JOE SALDANA NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF THE TONY HULMAN CLASSIC
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Terre Haute, Indiana (May 16, 2023)………“To win a feature is something but to win this race is great!”
Those are the words Joe Saldana exclaimed over the PA system after capturing the victory during the 1973 Tony Hulman Classic USAC National Sprint Car feature at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. It’s a triumph that “Lil Joe” ranks as one of his biggest accomplishments in racing.
Fifty years later, his performance still resonates. Honoring the great career and his monumental accomplishment a half-century later, Saldana has been named grand marshal for the 53rd annual running of the Tony Hulman Classic featuring the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship on Tuesday night, May 23, in Terre Haute.
Saldana, who also possesses a 1970 Knoxville Nationals victory as well as two starts at the Indianapolis 500 in 1978-79, credits his Hulman Classic success aboard the Lloyd Weaver-owned No. 14 in front of a national TV audience with jumpstarting his goal of reaching the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“In 1973, I won the Hulman Classic at Terre Haute on ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” Saldana recalled in an interview with Keith Waltz of Speed Sport. “Then in ’76, I won the Hoosier Hundred and all of them were stepping stones to get to the speedway.”
Originally hailing from Nebraska, but later residing in Brownsburg, Indiana, Saldana made 11 career Tony Hulman Classic starts between 1971-84. In addition to winning the 1973 race, Saldana also added a 6th place finish in 1981 and a 10th in 1984 at the event.
The 2000 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee won eight career USAC National Sprint Car features, three of which came at Terre Haute in 1973-75-80. In his illustrious career, he also added two USAC National Midget victories and a pair with the USAC Silver Crown division.
Joe’s son, Joey Saldana, found major success in the sport as well. Joey currently ranks seventh all-time in World of Outlaws Sprint Car wins with 105 and third in career All Star Circuit of Champions victories with 74.
The 53rd annual Tony Hulman Classic on Tuesday night, May 23, is the longest running event on the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship schedule.
This year’s $10,000-to-win, 30-lap main event will once again take place at the half-mile dirt oval located at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds. On-track action will begin with hot laps at 6:30pm Eastern.
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