By Dick Jordan
This Saturday’s 31st “4-Crown Nationals” at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio will certainly play into determining this year’s USAC Mopar National Midget Champion. The top three drivers in the standings are separated by just 18 points, with 74 available Saturday.
Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. has only a three-point lead over Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif., while series rookie Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, Calif. has vaulted into contention, now just 18 back of the leader in third.
Clauson and Hagen posted second and sixth-place finishes at Eldora last year, while Larson will be making his debut at the half-mile dirt oval.
Jerry Coons Jr. is the defending “4-Crown” champion but is currently 10th in the series standings.
Saturday’s race is 25 laps and Kasey Kahne holds the 25-lap race record of 105.713 mph set in 2000. Mike Hess is the one-lap Midget track record holder at 113.917 mph, which he set in 2004.
Clauson has five victories in the Midgets this year, while Hagen also has five. Larson has won twice but has caught fire recently and hopes to mount a championship charge.
In addition to Coons, former “4-Crown” Midget champion Tracy Hines (1996 and 2006) is also expected to be in Saturday’s field.
MOPAR USAC NATIONAL MIDGET POINT STANDINGS
1-Bryan Clauson-876; 2-Darren Hagen-873; 3-Kyle Larson-858; 4-Tracy Hines-767; 5-Bobby East-700; 6-Caleb Armstrong-618; 7-Zach Daum-578; 8-Brad Kuhn-564; 9-Tanner Swanson-538; 10-Jerry Coons Jr.-504.