This week's question:

Name a driver that ran locally as a regular weekly competitor at a northeast asphalt or dirt track that actually got to run (practiced, attempted to qualify or competed) in an Indy 500, or that got to race (any event) at Daytona, anytime after 1970 to the present.

We know back in the 30's - 60's there were quite a few that made their way up from the short track, mostly driving open wheel racers, to get a their chance to run Indy.  We also know that there were a few "locals" that made it to Daytona for the beach events, or eventually to the superspeedway either 1959, or at some point in the 1960's.  The specific question this time around is:

What drivers in the past 53 years (starting in 1970) can you think of that ran regularly at a northeast short track, eventually got a shot at running at Indy, or ran at Daytona since 1970?

I think it is a very, very small # if you don't include the 60's or before.

Let's see what you guys come up with - Remember.... They had to be a northeast short track regular, that got to run at Indy or Daytona after 1970.

Bentley Warren

Joe Gosek

Wally Dallenbach

Jimmy Horton

Brett Hearne

Maynard Troyer

Geoff Bodine

A lot of N.E. modified drivers ran in the 1975 road course race at Daytona.

Ryan Preece. Martin Truex. Stewart Friesen.  Glenn Sullivan.  Yes he did!

The Bodines and Ron Brouchard at Daytona

Jessen at Indy

Gary Balough drove for Pee Wee Griffin and Rahmoc at Daytona (grand national division) in the 80s. I believe Jerry Cook and Richie Evans also competed at Daytona (GN div) in the late 70s, early 80s.  Jimmy Horton ran ARCA (multiple wins) and subbed for Daryll Waltrip at Daytona in the 80s.  Didn't Wally Dallebach compete at Indy in the 70s?  Scott Ely

Tighe Scott at Daytona.

Sean Corr at Daytona (ARCA).

Jack Duffy, Dick Tobias at Daytona (modifieds on road course).

Kenny Brightbill drove the Donlevey car a few times. Taz and Bob Pickell at Daytona. Troyer at Daytona 500 . 

I could be wrong, but I don't think Kenny Brightbill (mentioned above) drove the #90 at Daytona.  Like I said... I could be wrong.  Taz and bob Pickell drove at Daytona, but both were before 1970.

Jan Opperman

I believe that USAC sprint car champion Larry Dickson was a regular at Reading for a season or two back in the 70s, he raced in the Indy 500 several times and in the 1972 Daytona 500.

Chesson at Indy 

balough also billy harvy and brightbil la few races foe jim makar big wreck at dover how jimmy makar became bigger in nascar

I wrote Jessen, when it's actually Chesson. :)

Andy Belmont ran at Daytona, and I believe his brother Kevin did also.

pretty sure Will Cagle had some starts in Lloyd Ruby cars

According to Champcar Stats. Will Cagles starts were all in 1970.  Once in Ruby's backup at Trenton, DNQ, all the rest on dirt.

Jerry Cranmer drove Elmo Langleys car a few times

Magic Shoes Mike McLaughlin ran the Daytona, when he was a Bush series regular - He drove for Cicci-Welliver and others. 

Mike at Syracuse - http://www.3widespicturevault.com/MEL_STETTLER_PIC&VITALS/P11.08.19_CR8_MCL_SYR_1980_MEL_1.htm

Nascar ride - https://www.tradingpaints.com/showroom/pictures/144266/2.jpg?d=1615850383span>

Bill Wimble  Permatex race at daytona

Tom Peck out of McConnellsburg Pennsylvania former late model driver at Hagerstown. Ran the Busch Series, and he raced at Daytona.

Nascar Career 171 races run over 9 years

This is one of those topics that make the cob webs in my head slowly remember.  Ed Farree out of Butler Pa.raced dirt late models and went to run Busch Grand Nationals.

Sacks a Daytona winner -Rand LaJoie 2x BGN champ- Bob Park- Steve Park- . 

Good question - I don't know if he was a weekly competitor at a "ocal track before heading to the big time.  Maybe someone out there will have some additional info.

Steve Krisiloff raced URC sprint cars.

Andy Belmont, Sportsmans, Modifieds, and all the ARCA tracks..Plus the Dash cars before ARCA..

Steve Krisiloff also raced locally with the Sports Car Owners and Drivers Association (SCODA), finished 4th in a feature with that group at Harmony in 1965.

So... We had a lot of names submitted... some that ran weekly before 1970 but not after...  Some that ran at Daytona or Indy before 1970, but not after....  So if we strip it down, the question that was specifically asked was:  What drivers, that ran regularly at a northeast short track, eventually got a shot at running at Indy, or ran at Daytona since 1970?

Here's what I think you guys came up with that met both (ran weekly locally here in the northeast, and got to run at Indy or Daytona after 1970:

Ran Weekly Locally (Northeast), and Ran at Indianapolis since 1970:

Bentley Warren
Joe Gosek
Jan Opperman
Larry Dickson (not sure if he was a local weekly competitor)
Denny Zimmerman
John Andretti
Steve Krisiloff (Ran URC, but not sure if it was after 1970 or not.)

Ran Weekly Locally (Northeast) and Ran at Daytona since 1970:

Jimmy Horton
Brett Hearne
Maynard Troyer
Geoff Bodine
Ryan Preece
Martin Truex
Stewart Friesen
Geoff Bodine
Brett Bodine
Ron Bouchard
Gary Balough
Richie Evans
Jerry Cook
Tighe Scott
Sean Corr
Jack Duffy
Dick Tobias
Andy Belmont
Mike McLaughlin
Jimmy Spencer
Ed Farree
Greg Sachs
Ken Bouchard
Steve Park
Randy Lajoie
Tyler Dipple

Note:  There were some other names submitted that I didn't include in the list above.  Some that I am pretty sure ran Nascar but not Daytona... Some that ran Daytona or Indy but it was before 1970....  Some that did run Indy or Daytona, but I don't think could be considered "regular weekly competitors here locally in the northeast.  I may be wrong about a couple of them, but the list above is what I was pretty confident in, from those that were submitted.

Recap:  I'm sure there are others that we are forgetting/don't know about who meet the criteria of having been a regular weekly competitor at a northeast asphalt or dirttrack, AND got to run at Indianapolis or Daytona since 1970, but as mentioned, when you think of the 100's  (make that 1000's) of drivers who could be considered as being a regular weekly competitor here in the the northeast, who actually got to run at Indy or at Daytona since 1970, it's really a very low amount.

Thank you to those who took the time to respond, and thank you also to those who at least gave it some thought over the past few days, even if you didn't respond, which usually is about 95% of the folks who visit here daily!