IRP NEXT FOR MIDGETS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                  JUNE 12, 2006

Contact: DICK JORDAN/MICHAEL HARKER                                                                                                       06-135

 

 

MIDGETS GEAR UP FOR JULY 1 RACE AT I.R.P.

COONS BEGINS "SWEEP" WITH LAKE OZARK MIDGET TRIUMPH

 

 

            Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. extended his lead in the USAC National Midget Car Series by winning Friday night's 30-lap race at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. and holds a 62-point lead over Dave Darland entering a July 1 race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

 

            The Indianapolis oval, which will play host to its 275th USAC race on July 1, has become somewhat unpredictable in recent races, with five different drivers tasting victory in the last five USAC race there. Bobby Santos III won the "Night Before the 500" classic on the .686-mile paved oval May 27.

 

            Coons began what turned out to be a "clean sweep" of Friday's Missouri "doubleheader" USAC Sprint/Midget program with his 30-lap Midget victory in the Team Mopar/Speedway Motors Spike/Stanton Mopar. Defending National Midget Champ Josh Wise finished second ahead of Levi Jones, Darland and 2005 USAC Regional Midget Champion Brad Kuhn.

 

            The Missouri Midget event produced four different leaders, with Darland leading two laps, Darren Hagen one, Jones one and Coons 26, including the last seven after passing Jones on lap 24.

 

 

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

 

      1.
     Jerry Coons Jr.
     310
      
     6.
     Brad Kuhn
     206
     
      2.
     Dave Darland
     248
      
     7.
     Darren Hagen
     203
     
      3.
     Jay Drake
     238
      
     8.
     Josh Wise
     181
     
      4.
     Michael Lewis
     233
      
     9.
     Brady Bacon
     168
     
      5.
     Bryan Clauson
     220
      
     10.
     Levi Jones
     167