<B>MARA Midget Finley Memorial This Sunday at Belle-Clair; Hess' DQ Challenge Creating Excitement!</b>
By Jon Mooney
BELLEVILLE, IL: For the third time this season, midget auto racing roars into the Belle-Clair Speedway Sunday, July 27th for the annual Shannon Finley Memorial Race sanctioned by the Midwest Auto Racing Association (MARA). And when the midget feature rolls off Sunday night, it's a sure bet that many eyes will be on a black and gold number 51 piloted by Mike Hess.
Hess' father Bill, owner of a Dairy Queen store in the suburban Springfield, Illinois town of Petersburg will give away DQ sundaes to everyone in attendance if his son wins the evening's 25 lap main event.
Should Hess win, all spectators are invited to the pit area after the races where coupons will be handed out good for a five ounce sundae from the Petersburg DQ.
The odds are pretty good for an ice cream bonanza as Hess has scored second and third place finishes in Belle-Clair's first two midget shows held earlier this year.
A strong contingent of MARA competitors will step up to give Hess some competition including current MARA point-leader and Belleville resident Steve Knepper, winner of a an exciting Belle-Clair midget feature held in the spring.
This year MARA has had a variety of winners at different tracks throughout the Midwest. Craig Carey, Tim Siner and Rich Camfield, as well as the fore mentioned Knepper and Hess, have feature race victories. All are expected to be on-hand for Sunday's Finley Memorial.
Also, area stock car fans will follow the progress of young Riverton, Illinois late model chauffer Justin Allgaier. Allgaier, who has won dirt late model races this year at I-55 Raceway and Farmer City, will be strapping into a midget on Sunday night to give Hess a run for the DQ challenge as well.
Sunday's show is also the third round of the Gateway Short Track Regional Series sponsored by Hoosier Tire Midwest. A regional point champion will be crowned after the final series race at Belle-Clair next month.
Winged 600 c.c. micro sprints paying $500 to win will complete the evening's two division program.
Pit gates open at 3:30. Spectator gates open at 5:00. Hot laps are at 6:30. Race time on Sunday is 7 pm.
Sunday's grandstand tickets are just $10. Children under six will be admitted free.
Belle-Clair Speedway is located at Routes 159 and 13 in Belleville, Illinois.
For more information on the Belle-Clair midget races, contact co-promoters Kenny Brown at 618-476-7526 or Brian Thompson at 618-473-9512. On race day call the track at 618- 233-0052. Or visit the official web-site of the Gateway Short Track Regional Series/Brown Management, Inc. at: www.bmsinco.com
By Jon Mooney
BELLEVILLE, IL: For the third time this season, midget auto racing roars into the Belle-Clair Speedway Sunday, July 27th for the annual Shannon Finley Memorial Race sanctioned by the Midwest Auto Racing Association (MARA). And when the midget feature rolls off Sunday night, it's a sure bet that many eyes will be on a black and gold number 51 piloted by Mike Hess.
Hess' father Bill, owner of a Dairy Queen store in the suburban Springfield, Illinois town of Petersburg will give away DQ sundaes to everyone in attendance if his son wins the evening's 25 lap main event.
Should Hess win, all spectators are invited to the pit area after the races where coupons will be handed out good for a five ounce sundae from the Petersburg DQ.
The odds are pretty good for an ice cream bonanza as Hess has scored second and third place finishes in Belle-Clair's first two midget shows held earlier this year.
A strong contingent of MARA competitors will step up to give Hess some competition including current MARA point-leader and Belleville resident Steve Knepper, winner of a an exciting Belle-Clair midget feature held in the spring.
This year MARA has had a variety of winners at different tracks throughout the Midwest. Craig Carey, Tim Siner and Rich Camfield, as well as the fore mentioned Knepper and Hess, have feature race victories. All are expected to be on-hand for Sunday's Finley Memorial.
Also, area stock car fans will follow the progress of young Riverton, Illinois late model chauffer Justin Allgaier. Allgaier, who has won dirt late model races this year at I-55 Raceway and Farmer City, will be strapping into a midget on Sunday night to give Hess a run for the DQ challenge as well.
Sunday's show is also the third round of the Gateway Short Track Regional Series sponsored by Hoosier Tire Midwest. A regional point champion will be crowned after the final series race at Belle-Clair next month.
Winged 600 c.c. micro sprints paying $500 to win will complete the evening's two division program.
Pit gates open at 3:30. Spectator gates open at 5:00. Hot laps are at 6:30. Race time on Sunday is 7 pm.
Sunday's grandstand tickets are just $10. Children under six will be admitted free.
Belle-Clair Speedway is located at Routes 159 and 13 in Belleville, Illinois.
For more information on the Belle-Clair midget races, contact co-promoters Kenny Brown at 618-476-7526 or Brian Thompson at 618-473-9512. On race day call the track at 618- 233-0052. Or visit the official web-site of the Gateway Short Track Regional Series/Brown Management, Inc. at: www.bmsinco.com
