MIDGET TITLE HOPEFULS EYE SALEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 7, 2006
Contact: DICK JORDAN/MICHAEL HARKER 06-214
5 MIDGET TITLE HOPEFULS SET FOR SALEM SATURDAY
At least five drivers with sights set on USAC's 2006 National Midget Championship will square off Saturday night in Salem (Ind.) Speedway's 49th "Joe James/Pat O'Connor Classic" doubleheader at the 1/2-mile paved Indiana oval.
Only 71 points separate the top five in the series standings with 74 points available at Salem. Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. leads Brownsburg, Ind.'s Jay Drake by seven points. Bryan Clauson trails the leader by 24, while Dave Darland is 29 back and defending champion Josh Wise is fifth.
A 30-lap feature awaits the Midgets Saturday, while the USAC National Sprint Car Series is slated for a 50 lapper.
Dave Steele is the Midget track record holder at 116.099 mph. Dave Darland won the first three "James/O'Connor" Midget feature in 2001-02-03, while Dave Steele won in 2004 and Coons won last year.
USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.
Jerry Coons Jr.
568
6.
Levi Jones
453
2.
Jay Drake
561
7.
Brad Kuhn
390
3.
Bryan Clauson
544
8.
Brad Loyet
386
4.
Dave Darland
539
9.
Bobby Santos III
385
5.
Josh Wise
497
10.
Dave Steele
385