Aussies and Kiwis attack the POWRi Midget Illinois Speed Week

Nathan Smee and Brett Thomas ready to race

It’s a long way across the Pacific but the journey to the States for the Illinois Midget Speed Week offers so much for the Kiwis and the Australian teams headed to Quincy Speedway for the first of four races.
The full field of POWRi National Midget competitors will unload their midgets mindful that the Australian and New Zealanders will pose a real threat to their supremacy in the quest for the Illinois Speedweek Title.

The current Australia POWRi Super Series Champion Nathan Smee has already left his mark with a strong early performance during the Plymouth USAC show on May 29th . Smee is backed up by former Australian POWRi Champion Brett Thomas from Queensland.With one race behind them the trio will be out to take the chequered flag.
The boys from the shaky Isles will like their chances lead by Kiwi National Midget Champion Brad Mosen who hs plenty of experience on the Illinois tracks and will be cracking for his first US Feature win.Backed up by Hayden Williams and Brock Maskovich the Kiwi boys will not be too far away from the pointy end of all the Features.

Mosen and Williams
Pic-Western Springs

The challenge for the Australian and the New Zealanders will come in the shape of current USAC and POWRi points’ leader Darren Hagan and his Austin Brown owned BOSS/Esslinger. Making a return to the midget ranks for this series is Christopher Bell in his familiar Kunz/Toyota .Bell’s returns after wins in the Late Model Sedan in the “”Don’t tread on me 250″ at LSM Speedway and a recent win with the World of Outlaws at 1.55 Raceway, Pevely on May 2 .

Bell and the Kunz Toyota

Bell is keen to repeat his 2013 performance and when interviewed about Speed week in Illinois he had this to say to ““It would be pretty cool to win it again,” said Christopher Bell. “I won the first one, but didn’t get the opportunity to run last year. It’s definitely a really fun event. We go to a lot of really cool racetracks right in a row. It’s just a really fun week.”
“ Oh what a feeling” as Kevin Thomas Jr and Tanner Thorson support the 2013 USAC Champ over the four nights of the Illinois Speedweek
Darren Hagen lead Andrew Felker and Austin Brown in the POWRi points as the pit gates open to Quincy Raceway on Thursday June 4 2015 for the start of the ILLINIOS SPEEDWEEK.

The Boss and Kevin Thomas at Plymouth

Following Quincy Raceways, teams will travel to Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, IL on Friday, June 5th and then to Macon Speedway in Macon, IL on Saturday, June 6th. The Illinois SPEED Week finale will take place at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, IL on Sunday, June 7th.

You can keep up todate on all the Sprintcar , Midget and Super Modified action from the US reports and photos that will make you feel like you are at the trackall in the June edition of Flat Out Magazine

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Hagen the Boss at POWRi

The “Hawk ” Darren Hagen

The Friday and Saturday night’s racing with POWRi at Grain valley and Wheatlands was totally” Bossed “by Darren Hagen and his Boss Chassis Esslingler powered Kenny Brown Racing. Hagen since his change to Kenny Brown Racing has been rejuvenated with the “Hawk” heading both the USAC and POWRi standings.

Hagen’s weekend started at Grain valley and the Boss mounted Hagen dominated the show with heat wins and leading the 30 Lap Feature flag to flag , Tyler Thomas and his American Racing Custom Wheel Spike /Esslinger chased Hagen after clearing the pack but was unable ,despite many attacks to force his way to the race lead .

Hagen on the way to winning at Grain Valley

Night two and the Lucas Oils Speedway and the “Boss “once again was the “Hawk” who would take the race honor. This time Hagen would need all the energy and power that he could muster from his Boss chassis/Esslingler. Starting out of position 5 with Alex Bright and Tyler Thomas sitting on the front row, the 30 laps looked a challenge.

The same engine problems would force Bright out early for the second night. Tyler Thomas lost the lead to Hagen after the restart on lap 9 but continued to harass right to the end of the 30 lap Feature.
In a race that was interrupted by 6 cautions before the 15 laps had been posted the way forward opened up for those starting back in the pack.

As the cautions took their toll the pack behind Hagen and Thomas engaged in a hectic battle for third between Andrew Felker, Austin Peck and Matt Sherrell. 15 laps, halfway and both Peck and Felker would suffer engine problems that would see Peck out of the race and leave Felker struggling to finish in 13th.

