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Tracks: Bloomington Speedway's Opening Night Includes Street Stock Double Feature

5 May 1999

BLOOMINGTON, IN - Bloomington Speedway kicks off the 1999 racing season this Friday night with a thrilling program that includes a pair of Indiana Street Stock features. The big Opening Night event is sponsored by Bloomington's B97 and Big Red Country radio stations, who will be on hand with special giveaways and live remotes from the track.

Bloomington's Pennzoil Cup sprint car series highlights the evening, as a number of top racers are expected to vie for the $1,200-to-the-winner purse. Derek Scheffel, who earned the 1998 series championship as a rookie, is planning a full-scale effort to return the Pennzoil Cup to his home in Columbus. After finishing second in last year's points, Brazil's Eric Burns has upgraded his racing equipment as he chases the cup this season.

Others who may take the green flag this Friday include Bloomington's 1991 sprint car division champion, Kevin Briscoe of Mitchell, who has returned to Indiana for the summer racing season. Brad and Justin Marvel had two cars at the practice session last Friday. While Justin will continue to run full time, his father, Brad, is planning a limited return to sprint car action. Brad suffered severe back injuries in a sprint car wreck during USAC action in 1996, and has been recuperating while helping Justin get his budding career off the ground. After two championship years in the AMSA mini-sprint series, Bloomington driver Kevin Chambers was smooth and comfortable as he took his first laps in a full-size sprint car last Friday. This week, driving the black and yellow #8 Dynamite sprinter, Chambers will finally taste competition in the formidable Pennzoil Cup sprint car division.

When rain cancelled the World of Outlaws feature on April 14, there was Indiana Street Stock business still pending. Bloomington Speedway promoter, Mike Miles has rescheduled the remaining street stock B-main and $500-to-win feature from that event to this Friday's program. The makeup feature is only the beginning of the action, as the Indiana Street Stock division will also run a complete racing program, including a $350 to-win 25 lap feature event. Bloomington's Perry Bruce is planning to defend his 1998 street stock title, but will face stiff challenges from Cory Brown, Gerald Todd, two-time champion Denny Campbell, Lee Hobbs, Greg O'Neill and Michael Purtlebaugh. With two feature races on tap, this Friday's action will see a double amount of series points awarded.

It will also be the first 1999 season action for Bloomington's open wheel modified division, this year under the banner of the United Midwest Promoters (UMP) series. The 25-lap main event will pay $350 to the race winner. 1998 series champion Matt Tiller will have another dogfight if he is to repeat. Ray Humphrey, Kerry Norris, John DeMoss, Albert Web, Richie Lex and Rod Harris Jr. all hope to win in the season-long battle.

In support of local fan-oriented racing organizations, Friday is one of two official HARF/DARF/IRL CREW nights at Bloomington Speedway. Members of these organizations receive half-off the general admission when they present a valid membership card at the gate.

General admission for the Opening Night program is $10. Youths ages 12 and under are admitted free with an adult. Pit admission is $20. The pit gate opens at 4:30, grandstand gates at 5:30, hot laps and sprint car qualifications start at 6:30, with racing beginning at 7:45.

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.