By Dewain Hulett
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 12, 2013) – The Midwest Open Wheel Association’s hectic late season schedule continues this weekend, as the series makes stops at Jacksonville Speedway, Friday, and Spoon River Speedway, Saturday.
Friday’s Jacksonville date is a make-up date, after the Illinois Sprint Week stop at the speedway was rained out before qualifying was complete. But, paired with the POWRi Midgets, this week’s event should be outstanding.
Numerous drivers are slated to be pulling double duty, including Bryan Clauson who is expected to make his return to the 21x Pollick owned sprinter. It will be Clauson’s second complete night in a winged sprint car.
MOWA has made 10 stops at Jacksonville Speedway in the past three seasons, with Jimmy Hurley picking up three wins, including one earlier this year. Danny Smith has two wins, one of the wins coming this year at the track.
Also on the card for the night, are POWRi midgets and micros, as well as street stocks. Grandstand opens at 5 p.m., and racing starts at 7 p.m., but, tailgating starts whenever the first group gets there, according to the track’s promoters. Grandstand admission is $20, with 12 and under free.
Saturday’s event is the annual return to Spoon River Speedway for the Tom Knowles Memorial. The series has made three stops at the famous 3/8th mile, with Jerrod Hull picking up the last two Tom Knowles Memorials.
Brian Brown has the only other MOWA victory at the track, as he won during Sprint Week in 2011.
Also on the card at Spoon River Speedway will be POWRi midgets, UMP modifieds and UMP limited modifieds.
Pit gates open at 3 p.m., grandstands 5 p.m., with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. Pit passes are $35, while grandstand admission is $20. Children 6-10 are $5, and children 5 and under are free.
Heading into the weekend, Hull is the series point leader, with A.J. Bruns still in second. Paul Nienhiser has not finished outside the top 10 during the last four events, which included a win at Quincy Raceways, Sept. 1, and is now in third place, while Jimmy Hurley is fourth. Ben Wagoner and Robbie Standridge are in a tight battle for fifth with five races to go on the schedule.