By Rich Murray
(MORRIS, IL, August 14, 2014)—The largest payout of the 2014 D’Arcy GMC STARS National Midget season is up for grabs on Saturday, August 23rd, when the 4th Annual D’Arcy GMC Pavement Nationals presented by Bell Helmets takes place at Grundy County Speedway. Not only does a robust $3500 check go to the race winner, but the event is also round two of the “Safety-Kleen Triple Crown,“ which means a large bonus check could be earned by one fortunate driver and team.
In the first event of the three-race series, Plainfield, Illinois’ Nick Baran earned his first career national midget victory after a heated, race-long battle with STARS point leader, Austin Prock, in the prestigious “Illinois State Championship” on August 2nd. If Baran is able to win the “Pavement Nationals,” he would be two-thirds of the way toward earning a $2000 bonus for winning all three of the “Triple Crown” races. Even if he doesn’t win, but scores a solid finish, it could put him in the driver’s seat of the “Triple Crown” point standings in which the champion can also collect a nice sum of cash.
The three-race “Safety-Kleen Triple Crown” consists of a trio of STARS National Midget races at Grundy County Speedway: the “Illinois State Championship” which Baran won on August 2nd; August 23rd’s “D’Arcy GMC Pavement Nationals presented by Bell Helmets,” and September 27th’s “Alex Pruett Memorial.” If a driver is able to win all three legs of the “Triple Crown,” that driver will pocket a $2000 bonus. If nobody is able to win all three of the races, a $750 prize will go to the driver who earned the most points in each of the “Triple Crown” races.
In the first “Pavement Nationals” in 2011, Auburn, Illinois’ Mario Clouser was able to make a pass for the lead with just 15 laps remaining in the feature to collect the victory. The year 2012 saw Danville, Indiana’s Kyle Hamilton earn one his five career 50-lap victories in a midget at Grundy County Speedway. Prock, a native of Avon, Indiana, picked up the most recent “Pavement Nationals” win in 2013.
Along with the STARS National Midgets, the “D’Arcy GMC Pavement Nationals presented by Bell Helmets” features the STARS Classic Modifieds, INEX Legends, CSR Super Cups, and Legacy Midwest Series. Adult tickets are just $12. Kids age 5-12 get in for $2. Children age 4 and under are free! Grandstands open up at 5 p.m. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m. Grundy County Speedway is located one mile north of I-80 on Route 47 in Morris, Illinois.