From POWRi
BELOIT, Kan. (July 28, 2011)—Rain forced the feature to be canceled for the 2nd annual Chad McDaniel Memorial following four heat races and a semifinal Thursday in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series at Solomon Valley Raceway.
Austin Brown of Millstadt, Ill, Tim Siner of Dupo, Ill., Brad Kuhn of Avon, Ind., and Chett Gehrke of Oklahoma City, Okla, were the heat winners. Ryan Cole of Porter, Okla., won the semi. The 22 drivers who advanced to the feature will each be awarded 50 points and divide the purse evenly.
POWRi points leader Nick Knepper of Belleville, Ill., overcame engine problems to reach the feature and maintain his 460-point lead over runner-up Brad Loyet of Sunset Hills, Mo. Knepper pulled off the track during warm-up laps for practice and missed his heat. He started ninth in the semi and drove up to fifth. Rain had started early in the semi and stopped it after eight of 12 scheduled laps.
The McDaniel Memorial opened the Speedway Motors Money Midget Week presented by RevHoney Energy Drinks. It continues with the Cornhusker Midget Challenge tonight and Saturday (July 29-30) at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., and the Sunday (July 31) finale at U.S. 36 Raceway in Cameron, Mo. Purse money in excess of $100,000 will be paid for the four events with Saturday’s feature winner earning $10,000.
POWRi is co-sanctioning the four events with Badger Midgets, Rocky Mountain Midgets and Southern Open Wheel Series and the purses are expected to attract drivers from additional prominent series. Bryan Clauson, the National Midget Driver of the Year the past two seasons, will drive on Saturday at Junction Motor Speedway and Sunday at U.S. 36. He won both races in the Speedway Motors Midget Money Week last year.
How they advanced to feature:
Heat 1: 1. Austin Brown, 2. Keith Ruach, 3. Chris DeShon,4. C.J. Johnson.
Heat 2. 1. Tim Siner, 2. Garrett Hood, 3. Tyler Thomas, 4. Cody Brewer.
Heat 3: 1. Brad Kuhn, 2. Brad Loyet, 3. Todd Plemons, 4. Brett Anderson.
Heat 4: 1. Chett Gehrke, 2. Steve Buckwalter, 3. Kellen Conover, 4. John Campbell.
Semi: 1. Ryan Cole, 2. Andrew Felker, 3. Jake Blackhurst, 4. Cody Brewer, 5. Nick Knepper, 6. Clint Shubert.
Failed to advance: Mike Boesel, Jules Jamison, Butch Middleton, Kyle Neal, Terry Goodwin, Don Droud Jr., Tony Rossi.