CLAUSON-MARSHALL RACING ENTERS 3 CARS FOR BELLEVILLE MIDGET NATIONALS AUG. 4-5
By: Bryan Gapinski
Clauson-Marshall Racing has filed three entries for the 40th Annual Belleville Midget Nationals on Aug. 4-5 at the Belleville (Kans.) High Banks. The USAC Midget National Championship Series event is of one of midget racing's crown jewel events.
Drivers for the team which use Spike Chassis and Stanton SR-11 engines are: Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, Ind.), Shane Golobic (Fremont, Calif.), and Justin Grant (Ione, Calif.).
The Tim Clauson & Richard Marshall-led team was formed last fall and races in the memory of Tim's son, three-time Belleville Midget Nationals Champion Bryan Clauson. Bryan died the following day after last year’s Belleville Midget Nationals from injuries suffered in a crash during the event.
Since the team's debut in late December, Courtney has driven the No. 7BC car to six midget victories nationwide (tied for first), including three USAC National event wins. Courtney, who is currently fourth in USAC National Midget points, will be making his debut at Belleville.
Golobic's only previous Midget Nationals attempt resulted in 13th place finishes in both 2009 and 2013. Golobic has used consistency this season driving the Clauson-Marshall/Matt Wood Racing No. 17 and finds himself just 17 points out of the USAC points lead. Golobic scored a USAC Western States Midget victory in March at Placerville (Calif.) Speedway.
Although making his midget debut on the High Banks, Grant has a podium finish at the track. Grant finished third in the 2015 "Hustle on the High Banks" USAC Silver Crown 50-lapper. Grant's four USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car victories have him atop the series points lead entering the second half of season for the division. He is currently fifth in Midget points.
"Belleville was an event Bryan looked forward to every year. The Belleville victories were important races in his career. Our team views the event as two USAC National Midget point races. As the USAC season begins the final stretch we remain focused on the title for our drivers. Yes, we carry a heavy heart to Belleville this year, but we want everyone at the event to enjoy the races and Belleville as Bryan would have wanted them to do," commented Clauson, during a phone interview earlier this week.
Friday, August 4, will feature practice, qualifications, preliminary races and a 25-lap feature for the midgets on the 1/2-mile high banked clay oval. The popular two-person cruiser stock car division will race on the track's infield quarter-mile track.
Saturday August 5 night will feature last chance races for midget participants to make the 40-lap feature, midget racing's most grueling event of the season. A check of $12,500 awaits the feature winner. The United Rebel Sprint Car Series again returns for the "5th annual 305 Sprint Nationals."
General Admission tickets for all events are sold first-come first-served on race day at the ticket gate. Reserved seating tickets are available for the event. General admission available only if the event is not sold out, and available only on the day of the race at the track ticket office. Special children ticket pricing is being offered this year. Link to order advance tickets from Ticket Force is: https://tickets.ticketforce.com/?search=belleville.
