What was already going to be an exceptional opening night of action this Friday at the Jacksonville Speedway just got even bigger with the track announcing that due to prior rain outs the Lucas Oil POWRi National Midgets and Speedway Motors Outlaw Micros would be joined on their season opening cards by 410 Winged Sprint Cars. Also in action to give a local flavor will be our outstanding class of UMP Street Stocks.
POWRi officials have told the Speedway to expect another exceptionally large and talented field of midgets for their season opener Friday. Last year’s opener at Jacksonville had well over 40 National midgets and haulers backed up from the Speedway entrance to Morton Avenue. In addition to the great talent that will be vying for a POWRi Championship in 2013 such as defending Champion Andrew Felker, Brett Anderson, Austin Brown, Jake Blackhurst and Tyler Thomas, expect a large number of travelers to invade the speedway for this event. Word is that the latest open wheel sensation Christopher Bell will be present in a Keith Kunz Motorsports Toyota powered ride. All indications are that Chris is going to be one of those drivers that in a few years fans will be watching on TV remembering when he raced a midget at Jacksonville.
On the micro side of things, last year’s opener featured roughly 50 micros with some traveling through multiple time zones to get to Jacksonville. Expect a similar field of deep talent to travel to the Speedway to battle hometown micro shoes such as Greg Northrop and Evan Turner.
Speaking of Northrops, the Jacksonville-based familar Northrop Racing 410 winged sprint car with Alex Shanks will be part of a great field of 410 winged sprints that will include many past winners at the track such as Jimmy Hurley, Joey Moughan and more.
Finally, our UMP Street Stock class completes the night’s lineup which provides some of the best wheel to wheel, fender to fender racing at the track every Friday night.
Pit gates open at 3:00 (to save the poor souls on Morton from getting caught in another race rig traffic jam), Grandstands open at 5:00 with Hot Laps at 6:00 and racing at 7:00. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults with children 12 and under free.