Midgets at Kenly Saturday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                  APRIL 7, 2008

Contact: DICK JORDAN                                                                                                                                      08-34

 

 

MIDGETS MAKE SOUTHERN NATIONAL DEBUT SATURDAY;

EAST SNAGS ANDERSON 50-LAPPER

 

 

            Tracy Hines will lead the USAC National Midget Series to Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C. Saturday for the first USAC National Midget race in the Tar Heel State since Bobby Santos' victory at Concord two years ago.

 

            Hines emerged as the new series point leader after his third-place finish in Sunday's 50-lap race at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, won by Bobby East. Hines has a five-point lead over Cole Whitt and is 33 ahead of defending two-time National Midget Champion Jerry Coons Jr. A 40-lap feature is planned on the 4/10-mile paved oval.

 

            East, of Brownsburg, Ind., posted his 28th USAC National win Sunday at Anderson, his 14th in National Midget competition, driving the Ford Racing Beast/Esslinger Ford. He passed early leader Brad Kuhn on lap 23 and led the final 27 laps to beat Kody Swanson, Hines, Kuhn and Mike Murgoitio.

 

            At least two female drivers will bear watching Saturday. Stephanie Mockler of Westfield, Ind. and Caitlin Shaw of Albuquerque, N.M. are in the field. Mockler posted the second fastest qualifying time at Anderson but fell victim to engine problems and did not compete in the 50-lap feature.

 

            Saturday's race will only be the fifth for the National Midgets in North Carolina. Mel Kenyon won at Asheville in 1968, Jim Hettinger won at the Charlotte Coliseum in 1990, Tony Stewart won at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1998 and Santos at Concord in 2006.

 

 

USAC MOPAR NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS

 

      1.
     Tracy Hines
     120
      
     6.
     Bobby East
     82
     
      2.
     Cole Whitt
     115
      
     7.
     Brad Kuhn
     80
     
      3.
     Jerry Coons Jr.
     87
      
     8.
     Levi Jones
     80
     
      4.
     Brad Sweet
     84
      
     9.
     Darren Hagen
     78
     
      5.
     Chad Boat
     83
      
     10.
     Brady Bacon
     75