Ryan Newman, Taylor Ferns, Justin Grant and Billy Wease.

Drivers expected to compete for rookie of the year honors include Mario Clouser, Cord Ehrhart and Chris Schmelzie.