24 laps into the 30 lap Feature and Matt Sherrell race is done allowing Jake Neuman from New Berlin, Illinois to take the final podium spot.

New team, new season and the “Hawk “is soaring and hunting for more race wins in 2015.

Wheatlands winner hagen

The driver podium interviews, Darren Hagen “I’m very, very blessed to be in the opportunity that I am,” stated first place finisher, Darren Hagen. “I couldn’t say enough about this race team. Austin Brown had me come drive for him with BOSS Chassis, Flea, Corey, Chris, and everybody on this team. Without these guys, my job would be really tough. Without them I wouldn’t be able to drive such a perfect racecar.

”
Tyler Thomas “We just didn’t quite have enough for Darren,” explained a disappointed second place finisher, Tyler Thomas. “He was pretty stout, last night and tonight. We had a pretty good car, got to lead some laps, and we’re gaining more and more knowledge on this Spike Chassis each night we run and this weekend we made big gains. I think we got something and we have some consistency to get that win.”

Tyler Thomas

Jake Neuman “We struggled with the car in the heat race,” said third place finisher, Jake Neuman. “We dialed it in somewhat for the b-main and won it. Started 17th in the feature and got up to around ninth and after that cars started having problems and dropping out. We ended up third. I’d like to thank all my sponsors, and Duane and Alan for all the work they put in.”
Night 2 Missouri Mid State Midget National Lucas Oils Speedway-Wheatlands MO
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series Feature Results (30 laps): 1. 17 – Darren Hagen; 2. 91T – Tyler Thomas 3. 3N – Jake Neuman 4. 4M – Michelle Decker 5. 27 – Tucker Klaasmeyer 6. 11C – Chett Gehrke 7. 8 – Alex Sewell 8. 7W – Kory Schudy 9. 14E – Eric Fenton 10. 9K – Kyle Schuett 11. 35 – Matt Sherrell 12. 11A – Andrew Felker 13. 89 – Nick Bailey 14. 88 – Tyler Nelson 15. 5X – Justin Peck 16. 17E – Blake Edwards 17. 7 – Austin Brown 18. 27K – Kyle Keeler 19. 56X – Mark Chisholm 20. 56 – Alex Bright 21. 21 – Ty Hulsey 22. 52 – Anton Hernandez
Night 1Missouri Mid State Midget national Grain Valley Speedway-Grain Valley MO
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series Feature Results (30 laps): 1. 17 – Darren Hagen 2. 91T – Tyler Thomas 3. 5X – Justin Peck 4. 7 – Austin Brown 5. 27 – Tucker Klaasmeyer 6. 11C – Chett Gehrke 7. 35 – Matt Sherrell 8. 21 – Ty Hulsey 9. 9K – Kyle Schuett 10. 14E – Eric Fenton 11. 22 – Andy Malpocker 12. 17E – Blake Edwards 13. 89 – Nick Bailey 14. 52 – Anton Hernandez 15. 88N – Tyler Nelson 16. 8 – Alex Sewell 17. 56X – Mark Chisholm 18. 11A – Andrew Felker 19. 7JR – Casey Shuman 20. 56 – Alex Bright 21. 1K – Brayton Lynch 22. 3N – Jake Neuman 23. 4M – Michelle Decker
The POWRi Midget will head next to Belle-Clair Speedway May 9th

Bell dominates Turnpike Challenge at POWRi opener in Tulsa
This past weekend Christopher Bell’s return to his home turf at Port City Raceway was the perfect start for his return to midget s has set up the Oklahoma peddler as he strives to win his first National POWRi Midget Championship and retain his USAC Title lost in 2014 to teammate Abreu.

Christopher Bell wins the opener at the Turnpike Challenge

Coming to Tulsa after his win in the Late Model Sedan Rattler 250 at South Alabama Bell started the Turnpike Challenge weekend in a shaky manner with an early incident during his heat race .Starting out of position 10 the team of Toyota/Kunz with Bell in the seat was the mover right from the drop of green.
Andrew Felker racing out of Carl Junction, Missouri with the Danny Felker owned team led the opener strongly right up until the 19th lap before Bell factor came into play. Two laps later and Bell’s teammate Kevin Thomas pulled the second place from Felker .

Andrew Felker

Bell out in front ,Thomas and Felker trying to bridge the gap but the Kunz driver managed the gap easily as he raced away to post the first of his two wins for the weekend . Thomas and Felker joined the 2013 USAC Champion on the podium. This podium presentation had no surprises for Bell unlike the Rattler 250 presentation a week ago.

