from Kenny Brown
MILLSTADT, Ill. (June 4, 2007) – As the 2007 O’Reilly POWRi National Midget Series embarks on its next race this Saturday at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill., Mike Hess (Petersburg, Ill.) will be asking himself if he will be able to sustain that advantageous point lead he established earlier in the year.
That question comes as another challenger – one with significant Midget experience, not to mention a few championships – tossed his ringer in the hat for a chance at another title.
Defending POWRi champion Brad Kuhn (Avon, Ind.) had been quiet up until the last race May 25 at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., but asserted himself as a force with a solid third-place finish at the 3/8-mile dirt track. The effort was helped as the race awarded double points to all competitors in attendance.
Now, only 180 points out of the lead, Kuhn will look to upend Hess as the series returns to southwestern Illinois following a two-race streak outside of the state. Hess won the last POWRi race at Belle-Clair last month for his second win of the season. For this weekend’s race at Belleville – sponsored by Don’s Hardware – the schedule calls for spectator gates to open at 5 p.m., with hot laps at 6 and racing at 7. A complete schedule can be found on POWRi’s website (www.powri.com).
Kuhn, the two-time defending National Midget Driver of the Year, inserted himself into second after leaping ahead of Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, Mo.) at McCool. He is looking for his first series victory of the season, and in addition will try to keep Hess from reaching Victory Lane a third time. Loyet, who fell to third with a seventh-place finish at McCool, lies only 10 points behind Kuhn and 190 markers out of the top spot. He is seeking his second victory of the season after taking the season opener at Morgan County Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill.
POWRi National Midget Points : 1. Mike Hess -1120; 2. Brad Kuhn - 940; 3. Brad Loyet - 930; 4. Brett Anderson - 555; 5. Hud Cone - 515; 6. Bubba Altig - 490; 7. Dave Camfield, Jr.- 445; 8. A.J. Felker - 315; 9. Tim Siner - 310; 10. Austin Brown - 300
For more information about POWRi, visit http://www.powri.com or contact Kenny Brown at 618-476-7526.
MILLSTADT, Ill. (June 4, 2007) – As the 2007 O’Reilly POWRi National Midget Series embarks on its next race this Saturday at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill., Mike Hess (Petersburg, Ill.) will be asking himself if he will be able to sustain that advantageous point lead he established earlier in the year.
That question comes as another challenger – one with significant Midget experience, not to mention a few championships – tossed his ringer in the hat for a chance at another title.
Defending POWRi champion Brad Kuhn (Avon, Ind.) had been quiet up until the last race May 25 at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., but asserted himself as a force with a solid third-place finish at the 3/8-mile dirt track. The effort was helped as the race awarded double points to all competitors in attendance.
Now, only 180 points out of the lead, Kuhn will look to upend Hess as the series returns to southwestern Illinois following a two-race streak outside of the state. Hess won the last POWRi race at Belle-Clair last month for his second win of the season. For this weekend’s race at Belleville – sponsored by Don’s Hardware – the schedule calls for spectator gates to open at 5 p.m., with hot laps at 6 and racing at 7. A complete schedule can be found on POWRi’s website (www.powri.com).
Kuhn, the two-time defending National Midget Driver of the Year, inserted himself into second after leaping ahead of Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, Mo.) at McCool. He is looking for his first series victory of the season, and in addition will try to keep Hess from reaching Victory Lane a third time. Loyet, who fell to third with a seventh-place finish at McCool, lies only 10 points behind Kuhn and 190 markers out of the top spot. He is seeking his second victory of the season after taking the season opener at Morgan County Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill.
POWRi National Midget Points : 1. Mike Hess -1120; 2. Brad Kuhn - 940; 3. Brad Loyet - 930; 4. Brett Anderson - 555; 5. Hud Cone - 515; 6. Bubba Altig - 490; 7. Dave Camfield, Jr.- 445; 8. A.J. Felker - 315; 9. Tim Siner - 310; 10. Austin Brown - 300
For more information about POWRi, visit http://www.powri.com or contact Kenny Brown at 618-476-7526.
