By Jon Mooney
All systems are a go for Wednesday night's MARA midget Arnie Knepper Memorial at the Belle-Clair Speedway. The event has sparked much excitement due to the "Run From The Rear Bonus" which will award the one driver who steps up and takes on the monumental challenge of winning the night's feature race from the tail.
A carrot, the size of $5,000, will be dangled in front of the heat race winners as an incentive to start the 30 lap feature in last place. Should one driver, among those heat winners, elect to start last and win the main event, a huge payday will await to the tune of $6,000 which includes the bonus AND the standard MARA winner's share of $1,000!
As only heat race winners will be asked to voluntarily make the "run from the rear", Wednesday's preliminaries are sure to be hotly contested.
Located in Belleville, Illinois, the high-banked 1/5 mile clay oval has produced spectacular racing this summer. Steve Knepper, Critter Malone and Joey Montgomery have all sat in Belle-Clair victory lane this year in some of the best open wheel racing the area has ever seen.
The MARA organization has had one of its most competitive seasons in years. In addition to three Belle-Clair winners, Craig Carey, Tim Siner and defending Arnie Knepper Memorial winner Mike Hess, have captured wins this year in MARA racing and all are expected to be on hand Wednesday night.
The midget car fields at Belle-Clair have averaged 28 cars with some 40 different drivers making at least one show among the races already run at the St. Clair County track.
A few dark-horses could surprise the favorites Wednesday night including dirt late model star Justin Allgaier, who will be back in a midget after winning a huge late model show last week at 1-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. Allgaier has competed in the three previous Belle-Clair midget shows and has won heat races but has suffered misfortune in the mains.
USAC open-wheel veteran Brian Gerster, who has been exceptionally strong in recent Belle-Clair outings and was leading the feature on June 29th only to have mechanical gremlins set in, is expected to make the tow out from Indiana Wednesday night in an effort to take the challenge.
Young Shane Hollingsworth, a recent high school grad from Indiana who has already captured two victories on the tough Hoosier-state non-wing sprint car circuit this year has made it known he will be at Belle-Clair in a midget Wednesday night. Back on July 27th, Hollingsworth had one of the fastest cars and was battling the leaders before a late race tangle ended his bid for a Belle-Clair MARA victory.
A surprise entry will be micro sprint veteran Gary "Bubba" Altig who will be making his first ever start in a MARA midget at Belle-Clair on Wednesday night. Altig has been a formidable force in area micro racing winning numerous races in recent years.
The 600 c.c. micro sprints will also be on the evening's race program. $500 will await the feature race winner. Ryan Langston, Dereck King and Derrick O'Dell have all captured micro victories this year at Belle-Clair. A strong field of micros is expected Wednesday night as well.
Pit gates open at 3:30. Spectator gates open at 5:00. Hot laps begin at 6:30. The first race is scheduled for 7:00.
Grandstand admission is just $10. Children under six will be admitted free of charge. Pit passes are $20.
Keep in mind, the Belle-Clair Speedway is located on the property of the St. Clair County Fairgrounds. This is the week of the St. Clair County Fair and there will be a $3 charge for parking in the main lot. However, free parking is available on the neighborhood streets within easy walking distance of the track.
Come out THIS Wednesday night, August 6th for the Arnie Knepper Memorial at Belle-Clair and see who will take the challenge and "Run From The Rear"!
All systems are a go for Wednesday night's MARA midget Arnie Knepper Memorial at the Belle-Clair Speedway. The event has sparked much excitement due to the "Run From The Rear Bonus" which will award the one driver who steps up and takes on the monumental challenge of winning the night's feature race from the tail.
A carrot, the size of $5,000, will be dangled in front of the heat race winners as an incentive to start the 30 lap feature in last place. Should one driver, among those heat winners, elect to start last and win the main event, a huge payday will await to the tune of $6,000 which includes the bonus AND the standard MARA winner's share of $1,000!
As only heat race winners will be asked to voluntarily make the "run from the rear", Wednesday's preliminaries are sure to be hotly contested.
Located in Belleville, Illinois, the high-banked 1/5 mile clay oval has produced spectacular racing this summer. Steve Knepper, Critter Malone and Joey Montgomery have all sat in Belle-Clair victory lane this year in some of the best open wheel racing the area has ever seen.
The MARA organization has had one of its most competitive seasons in years. In addition to three Belle-Clair winners, Craig Carey, Tim Siner and defending Arnie Knepper Memorial winner Mike Hess, have captured wins this year in MARA racing and all are expected to be on hand Wednesday night.
The midget car fields at Belle-Clair have averaged 28 cars with some 40 different drivers making at least one show among the races already run at the St. Clair County track.
A few dark-horses could surprise the favorites Wednesday night including dirt late model star Justin Allgaier, who will be back in a midget after winning a huge late model show last week at 1-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. Allgaier has competed in the three previous Belle-Clair midget shows and has won heat races but has suffered misfortune in the mains.
USAC open-wheel veteran Brian Gerster, who has been exceptionally strong in recent Belle-Clair outings and was leading the feature on June 29th only to have mechanical gremlins set in, is expected to make the tow out from Indiana Wednesday night in an effort to take the challenge.
Young Shane Hollingsworth, a recent high school grad from Indiana who has already captured two victories on the tough Hoosier-state non-wing sprint car circuit this year has made it known he will be at Belle-Clair in a midget Wednesday night. Back on July 27th, Hollingsworth had one of the fastest cars and was battling the leaders before a late race tangle ended his bid for a Belle-Clair MARA victory.
A surprise entry will be micro sprint veteran Gary "Bubba" Altig who will be making his first ever start in a MARA midget at Belle-Clair on Wednesday night. Altig has been a formidable force in area micro racing winning numerous races in recent years.
The 600 c.c. micro sprints will also be on the evening's race program. $500 will await the feature race winner. Ryan Langston, Dereck King and Derrick O'Dell have all captured micro victories this year at Belle-Clair. A strong field of micros is expected Wednesday night as well.
Pit gates open at 3:30. Spectator gates open at 5:00. Hot laps begin at 6:30. The first race is scheduled for 7:00.
Grandstand admission is just $10. Children under six will be admitted free of charge. Pit passes are $20.
Keep in mind, the Belle-Clair Speedway is located on the property of the St. Clair County Fairgrounds. This is the week of the St. Clair County Fair and there will be a $3 charge for parking in the main lot. However, free parking is available on the neighborhood streets within easy walking distance of the track.
Come out THIS Wednesday night, August 6th for the Arnie Knepper Memorial at Belle-Clair and see who will take the challenge and "Run From The Rear"!
