Midgets Make Lake Ozark Debut Friday

The USAC National Midget Series makes Lake Ozark Speedway debut this Friday night in Eldon, Mo. and Jerry Coons Jr. will continue his quest for his first USAC National driving title. The race is part of a USAC "doubleheader' also featuring the National Sprint Car Series and 30-lap features are on tap for each.

Coons, of Tucson, Ariz., finished 11th in Sunday night's 25-lap "Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa, and has a 42-point cushion over Michael Lewis going into the first dirt-track appearance of the USAC National Midgets in the state of Missouri since 1989.

Coons won Friday night's 20-lap "King Doodlebug Classic" at Knoxville but Bud Kaeding was the victor in the rain-delayed Sunday night "Pepsi/Mt. Dew Knoxville Midget Nationals" 25-lapper. Kaeding, of Campbell, Calif., led the final five laps in his Team ASE/Great Clips Stealth/Esslinger Ford after passing Brady Bacon on lap 21. Bacon finished second after leading six laps, while Brad Kuhn, who led the first 14 laps, finished third ahead of Russ Harper and Don Droud Jr.

Rains interrupted Saturday night's scheduled program at the Knoxville Raceway after the heat races, forcing the Sunday night finale.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

      1.
     Jerry Coons Jr.
     239
      
     6.
     Dave Steele
     155
     
      2.
     Michael Lewis
     197
      
     7.
     Brad Kuhn
     155
     
      3.
     Dave Darland
     191
      
     8.
     Bobby Santos III
     147
     
      4.
     Jay Drake
     190
      
     9.
     Darren Hagen
     147
     
      5.
     Bryan Clauson
     171
      
     10.
     Cole Carter
     137