360 Sprints, Late Models break-in Belleville clay this Sunday
For Immediate Release 360 SPRINTS, LATE MODELS BREAK-IN BELLEVILLE CLAY THIS SUNDAY BELLEVILLE, Kan. (May 29, 2001) - Some of the best athletes from the State of Nebraska are getting psyched up to strap on their helmets in search of a victory in Kansas this weekend. No, we're not talking about football here. On Sunday, June 3, two of the Cornhusker State's toughest series invade Belleville, Kan., as the famed Belleville High Banks waves the green flag on an exciting 2001 racing season with the Nebraska Sprint Car Assoc. (NSCA) and the Central Nebraska Circle Track Assoc. (CNCTA). The event will be the season opener for the electrifying NSCA Ethanol E-10 Sprint Series, featuring some of the Midwest's hottest drivers on four (sometimes two) wheels. Defending series champ Rick Ideus of Lincoln, Neb., will lead a contingent of veteran 360 sprint pilots to the "World's Fastest Half Mile Dirt Track" for this historic happening. Other Nebraska drivers expected to tackle the Belleville oval include last year's NSCA points runner-up, Rodney Droud, along with Mike Chadd, Jason Danley, Terry Ledger and Jeremiah Sillman. Legendary car owner Gary Swenson will be bringing his familiar no. 24B machine with second-generation driver Ray Lee Goodwin Jr. of Kansas City, Mo., behind the wheel. Looking to win one for the Sooner State -- and one for the ladies as well -- will be Pryor, Oklahoma's Christie Passmore, while the father-son duo of Terry and Tadd Holliman are expected to make the journey from Hamburg, Iowa. Terry -- a three-decade veteran of the Midwestern ovals -- is one of the few drivers with experience on the treacherous Belleville High Banks. In addition to the winged sprints, Holliman has competed in late models and midgets on the Belleville clay. Looking to defend the Kansas contingent will be Mitchell Moore of Edgerton, Kan. Moore led last Friday's NSCA opener in Greenwood, Neb., with just a handful of lap remaining when his wing collapsed, along with his hopes of his first tough-to-come-by victory on the tour. Along with the 360 sprints, fans of fenders will be treated to the CNCTA's Friesen Chevrolet Challenge Series featuring I.M.C.A. Sunoco Late Models. Leading the charge in Belleville will be the series' defending champion Jason Friesen of Sutton, Neb. Friesen, whose father owns the Chevrolet dealership which sponsors the series, steamrolls into Belleville with a perfect record after winning all four of the series' 2001 outings so far. Friesen won 14 features last year en route to the I.M.C.A. Late Model National Championship. Other expected series regulars include Tommy Rowe, Billy Murphy, Mike Wiarda, Kim McDonald, John Bridges, Harold Schriner, Bo Egge, Ron Dake, George Murdock, Jonathan Rehnberg, Bruce Wasserman, Eric Rempel, Randy Sadd, Jeff Moeller, Jason Humphrey, Martin Murdock and veteran late model driver Al 'The Hombre' Humphrey. The Belleville High Banks pit gate opens this Sunday, June 3, at 3 p.m. (CST), with spectator gates swinging open at 5. Hot laps get underway and the green flag unfurls for the first heat race at 7:30. Adult general admission is $12 and children are $5. Pit passes are $20. Cruisers will also compete on the infield short track. The Belleville High Banks, located in Belleville, Kan., is managed by a volunteer racing committee that host 10-12 racing events annually. "The World's Fastest Half-Mile Dirt Track" allows drivers the rare opportunity to run "wide open" the entire track, and the sweeping oval is one of the most demanding test of endurance and skill for drivers. The track's mainstay is the annual Belleville Midget Nationals, held every year during the first weekend in August. As the nation's most prestigious midget car race of the year, the best equipment, owners and drivers flock to the small rural community of 3,500, which is transformed into a racing Mecca of more than 30,000 people each August. For more information on the Belleville High Banks, write to: Belleville High Banks, P.O. Box 349, Belleville, KS 66935, or call (785) 527-6050. Sponsorship inquiries may call or fax (402) 761-3676 or via e-mail at wdake@alltel.net. Information is also available on the World Wide Web by logging on to http://www.highbanks.org or http://www.whowon.com. Reserved tickets for the 24th Annual Belleville Midget Nationals are available by calling (785) 527-5179, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. - 30 - .BHB2001-03. ---------------------- Media Contact: Jeff Nun, WhoWon.com (402) 421-6894 (phone, fax) bellevillehighbanks@whowon.com (e-mail) World Wide Web: http://www.whowon.com Sponsorship/Partner Contact: Wayne Dake, JW MotorSports Associates Promotions Director Belleville High Banks/National Midget Auto Racing Museum (402) 761-3676 (phone, fax) (402) 440-3977 (cellular) wdake@alltel.net (e-mail) World Wide Web: http://www.highbanks.org , http://www.highbanks-museum.org Administrative Contact: Barry Bottger, Belleville High Banks President Fair Amusement Committee P.O. Box 349, Belleville KS 66935 (785) 527-6050 (office) (785) 527-2488 (track) bottger@republic.hpmin.com (e-mail) World Wide Web: http://www.highbanks.org