After only missing 3 Knoxville Nationals in the past 19 years, I decided it was time for something different last week. Instead of that yearly trip to Marion County Iowa, it was off to the 4th annual USAC Indiana Midget Week. I got a taste of Midget Week a few years back and have really wanted to do the entire week since. Yes, part of me was still wanting to be in Knoxville, like it was a few years ago when I missed it but, I wanted to do the Indiana deal and see if it was going to be what I had envisioned it might be. Boy was it!!! USAC Midgets all 5 shows with non-wing sprints for the support division.

47 Midgets and 26 sprints opened up the 4th annual Midget Week at Gas City I-69 Speedway. The always racy Gas City surface was in great shape once again. Some very excellent format changes were made by USAC for Midget week. First off, ALL cars were put into heats races!!! Yeah, USAC finally got smart after all of these years. Now, let’s hope they keep that idea for all USAC Sprint and Midget shows from this point on. Next, they split the B Main into 2 B’s. Also, they used the group qualifying format with hot laps and time trails at the same time. At least 4 timed laps for all cars in each group. Some great additions that gave everyone there a fair shot to made the A Main. 6 midget heat races, all were pretty good. Only 2 cars out of the 18 transfers to the A Main came from the front row. Kody Swanson was the only flip victim in the heat races. Jerry Coons Jr, Chad Boat, Shane Cottle, Daren Hagen, Danny Stratton, and Bryan Clauson won heats. Each B Main transferred 2 to the A Main, so they were hard fought battles. Jeff Bland got drove into the wall and took a nasty tumble in the 1st B. Joe Boyles also tumbled in the 1st B. Cole Whitt and Brad Kuhn took the B Main wins. 30 laps was the distance for the midget A Main. After 3 attempts at a start the race was on. A pretty decent A Main. Josh Ford had the early lead but was quickly overtaken by Cole Whitt. Whitt has been tough at Gas City all year and was strong again in the midget. Just when Whitt was wanting to run away from the pack, Brad Kuhn, Jerry Coons Jr, and Davey Ray were all working towards the front. Whitt was leading and Kuhn was closing. 5 to go and the battle was on. Kuhn made his move on lap 27 to take the lead and hold on for the win on night 1 of Midget Week. Whitt, Ray, up from 9th, Coons Jr, up from 16th, and Levi Jones rounded out the top 5.

It seems funny to see the sprint cars as the so called support class. As usually at Gas City, the sprint cars put on another great show. Shane Cottle, Jeff Bland, and Chris Windom won the tightly contested heat races. Kent Christian won the B. The 25 lap A Main was a barn burner. Jeff Bland took advantage of his outside row 1 starting spot and jumped to the lead when the green flew. Speaking of jumping, Chris Windom had a great run a going,from 6th to battling for 2nd by the end of lap 1, until his car leaped off the ground in turn 2, hopping to a stop. After a few caution for stopped cars, the battle was on. Bland was looking to add another win to his already good 2008 season. Bland had a good lead but each lap Scotty Weir and Dave Darland was catching him. With a few to go, Darland is trying to catch Bland and make a pass. White flag, still all Bland. Off 4 to the checkered, Darland hammers it on the high side and squeezes between the guard rail and
Bland to nip Bland by inches to the finish line. DD won at the line the very last second of the race. Bland, Weir, up from 11th, Whitt, and Brett Burdette, up from 12th, rounded out the top 5. A great show for the opening night, can it get any better?

