By Tim Tuttle
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (June 26, 2012)—POWRi’s Lucas Oil National Midget Series crosses over into the second half of the season with Brett Anderson and Andrew Felker tied for the championship lead going into events Friday (June 29) and Saturday (June 30) at Belle-Clair Speedway.
Anderson, of Belleville, Ill., and Felker, of Carl Junction, Mo., have 1,650 points with 14 of 31 events completed. Anderson has two wins, at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo., and Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Ill., included in six top-five finishes and eight top-10s. Felker has one victory, at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway, included in five top-fives and nine top-10s.
There are a strong group of contenders lined up behind Anderson and Felker. Chett Gehrke, of Broken Arrow, Okla., is third in points with 1,280 with one top-five and five top-10s. Tyler Thomas, of Collinsville, Okla., is fourth with 1,190 and has two top-fives and six top-10s. Austin Brown, of Millstadt, Ill., is fifth with 1,070.
Brown has been climbing. The 22-year-old was 18th or worst in the opening four events and has two top-fives and six top-10s in the last 10. Brown was a season-best third at Macon (Ill.) Speedway last Saturday and sixth in the May 18 feature at Belle-Clair. They’re sister tracks, both one-fifth mile.
“Hopefully, the third at Macon will give our team more confidence and we can build on that,” Brown said. “They’re close to the same tracks and we had a decent run at Belle-Clair last time. We need to keep our nose clean and bring it to the finish. We’re hoping to for consistent top fives and eventually come home with a win.”
Jake Blackhurst, of Mapleton, Ill., is sixth in the points with 970 and has one victory included in two top-fives and four top-10s. Chris Bell, of Norman, Okla., is seventh with 940 and has two top-fives and six top-10s. Garrett Aitken, of Paris, Ill., is eighth with 920 with five top-10s.
Dillon Welch, of Carmel, Ind., is ninth with 835 and Cameron Hagin, of Broken Arrow, Okla., is 10th with 825.
The POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series is also racing at Belle-Clair on Friday and Saturday.
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series top-10 points standings (after 14 of 31 events); 1. (tie) Brett Anderson, Andrew Felker 1,650, 3. Chett Gehrke 1,280, 4. Tyler Thomas 1,190, 5. Austin Brown 1,070, 6. Jake Blackhurst 970, 7. Chris Bell 940, 8. Garrett Aitken 920, 9. Dillon Welch 835, 10. Cameron Hagin 825.
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series 2012 race winners: Kennedale, Texas—Brady Bacon; Kennedale, Texas—Dave Darland; Jacksonville, Ill.—Mario Clouser; Grain Valley, Mo.—Brett Anderson; Wheatland, Mo.—Jake Blackhurst; Macon, Ill.—Zach Daum; Belleville, Ill.—Danny Stratton; Peoria, Ill.—Andrew Felker; Brownstown, Ill.–Brett Anderson; Haubstadt, Ind.—Brady Bacon; Grain Valley, Mo.—Michael Pickens; Springfield, Mo.—Michael Pickens; Lincoln, Ill.—Danny Stratton; Macon, Ill.—Bubba Altig.
For more information, go to www.POWRi.com.