Southern Illinois Raceway in Marion is preparing for a huge weekend of micro sprint racing as the third annual Terry Sprague Memorial is slated for Friday night August 14 and the O'Reilly Powri National Micro Sprint Series invades the 1/8 mile dirt oval on Saturday night, August 15.
The Sprague Memorial is the annual tribute to local racer Terry Sprague who lost his life in a motorcycle accident in April 2007. Phillip Bundren of Vienna won the first Sprague Memorial in 2007 on an emotional night that saw hundreds of friends and family in attendance at SIR including Terry's widow Shara and his two children. Rick Odum of Vienna won last year's Sprague Memorial winged event and Trenton Beckinger of Evansville, Indiana took the non-wing portion, which for the second year in a row was conducted as a benefit night for the Lighthouse Homeless Shelter in Marion.
The third running of the Sprague Memorial will also benefit the Lighthouse Homeless Shelter and features a large purse for the winged outlaw micro sprints with a guaranteed $500 going to the winner and $50 to start the 25 lap main event. No less than twnty-five sponsors have come on board to support the event and the management of SIR is extremely grateful for their participation, with additional sponsors looking to come on board in the next week.
Saturday features the O'Reilly Powri Micro Sprint Series with current point leader Derek King of Vienna, Illinois in search of his third national championship. King has three wins in 2009 and is nearly 900 markers ahead of Missouri's Andrew Felker in the 2009 title chase. Both King and Felker are expected to compete at SIR along with King's teammates Kara King of Vienna and Mike Hudson of Herrin. Other Powri drivers of note expected at SIR include Austin Brown of Millstadt, Ryan Guyett of Springfield (3rd in Powri points), Jacob Patton of Alton (4th) and Brandon Graybeal (6th) of LeRoy.
Out of state drivers expected include Missouri's Tony Roney (5th) and Joe B.
Miller (8th).
A number of the Powri regulars are expected to appear at SIR both nights and several local drivers stand an excellent chance of winning either Friday or Saturday, or perhaps pulling off the sweep. Eric Edwards of Creal Springs won twice on the Powri tour in 2008 and has several feature wins at Southern Illinois Raceway. Trenton Beckinger of Evansville, Indiana has dominated botli winged and non-winged races at SIR in the last three years. Jake Palmisano of Pulaski, Carson Short of Marion and Lucas Owen of McLeansboro all have feature wins in 2009. Brad McDaniel of Carbondale also has a 2009 SIR feature win and is a semi-regular with the Powri series. Scott Gretzmacher of St. Genevieve, Missouri currently leads the point standings at SIR for both the winged and non-winged classes.
Friday night's action starts with practice at 6:30 and racing at 7:30, Saturday has practice scheduled for 6:00 and the first race at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for kids 5-1 1 and kids 4 and under are free.
Camping (no hookups) is available at the track, camping with service is available at the Marion Campground and RV Park located at 1-57 exit 53 in Marion. For additional information contact promoter Richard Poe at 618-925-0520, or www.siraceway.net or www.powri.com.
The Sprague Memorial is the annual tribute to local racer Terry Sprague who lost his life in a motorcycle accident in April 2007. Phillip Bundren of Vienna won the first Sprague Memorial in 2007 on an emotional night that saw hundreds of friends and family in attendance at SIR including Terry's widow Shara and his two children. Rick Odum of Vienna won last year's Sprague Memorial winged event and Trenton Beckinger of Evansville, Indiana took the non-wing portion, which for the second year in a row was conducted as a benefit night for the Lighthouse Homeless Shelter in Marion.
The third running of the Sprague Memorial will also benefit the Lighthouse Homeless Shelter and features a large purse for the winged outlaw micro sprints with a guaranteed $500 going to the winner and $50 to start the 25 lap main event. No less than twnty-five sponsors have come on board to support the event and the management of SIR is extremely grateful for their participation, with additional sponsors looking to come on board in the next week.
Saturday features the O'Reilly Powri Micro Sprint Series with current point leader Derek King of Vienna, Illinois in search of his third national championship. King has three wins in 2009 and is nearly 900 markers ahead of Missouri's Andrew Felker in the 2009 title chase. Both King and Felker are expected to compete at SIR along with King's teammates Kara King of Vienna and Mike Hudson of Herrin. Other Powri drivers of note expected at SIR include Austin Brown of Millstadt, Ryan Guyett of Springfield (3rd in Powri points), Jacob Patton of Alton (4th) and Brandon Graybeal (6th) of LeRoy.
Out of state drivers expected include Missouri's Tony Roney (5th) and Joe B.
Miller (8th).
A number of the Powri regulars are expected to appear at SIR both nights and several local drivers stand an excellent chance of winning either Friday or Saturday, or perhaps pulling off the sweep. Eric Edwards of Creal Springs won twice on the Powri tour in 2008 and has several feature wins at Southern Illinois Raceway. Trenton Beckinger of Evansville, Indiana has dominated botli winged and non-winged races at SIR in the last three years. Jake Palmisano of Pulaski, Carson Short of Marion and Lucas Owen of McLeansboro all have feature wins in 2009. Brad McDaniel of Carbondale also has a 2009 SIR feature win and is a semi-regular with the Powri series. Scott Gretzmacher of St. Genevieve, Missouri currently leads the point standings at SIR for both the winged and non-winged classes.
Friday night's action starts with practice at 6:30 and racing at 7:30, Saturday has practice scheduled for 6:00 and the first race at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for kids 5-1 1 and kids 4 and under are free.
Camping (no hookups) is available at the track, camping with service is available at the Marion Campground and RV Park located at 1-57 exit 53 in Marion. For additional information contact promoter Richard Poe at 618-925-0520, or www.siraceway.net or www.powri.com.
