SATURDAY'S COLUMBUS MIDGET RACE A DAYTIME EVENT! WISE SEEKS TO EXTEND SERIES LEAD

OCTOBER 3, 2005

             The USAC National Midget Car Series returns to Columbus, Ohio 
Saturday, ending a hiatus of more than a quarter-century, as Columbus Motor 
Speedway hosts the "Open Wheel Oktoberfest." The race, originally set as a 
nighttime program, has been moved by the race organizer up to daylight to 
avoid conflicts with other sporting events in the area.

             The new timetable of events at the 1/3-mile paved oval finds 
practice starting at 10:30 am and qualifying getting under way at 12:30 pm. 
Racing starts at 2 pm.

             Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif. sees the Columbus race as an 
opportunity to extend his lead in the series standings as he seeks his 
initial National driving title. He leads runner-up Jerry Coons Jr. by 112 
points entering the race, the final 2005 appearance of the National Midgets 
in the Midwest.

             The National Midget Car Series is scheduled to conclude 
November 24 with the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at the Irwindale (Calif.) 
Speedway.

             Wise needs to exit Columbus with a 67-point lead to virtually 
lock up the National Championship.

             A total of 23 USAC events have been conducted in the Ohio 
capital, including 20 Midget races, one Sprint and two Ford Focuses. Rich 
Vogler won the last National Midget race at Columbus Motor Speedway, in 
1978. Rex Easton won the first, in 1957. In between, Midget winners at 
Columbus Motor Speedway have included Bob Wente, Gene Hartley, Len Sutton, 
Russ Congdon, Ronnie Duman, Chuck Rodee, Mel Kenyon, Sleepy Tripp, Larry 
Patton and Dana Carter.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Josh Wise-934
2.-Jerry Coons, Jr.-822
3.-Brad Kuhn-653
4.-Ron Gregory-582
5.-Tom Hessert III-570
6.-Teddy Beach-533
7.-Darren Hagen-533
8.-Cole Carter-506
9.-Jay Drake-449
10.-Dave Darland-443