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Nolen Racing is proud of its driver lineup:

OUR DRIVERS

EMERSON AXSOM

Driver of Nolen Racing #4 asphalt sprint car.

Born: Sept. 30, 2004 in Franklin, Ind.

Current Residence: Franklin, Ind.

Education: Emerson is a 2023 graduate of an online high school; previously he attended Franklin Community High School in Franklin, Ind.

Personal: Emerson is the son of former Nolen Racing driver Joe Axsom and his wife, Jenny.

Social Media:

       Website: emersonaxsom.com

       Facebook: @Eaxsomracing

       Twitter: @Eaxsomracing

       Instagram: emerson_axsom_42

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  Emerson Axsom

Career Highlights:

2023: Started the year winning the wing outlaw class at the Tulsa Shootout. Will run a complete USAC AMSOIL sprint car schedule with Clauson Marshall Racing; selected USAC Silver Crown and asphalt sprint car races with Nolen Racing (including the Little 500), and some winged sprint car races.

 

2022: Named to drive for Clauson Marshall Racing for a full season in the USAC AMSOIL national sprint series and immediately won the season opener at the USAC Winter Dirt Games at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla., on Feb. 17 for his first series victory. That made him in the fifth-youngest driver to win a USAC national sprint car race ever and the series’ first teenage winner in seven seasons at 17 years, four months and 18 days. His first USAC national sprint win came in just his eighth career start. His second came two days later when he won again at Bubba Raceway Park on Feb. 19 to earn the USAC Winter Dirt Games championship. He ended up fifth in the USAC AMSOIL national sprint car championship for 2022 and was the series' Rookie of the Year. It was the first time in 18 years that a rookie has finished in the top five in the point standings. He was also the Hoosier Auto Racing Fan Club's Rookie of the Year.

       He made selected asphalt sprint car starts for Nolen Racing, including his first Little 500. He ran as high as second in that event before getting involved in an accident, but he still finished tenth.

        He also made his USAC Silver Crown debut at Terre Haute with Nolen Racing, where he came from the rear of the field to finish fifth. He was the youngest driver (17) to finish fifth in his series debut, breaking a mark held by Aaron Fike.

       Tulsa Shootout 600cc micro sprints stock non-wing winner in January to earn his second Golden Driller. The event was broadcast by Flo Racing.

 

2021: Won his first USAC national midget race at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway on April 30, and his second USAC national midget race at Jefferson County (Neb.) Speedway on July 17 with Clauson Marshall Racing. Finished fourth in the USAC NOS Energy Drink national midget standings in his rookie season with more than 10 top-five finishes and multiple event hard-charger awards. Went from 19th to fifth at the BC39. These races were broadcast live on Flo Racing.

       Made his pavement sprint car debut with Nolen Racing at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. Finished sixth in the Niebel Classic and fourth in both the Summer Sprint Showdown and the Tony Elliott Classic.

       Two wins and one second in USAC Regional Midgets; multi hard-charger awards.

       Finished 16th out of 146 drivers in POWRI national midgets with Petry Motorsports; two wins.

 

2020: Finished ninth in POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League with three top-five finishes and seven top-10s in 17 races.

       Champion of the outlaw wing feature at Tulsa Shootout to earn his first Golden Driller. Finished 11th in the Tulsa Shootout for non-wing micro sprints. Finished third in A class.  

 

2019-2018: Rookie of the Year in the All-Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midget series in 2019.

       Big Dance micro-sprint feature winner at U.S. 24 Speedway in Logansport, Ind., in 2019. Hard-charger award winner in non-wing micro sprints at Circus City in Peru, Ind., in 2019. Over 70 victories in 600cc micro-sprint racing in two years.

 

2016: Won 39 of 46 quarter-midget races. Of the seven he did not win, he finished in the top three in six of those.

       He ran nine national quarter-midget races in 2016 with three wins, one second and two thirds. Finished his quarter-midget career during the 2016 outdoor season.

 

2010-2015: Earned two national championship in quarter midgets: the Light 160 and the Light Modified World Formula. He won Fight Modified Formula races at the Brickyard, Pocono and Eldora. He won the Robbie Stanley Memorial at the Mini Indy at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 2016, and he was the Junior Honda Mini-Indy champion that year.

       He started racing quarter midgets in 2010 at age 5.

 

SHANE HOLLINGSWORTH

Driver of Nolen Racing #20 asphalt sprint car

at Little 500.

 

Born: Aug. 28, 1984 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Current Residence: Lafayette, Ind.

Marital Status: Married

Full-time Job: Regional sales manager at Fairfield Manufacturing, Lafayette, Ind.

Education: Earned Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 2007.

Of Note: Favorite track is Gas City. Favorite event is Little 500.

Social Media: None

 

 

 

Shane Hollingsworth

 

Career Highlights:

* Completely dominated the Hoosier Hundred USAC Silver Crown race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 2009.

* Finished third in the Little 500 asphalt sprint car race at Anderson Speedway in 2011 and 2018, fourth in 2019, and second in 2020! Together with teammate Kody Swanson, the pair led 499 of the race's 500 laps in 2019. He ran as high as fourth in the 2022 Little 500 before finishing eighth.

* Finished third in the inaugural Gene Nolen Classic 500 Sprint Car Tour race at Anderson Speedway in 2022.

* Lincoln Park Speedway sprint car champion in 2010.

* Named "Most Improved Driver" in USAC Silver Crown division in 2008.

* 1997 winner of Robbie Stanley Memorial Award in quarter midgets.

Our pit crew:

 

The late Gene Nolen, Greenwood, Ind., Founder.

      Winner of USAC's Robbie Stanley Award

      2010 Inductee into the Little 500 Hall of Fame

Greg Nolen, Greenwood, Ind., team owner.

 

Bill Tranter, Franklin, Ind., engines.

 

Kevin Noblitt, Columbus, Ind., tires and prep work.

 

Rick Laughlin, Whiteland, Ind., prep/maintenance.

 

Rich Winings, Dayton, Ohio, tires. 

 

Dale Latty, Fishers, Ind., trackside assistance.

 

George Lynam, Indianapolis, parts specialist.

 

Ben Phillips, Plainfield, Ind.

Chris Phillips, Martinsville, Ind.

Ryan Roberts, Avon, Ind.

Luke Harbison, Fishers, Ind.

 

 

 

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Kody Swanson (left) and the late Gene Nolen (right) pose with the 2018 Pay Less Little 500 trophy on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. (Chris Gardner photo)

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Nolen Racing founder Gene Nolen receives the Emma and Joie Ray Award for Courage at the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans (HARF) banquet Jan. 26, 2020 in Brownsburg, Ind. (Susannah Stapp photo)

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