Series Anderson Little 500 preview

6 WINNERS. 6 ROOKIES AMONG "LITTLE 500" ENTRIES; 61st PAYLESS CLASSIC SLATED SATURDAY NIGHT AT ANDERSON SPEEDWAY

Six former race winners and a half-dozen rookies are among entries for this Saturday night's 61st PayLess "Little 500" Sprint car classic at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. The race continues a tradition dating back to 1949!

Eight-time winner Eric Gordon of Indianapolis, Ind, headlines the list of entries Gordon will seek his record ninth race victory after a multi-car tangle during last year's race ended his 2008 bid. Three-time winner Jeff Bloom of Bangor, Mich. (1972, 1977 and 1991), Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. (1996), Chet Fillip of Speedway, Ind. (1999), Brian Tyler of Mount Pleasant, N.C. (2006) and defending race winner Shane Cottle of Kokomo, Ind. are also entered.

Drivers hoping to crack the 33-car, 3-abreast starting field for the first time include 2008 USAC Rocky Mountain Sprint Car Champ JoJo Helberg of Rohnert Park, Calif., Nick Green of San Jose, Calif., Tom Tolbert of Columbus, Ohio, Shane Hollingsworth of Indianapolis, Ind. and Adam Schuyler and Jim Sheets of Anderson.

Qualifying for the PayLess "Little 500" commences on Thursday and concludes Friday. The race is slated to start at 8 pm Saturday night.

The 500-lap race debuted in 1949 with Sam Skinner winning the inaugural. Forty different drivers have graced victory lane at the quarter-mile paved oval.

Gordon's fist victory came in 1993 and he strung together five straight from 2001-2005. He has started every "Little 500" since 1992 and in addition to his eight wins he has a pair of seconds and a third.

Over $123,000 is up for grabs and Saturday night's race winner will take home more than $25,000!

--USAC--