By Dick Jordan
USAC’s Mopar National Midget Series competes in Ohio and Illinois this weekend and defending series champion Bryan Clauson takes a 30-point lead into the two events.
Toledo, Ohio Speedway hosts Friday’s race, part of a program which also includes USAC’s AMSOIL Pavement Sprint Cars. Saturday’s “Freedom 50” race at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Ill. is co-sanctioned by STARS (Short Track Auto Racing Series).
Caleb Armstrong of New Castle, Ind. won Friday night’s 50-lap Mopar USAC National Midget race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, a race split into two 25-lap segments. Armstrong passed Clauson on the 13th lap of the second segment and led the remaining 13 laps to win the 50-lapper in his Ferrell Gas/Syngenta Seed Beast/Toyota.
Pole winner Mario Clouser finished second after spinning on the opening lap and having to come from the back of the field. Bobby Santos III was third ahead of Adam Kramer and Clauson.
Darren Hagen, who finished 11th at Iowa, is the defending National Midget race winner at Toledo, winning last year at the 7/16-mile paved oval. Saturday’s race at Grundy County will be the first for USAC’s Mopar National Midgets at the 1/3-mile paved oval.
MOPAR USAC NATIONAL MIDGET POINT STANDINGS
1-Bryan Clauson-595; 2-Darren Hagen-565; 3-Bobby East-545; 4-Kyle Larson-536; 5-Tracy Hines-494; 6-Brad Kuhn-432; 7-Zach Daum-410; 8-Caleb Armstrong-390; 9-Levi Roberts-347; 10-Mario Clouser-294.