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MIDGETS MAKE SOUTHERN NATIONAL DEBUT SATURDAY; EAST SNAGS ANDERSON 50-LAPPER
Tracy Hines will lead the USAC National Midget Series to Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, N.C. Saturday for the first USAC National Midget race in the Tar Heel State since Bobby Santos’ victory at Concord two years ago.
Hines emerged as the new series point leader after his third-place finish in Sunday’s 50-lap race at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, won by Bobby East. Hines has a five-point lead over Cole Whitt and is 33 ahead of defending two-time National Midget Champion Jerry Coons Jr. A 40-lap feature is planned on the 4/10-mile paved oval.
East, of Brownsburg, Ind., posted his 28th USAC National win Sunday at Anderson, his 14th in National Midget competition, driving the Ford Racing Beast/Esslinger Ford. He passed early leader Brad Kuhn on lap 23 and led the final 27 laps to beat Kody Swanson, Hines, Kuhn and Mike Murgoitio.
At least two female drivers will bear watching Saturday. Stephanie Mockler of Westfield, Ind. and Caitlin Shaw of Albuquerque, N.M. are in the field. Mockler posted the second fastest qualifying time at Anderson but fell victim to engine problems and did not compete in the 50-lap feature.
Saturday’s race will only be the fifth for the National Midgets in North Carolina. Mel Kenyon won at Asheville in 1968, Jim Hettinger won at the Charlotte Coliseum in 1990, Tony Stewart won at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1998 and Santos at Concord in 2006.
USAC MOPAR NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1 Tracy Hines 120
2 Cole Whitt 115
3 Jerry Coons Jr. 87
4 Brad Sweet 84
5 Chad Boat 83
6 Bobby East 82
7 Brad Kuhn 80
8 Levi Jones 80
9 Darren Hagen 78
10 Brady Bacon 75
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