Rico Abreu won in MOWA Illinois Sprintweek action at Jacksonville (Mark Funderburk Racing Photo)
Associate Sponsors: Hoseheads.com, TheCushion.com, Buckeye Threads. Front Row Challenge
Product Sponsor: EMi
(Bill W) July 31, 2017 – Rico Abreu and Paul Nienhiser headlined the winners of last weekend’s Midwest Thunder Sprints presented by www.OpenWheel101.com action. After the first two nights of Illinois Sprintweek were a wash, Abreu was victorious at Jacksonville Speedway on Friday. Nienhiser picked up his win Saturday at Macon Speedway. It was his second with the Midwest Thunder Sprints. Texas ace Aaron Reutzel picked up a cool $10,000 for winning the Barb Wieskus Classic at Jackson Motorplex in Minnesota Friday, while Terry McCarl won in weekly action at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa Saturday.
The schedule has seen 21 different winners in the 35 events contested. Kerry Madsen leads the standings by a mere fifteen points over his brother, Ian Madsen. Brian Brown is third, ahead of Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet. Brooke Tatnell, Tim Kaeding, David Gravel, Mark Dobmeier and Shane Stewart round out the top ten.
The “Month of Money” enters the Midwest, and the next fortnight will be busy for the Midwest Thunder Sprints. This Friday and Saturday, I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri will host the “Ironman 55”. On Sunday, the “Cappy Classic” will commence at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. Monday, the $20,000 to win Front Row Challenge will be at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. Back at Knoxville, the 57th Annual 5-hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals will get underway August 9-12.
Join us in supporting sprint car racing in the Midwest!
So far, Hoseheads.com, Buckeye Threads, TheCushion.com and the Front Row Challenge have jumped on board as associate sponsors for the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by Open Wheel 101.
EMi is providing a $500 gift certificate to the highest finishing EMi driver in the season point race, as well.
Whether you are just wanting to chip in or become a title sponsor for the series, there are several options for you. Visit www.OpenWheel101.com or e-mail Bill Wright at sprntcar@hotmail.com for more details!
Stay tuned to Open Wheel 101 all season long for point and race updates!
Next Up!
Fri, Aug 4 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO
Sat, Aug 5 – I-55 Raceway “Ironman 55” (MO) WoO
Sun, Aug 6 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Cappy Classic
Mon, Aug 7 – Southern Iowa Speedway Front Row Challenge
Wed, Aug 9 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals
Thur, Aug 10 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals
Fri, Aug 11 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (Friday feature only)
Sat, Aug 12 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals
Current Point Standings (Through 7/29/17)
Driver, Hometown, Points (Wins)
Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 711 (3)
Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 696 (5)
Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 547 (4)
Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND, 480 (4)
Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA, 463 (2)
Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 414
Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA, 349 (2)
David Gravel, Watertown, CT, 341 (1)
Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND, 316 (1)
Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 300 (1)
Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 288 (1)
Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO, 264 (1)
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 264
Matt Juhl, Sioux Falls, SD, 259 (1)
Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK, 237
Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City, IA, 218
Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA, 185
Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 173 (1)
Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN, 168 (1)
Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL, 160 (2)
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN, 151
Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 142
Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO, 140 (1)
Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX, 137 (1)
Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN, 136
Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH, 126
Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 125
Scott Winters, Butterfield, MN, 121
Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN, 110
Justin Henderson, Tea, SD, 107
Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, OH, 86
Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN, 82
Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA, 81
Chad Kemenah, Arvada, OH, 80 (1)
Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL, 75
Dakota Hendrickson, Omaha, NE, 74
Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA, 72
Justin Peck, Monrovia, IN, 70
Cap Henry, Bellevue, OH, 68
Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA, 66
Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH, 64 (1)
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 64
Skylar Prochaska, Lakefield, MN, 63
Jim Moughan, Springfield, IL, 61
Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN, 59
Jake Blackhurst, Hanna City, IL, 58
Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD, 58
Jacob Patton, Bethalto, IL, 54
Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 54 (1)
Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 53
Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 50 (1)
AJ Bruns, Lincoln, IL, 43
Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN, 40
Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA, 40
Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 40
Travis Whitney, Blaine, MN, 39
Mike Terry Jr., Plainfield, IN, 35
Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL, 32
Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN, 30
Terry Babb, Decatur, IL, 28
Austin Johnson, Pleasant Hill, IA, 26
Jamie Veal, Warrnambool, VIC, Aust., 25
RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL, 22
Jeremy Standridge, Springfield, IL, 22
Tayler Malsam, Sammamish, WA, 22
Joe B. Miller, Millersville, MO, 20
Kyle Marten, Sheboygan Falls, WI, 20
Jimmy Hurley, Springfield, IL, 20
Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam, WI, 18
Scott Bogucki, McLaren, SA, Aust., 18
Logan Faucon, Elkhart, IL, 18
Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL, 18
Kody Kinser, Bloomington, IN, 18
Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN, 16
Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA, 16
Matt Wasmund, Jackson, MN, 16
Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL, 14
Bret Tripplett, Lincoln, IL, 14
Mike Reinke, Howards Grove, WI, 14
Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL, 14
Andrew Andruskevitch, Riverton, IL, 14
Andy McElhannon, Nesbit, MS, 12
Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL, 12
Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK, 12
Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam, WI, 12
Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK, 12
Jacob Allen, Hanover, PA, 12
Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls, WI, 10
Josh Baughman, Odessa, TX, 10
Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA, 10
Robbie Standridge, Springfield, IL, 8
Eric Schulz, Sioux Falls, SD, 8
Justin Standridge, Springfield, IL, 8
Howard Moore, Memphis, TN, 6
Blake Nimee, Oswego, IL, 6
Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN, 6
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH, 6
Bill Boles, Harris, IA, 6
AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA, 6
Cory Bruns, Lincoln, IL, 6
Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA, 4
Tyler Bear, Elliottsville, PA, 4
Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek, WI, 4
Brandon Spithaler, Evans City, PA, 4
Austin Pierce, Grand Forks, ND, 4
Ryan Bickett, Ramona, SD, 4
Dean Brown, Springfield, MN, 4
Matt Vandervere, Zion, IL, 2
Max Stambaugh, Lima, OH, 2
John Lambertz, Sioux Falls, SD, 2
Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA, 2
Trevor Serbus, Olivia, MN, 2
Bob Weuve, Newton, IA, 2
Tentative Races that will be counted for Points with the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com (Winners)
Fri, April 7 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA (Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO)
Sat, April 8 – 34 Raceway (IA) IRA (Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL)
Sat, April 15 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Sat, April 22 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, April 29 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Fri, May 5 – Missouri State Fair Speedway WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Sat, May 6 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, May 12 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, May 13 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, May 20 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Sun, May 21 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) All Stars/IRA (Rain)
Fri, May 26 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, May 27 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Thur, June 1 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, June 2 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, June 3 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Thur, June 8 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA (Bill Balog, Hartland, WI)
Fri, June 9 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Sat, June 10 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Sun, June 11 – 34 Raceway (IA) All Stars (Chad Kemenah, Arvada, OH)
Tue, June 13 – Eagle Raceway (NE) WoO (Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA)
Fri, June 16 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO (David Gravel, Watertown, CT)
Sat, June 17 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Matt Juhl, Sioux Falls, SD)
Sat, June 17 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO (Rain)
Tue, June 20 – Granite City Speedway (MN) WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Fri, June 23 – West Liberty (IA) Speedway WoO (Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK)
Fri, June 23 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH)
Sat, June 24 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO)
Tue, June 27 – The Dirt Oval at Route 66 (IL) WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Thur, June 29 – Deer Creek Speedway (MN) WoO (Rain)
Fri, June 30 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA)
Sat, July 1 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Thur, July 6 - Deer Creek Speedway (MN) WoO (Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN)
Fri, July 7 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) WoO (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, July 8 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, July 14 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA)
Sat, July 15 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND)
