MIDGETS PREP FOR JULY 22 ORP “SPEEDFEST’”

usac united states auto club national midget car series logo nat

By Dick Jordan

“Kroger Speedfest” is next on the USAC Mopar National Midget slate at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind. July 22 where the series shares billing with the USAC Silver Crown Championship Series.

Bryan Clauson will take a 38-point lead into that race despite a seventh and two 19th-place finishes in the most recent races at Toledo, Ohio and Sun Prairie, Wisc.

Brad Sweet of Grass Valley, Calif. won Sunday night’s 30-lap race at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie on the final lap, passing Jerry Coons Jr. for the win in his Ollie’s Bargain Outlet/Auto Value Spike/Speedway Mopar. Sweet was also Sunday night’s fastest qualifier but the final lap was the only one he led! Coons finished second ahead of Dave Darland, Tracy Hines and Darren Hagen. Sweet was the last of four leaders in the ultra-competitive feature.

Defending USAC Mopar National Midget Champion Brad Kuhn of Avon, Ind. led all 30 laps to win Saturday night’s feature at Angell Park, the home of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Kuhn and his Rotondo Weirich/Champion Brands Beast/Fontana were trailed by Sweet, Darland, Coons and Hines. Clauson finished seventh after posting the fastest qualifying time.

Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif. gave himself a 24th birthday present Friday night at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway – a victory in the Hemelgarn Racing Super Fitness Night 50-lap USAC Mopar National Midget race. Hagen drove the Liberty Village/McGladrey & Pullen Beast/Esslinger Ford to the win over Daniel Bedford, Dakoda Armstrong, Caleb Armstrong and Levi Roberts. Hines was the fastest qualifier but failed to finish the feature event as did pole starter Coons, who led 11 laps before mechanical problems forced him to the sidelines. Clauson also failed to finish the 50-lapper.

USAC MOPAR NATIONAL MIDGET SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Bryan Clauson-910, 2-Brad Kuhn-872, 3-Tracy Hines-871, 4-Brad Sweet-800, 5-Jerry Coons Jr.-789, 6-Darren Hagen-785, 7-Dave Darland-784, 8-Bobby East-604, 9-Zach Daum-594, 10-Henry Clarke-565.