Night 2 moved to Union County Speedway for a Rumble Series Tony Barhorst promotion event. 48 midgets and 15 sprints were on hand. That was until some of the bigger USAC team decided to raise some concern about what they seen as safety issues around the track. After messing the fans, Mr Barhorst, and teams around for over an hour past the start time, USAC officials decided to pull their cars from the event. A vote was taken by the teams, some wanted to race, some didn’t. this set off a war once USAC pulled their cars out of the event. Tony was told that USAC had inspected the track a few months back and it was OK to have a race there. Now, after the stands and the pits are full, they decide they have some safety issues. As the haulers pulled out, the fans hissed, booed and had some other gestures for the teams. Mr Barhorst stated the show would go on to all the teams willing to stick it out with no cut in the purse. Of course there was still some upset people that traveled to see USAC and now its an open show. I really think Tony made a fair deal, but of course some didn’t see it that way. He said give us a shot at the this, stick around and see who is still going to race and if you don’t like what you see in hot laps, we will refund your money. where on earth would someone make the type of deal. Well, to some it still wasn’t’ good enough and they demanded their $$ back now. It was a true shame for Tony and the entire Rumble Series staff. They did not have to offer any refunds, the show was still on. He made it right and gave money back asap, or up to 10 minutes after hot laps. It will be interesting to see what happens now with this winters Rumble Series events. Tony made it quite clear over the PA system USAC will have no part in any Rumble Series events. He made some very hasty statements but, if i was him, I am about 99% sure I would have been too. If USAC really did inspect the track as they said months ago, why now cancel it after all the teams and fans were present? Plus, why wait until 7:00 to decide? Anyways, 14 midgets and 14 sprints stayed for what would be a great payoff for all that attended. 2 heats in each division and an A Main. Robert Ballou and Thomas Meseruall took the midget heat wins. They were actually pretty good races for only 7 car heat races. Jeff Bland and Sammy Imel took the sprint heat wins. Travis Hery jumped a tire and took a nasty roll in sprint heat 1. He hit the spot in the wall that was one of USAC concerns and was A-OK. The midget A Main started off with a 6 car crash that seem Kellen Conover get roll. The majority of the cars re-fired and put on a good show. They battle upfront was slide job city for 2nd to 5th. Steve Buckwalter shoot to the lead and never looked back. 2nd to 5th changed at least 6 or 7 times the last 10 laps. It turned out to be a pretty decent night of racing. Buckwalter took an easy win. When the dust settled for 2nd on back, Mike Hess, Ballou, Matt Westfall, and Kent Christian rounded out the top 5. The sprint car good one too. Jeff Bland was super fast but super wild. he lead early but had some problems spinning out or almost spinning a few other times. A great battle upfront seen Bland, Casey Shuman, Hess, and Christian lead. Christian took the lead with 5 to go and held on to a popular win from the crowd. Hess, Bland, Shuman, and Caleb Armstrong, from last, rounded out the top 5. A night that started out very rough, ended very good for the fans and drivers that had enough racing blood in them to stick around.

Friday leg 3, or 2 in USAC’s eyes, seen the teams pull to the Bloomington Speedway. 48 midgets and 30 sprint cars were ready to battle. i have only been to Bloomingotn a handful of times and have never went home disappointed. This night was no different. The tight little 1/4 mile bull-ring was in excellent shape and full of action. Brad Sweet started the might of with a huge tumble in the midget, after being 2nd quick on one of his few timed laps. Rex Norris also tumbled in hot laps. Cole Carter pulled the bone-head move of the week, driving past at least 1 red light and many slowed or stopped cars, to pile-drive Norris’s car as it sat there tipped over for almost 3/4th of a lap. Some excellent heat racing action in the midgets. 2, 3, and 4 wide, inches apart, all full throttle. Am I missing Knoxville now? That is a big negatory. Brad Loyet, Danny Stratton, Dave Darland, Steve Buckwalter, Shane Cottle, and Todd Wanless won the heats. Zach Daum climbed a wall and took a big tumble in heat 6. Ryan Kaplan ended his week at Bloomington with a huge tumble in heat 6 as well. DustiN Morgan and Brad Sweet took the B Main wins. Sweet’s team did a great job of repairing the 49 car to get back into the show. The had a back-up car unloaded but found out they were 2nd qucik and decided to repair the 49 ride. 30 laps of close racing was the tail of the A Main. Sweet took the early lead but fell back when Davey Ray took over on lap 5. Sweet never let Ray out of his sites the entire race. Cole Whitt and others tried to race towards the front as well from back in the pack. When it was all said and done, Ray held on to take the win. Sweet, Whitt, up from 9th, Tracy Hines, up from 10th, and Bubba Altig rounded out the top 5. A pretty decent race even without a bunch of lead changed upfront.

The Bloomington sprints put on some decent heat races as well. Dickie Gaines, Bobby Stine, and Jon Stanbrough won heats. Young Ricky Williams took the B Main. Speaking of young drivers, Bloomington is the place to see them. There was 2 13 year olds, 1 14 year old, 1 15 year old, and at least 1 16 year old driver in the sprint car ranks that night. Plus, others in the 18 year old bracket. A young pool of talent to keep your eyes on is building in Bloomington. Put Jon Stanbrough on the front row on and Indiana bull-ring, you can guess the outcome. Jon lead from wire to wire to take the win. That don’t mean it was a terrible race. There was some decent action through out the pack. Plus, Dave Darland was charging from 9th to 2nd, closing on Jon in the final laps. DD almost got the job done. Stanbrough win, Darland, Gaines, Jon Sciscoe, and Chris Windom, up from 17th, rounded out the top 5. Windom also started very deep in the B and charged to the front to make the show. Another good night of racing. I am telling you, I made an excellent decision when I decided to follow this week instead of making the trek to Iowa. Heck, there is still 2 nights to go.

Saturday it was off to the new Lawrenceburg Speedway. This place is just a state of the art facility now. I love the old track and will be honest, was not too sure they knew what they were doing when they decided to re-do the place. I will admit, I was wrong, it is a racey place. This was my 2nd stop there this season and both have been excellent. Dave Rudisell and crew have produced a class-act team at a state of the art facility. I would say look for more bigger and better things to happen at the Burg. They could host any show they wanted there now and have the place and track to wow the fans. 41 midgets and 29 sprints were ready for action. If you have not seen the new Burg, its a 3/8 mile, high-banked track now. Super fast but yet wide enough and racey enough, everyone there has a decent shot at racing strong. The midget heats were great. Plenty of slicing and dicing for position. Danny Stratton, Dave Darland, Steve Buckwalter, and Bubba Altig won
the heats. The midget B was a shootout that seen Jerry Coons Jr take the w. Bradley Galendrige tok a nasty tumble in the B. As the 30 lap A main pushed off, pole sitter, Chad Boat and fan favorite, Dave Darland’s car wouldn’t fire. Both went pit side and did not start. The 30 lap midget A Main was excellent. Holy crap, those boys were moving and fighting it out! I believe there was more passing in that midget A Main than the last 6 years of the Knoxville Nationals. I know its only official if they cross the line in the lead, which that happened 4 times but, there was at least 10 or so passes for the top spot. Thats not counting another dozen or more for 2nd to 5th. Cole Whitt, Brady Bacon, and Brad Sweet were putting on a unbelievable battle upfront. All young guns with heavy foots and bodies that can take a wild ride and brush it off like nothing. Coons lead at the start and soon was overtaken by Sweet. Sweet lead until the half-way point when Whitt and Bacon caught him and the war was on. Whitt lead, then Sweet, and Bacon was inches off their tail tank. They went like this, side by side, inches apart, full throttle, slide job after slide, every lap and every corner for many laps. Until lap 22, when Whitt pulled a slider that Bacon held his line on. Both doing what they had to, no one in the wrong, just flat out racing, when contact was made. Whitt climbed Bacon’s car and then took a major nasty ride. He flipped from the bottom of turn 3, hard into the fence, and back down the track. Cole was OK. The last 8 laps, Darren Hagen and Tracy Hines tried to muster a pass for the lead but Sweet was too sweet and took the win. Hagen, Hines, Brad Kuhn, up from 18th, and Levi Jones, up from 13th, rounded out the top 5.