Bell’s Rattler suprise !

The final results for night one of the Turnpike Challenge,
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series feature results (40 laps): 1. 71 – Christopher Bell 2. 67K – Kevin Thomas Jr. 3. 11A – Andrew Felker 4. 67 – Tanner Thorson 5. 5 – Zach Daum 6. 3F – Geoff Ensign 7. 35 – Matt Sherrell 8. 8K – Blake Hahn 9. 05 – Brad Loyet 10. 17 – Darren Hagen 11. 8J – Jonathan Beason 12. 3R – Daniel Robinson 13. 96 – Cody Brewer 14. 8 – Alex Sewell 15. 21 – Ty Hulsey 16. 5$ – Danny Smith 17. 7 – Austin Brown 18. 4M – Michelle Decker 19. 9K – Kyle Schuett 20. 7M – Chance Morton 21. 5C – Colten Cottle 22. 44X – Don Droud Jr. 23. 18P – Payton Pierce
Night two of the Turnpike Challenge
Another 40 laps around the 1/8 Port City bull ring and with Bell on pole it was a surprise to see his teammate Kevin Thomas Jr jump out into the early race lead .Bell started to push his authority over the race and by lap 8 he worked his Kunz/Toyota past Thomas and into the race lead . From this point on Bell had the speed and track advantage over the entire field. The interest was now on the move forward by Blake Hahn’s Hard 8 Racing, Esslinger-powered Spike. Lap 12 Hahn would get by Thomas and two laps later the second of the Kunz entries, Thomas would spin and bring out the yellow.
Bell continued to be untouchable right from the restart and within a couple laps the Rattler 250 winner was rattling off such a fast pace that soon he was back lapping the tail of the field . At the same time Hahn was struggling to get past lapped traffic .Hahn’s Hard 8 Racing teammate Jonathan Beason was now getting into the mix at the head of the field.

The Turnpike Challenge had 6 of the 40 laps left when Brad Loyet stalled in the middle of turns 3 and four, bringing out the final caution and causing 4 other cars to be involved in a late race pile up.With 6 left to run the restart would get underway without Peck, Motsinger , Loyet, and Sherrell .
The final restart saw Bell race away to win from, Jonathan Beason in second and Zach Daum in third. Coming in fourth was Blake Hahn and rounding out the top five was Andrew Felker.

Bell The Turnpike Challenge winner now unbeaten at his last four Port City outings

Quotes from the podium after the final night of the Turnpike Challenge,
Christopher Bell“This place has definitely been good to me the last couple of years,” remarked clean-sweeping Christopher Bell. “That was really fun. The track definitely had similar characteristics [to last night’s track surface] but still different. Hats off to the track crew; the track was pretty wide tonight. I had a lot of fun and look forward to this event next year.”
Jonathan Beason“It was fun,” explained second place finisher Jonathan Beason. “I wish Blake could have stayed up there. There at the end of the race we both got going. I think he lost a cylinder or a piston went bad. I’m glad to finish second and I’m glad we’re out here. This is a fun track.”

Jonathan Beason Hard Eight Racing

Zach Daum “It’s never too early to start with momentum,” said third place finisher Zach Daum of Pocahontas, Illinois. “These fifths and these thirds and getting up on the podium and being in the top five every night is what pays off at the end of the year.”

Results from night two Turnpike Challenge Port City Raceway

1. 71 – Christopher Bell 2. 8J – Jonathan Beason 3. 5 – Zach Daum 4. 8K – Blake Hahn 5. 11A – Andrew Felker 6. 17 – Darren Hagen 7. 67 – Tanner Thorson 8. 9K – Kyle Schuett 9. 39 – Spencer Bayston 10. 67K – Kevin Thomas Jr. 11. 7 – Austin Brown 12. 3T – Kevin Battles 13. 88 – Terry Babb 14. 18P – Payton Pierce 15. 87F – Andrew Deal 16. 05 – Brad Loyet 17. 35 – Matt Sherrell 18. 2 – Seth Motsinger 19. 5X – Justin Peck 20. 21 – Ty Hulsey 21. 27 – Tucker Klaasmeyer 22. 96 – Cody Brewer
The nest event on the 2015 POWRi National Midget Championship is set down for Belle-Clair Speedway Friday April 10, 2015.

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