PAVEMENT MIDGETS EYE “NIGHT BEFORE THE 500” AT LOR;

BELL TAKES BELLEVILLE BASH, RAIN TAKES “HUT HUNDRED” AGAIN!

The Honda USAC National Midget series is idle this week, with the pavement Midget series awaiting its May 24 appearance at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. It’s the 69th Annual Visit Hendricks County “Night Before the 500” classic, a race dating back to 1946.

Rico Abreu continues to lead the National series standings after finishing third in last Saturday night’s “Belleville Bash” at Belle Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill. He holds a 12-point lead over teammate Christopher Bell, the winner at Belleville.

Bell, of Norman, Okla., led the final 18 laps of Saturday’s 40-lapper in his Curb-Agajanian Motorsports/Toyota TRD Bullet/Speedway Toyota. Bryan Clauson took second ahead of Abreu, Tanner Thorson and Daniel Robinson. Abreu was Saturday’s ProSource fast qualifier and Robinson, who started 22nd, earned the Weld Wheels “Move of the Night” for his fifth-place finish.

Chris Windom led the opening four laps before Thomas paced the next seven. Bell led the rest except for lap 22, which was led by Thomas.

Friday’s “Hut Hundred” at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. was rained out. The next Honda USAC National race will be the June 11 opener of “Indiana Midget Week” at Gas City I-69 Speedway.