Sat, July 22 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Wed, July 26 – Peoria Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rain)
Thur, July 27 – Tri-City Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rain)
Fri, July 28 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX)
Fri, July 28 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA)
Sat, July 29 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA)
Sat, July 29 – Macon Speedway (IL) MOWA (Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL)
Fri, Aug 4 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO
Sat, Aug 5 – I-55 Raceway “Ironman 55” (MO) WoO
Sun, Aug 6 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Cappy Classic
Mon, Aug 7 – Southern Iowa Speedway Front Row Challenge
Wed, Aug 9 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals
Thur, Aug 10 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals
Fri, Aug 11 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (Friday feature only)
Sat, Aug 12 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals
Fri, Aug 18 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, Aug 19 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO
Fri, Aug 25 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex
Sun, Aug 20 – Nodak Speedway (ND) WoO
Sat, Aug 26 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway
Fri, Sept 1 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex
Sat, Sept 2 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex
Fri, Sept 8 – Superior Speedway (WI) IRA
Fri, Sept 8 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, Sept 9 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) Jerry Richert Memorial
Sat, Sept 9 – Spoon River Speedway (IL) Tom Knowles Memorial
Fri, Sept 15 – Clay County Fair Speedway (IA) IRA
Sat, Sept 16 – Deer Creek Sp,keedway (MN) IRA
Sat, Sept 30 – St. Francois County Raceway (MO) Queen’s Royale
Fri, Oct 6 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) MOWA/IRA
Sat, Oct 7 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) MOWA/IRA
Fri, Oct 13 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, Oct 14 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, Oct 20 – Lakeside Speedway (KS) WoO
Sat, Oct 21 – Salina Highbanks Speedway (OK) WoO
Point System
The top fifteen finishers in the feature event each night receive points:
Winner - 50 2. 40 3. 35 4. 30 5. 25 6. 20 7. 18 8. 16 9. 14 10. 12 11. 10 12. 8 13. 6 14. 4 15. 2
Associate Sponsors
Hoseheads.com
For over twenty years, Hoseheads.com has been your source for “All the News That’s Fit to Sprint”. From the latest results and photos, to some of the greatest columnists in the sport, check in every day at Hoseheads!
The Cushion
T2 Digital, Inc./The Cushion has been involved in LIVE video broadcasting over the internet since early 2007. The Cushion has covered some of the most prestigious events at some of the greatest facilities in racing over the years. They are currently enjoying their eighth full year in partnership with “The Sprint Car Capital of the World”, Knoxville Raceway. Join them for Pay Per View coverage of Knoxville’s events all year long!
Visiting www.TheCushion.com is not only your ticket to LIVE events at the Knoxville Raceway and other great venues, it also provides access to nearly 1,000 On Demand Videos from sanctions like the World of Outlaws, All Stars, USAC, King of the West Series, ASCS, regional tracks and much more! Also catch live audio from the All Stars, “Cushion Originals” not found anywhere else!
Buckeye Threads
BOLTS • NUTS • SCREWS • WASHERS • RODS • ANCHORS • CUTTING TOOLS
• Standard & special threaded fasteners
• Next day delivery on hard-to-find sizes
• Specials made to your print
• Quality manual conforming to ISO 9001:2000
• A Veteran-owned family business
• Celebrating 32 years of service in 2016
• E-mail, call or fax us your requirements
Visit them online at www.BuckeyeThreads.com!
Front Row Challenge
The Price Chopper Front Row Challenge presented by Musco Lighting and Don Long’s Searsboro Telephone Company will again pay $20,000 to the winner! It will be held Monday, August 7 at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. The 410 sprints will be supported by the IMCA Racesaver sprint cars. For more information, visit www.OskyChallenges.com!
Product Sponsor
EMi
It goes without saying that the open wheel industry is constantly evolving and ever-changing. Customers often measure a company in two different ways. The first is by the products that are offered, and the second is by the service.
EMI has excelled at both since the beginning. Here at EMI, the goal is to exceed the customer’s expectations with emphasis on quality and safety. Our technical support combined with our ongoing commitment to product safety sets us apart.
Product research and development focused on your current and future requirements will continue to position EMI at the forefront of the sprint car industry.
EMI continues to value the relationships built with each and every customer. EMI's reaching dealer network, both domestically and internationally, ensures product and support at a moments notice.
New alignments with Speedway Motors, Schnee Chassis, Stallard Chassis, and Henchcraft Chassis forms a foundation for future success. EMI's team of industry experts is poised to assist you with your every need. Please contact us toll free for sales, service, and technical support for your racing endeavors at 855-525-1941 or 402-438-0392. Visit EMi online at www.EagleMotorsports.com.
Photo: Rico Abreu won in MOWA Illinois Sprintweek action at Jacksonville (Mark Funderburk Racing Photo)
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
sprntcar@hotmail.com
Twitter: @BillWMedia
Website: www.OpenWheel101.com