By Bryan Gapinski
A $5,000 winner’s share of a posted purse exceeding $45,000 and a $10,000 cash bonus, highlight Saturday night’s Inaugural “Tony Stewart Midget Classic” at the Lincoln Tech Indianapolis Speedway. The event is the highest paying pavement midget race of the season.
Shepherd Insurance has created the “Tail Gunner Bonus,” a $10,000 award for a driver who elects, at the mandatory 75-lap intermission break, to restart last and win the final portion of the race. If the leader declines, an offer will be made to the second place driver and then possibly the third place driver. The event also pays $1,000 to start.
The POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series holds “Race around the Arch” weekend. Friday Night features an event at Tri-City Speedway, with Saturday at St. Francois County Raceway. NMDOTY points leader Darren Hagen holds a commanding POWRi points lead.
Keith Rauch goes for his sixth straight win of the season when the Rocky Mountain series visits Colorado’s El Paso County Speedway. ARDC action returns to Path Valley Speedway this Saturday as a final warm-up to the USAC/ARDC combined show coming in August.
The Montpelier Motor Speedway Midget Series will jump back into action on Saturday Night. POWRi West is at Tulsa’s Port City Raceway. Weekly Notebook 2015 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Gabby Chaves, will make his midget auto racing debut at the 100-lap Tony Stewart Classic on Saturday. A change in the STARS national midget weight rule took effect for the July 18. All national cars with stock block and Eco-Tech engines of 2.4 liter and less displacement, will be allowed a minimum weight of 1050 pounds. Long-time USAC and Indianapolis 500 race official Art Meyers passed away July 15 at age 92 in Glendale, AZ. With USAC, he worked as Safety Director, Chief Observer, Chief Steward and promoted the 1975 Indy Car race at Phoenix International Raceway. He also represented USAC in the ACCUS for over 30 years.
Hard to believe its been twenty-five years (7/21/90), since the passing of Rich Vogler at Salem Speedway. Take a moment this week and remember all the great memories he gave us.
