By Dick Jordan
The Honda USAC National Midgets now prepare for the July 5-6 “Pepsi Nationals” at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisc. after closing out the “Indiana Midget Week” slate last week.
Rico Abreu of Rutherford, Calif. claimed the “Indiana Midget Week” title for car owners Keith Kunz and Curb-Agajanian. He emerged with a commanding 31-point margin over Bran Clauson in the IMW final tally.
Kunz and Curb-Agajanian enjoyed their 50th Indiana USAC feature win with Friday night’s victory at Bloomington Speedway. Christopher Bell of Norman, Okla. led all but the first two laps after passing Damion Gardner on lap five in his Toyota/TRD Bullet/Speedway Toyota. Abreu was second ahead of Clauson, Chris Windom and Tanner Thorson.
Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind. grabbed Thursday night’s IMW opener at Lincoln Park in Putnamville, leading all 30 laps in his CML-RW/King Racing Products Spike/Fontana. Tracy Hines was second, Abreu third, Clauson fourth and Michael Pickens fifth.
Abreu wheeled a Toyota/TRD Bullet/Speedway Toyota to victory in Saturday’s 30-lapper at the Lawrenceburg Speedway, taking the lead from Alex Bright on lap 27. Bright had led 11 laps before slipping to 15th at the finish. Hines was second ahead of Bell, Clauson and Brady Bacon. Pickens led 15 laps but failed to finish.
Clauson took the closer Sunday night at Kokomo Speedway in his Fairbury Packaged Meats/Curb Records Spike/Esslinger. He led the last 13 laps of a hotly-contested race to beat Hines, Abreu, Darland and Zach Daum. Daum, Pickens, Abreu and Clauson all led during the 30-lapper.
Teammates Abreu and Thorson swept the ProSource fast qualifying bonuses, each winning twice.
Rain forced cancellation of the originally-scheduled Indiana Midget Week opener on Wednesday night.
2014 Honda USAC National Midget Standings: 1-Rico Abreu-481, 2-Tracy Hines-388, 3-Bryan Clauson-387, 4-Christopher Bell-370, 5-Dave Darland-311, 6-Tanner Thorson-311, 7-Zach Daum-285, 8-Andrew Felker-272, 9-Chris Windom-267, 10-Kevin Thomas-257.
Final 2014 USAC Midget Week” Standings: 1-Rico Abreu-275, 2-Bryan Clauson-244, 3-Tracy Hines-236, 4-Dave Darland-217 5-Michael Pickens-177, 6-Christopher Bell-176, 7-Chris Windom-159, 8-Zach Daum-153, 9-Tanner Thorson-150, 10-Andrew Felker-146.