PUTNAMVILLE WINNER CLAUSON EYES MILWAUKEE “TRIPLE” NEXT WEEK

 


USAC National Drivers Champion Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. is in the midst of a busy week of USAC Mopar National Midget racing, but he’s keeping an eye focused on next week’s “triple” opportunity at the Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile in conjunction with the track’s IZOD Indycar “Milwaukee 225.”


 


As USAC’s 2010 National Drivers Champion, Bryan earned a ride in the Firestone Indy lights oval races this season and posted a respectable fifth-place finish in the May 27 Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in his initial series start. Next weekend he’ll return to the seat of the Sam Schmidt Motorsports entry at Milwaukee, while also competing in the weekend’s USAC Traxxas Silver Crown and Mopar National Midget races at the historic paved one-mile Wisconsin State Fair Park oval.


 


Last night Bryan fought off a determined bid from youngster Kyle Larson to win round two of this week’s “Indiana Midget Week” at the Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. That series continues with races tonight at Bloomington, tomorrow night at Lawrenceburg and Sunday night at Kokomo. He currently leads the “Indiana Midget Week” standings and is third in the Mopar National Midget standings behind leaders Bobby East and Darren Hagen.


 


Clauson will pilot a Tony Stewart-fielded entry in the 100-mile USAC Traxxas Silver Crown race at Milwaukee on Saturday and the Corey Tucker Racing/BCI/Curb-Agajanian Midget in Saturday’s accompanying 25-mile USAC Mopar National Midget feature. Practice and qualifications are scheduled as part of Friday’s activities at the Mile.


 


In addition, the “Milwaukee 225” weekend also offers the USAC Mopar ,25 Midget series, competing on a specially constructed oval located on the Fairgrounds west of the Milwaukee Mile’s main grandstand. The event leads up to the “Battle at the Brickyard” for the Mopar .25 Midgets at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway July 5-9.


 


“I think I have a great chance to win in all three series,” admits Bryan, who actually competed in a NASCAR Nationwide race at the Mile in 2008. “That experience I’m sure will help me this time,” he adds. “Milwaukee is a tricky track and you have to be precise to get through the corners and post good lap times. It’s almost like a road course at times, each corner somewhat different. The challenge of competing in the three races will be fun, with the short 25-lap Midget and long 100-mile Silver Crown distances, but the Indy Lights are a different breed altogether. It’ll be nice to get back to a place with the rich tradition and history of Milwaukee and it should be a great weekend for the race fans, with so many different forms of motorsports on tap. I also plan to spend a little time at the quarter-midget track, since the USAC Mopar .25 Midgets are part of the weekend activities. I came from quarter-midget racing and it’s always nice to spend time with the youngsters who are beginning their racing careers.”