By Lonnie Wheatley (Meeker, OK) -- It has been more than 40 years since the USAC National Midget series has stirred up the Oklahoma soil.
That changes in little more than a month, as the USAC National Midgets take to the ¼-mile Red Dirt Raceway near Meeker, OK, for “Tuesday Night Thunder” on July 10. Non-wing micros will join in on the Tuesday night card that goes green at 7:30 p.m.
The first USAC Midget event to take place in the Sooner State since 1975 kicks off a busy week of USAC Midget competition that continues on Wednesday, July 11, with the “Chad McDaniel Memorial” at the Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, KS, before shifting to Fairbury, Nebraska’s Jefferson County Speedway for the Midwest Midget Championship on Friday and Saturday, July 13-14, and then wrapping up at Missouri’s Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex on Sunday, July 15.
The return of USAC Midgets to Oklahoma will feature one of the most competitive series rosters in recent history. The Keith Kunz Motorsports fleet is led by current series points leader Logan Seavey and defending USAC Midget champion Spencer Bayston, who just came away with the Indiana Midget Week title.
The Clauson-Marshall Racing team brings the trio of Tyler Courtney, Justin Grant and rookie contender Zeb Wise with Oklahoma natives Brady Bacon and Tyler Thomas in the title mix as well. Other top USAC Midget contenders includes the likes of Jerry Coons, Jr., Dave Darland, Chad Boat and Kevin Thomas, Jr., Ryan Robinson, Tucker Klaasmeyer and Holly Shelton among others.
In addition to Bacon and Tyler Thomas, other Oklahoma standouts that will be defending home state turf includes drivers such as Matt Moore, Grady Chandler, Ace McCarthy, Cannon McIntosh and more.
General admission for the July 10 USAC National Midget “Tuesday Night Thunder” event is just $25 with children under 54” tall just $5. Anyone wearing a “Red Dirt Raceway” shirt or that has a “Red Dirt Raceway” can koozie receive $5 off admission.
Red Dirt Raceway features a tailgate area as well for just $100 per car load (fit as many as you can) with one 52 quart cooler permitted. The tailgate area is first-come, first-served and can be reserved by calling 405-823-8095.
Gates for “Tuesday Night Thunder” open at 5:00 p.m. with qualifying getting under way at 7:00 p.m.
Sponsors making “Tuesday Night Thunder” at Red Dirt Raceway possible include Patriot Dodge of Chandler, Hepfner Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Keizer Wheels, EMi, Mud-X, Speedway Motors, and Outlaw Wings.
Meeker, Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Raceway is located 4.5 miles north of US 62 on SR 18 (990871 South Highway 18, Meeker, Oklahoma 74855). For more information, contact the track at 405-823-8095 or check online at https://www.reddirtraceway.com/.