By Dick Jordan
Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. will have two opportunities to record a historic victory for the Wilke-Pak Motorsports Racing Team of Milwaukee, Wisc. when the USAC Mopar National Midget Series visits Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway March 24-25.
Coons will pilot the Toyota/Speedway Motors Spike/Stanton Toyota for Wilke-Pak, whose 133 USAC National victories match the all-time record of 133 National car owner wins established by Steve Lewis of Laguna Beach, Calif.
A 40-lap feature event is scheduled each night at the .363-mile Hickory oval, with the USAC Midwest/Carolina Ford Focus Midgets also in competition each night.
The Wilke team will be looking for its first Carolina triumph, despite having won USAC National races in 16 different states since 1959. Coons currently ranks ninth in the 2010 standings after winning the 2007 and 2008 National Midget titles. As a driver he has 18 career USAC National Midget wins and he’s coming off a victory in USAC’s annual “Fun at Fastimes” three-hour indoor karing enduro in Indianapolis, Ind. March 14.
Defending USAC Carolina Ford Focus Champion Jeremy Frankoski of Huntersville, N.C. scored two of his five victories last year at Hickory and is among top threats for victory in the two-night racing extravaganza. Bradley Riethmeyer and Eric Coomes also recorded Hickory Focus wins in 2009.
Race fans can take advantage of a $5 discount by purchasing tickets on line at www.usacracing.com, by calling the USAC Headquarters at 317-247-5151 or by accessing the following link: http://www.usacracing.com/store/hickory-motor-speedway.html. Tickets are priced at $20 each night but a two-night ticket is available at the price of $35.
Fans attending the March 24-25 Hickory races will also have the opportunity to win a free “Richard Petty Driving Experience” in a 600-horsepower NASCAR-style stock car at Charlotte Motor Speedway!
The Hickory races continue a tradition of USAC racing in the Carolinas which stretches back to 1956 when the USAC Championship Cars raced at Darlington, S.C. The Hickory oval hosted Ford Focus races between 2004 and 2006 but the March 24-25 program marks the debut of USAC National racing at the .363-mile paved oval.
USAC MOPAR NATIONAL MIDGET SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1-Brad Sweet-207; 2-Bobby East-169; 3-Brad Loyet-155; 4-Darren Hagen-155; 5-Tracy Hines-155; 6-Bryan Clauson-149; 7-Dave Darland-148; 8-Chad Boat-139; 9-Jerry Coons Jr.-136; 10-Mike Hess-117.