Indianapolis 500 Winner Parnelli Jones Passes Away at Age 90
Racing legend Parnelli Jones has at the age of 90. Born in 1933 in Texarkana, Ark., Rufus Parnell “Parnelli” Jones was a legendary driver and team owner known for competing in many types of vehicles including IndyCars. A representative of Borg Warner confirmed Jones’ death Tuesday night. Jones won the 47th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1963 and famously broke down while in the lead in 1967. During his time as a team owner, Parnelli won the 1970 and 1971 races with driver Al Unser. At the time of his death, Jones was the oldest living winner of the Indy 500. Outside of the 500, Jones was known for other accomplishments in the racing world such as becoming the first driver to ever qualify over 150 miles per hour in 1962 and participating in the Baja 1000 race. He raced IndyCars, midget cars, stock cars, sprint cars, ORVs and more during his career.
Roger Penske released the following statement Tuesday night following the death of Parnelli Jones: “The racing world has lost a great competitor and a true champion. Parnelli Jones was one of the most accomplished racers in history, and his determination and will to win made him one of the toughest competitors I have ever seen. From racing against him on track to competing against him as a fellow team owner, I always respected Parnelli’s passion and commitment to the sport he loved. I was proud to call Parnelli a good friend for many years, and our thoughts are with his family as we remember one of the true legends of motorsports.”
IMS President J. Douglas Boles also praised Parnelli’s racing legacy, calling him a “total icon.” “In over 115 years of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there have been many iconic moments and a handful of iconic drivers. Parnelli Jones was a total icon, both for his driving skill and the magical moments he created in the Indianapolis 500. He will always be known for his speed, talent and fearless approach, and for his personal demeanor and character. The first to officially break 150 mph at Indy, he also will be remembered for driving the famed STP turbine to near-victory in 1967 and as the winning Indy 500 owner in 1970 and 1971. His fingerprints on our sport go well beyond the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A winner in virtually everything on wheels including USAC, NASCAR and off-road racing, he is truly one of the most versatile competitors the sport has ever seen. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Indiana University Football lands Tennessee Defensive Lineman Jhrevious Hall for 2025
Class of 2025 defensive lineman Jhrevious Hall has committed to Indiana football, as he announced Tuesday on social media. The Columbia, Tenn. native was part of the large group of recruits who visited Bloomington over the weekend. He chose the Hoosiers over other Power Four offers from Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Missouri, and Tennessee. On his X page, Hall reported 82 tackles, 13 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown for his 2023 junior season. Playing for Columbia Central H.S., he was the Region 5, 5A Defensive Lineman of the Year. Hall is IU’s 11th player in the class of 2025, and the first defensive lineman. The 6-foot-2, 270-pound lineman is rated a 3-star prospect by 247Sports Composite. He’s ranked the No. 82 defensive lineman in the class and the No. 23 overall prospect out of Tennessee.
Indiana University Wrestling announces the Signing of Logan Frazier
Indiana Wrestling head coach Angel Escobedo has announced the signing of transfer Logan Frazier to the program. Frazier redshirted the 2023-24 season at Virginia Tech and will have four years of eligibility at Indiana. At Virginia Tech, Frazier posted a 10-7 record with three wins by pin and one by tech fall while wrestling at 133 lbs. Virginia Tech finished in seventh place at the 2024 NCAA Championships with 64 team points.
Frazier, a Crown Point, Ind. native will return to his home state by competing for the Hoosiers. He will also reunite with high school teammates in current Hoosier Anthony Bahl and incoming freshman Sam Goin. In their time together at Crown Point High School, the team won three state championships, including going back-to-back in 2022 and 2023. Frazier was a four-time state placer in high school, including winning an individual state title at 126 lbs. in 2022 while taking third in 2023 and 2020, as well as second in 2021.
Indiana University Men’s Tennis adds Jip van Assendelft to its roster
Indiana Men’s Tennis Head Coach Jeremy Wurtzman has announced the signing of Jip van Assendelft to the team. Van Assendelft, a transfer from Boise State, will enter his junior year when he arrives in Bloomington this fall. The Nederweert, Netherlands native went 21-20 in singles play and 16-18 in doubles in the 2023-24 season, primarily playing at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles. Throughout the season, he posted season-high ITA rankings of No. 79 in singles and No. 31 in doubles.
Van Assendelft’s strong play helped lead Boise State to a 20-11 season, a Mountain West Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. The Broncos defeated San Diego State, 4-1, for back-to-back Mountain West titles before losing to Arizona in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Van Assendelft was also selected for the NCAA National Championships as him and teammate Sam Sippel competed in the NCAA Doubles Championship. Prior to Boise State, van Assendelft spent his freshman season at Oklahoma. He tallied a 5-5 record in singles and went 3-1 in doubles in the 2022-23 season. In the fall, he collected two wins at the ITA All-American Championships.
Indy Fuel announce 2024-2025 regular season schedule
The Indy Fuel announced Monday their full 72-game schedule for the 2024–25 campaign, which is the franchise’s first season at the newly built Fishers Event Center and eleventh season overall. The Fuel will open their eleventh season at home on Friday, Dec. 6 against their Central division rivals, the Iowa Heartlanders. The regular season will close on Sunday, April 13, 2025, after their final regular season game visiting the Toledo Walleye. Indy will play 36 home games at the Fishers Event Center and visit opponents in twelve cities during their 36 games on the road. With the late start to the home season, the Fuel will play 22 of their first 36 games on the road. That includes a stretch of 15 road games to begin the season. Following the All-Star break, the Fuel will play 22 games at home including two 3-in-3 weekends where they host five different teams, spanning two weekends in March.
Forty-five of Indy’s 72 games will be played against familiar Central Division rivals. The Fuel will play 11 games versus the Fort Wayne Komets (six home), 11 versus the Kalamazoo Wings (five home), 6 against the Cincinnati Cyclones (two home), 7 against the Bloomington Bison (three home), 6 versus the Iowa Heartlanders (four home), and 4 versus the Toledo Walleye (two home). In addition to their heavy Central schedule, the Fuel will play 27 games against twelve opponents from the remaining divisions. That includes road games against the Savannah Ghost Pirates (1), the Atlanta Gladiators (2), the Reading Royals (2), the Wheeling Nailers (2), the Utah Grizzlies (3), and the Adirondack Thunder (3) and home games versus the Allen Americans (1), the Wheeling Nailers (4), the Maine Mariners (1), the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (2), the Kansas City Mavericks (1), the Florida Everblades (3), and the Wichita Thunder (2).
In keeping with previous seasons, the Fuel will be busiest on the weekends with 61 of 72 games falling on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and only 11 games falling on weekdays. Indy will play three games in three days on 11 different occasions, with two of those 3-game stretches on home ice. All home games Monday through Saturday are slated for a 7pm puck drop, while Sunday games will start at 4pm. The only exception is a 10:30am game on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Taylor University Men’s Golfer Adam Kasitz named PING All-Midwest Region
Taylor’s Adam Kasitz was named to the PING NAIA All-Midwest Region First Team recently following the conclusion of his senior season with the Trojans. Kasitz earned his second PING All-Region honor in three years on the heels of taking a third-straight All-Crossroads League nod. The Wichita, Kansas native was Taylor’s top finisher in four-of-12 tournaments throughout the 2023-2024 season and was among TU’s top-two finishers seven times. In those 12 events, Kasitz played in all 29 rounds, placing third on the lineup with an average 18-hole score of 74.9 In addition to those numbers, Kasitz led the club with seven rounds of par-or-better, and recorded five finishes inside the top-10 on the overall individual leaderboard.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson