POWRi Series - Midgets headed for Fayette County, Peoria, with Badger Midgets, New Zealand’s Pickens

MILLSTADT, May 27, 2011: The POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series will have an expanded field of competition in its events at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Ill., on June 3 and Peoria (Ill.) Speedway on June 4, racing with the co-sanctioning Badger Midget Auto Racing Association plus New Zealand Midget champion Michael Pickens.

Kiwi Pickens has won three Midget titles, 2010-11, 2006-07 and 2002-03. He’s raced previously with POWRi, winning his first race in 2007 at Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway.

Mike Hess, of Riverton, Ill., was the BMARA champion in 2010 and the POWRi Midget champion in its inaugural season of 2005. The Badger Midget series is in its 75th season and is the nation’s oldest.

POWRi’s Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micros Series will also race on the ¼-mile tracks at Fayette and Peoria.

Nick Knepper, of Bellevelle, Ill., leads the POWRi Midgets points over Dereck King, of Vienna, Ill., 720-680. Tim Siner, of Dupo, Ill., is third with 580. Knepper has four top-four finishes in the four features and King four top-fives.

King took his first 600cc Micros victory of the season at Wayne County, Ill., to expand his championship lead over J.B. Gilbert, of Charleston, Ill, to 580-430. Joe B. Miller, of Millersville, Mo., and Aaron Andruskevitch, of Riverton, Ill., are tied for third with 370.

POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series top-10 points standings (after four of 30 events): 1. Nick Knepper 720, 2. Dereck King 680, 3. Tim Siner 580, 4. Chett Gehrke 500, 5. Brad Loyet 470, 6. Brad Kuhn 460, 7. Zach Daum 390, 8. Tyler Robbins 360, 9. (tie) Andrew Felker, Brett Anderson 350, 10. Rich Camfield 240.

POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series 2011 race winners: Du Quoin, Ill.—Tony Roney; Grain Valley, Mo.—Brett Anderson; Wheatland, Mo.—Brad Loyet; Belleville, Ill.—Brad Loyet.

POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series top-10 points standings (after three of 27 events): 1. Dereck King 580, 2. J.B. Gilbert 430, 3. (tie) Joe B. Miller, Aaron Andruskevitch 370, 5. Trent Beckinger 330, 6. Paul Nienhiser 325, 7. Jeremy Camp 310, 8. Kara King 270, 9. Natasha Cox 250, 10. Andrew Felker 220.

POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series 2011 race winners: Du Quoin, Ill.--Ryan Langston; Belleville, Ill.--Aaron Andruskevitch; Wayne County, Ill.—Dereck King.