The 2016 USAC Midget National Championship schedule is set to launch Saturday night, March 19, with the inaugural “Shamrock Classic” on the 1/6-mile, semi-banked dirt track located inside the Southern Illinois Center at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.
Thirty-five teams have already pre-entered for the “Shamrock Classic,” including USAC champions Bryan Clauson, Dave Darland and Brady Bacon, plus USAC National Series feature winners Zach Daum, Bill Rose, Justin Grant and Thomas Meseraull.
An electric atmosphere was in full force last December in USAC’s most recent race at the Southern Illinois Center during the “Junior Knepper 55.” Mississippi’s Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. chased down teammate Clauson in the final laps to take the victory. Clauson is entered for the event, but is partaking in a new venture for the “Shamrock Classic:” race promoter.
“This event is going to be more than just a race,” Clauson exclaimed. “The race fans are in for a treat not only because of the great, competitive racing, but also because of the fan experience. With things like the open drivers meeting, free giveaways, and driver introductions, among many other things, we hope this event will become an annual tradition that fans can look forward to each and every year.”
Among the perks fans can enjoy is a free pit pass for those who purchase reserved tickets in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shamrock-classic-at-duquoin-tickets-20089747977. The free pit pass offer, available until Monday, March 14, will provide fans a unique up-close vantage point of the teams and drivers at work prior to, during and after the evening’s racing events have concluded.
For fans who are not able to attend the event, coverage will be LIVE on http://thecushion.com/ on Saturday, March 19 and can be purchased for $21.50 ($19.25 for Premium/VIP members).
An open, public, drivers’ meeting will be held prior to the night’s racing events at 3:30pm and is open to all race fans! The meeting will be held in in the stands at the end of the front straightaway in turn one.
The intimate atmosphere of an indoor racing setting added an extra element of excitement for fans last year as the southern Illinois crowd saw a thrilling show from start to finish. Race fans can expect no different this time around with a format rewarding position advancement through the preliminary events, just as what was used in last December’s “Junior Knepper 55” and at the Chili Bowl Nationals. Passing points from the heats and qualifying races will form the lineups for the 50-lap feature event.
The timetable of events at the Southern Illinois Center for the “Shamrock Classic,” which includes Outlaw Karts presented by Indy Race Parts as part of the program, begins with participant parking on March 18 (Friday) from 4-7 pm. Saturday’s race-day schedule begins with pits opening at 8 am, followed by a “pit sweep” at noon. Spectator gates open at 1 pm. A public drivers’ meeting starts at 3:30 pm and hot laps get under way at 4 pm.
“SHAMROCK CLASSIC” ENTRY LIST (35 cars as of March 9)
0A MIKE McSPARIN/Carrier Mills, IL
1T TONY RONEY/Herculaneum, MO
2 TBA
3N JAKE NEUMAN/New Berlin, IL
4 RYAN GRETH/New Cumberland, PA
4M MICHELLE DECKER/Guthrie, OK
5c COLTEN COTTLE/Kansas, IL
5D ZACH DAUM/Pocahontas, IL
5x JUSTIN PECK/Monrovia, IN
6 BILL ROSE/Plainfield, IN
7 GAGE WALKER/Indianapolis, IN
11AG DAVE DARLAND/Lincoln, IN
15 TIM SINER/Dupo, IL
15m SHANE MORGAN/Morton, IL
17m CHASE JOHNSON/Penngrove, CA
17w SHANE GOLOBIC/Fremont, CA
19 JOHN CAMPBELL/Belleville, IL
21 TY HULSEY/Owasso, OK
27 TUCKER KLAASMEYER/Paola, KS
35T TYLER ROBBINS/Collinsville, IL
38 JUSTIN GRANT/Ione, CA
50 DANIEL ADLER/St. Louis, MO
55 NICK KNEPPER/Belleville, IL
57D DANIEL ROBINSON/Ewing, IL
63 BRYAN CLAUSON/Noblesville, IN
66 THOMAS MESERAULL/San Jose, CA
71½ ROBERT BELL/Colfax, IA
76 KELLEN CONOVER/St. Louis, MO
76m BRADY BACON/Broken Arrow, OK
77u CHRIS URISH/Elkhart, IL
86 DANNY MEYER/Tuscola, IL
88 TERRY BABB/Decatur, IL
91 DERECK KING/Vienna, IL
91A CHRIS ANDREWS/Sandusky, OH
91T TYLER THOMAS/Collinsville, OK