By Mike O’Leary
June 15, 2011 – The King of Indiana Sprint Series (KISS) heads to the final stretch for 2011, and the next event, the co-sanctioned KISS/Midwest Sprint Car Series program at Tri-State Speedway will have everyone sitting up in their seats. For the racers, the Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, event will be triply important as it not only pays at the pay window, but also pays both KISS and MSCS points for those respective championships. So, if the drivers are sitting up in their seats, then the fans will be as well, as this event unfolds at one of the raciest ovals in the Hoosier state.
This year’s KISS competition has had some odd twists and turns. Brady Short won Bloomington’s opening race, which isn’t unusual, he has been on a hot streak since the first green flag dropped in April. A week later, the fans were ready and the cars were on the track when the skies over Gas City let loose. As they loaded up, everyone there received “show up” points, including the fans. The third event, at Lawrenceburg Speedway, saw good close racing, with Jon Stanbrough and Daron Clayton battling for the lead. With Clayton out front, the weatherman once again spoiled the fun when rain caused the main event to be stopped after completing a dozen laps. The standings at that point were ruled to be the final finishing order.
To set the stage for Sunday night as they head for Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana, just north of Evansville, the 5-time KISS champion Stanbrough holds a narrow lead over Short, who is gunning for his second title. Dave Darland, Chris Windom and Damion Gardner are lurking behind Short, each of them poised to join the fray at the top. Only two events after Tri-State occur a week later, as the KISS series wraps up with an exciting doubleheader, at Paragon Speedway and Kokomo Speedway on June 25 and 26.
While Brady Short currently trails in the KISS standings, he sits atop the MSCS points on the strength of his win in the series opener at Lawrenceburg. Chase Stockon and Casey Riggs have also garnered MSCS victories, and the standings show Mark Perry III, Chase Briscoe, Riggs and Chad Boespflug as close behind Short. Before Sunday’s event, MSCS will compete the Chuck Amati Classic 68 at Paragon Speedway on Saturday.
Sunday’s KISS program at Tri-State Speedway will see hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:30. The pit gate opens at 3:30, the grandstand gates at 5:30. Admission tickets are $15, students 13 – 18 are just $10, while those 12 and younger are admitted free. Pit passes are $30. The program will include UMP modifieds in competition. More information and directions to Tri-State Speedway can be found on the web at www.tristatespeedway.com.
KISS events pay $2,500 to win, $250 to start the feature and the B-Main pays $100 to the first six drivers who do not transfer to the feature and $50 to all remaining B-Main starters. Drivers draw for heat race starting positions, and features will be 30 laps. Under KISS guidelines, each track is responsible for conducting the event in accordance with their track rules. The $3,600 point fund awards the top five point finishers, with $1,000 going to the 2011 King of Indiana Sprints. For the fifth year, Sprint Car & Midget Magazine is sponsoring the KISS Champion’s helmet, with original artwork by Van Horn Tint & Accessories.
2011 KISS SCHEDULE
May 6 Bloomington Speedway Brady Short
May 13 Gas City I-69 Speedway Rain
May 21 Lawrenceburg Speedway Daron Clayton
June 19 Tri-State Speedway
June 25 Paragon Speedway
June 26 Kokomo Speedway
Current KISS Points: 1. Jon Stanbrough 395, 2. Brady Short 370, 3. Dave Darland 358, 4. Chris Windom 349, 5. Damion Gardner 345, 6. Casey Shuman 318, 7. Robert Ballou 312, 8. Chad Boespflug 304, 9. Keith Bloom 302, 10. Brett Burdette 288