Mid-State's "Firecracker 400" oval race sizzles

Story & photos by Joe Brittin
SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Mid-State Kart Club hosted a special money race on the 4th of July using their new 1/5-mile paved oval. Nearly 100 entries were present to chase the bonus money posted by Hardees and to compete in the Briggs Medium $1000-to-win race. Bonus money was also put up by Laukaitis Racing, Coyote Karts, Margay Racing Products, S & M Kart Supply, Keller Performance Center, Intense Karting, SBR Power Plants & Performance Parts, Cassity Racing, Mark Coats Racing, and Marine Bank of Springfield.

Chad Waller picked up $1050 for winning the Briggs Medium race in a hard fought battle. After starting on the pole and leading early in the race, Waller dropped to third when Ryan Cassity and Brent Smith squeezed by him in turn one. The originally scheduled thirty-five lap feature was extended many laps due to yellow flags. When several karts began to run low on fuel, the race was red flagged to allow refueling. After the restart, Waller worked his way back into the lead for the victory over Ryan Cassity. Chevy Miller, Brent Smith and Scott Weir rounded out the top five. USAC hot shoe Tracy Hines was competing in the Briggs Classes. He finished 8th in the Medium race and picked up a second place in Briggs Lite.

The Kadet participants each received two-foot tall trophies decorated in red, white and blue colors and Red Line Oil ball caps. Mark Coats Racing sponsored the special Kadet trophies. The next oval event at Mid-State Raceway is scheduled for July 15, 2001. See the club's website at www.midstatekartclub.com for more information.

RESULTS:
4-Cycle Jr. Briggs I: 1.) Matt Tague, 2.) A.J. Claridge, 3.) Trevor Nickel, 4.) Derek Baldwin, 5.) Amber Prescott, 6.) Greg Colwell, 7.) Ryan Currie

4-Cycle Jr. Briggs II: 1.) Ryan Wilson, 2.) Jerry Sharp, 3.) Jeff Everts, 4.) Jared Cagley, 5.) Andrew Cantler

Briggs Light: 1.) Ryan Cassity, 2.) Tracy Hines, 3.) Chevy Miller, 4.) Chris Shearburn, 5.) Mickey Bullerk, 6.) Nick Perkins, 7.) Dennis Monroe, 8.) Randy Nesbitt, 9.) Andy Keeler, 10.) Clint Ashmore, 11.) Randy Pederson

Briggs Medium: 1.) Chad Waller, 2.) Ryan Cassity, 3.) Chevy Miller, 4.) Brent Smith, 5.) Scott Weir, 6.) Chris Shearburn, 7.) Mickey Bullock, 8.) Jason Hedges, 9.) Tracy Hines, 10.) Ryan Rockhold, 11.) Andy Keeler, 12.) Randy Nesbitt, 13.) Chuck Leary, 14.) Curt Mottar, 15.) Bill Bednarski, 16.) Mark Timmerman, 17.) Clint Ashmore, 18.) Randy Pederson, 19.) Nick Perkins, 20.) Dennis Monroe

Briggs Heavy: 1.) Scott Weir, 2.) Jason Hedges, 3.) Mark Timmerman, 4.) Keith Garner, 5.) Chuck Leary, 6.) Jim Wilson, 7.) Curt Mottar, 8.) Bill Bednarski

Modified: 1.) Marty Bierman, 2.) David Cain

Yamaha Pipe: 1.) Justin Parrish, 2.) Marty Bierman, 3.) Lamont Critchett, 4.) Mickey Bullock

Yamaha Sr. Supercan: 1.) Rick Skelton, 2.) Justin Parrish, 3.) Lamont Critchett

Yamaha Jr. Supercan: 1.) Brandon Kramer, 2.) Chase Spitzer

Briggs Straight Rail: 1.) Jerry Miller, 2.) Chad Krueger

Yamaha Straight Rail: 1.) David Mahaffey

Kadet: Gino Gianetti, Caleb Wankel, Chance Holder, Steve Russell, Colton Ramsey, Bradley Brittin, Kirsten Mosley