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34TH ANNUAL LOCKARD MEMORIAL ON TAP FOR STARS MIDGETS ON SAT. AUG. 30TH

By: Rich Murray

MORRIS, IL (August 27, 2014)—Saturday night, August 30th, the Grundy County Speedway will host the 34th Annual “Bob Lockard Memorial” featuring the D’Arcy GMC STARS National Midgets. The race honors the memory of Lockard, the legendary car owner from Joliet, Illinois whose midgets competed and won several events in UARA, WOOM, and USAC. The drivers who have been behind the wheel of one of Lockard’s famous red #69 cars are a list of who’s who among midget racing’s past. The list includes Indianapolis 500 veterans Danny Kladis, Johnny Rutherford, Johnny Parsons, Jr., Jimmy Caruthers, Joe Saldana, Larry Rice, and Rich Vogler along with local stars such as Merle Bettenhausen, Jim McLean, Tom Steiner, and Tom Corcoran. Along the way, Lockard’s cars earned several UARA Midget Series titles along with 24 USAC Midget Series victories.

The race dates back to 1981 when former Lockard wheelman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series participant, Dennis DeVea, won the inaugural “Bob Lockard Memorial” at Joliet Memorial Stadium. The race was held at the track in Joliet until it moved to its current home, the Grundy County Speedway, in 1987. The winner that night in 1987 was Yoder, Indiana’s Mike Fedorcak driving the infamous “Munchkin” midget. Danny Pens is the all-time leader in wins in the “Bob Lockard Memorial” with four victories between 1989 and 1995.

Austin Prock, the current STARS National Midget point leader, is the most recent winner of the “Bob Lockard Memorial” back in 2013. Prock finished in second place behind Kyle Hamilton during last week’s running of the “D’Arcy GMC Pavement Nationals presented by Bell Helmets.” Hamilton has won the last two STARS races held at Grundy County and has been the fast qualifier in all five races he has competed in this year.

Also on the agenda are the Illini Racing Series Midgets, STARS Classic Modifieds, INEX Legends, and the CSR Super Cups. Adult tickets are just $12. Kids age 5-12 get in for $2. Children age 4 and under are free! Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstands open up at 5 p.m. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m.

Before all the racing gets underway, fans have a chance to meet the legends who have made racing the great American sport that it is today during the 11th annual Mazon Speed Bowl and Grundy County Speedway Hall of Fame & Racers Reunion. From noon until 6 p.m., a historical photo collection featuring more than 4000 pictures of the cars and stars from years past can be viewed while the Hall of Fame awards ceremony takes place at 3 p.m. Fans can also get a close look at the display of vintage cars of the open wheel and stock car variety. Grundy County Speedway is located one mile north of I-80 on Route 47 in Morris, Illinois.



BOB LOCKARD MEMORIAL RACE WINNERS

1981 – Dennis DeVea
1982 – Mack McClellan
1983 – Jim Mahoney
1984 – Don Carter, Jr.
1985 – Mack McClellan
1986 – Rich Corson
1987 – Mike Fedorcak
1988 – Don Carter, Jr.
1989 – Danny Pens
1990 – Danny Pens
1991 – Danny Pens
1992 – Dennis DeVea
1993 – Jack Runyon
1994 – Don Carter, Jr.
1995 – Danny Pens
1996 – Jimmy McCune
1997 – Jim Hettinger
1998 – Gene Lee Gibson
1999 – Gene Lee Gibson
2000 – Gene Lee Gibson
2001 – Aaron Fike
2002 – John Meyers
2003 – Teddy Beach
2004 – David Gough
2005 – Patrick Wilda, Jr.
2006 – Alex Pruett
2007 – Zach Schiff
2008 – Mario Clouser
2009 – Aaron Andruskevitch
2010 – Mario Marietta
2011 – Tanner Swanson
2012 – Tyler Cottongim
2013 – Austin Prock

Among the inductees to the Mazon Speed Bowl & Grundy County Speedway Hall of Fame in 2014 are:

Rich Vogler
Harry Turner
Jerry Hipple
Jerry Matter
Biff George
Mike Varner
Dave Gentile
Tom "Turtle" Weckler
Bob Sheldon

The 11th Annual Hall of Fame & Racers Reunion takes place on Saturday, August 30th at the Grundy County Fairgrounds. From noon to 6 p.m., fans can visit the historical photo display featuring more than 4000 vintage racing photos. Fans can also take a look at the vintage open wheel cars and stock cars and see the memorabilia from year's past. The Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony begins at 3 p.m. The photo display runs from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening.

After the induction ceremony, take a short walk over to the racetrack, find a seat and watch the night's action at the Grundy County Speedway. The STARS National Midgets will be on hand in the 34th Annual "Bob Lockard Memorial." Also on the agenda are the Illini Racing Series Midgets, STARS Classic Modifieds, INEX Legends, and the CSR Super Cups. Adult tickets are just $12. Kids age 5-12 get in for $2. Children age 4 and under are free! Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstands open up at 5 p.m. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m.

Come early to see the stars from the past; stay later to see the STARS of the present.

It's Race Day! Hall of fame weekend and the STARS Midgets' "Lockard Memorial." HoF inductions at 3pm. Gates open at 5pm.  Qualifying at 6:30. Racing at 7:30.

GRUNDY COUNTY SPEEDWAY
D’ARCY GMC STARS NATIONAL MIDGETS – 34TH ANNUAL “BOB LOCKARD MEMORIAL”
AUGUST 30, 2014

QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Kyle Hamilton, 33, Hamilton-14.189; 2. Austin Prock, 41, Prock-14.321; 3. Nick Baran, 87, BBOYZ-14.368; 4. Kyle O’Gara, 99, Guess-14.387; 5. Ryan Probst, 99p, Probst-14.388; 6. Tyler Baran, 11, BBOYZ-14.525; 7. Billy Hulbert, 88, Hulbert-14.533; 8. Tyler Trainor, 25, Trainor-14.535; 9. Adam Wilsdon, 9, Wilsdon-14.853; 10. Terry Ahern, 6T6, Ahern-15.705

FIRST HEAT: (8 laps)
1. Hulbert, 2. Probst, 3. Hamilton, 4. N. Baran, 5. Wilsdon

SECOND HEAT: (8 laps)
1. O’Gara, 2. Trainor, 3. T. Baran, 4. Prock, 5. Ahern

FEATURE: (30 laps)
1. Kyle Hamilton, 2. Tyler Baran, 3. Ryan Probst, 4. Kyle O’Gara, 5. Billy Hulbert, 6. Tyler Trainor, 7. Terry Ahern, 8. Adam Wilsdon, 9. Nick Baran, 10. Austin Prock

FEATURE LAP LEADERS:
Laps 1-24 T. Baran. Laps 25-30 Hamilton.

NEXT D’ARCY GMC STARS NATIONAL MIDGET EVENT:
September 20th at Grundy County Speedway – “70s and 80s Night”