The Lawrenceburg sprints had an excellent show too. Jeff Bland, Logan Hupp, and Josh Moffatt took the heat wins. I tell you the sprints were battling not quite as hard as the midgets but, not bad either. Caleb Armstrong took the B. Jason Soudrette made his sprint debut a unforgettable one. Jason took a tumble in turn 3 during the B. Bill Weber tested his new car as well after a nasty flip off turn 2 and 3/4th of the way down the back stretch during the B as well. All were OK. The sprint car A was a good one too. Bland took the early lead but was pressured many times. Mike Peterman tried flipping 3 or 4 times in the A and finally got it mastered on lap 7. Bland lead as Darland and young Ricky Williams both worked up to the front from row 4. The battle is on and Darland keeps his hot streak a going, taking the lead on lap 16. Williams looks fast is fighting hard in 3rd with Bland and Stanbrough. A few laps later, contact with Stanbrough and Williams fines Williams stalled in turn 1. Tough break for Ricky but a move Stanbrough seemed to have mastered at times this season. 5 to go, its all Darland. Dave takes his 3rd sprint car win of the week and 2nd of Midget Week. Bland, Burdette, up from 11th, Stanbrough, up from 15th, and John Memmer round out the top 5.
Sunday night, Kokomo Speedway hosted the finale of the 4th annual Midget Week. What a week so far and you know Kokomo will put an excellent finish to a great week of racing. 38 midgets and 26 sprints were ready for action. I really like Kokomo and would love to make it a regular Sunday stop if it wasn’t a 270 mile round trip each week. Cole Whitt and Kent Schmidt flipped during qualifying. Whitt’s was an easy roll, Schmidt was done for the night. As expected the midget heats were excellent. 7 of the 16 transfer cars started 7th or worse in their heat. Brady Bacon, Shane Cottle, Jerry Coons Jr, and Josh Ford took the heat wins. Chad Boat powered to the win in the B. As pretty much standard, the Kokomo surface stayed racey all night long. A huge cushion was building but that makes it just al the more wild for the midgets. The 30 lap A Main started Bryan Clauson on the pole. Bryan ran good when his car was running so far during the week. BC took the lead
as the green waved. After 2 straight nights of engine issues, BC had them figured out tonight. Brad Sweet quickly took over on lap 2. Clauson would have no of that and the battle was on. They had a dog fight upfront. Sweet low, Clauson high, almost touching many times, and doing it a few times as they crossed the stripe. Clauson regained the lead a few laps later. As the race past by, the cushion was getting tricky each lap and it started biting driver. 1st one, Robert Ballou hooked it and took a tumble. Next victim, a charging Chad Boat. After that, Garrett Hansen tumbled over it as well. After the tumbles and a few other crashes, Sweet was done and Clauson was mastering the cushion to perfection. Tracy Hines and Jerry Coons are on the charge as Clauson ride high, they are doing on the low side. 5 to go, they catch BC. Clauson had been taking it an easy over the cushion but now cowboys up a little more. Coons takes a shot at BC off 2, pinches it took much and almost loops it. That was all Clauson needed to charge to his first ever USAC dirt midget win. Hines, Coons, up from 19th, Whitt, an Jones rounded out the top 5. Hines earned enough points on that charge to take home the Midget Week title. A great week of midget racing top off with another great race at Kokomo. It was excellent to see 5 different winners as well.

You pretty much know when you see a sprint car race at Kokomo, you are in for a treat. This night was no different. Billy Puterbaugh, Cole Whitt, and Hunter Shuerenberg took heat wins. Adam Brkett took a ride in heat 3. Sammy Imel took the B. The 25 lap A Main was excellent! Scotty Weir took the early lead. Lap 1, Whitt is involved in a crash that sends him to the tail. Weir is fast but Stanbrough works past him by lap 5. They battle tooth and nail for many laps as many eyes are watching Darland, who started last due to missing qualifing, and Whitt move towards the front. They are passing cars, high, low, and in between. Just past half-way and Darland and Whitt become a factor. Stanbrough has broke away a little but Darland is gaining with 5 to go. 4 to go, Darland shocks Stanbrough and makes the pass in turn 1. Stanbrough pinches under Darland and spins out. From 1st to last in a matter of seconds. Kent Christian takes a nasty tumble on the restart.
KC is OK. It all Darland after the restart for the final 4 laps. Whitt and Weir try but DD is too strong. Darland takes another win on the week, this time from worse to 1st. Weir, Whitt, after restarting last on lap 1, Caleb Armstrong, up from 18th, and Alex Schutte round out the top 5. What a race!!! When on earth was the last time you seen a 25 lap sprint car race where the winner started last, 3rd restarted last on lap 1, and 4th started 18th? Another classic Kokomo A Main.

To sum the week up, excellent racing. Even with the mess at Union County, it was a good show as well. I started by saying i have only missed 3 Knoxville Nationals in 19 years, well guess what? If USAC Midget Week stays the same time as Knoxville, i will be missing a whole lot more Nationals. The Lawrenceburg midget A and the Kokomo sprint A, were true classics. No crap, there was more passing in those 2 events than alone that the last 15 years of Knoxville A Main combined. I heard there was many empty seats at Kville this year for the 1st few nights, well if you want a change, look to Indiana next year, you will not regret it.

Lee Jacobs has been released from the Burmeister 16 car. Lee will stay aboard the 59 ride and run All Star shows at Butler, Lernerville, Attica, and many others before hitting the National Open and the World Finals…JR Stewart got a huge win while some of us were out of town last week. JR won the Run For The Rabbitt event at Limaland Motorsports Park. JR started racing go-karts with Travis and was great friends. JR has always wanted to win the race that honored his friend, now he has. Nice to see good things still happen in this sport that can bring out many negatives anymore.

Upcoming:
Saturday:
HOSS Anderson IN
SOD Merritt MI
MTS Waynesfield OH

Have a safe one
Duane