By Dick Jordan
A big week awaits USAC’s National Midget Series in the nation’s heartland with four races in five nights expected to be pivotal in the battle for the 2016 championship.
It all starts with Tuesday night’s “Riverside Chevrolet Tuesday Night Thunder” at Jefferson County Speedway in Fairbury, Neb. It’s been seven years since USAC Midgets visited the Cornhusker State. Jerry Coons Jr., Brady Bacon and Brad Kuhn scored USAC/SMRS victories at Rising Sun and McCool Junction in 2009. The last USAC National Midget races in Nebraska were in 2007 at McCool Junction, won by Danny Stratton and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Bacon is among three drivers separated by just 23 points in the latest standings. He is third behind Spencer Bayston and Bryan Clauson entering the four upcoming races.
Wednesday night’s “Chad McDaniel Memorial” unfolds at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, Kans. and the 39th Annual “Belleville Midget Nationals” at the Belleville (Kans.) High Banks are slated Friday and Saturday.
Bayston heads a strong contingent of drivers who will compete for car owners Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian. The Keith Kunz team owns Belleville final victories with Rico Abreu (2014), Christopher Bell (2013), Kyle Larson (2011), Kevin Doty (1994) and Page Jones (1993).
Clauson is the defending winner at Belleville as he continues his pursuit of USAC’s all-time single-season victory record of 24 established by J.J. Yeley in 2003. Clauson has 14 so far this year. In 2003 Yeley earned his 14th victory on June 20.
Tuesday’s race will be USAC’s first-ever at Fairbury. Kevin Thomas Jr. captured last year’s race at Beloit.
Clauson and Jerry Coons Jr. are expected to try to become Belleville’s first four-time Nationals champion. Clauson won in 2009, 2010 and 2015, Coons won in 2005, 2007 and 2012.
Thursday night at Belleville features a Tim Dugger concert in the infield. On Friday the two-per cruiser stock cars will compete on the track’s infield quarter-mile, while Saturday’s events include the winged United Rebel Sprint Cars in their 4th Annual “305 Sprint Nationals.”
2016 USAC National Midget Series Standings: 1-Spencer Bayston-515, 2-Bryan Clauson-505, 3-Brady Bacon-492, 4-Tanner Thorson-455, 5-Chad Boat-451, 6-Shane Golobic-407, 7-Carson Macedo-387, 8-Zach Daum-349, 9-Ryan Robinson-327, 10-Gage Walker-286.