TUESDAY NIGHT THUNDER ON THE RADAR FOR USAC MIDGETS AUG. 1 AT JEFFERSON CO.
Last year’s USAC National Midget debut at Fairbury, Nebraska’s Jefferson County Speedway did more than just live up to lofty expectations, offering up a memorable event before a standing-room-only crowd.
As such, it comes as little surprise that this year’s Road to the Belleville Midget Nationals once again kicks off with “Riverside Chevrolet Tuesday Night Thunder at Jefferson County Speedway presented by Westin Packaged Meats and Schmidt’s Sanitation” on Tuesday night, August 1.
The event atop the 1/5-mile clay oval will once again include the JayHusker Non-Wing Micro Sprint Cars along with the USAC National Midgets.
“The people in Fairbury and the surrounding communities really stepped up and supported this to make it a great event last year,” said event promoter Cody Brewer. “Tuesday Night Thunder will be even better this time around, we’re looking forward to kicking off a great week of Midget racing.”
With a packed house on hand last year, another 500 seats have been added to accommodate the large crowd that will also be treated to an autograph session, cold beer, fireworks and a flyover to go along with the intense racing action atop the cozy confines of the Jefferson County Speedway clay.
Arizona native Chad Boat reigns as defending “Tuesday Night Thunder” champion, battling past Indiana’s Spencer Bayston for the lead midway through the 35-lap feature and then holding off Oklahoma’s Tyler Thomas over the final rounds to secure the win the USAC Midget debut at the Fairbury, NE, track. Frank Galusha scored the win in the JayHusker Non-Wing Micro Sprint ranks.
Two-time and reigning USAC Sprint Car champion Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, OK, currently holds the USAC National Midget points lead ahead of a host of top contenders that includes the likes of defending race winner Boat along with Bayston, Indiana Midget Week champ Shane Golobic and his CMR teammates Justin Grant and Tyler Courtney, reigning USAC Midget champion Tanner Thorson and more.
It will be yet another fast-paced event that fans are sure to enjoy in the fairgrounds atmosphere with the covered grandstands, with contingency awards for every entrant including the Side Trek Bar and Grill $500 Hard Charger Award for the Midgets and Eagle Motorsports Inc. $100 Hard Charger Award for the JayHusker Non-Wing Micros.
General admission tickets to the event are just $20 for adults with children ten and under just $5.
Qualifying will begin at 7:00 p.m. with racing action to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Along with title sponsor Riverside Chevrolet and presenting sponsors Westin Packaged Meats and Schmidt’s Sanitation, other local sponsors that are making “Tuesday Night Thunder” possible include Chappell Roofing, Fairbury Chamber of Commerce, Starr Plumbing, X-CEL NDT, Side Trek Bar and Grill, Ol' Red 99.5, Pollman Appliance, Z-Four Trucking, Vaughn Contracting, Criner's Corner and Jefferson County Visitors Committee.
A number of National and Racing Industry sponsors are making the event possible as well, including Speedway Motors, Rod End Supply, Budweiser, Eagle Motorsports Inc., Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Hepfner Racing Products, Spike Chassis and Shell Shock Helmet Painting.
More information regarding the event is available at http://www.tuesdaynightthunder.com/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TuesdayNightThunder/.
By: Lonnie Wheatley
