Everything You Need to Know About the Little 500

The 78th Annual Unified Group Services Little 500 presented by Ed Martin Automotive Group is a treasured tradition of short-track racing. Contested on the eve of the Indianapolis 500 at Anderson Speedway, fans flock to the paved quarter-mile to watch 33 non-wing pavement sprint cars battle for 500 grueling laps.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's Little 500 from Anderson Speedway.

Watching the Little 500

The 78th Annual Little 500 will be broadcast live on RacingAmerica.TV. RacingAmerica.TV subscribers will be able to watch multi-day coverage of the event, including qualifying on Thursday and Friday, May 21-22, as well as race day coverage on Saturday, May 23.

Click here to watch coverage of the Little 500 all weekend long, as well as the full 2026 yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour season and much more.

Tickets for the race are also still available and can be purchased by clicking here.

History of the Little 500

Originally named Sun Valley Speedway, Joe Helpling opened what is now known as Anderson Speedway in 1948, with its first race in July of that year. The following year, Helpling created the Little 500, a 500-lap event on the quarter-mile racetrack starting 33 roadsters, just like the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sam Skinner won the inaugural Little 500 on May 27, 1949, finishing

The Little 500 enters its 78th annual running in 2026. Eric Gordon is the all-time wins leader in the event, with nine Little 500 triumphs. Five of those victories came during an unprecedent run of wins between 2001 and 2005.

Little 500 Event Format

The Little 500 features two days of qualifying. The first day, held on Thursday, May 21, determines who will start on the pole for the prestigious event and locks in the 15 fastest qualifiers. The second day of qualifying on Friday, May 22, rounds out the 33-car field, as Bump Day determines who will race on Saturday.

When the Little 500 takes the green flag on Saturday, May 23, the field will be lined up in 11 rows of three, just like the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. The 500-lap race is a test of man and machine, demanding laser focus on the tight, high-banked bullring while turning laps in under 12 seconds.

Little 500 Entry List

Little 500 Schedule

Wednesday, May 20

Thursday, May 21
Pole Day

Friday, May 22
Bump Day

Saturday, May 23
78th Annual Unified Group Services Little 500 presented by Ed Martin

Little 500 Past Winners