Trey Starks at Knoxville (Chuck Stowe Photo)
(Bill W) June 30, 2020, Monroe, IA – As if the year wasn’t surreal enough, race fans received the one-two punch of the King’s Royal at Eldora and the Knoxville Nationals being canceled in consecutive days. July and August will just not be the same. We’ll have to find our racing fixes somehow.
Indiana Midget Week was as advertised again. Of course, the midgets were great, but there were also 40 plus sprints most nights as well. Catching commentary from Pat Sullivan at both Paragon and Putnamville for the sprints was an extra treat. I had heard Pat before, but the light bulb really clicked for me in 2000 at the June 3 USAC Silver Crown Hawkeye 100 at Knoxville.
Pat has a flow and storytelling quality when he announces, and the information came quickly to someone not as familiar with Silver Crown as I should have been. I found myself trying to soak in as much as I could from Pat, and I’ve respected him greatly both on the mike and in print since. The professor can preach!
The feature results from that night…
Silver Crown Hawkeye Hundred Results (started), 100 laps, NT: 1. 6, Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA (11) 2. 9, J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ (5) 3. 67, Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA, (4) 4. 53, Brad Fox, Avon, IN (2) 5. 23, Jack Hewitt, Troy, OH (12) 6. 51, Russ Gamester, Peru, IN (3) 7. 69, Brian Tyler, Parma, MI (21) 8. 99, John Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, PA (7) 9. 56, Dave Darland, Kokomo, IN (13) 10. 44, Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA (19) 11. 63, Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, OH (14) 12. 20, Tony Elliott, Kokomo, IN (15) 13. 100, Paul White, TX (24) 14. 1, Ryan Newman, South Bend, IN (1) 15. 175, Brett Hearn, Vernon, NJ (23) 16. 37, Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN (17) 17. 80, Robby Flock, Murrieta, CA (18) 18. 41, Eric Gordon, Indianapolis, IN (26) 19. 7, Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, IN (20) 20. 153, Tom Capie, Trevose, PA (22) 21. 12, Rod Holshouser, Cape Girardeau, MO (25) 22. 40, Brad Noffsinger, Concord, NC (9) 23. 50, Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ (16) 24. 46, Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, IL (6) 25. 11, Jimmy Sills, Placerville, CA (10) 26. 62, Bill Rose, Plainfield, IN (8). Lap leaders: Newman 1-4, Fox 5-50, Yeley 51-87, Drake 88-100.
Rob Klepper’s flow was in great form as well, as we tracked Kyle Larson’s win streak during Midget Week. It peaked at eight. Three with the All Stars, a two-night WoO sweep at Knoxville, and the first three nights of midget week (the second two from 15th and 14th). He then has gone second, first, second, second, second, second, third and really tanked last night during PA Speedweek at Lincoln, running sixth. I feel a bucket with wheels would be no problem for “Young Money.”
PA Speedweek should be on everyone’s bucket list. Saturday’s feature at Lincoln was top notch, with Danny Dietrich actually passing Larson in the late going. Dietrich again prevailed Sunday night at Selinsgrove. Rico Abreu, who won at Lincoln last night, challenged briefly, but had his hands full in a four-way battle for second with Larson, Anthony Macri and Brock Zearfoss.
My return from North Carolina nuptials, unfortunately missed Bulls Gap, Tennessee by one day. Aaron Reutzel topped the All Stars there, sans Sam Hafertepe Jr. (who swept ASCS shows at Caney Valley and Little Rock), and Dietrich and Zearfoss who elected to stay in PA at Speedweek. Reutzel found his way to second last night at Lincoln.
PA Speedweek continues tonight at Grandview, tomorrow at Port Royal, Thursday at Hagerstown, Friday at Williams Grove and Saturday back at Port. Do yourself a favor and order FloRacing.
Paul Nienhiser broke through with the Sprint Invaders at 34 Raceway Saturday. A fast, heavy track saw McKenna Haase challenging until a late red. She settled for second, but could have ended her 360 season with a last lap blown motor. Jamie Ball, who won at Knoxville June 20 and finished in the top five Saturday at I-80 Speedway, finished third in West Burlington.
Logan Schuchart scored another big win in a rising career with his $30,000 score at the Jackson Nationals in Minnesota. That was also a good one, and it was fun to see Sheldon Haudenschild putting it one the line again alongside Brad Sweet. The WoO heads to Cedar Lake this weekend.
