BELOIT, BELLEVILLE HOST MIDGET “CLASSICS” THIS WEEK;

HINES WINS “RICH VOGLER CLASSIC”

It’s sunflower time in Kansas and the Honda USAC National Midget Series is headed for a pair of classic events, beginning with Tuesday night’s “Chad McDaniel Memorial” at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit. The race honors the memory of the late driver from Concordia, Kans. who lost his life in a 2009 accident at Knoxville, Iowa.

Two nights later the famed “Belleville Midget Nationals” kicks off with Thursday’s preliminaries, including a 25-lap feature on the fast half-mile dirt oval. The event concludes with finals on Saturday night. In between, the Traxxas USAC Silver Crown series competes on Friday night at Belleville.

Tracy Hines of New Castle, Ind., who has logged victories in three of USAC last four Kansas races (all at Dodge City), is coming off a virtuoso performance in last Saturday night’s “Rich Vogler Classic” at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. He stands sixth in the Honda National Midget Dirt standings entering the Belleville program.

Hines passed Darren Hagen on the 10th lap of Saturday night’s race and led the final 21 laps in his Parker Machinery/Turbines, Inc. Spike/Stanton Toyota. Kyle Larson took second ahead of Tanner Swanson, Hagen and Kyle O’Gara.

Christopher Bell of Norman, Okla. leads the Honda National Midget Dirt points heading into this week’s races. He has a 26-point lead over Bryan Clauson, with Andrew Felker 70 back in third.

Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. will be among favorites at Belleville, the only previous three-time and defending race champion.