ARCA Midgets: Gibson grabs Grundy County Midget glory
29 August 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Morris, IL-- Gene Lee Gibson all but clinched his third
consecutive ARCA Auto Value Midget Series championship Saturday night at
Grundy County Speedway with a win in the 60 lap Illinois State
Championship Midget main event.
Gibson, of Richwood, Ohio, topped an ultra-tough field of 42 ARCA/UMARA co-sanctioned Midgeteers to earn his 19th career ARCA Midget win in less than three seasons.
Hoosier Tire Pole Award winner Jimmy McCune chased Gibson to the final stripe in second ahead of AJ Fike, Dave Gough and defending UMARA Midget champion Steve Thinnes to complete the top-five finishers consecutively.
Leading ARCA Midget rookie contender Travis Miniea led at the onset from his inside front row starting position until outside polesitter Dave Baumgartner raced his way into the top-spot on the eighth circuit. Baumgartner led through lap 26 before Gough grabbed the lead up through lap 39 before McCune charged ahead to take control on lap 40. But unfortunately for McCune, his charge to the front included Gibson as the two open-wheel standouts raced inches apart and side-by-side for five laps before Gibson made the winning pass for the lead on the 45th round to lead the final 16 laps.
Aaron Pollock, 99 ARCA Midget Rookie of the Year Jason Fuller, Miniea, James Baxter and two-time ARCA Midget champion Rick Harrell rounded out the top-10. Phil Rutledge, Fike, Miniea and Harrell were all heat race winners while Fuller and Baumgartner won B-main events. Next event for the ARCA Auto Value Midget Series will be at Toledo Speedway Sunday afternoon, September 17.
Text provided by ARCA
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