Kerry Madsen leads the Midwest Thunder Sprints presented by www.OpenWheel101.com by just twelve markers over Brian Brown. Parker Price-Miller, Ian Madsen and Tim Kaeding round out the early top five. See below for full points and think about contributing to the point fund.
The series gets busy this weekend with the events at Cedar Lake, as well as a big two-nighter at Knoxville. The IRA caps the weekend on Sunday at 141 Speedway near Francis Creek, Wisconsin…another track you should visit.
Knoxville is upping the July 3 and 4 purses for 360’s this weekend. It will be $2,000 to win both nights, plus a $2,000 bonus for a sweep. Ambitious drivers and Missouri Warriors will hit Moberly Sunday with the Sprint Invaders with another $2,000 top prize to cap Fourth of July weekend.
The Corn Belt Nationals are on the horizon next week.
…until next time…
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Up Next…
Fri, July 3 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Fri, July 3 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) (WoO)
Sat, July 4 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, July 4 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) (WoO)
Sun, July 5 – 141 Speedway (WI) (IRA)
2020 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 212
2. Brian Brown, Grain Vally, MO, 200 (1)
3. Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN, 157
(tie) Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 157
5. Tim Kaeding, Campbell, CA, 147
6. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 143
7. Matt Juhl, Tea, SD, 129
8. Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA, 128
9. Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 110
10. Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 100 (2)
11. Justin Henderson, Tea, SD, 84
12. Lynton Jeffrey, Prairie City, IA, 76
13. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 75
14. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 72
15. Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA, 70
16. Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, IN, 59
17. Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN, 55
18. Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Aust., 54
19. Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX, 50 (1)
(tie) Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND, 50
(tie) Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN, 50
22. Anthony Macri, Dillsburg, PA, 44
(tie) Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA, 44
24. Trey Starks, Puyallup, WA, 42
25. Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 30
26. Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 26
27. Jake Blackhurst, Hanna City, IL, 24
28. Dominic Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 20
29. Gio Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 18
(tie) Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 18
(tie) Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 18
32. Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA, 16
(tie) Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam, WI, 16
34. Russel Borland, Kewaskum, WI, 14
(tie) Kyle Schuett, Philo, IL, 14
(tie) Matt VandeVere, Zion, IL, 14
37. AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA, 12
38. Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA, 10
39. Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 8
(tie) Dave Uttech, Kenosha, WI, 8
41. Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO, 6
42. Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Oh, 4
(tie) Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam, WI, 4
(tie) Ryan Giles, Grimes, IA, 4
(tie) Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA, 4
46. Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA, 2
(tie) Danny Schlafer, Sussex, WI, 2
Platinum World of Outlaws member wins…
3, Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA
2, Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA
Tentative 2020 Races that will be counted for points with the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by OpenWheel101.com
Fri, June 5 – Beaver Dam Raceway (WI) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Sat, June 6 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, June 6 – Beaver Dam Raceway (WI) WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Fri, June 12 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) WoO (Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA)
Sat, June 13 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) WoO (Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA)
Sat, June 20 – Knoxville Raceway (IA) (Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX)
Thur, June 25 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) Nationals (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Fri, June 26 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) Nationals (Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA)
Sat, June 27 – Jackson Motorplex (MN) Nationals (Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA)
Fri, July 3 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Fri, July 3 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) (WoO)
Sat, July 4 – Knoxville Raceway (IA)
Sat, July 4 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) (WoO)
Sun, July 5 – 141 Speedway (WI) (IRA)
Then TBD…
2019 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Final Point Standings (Feature Wins)
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 954 (2)
2. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 947 (7)
3. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 731 (5)
4. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 713 (2)
5. James McFadden, Warrnambool, VIC, Aust., 592 (2)
6. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 505 (1)
7. Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN, 484 (1)
8. Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam, WI, 471 (3)
9. Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL, 427 (5)
10. Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 400 (2)
2018 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Point Standings (Feature Wins) Top Ten
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 866 (7)
2. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 686 (7)
3. Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 602 (5)
4. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 565
5. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 420 (1)
6. Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 398 (4)
(tie) Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN, 398
8. Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 390 (2)
9. Cory Eliason, Selma, CA, 386 (1)
10. Matt Juhl, Tea, SD, 365 (1)
2017 Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com Final Point Standings (Feature Wins) Top Ten
1. Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 1086 (5)
2. Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 1031 (7)
3. Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND, 800 (6)
4. Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 760 (6)
5. Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA, 760 (2)
6. Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 533 (1)
7. Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 529 (2)
8. David Gravel, Watertown, CT, 481 (3)
9. Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 437 (1)
10. Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA, 425 (2)
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
sprntcar@hotmail.com
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Website: www.OpenWheel101.com