This message was edited on
September 10, 2014 at
04:50:10 PM by STARS Racing
STARS Midgets Hit the Final Stretch of the Season at Grundy County
By: Rich Murray
Morris, Ill. (September 10, 2014)—After a two-week break, the drivers of the D’Arcy GMC STARS National Midgets are eyeing the final two-race stretch of the season at Grundy County Speedway beginning on Saturday night, September 20th with “70s and 80s Night.” The season concludes with the 7th annual “Alex Pruett Memorial ‘Til the Wheels Fall Off’” presented by 3 Wide Life on Saturday night, September 27th.
For the penultimate STARS event of 2014, fans can bring their favorite green leisure suit to celebrate the 1970s or wear their favorite pair of acid washed jeans that have been stashed away in the back of their closet since 1987 to re-live the 1980s. The night features the STARS National Midgets along with the return of the Illini Racing Series Midgets, STARS Classic Modifieds, INEX Legends, and the CSR Super Cups.
On the STARS season, four different drivers have pulled into victory lane: Kyle Hamilton (4 wins), Austin Prock (4 wins), Nick Baran (1 win) and Travis Young (1 win). Hamilton, Prock, and Joliet, Illinois’ Jim Anderson are involved in a three-way tie at the top of the all-time STARS Midget wins list with eight, but the record could be broken soon as Hamilton and Prock have been the hottest drivers in STARS this season. Prock leads the STARS point standings with a 193-point advantage over Tyler Trainor, Ryan Probst, Nick Baran, and Billy Hulbert.
Coming up on Saturday night, September 27th, the season finale for the STARS National Midgets will take place with the “Alex Pruett Memorial.” The race is the third and final leg of the Safety-Kleen Triple Crown. The driver who collects the most points throughout the three-race series that also featured the "Illinois State Championship" on August 2nd and the "Pavement Nationals" on August 23rd, will take home a $750 prize. Though he has not taken the victory in either of the first two events, the consistency displayed by Austin Prock's pair of 2nd place finishes puts him in the driver's seat to collect the bonus check. Plainfield, Illinois' Nick Baran is lurking in second place in the standings with an average finish of 3.5.
The event honors the life and racing career of versatile midget, sprint car, and PRA Big Car Series competitor, Alex Pruett, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 20. Pruett, who was born in Evanston, Illinois and was a native of Carefree, Arizona, raced from coast-to-coast in series such as USAC, SCRA, and UMARA, an organization with which he won the “Bob Lockard Memorial” at Grundy County Speedway in July of 2006. Off the track, Alex was known for his outgoing personality and his fun-loving attitude that made him popular among fellow competitors, fans, and race officials. Alex was even one of the creators of the popular independent motorsports show “3 Wide Life” that is still going strong on TV sets nationwide.
Two former winners of the “Alex Pruett Memorial” are expected to compete in this year’s event. Franklin, Indiana’s Travis Young, whose car carries sponsorship from 3 Wide Life, took the checkered flag in the Inaugural race in 2008 at Anderson, (IN) Speedway. Current STARS Midget point leader, Austin Prock, won the most recent edition in 2013 at Grundy County Speedway.
The “Alex Pruett Memorial” will be the fifth 50-lap feature run at Grundy County Speedway in 2014. Hamilton has collected every 50-lap STARS Midget feature that he has competed in this season. Plainfield, Illinois’ Nick Baran was able to win the duel between himself and Prock to take the “Illinois State Championship” in August.
Other series that will compete at Grundy County Speedway in the “Pruett Memorial” on September 27th include the STARS Classic Modifieds, INEX Legends, CSR Super Cups, and the Legacy Midwest Series. For both of the remaining STARS events, adult tickets are just $12. Kids age 5-12 get in for $2. Children age 4 and under are free! Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstands open up at 5 p.m. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m.
CURRENT 2014 STARS NATIONAL MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. 41-Austin Prock (1227), 2. 25-Tyler Trainor (1034), 3. 99p-Ryan Probst (1015), 4. 87-Nick Baran (912), 5. 88-Billy Hulbert (910), 6. 33h-Kyle Hamilton (764), 7. 11-Tyler Baran (737), 8. 99-Kyle O'Gara (606), 9. 32w-Nick Wagner (555), 10. 32-Nick Hamilton (526)
ALEX PRUETT MEMORIAL FORMER WINNERS
2008 – Anderson Speedway – Travis Young
2009 – Columbus Motor Speedway – Caleb Armstrong
2010 – Columbus Motor Speedway – Dalton Armstrong
2011 – Grundy County Speedway – Tanner Swanson
2012 – Grundy County Speedway – Tyler Cottongim
2013 – Grundy County Speedway – Austin Prock
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