By Dick Jordan
Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, a USAC staple for participants for the past half-century, has joined the fold for 2014 as part of the Honda USAC Pavement Midget Series, which released its preliminary schedule today. Additional events are in the negotiation stage and will be announced when firm.
Anderson joins Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Kalamazoo (Mich.) Motor Speedway and Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway hosting pavement Midget races this season, while negotiations are ongoing with the re-organized Indianapolis Speedrome and other Midwestern facilities regarding schedule additions.
“We are pleased to welcome Anderson to the calendar,” says series coordinator Eric Rankine. “A.J. Foyt’s victory in the 1960 debut at the quarter-mile oval began a long tradition of open-wheel racing at the historic track and we look forward to returning there in September.”
The September 6 Anderson race is among five already finalized for 2014. The annual “Night Before the 500” classic currently kicks off the slate May 24, followed by a July 24 race at LOR. The Kalamazoo race is scheduled August 16 and the Columbus race, currently the finale, is September 13.
Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif. won last year’s USAC Pavement Midget crown, his fourth in four seasons! Last year’s competition for the championship featured a final-race “shootout” between Hagen and Tracy Hines which wasn’t determined until the final corner of the final lap of the final race!
Preliminary 2014 Honda USAC Pavement Midget Schedule
May 24 – Indianapolis, IN/Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
July 24 – Indianapolis, IN/Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
August 16 – Kalamazoo, MI/Kalamazoo Motor Speedway
September 6 – Anderson, IN – Anderson Speedway
September 13 – Columbus, OH/Columbus Motor Speedway