GRANITE CITY’S “GOLD CROWN” NEXT FOR NATIONAL MIDGETS;

CLAUSON TAKES “4-CROWN” 25-LAPPER

The “Gold Crown Midget Nationals” loom large for the Honda USAC National Midgets October 2-4 at the Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. as Rico Abreu continues his quest for his first USAC driving title.

Abreu’s attempt for a repeat “4-Crown Nationals” victory came to an abrupt halt on lap two Sunday at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio when he was involved in a tangle resulting in three drivers, including Abreu, flipping. There were no driver injuries.

Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. led all 25 laps of Sunday’s race, which had been postponed from Saturday after rains interrupted the event after the Midget heat races.

Clauson wheeled the Fairbury Westin Packaged Meats/Curb Records Spike/Esslinger to the win over Christopher Bell, Darren Hagen, Zach Daum and Shane Cockrum. Bell returned from the back of the starting lineup after he was among those involved in the first-lap crash.

Abreu’s series point lead stands at 79 points over teammate Bell entering the point-rich Granite City event. Clauson’s win solidified his fourth-place point ranking behind Tracy Hines.