MMSA Lightning Sprints
"The premiere support series"

#get out of the stands and in the drivers seat!

Founded in 2008 by Allen Ruppenthal and Bill May with the goal of economic and competitive racing in mind, the MMSA has developed into the premiere support series in the region. The stock engine format allows anyone to be competitive on a realistic budget. Featuring a fantastic average car-count and a purse structure that essentially pays for itself; the MMSA is fantastic choice for track promoters.


What makes the MMSA a great support series?


- Unlike sprint cars, midgets, and other divisions of open-wheel cars, all MMSA cars are self-starting with clutches. This simple feature saves the use of push trucks to help position, stage, and ready the program. Also, pit congestion and traffic is kept to a minimum because ATVs are not needed.

- In 2015, the MMSA averaged over four (4) pit passes per car with an average car count over 21. Therefore the back gate of the series typically pays for the purse.


- The MMSA utilizes the each racetrack’s flag staff, scorers, and most importantly rules. The MMSA understands that it is a support series and requires no special treatment.


- MMSA officials handle sign-ins, lineups, points, and tech inspections. We deliver lineups at a swift pace which provides a seamless operation. The track needs only to police and score each event.


- MMSA cars are purpose-built, serious, and fast racing machines. In most cases lap times are comparable to that of a non-wing sprint car.


- MMSA cars can be run with or without wings, capable of bringing a different dynamic to the race track.


- The MMSA and promoters can work with nearby organizations (Illinois, Ohio, New York, Missouri) to host a national level race.


- These cars put on a great show!


These great facilities have hosted the MMSA

Bartholomew County Fair, Columbus, Indiana
Bloomington Speedway, Bloomington, Indiana
Brownstown Speedway, Brownstown, Speedway
Chandler Raceway Park, Chandler, Indiana
Eldora Speedway, New Weston, Ohio
Flora Speedway, Flora, Illinois
Tri State Speedway, Haubstadt, Indiana
Lawerenceburg Speedway, Lawerenceburg, Indiana
Lincoln Park Speedway, Putnamville, Indiana
Moler Raceway Park, Williamsburg, Ohio
Montpelier Speedway, Montpelier, Indiana
Paragon Speedway, Paragon, Indiana
Plymouth Speedway, Plymouth, Indiana
Twin Cities Raceway Park, North Vernon, Indiana
Waynesfield Raceway Park, Waynesfield, Ohio
Western Kentucky Speedway, Madisonville, Kentucky
35 Raceway Park, Chillicothe, Ohio



In addition, the MMSA has also raced as a support series to the



World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series,

USAC National Sprint Cars (Indiana Sprint Week)

Lucas Oil Late Model Series

Midwest Open Wheel Association Sprint Cars





WHAT IS A LIGHTNING SPRINT?
A Lightning Sprint is midget sized chassis equipped with a 1000cc motorcycle engine complete with chain drive. Engines are limited to stock components and can be fuel injected or carbureted. Methanol is the fuel of choice for most racers. Each car possesses about 200 HP and weighs only 700 pounds.


WHERE DO THEY RACE?

Cars of this design usually race on 1/5th mile to 3/8th mile dirt tracks. The 1000cc Lightning Sprints are serious race cars and can turn laps comparable to a sprint car or late model.


WHO RACES THESE CARS?

The 1000cc Lightning Sprints are an excellent entry-level open wheel race car for aspiring sprint car and midget racers. These cars teach young drivers and crews the fundamentals of front engine open wheel race cars. The next step up would be a 305-410 Sprint Car at the local level, or possibly even the World of Outlaws or USAC National Sprint Cars. Many of the current sprint car and midget heroes cut their teeth in the mini sprint ranks.

Weekend warriors who love open wheel racing, but can't afford a midget or sprint car find the 1000cc Lightning Sprint a great way to experience the excitement of serious open wheel racing at a price a family person can afford. The MMSA provides a close-knit, family type atmosphere. It is truly a great group of racers!


WHAT DO THEY COST?

Lightning Sprints provide very affordable racing in terms of open-wheeled race cars.
A brand new rolling chassis can be purchased from $9000 - $12000. Engines can be purchased for $1800 - $3000. In addition, competitive pre-owned equipment can be purchased for approximately half of the price of new.

www.midwestminisprints.com

Promoters if you are interested in bringing the premiere support series to your track call:

Kevin Bayer (812) 630-3989
or
Andy Bradley (812) 345-3946

See you at the races!

Is there a need for an other series. We need more fans in the stands. Not more fan being racers. Just my opinion

The MMSA and Lightning Sprints are no "new" series or class. The Minisprints have been around since the late 80s. This series has shown growth in a failing economy since it's very inception. Providing a place for racers to stay engaged in the sport when they may not be financially able in other classes.

As for "Fans" every driver starts as a fan. In order for promoters to continue these shows for the fans there has to be car count.

no new drivers = no car counts,
no car counts = no shows
no shows = no fans

Any growth in grass roots racing is a positive for the fans.

To many classes or division of classes can sometimes be a problem :)

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

MMSA

Have these Motorcycle powered cars produced any drivers that have moved on and up to become outstanding racers??

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Countless.

Could you name a few?

Stapp
Bell
Briscoe
Farney

Stapp
Bell
Briscoe
Farney

Kraig Kinser

All Minisprint guys

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

I think mini sprints are the most entertaining support class.....

As a promoter I have been very pleased with this group of drivers and so has the crowd, as you can see by the attendance at the track, the nights they are on the card. I took interest into this group in 2014 as a trial, all went well! Then came 2015 with even more events, leading to bigger car count and my numbers grew at the track.
Now facing the 2016 season, taking on a new roll, being one of the them to carry the tradition!
Racing is my life, any promoter, driver, fan that may be hesitant to getting involved, here is your chance, to get the truth from behind the scenes and be a part of the premiere support series.

Sweet
Kuhn
Crocker

Sciscoe
Bilbee
Holtzclaw

Few more!

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

Joey ????

Brad, and I believe he drove the 600cc upright cars.

Logan Hupp, Hunter ONeal, Jason Soudrette and Seth Motsinger.

I guess those of is from the 90's like Cottle and myself don't count

also, from that era, all the way to Indy, Sarah Fisher and Jimmy Kite, and the list continues.

Bill may

Some additional tracks where the MMSA was the MAIN event: Charlestown, Madison, Osgood, Shelbyville and Salem (Thunder Valley) all in Indiana.

Bill may

Hortsman
Broughton
Horton

All moved on to bigger cars

If we are talking all the cycle powered cars(Mini Sprints, Micros and TQ's, I would say well over 3/4 of our Sprint and Midget drivers in the Midwest have driven one or more on their way up. Not bad for a bunch of fans.

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

Darned

You guys left out "Mr Excitement" as he was known in his Midget racing days, the same guy that comes back ever once in a while to add a little excitement to Mini Sprint Racing.;) He is Now a prominent chassis builder, engine builder, and car owner.


Honest Dad himself:6::6:

It's a wonderful series and on thanksgiving we must be thankful we have a country to live in and race and do the things we love to do!! Thankful for those who allow us to do these things in a free country and do this one thing we all love which is go fast and sling dirt!!!! MMSA is awesome!!!

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

How about Bobby Layne a guy that reached the top in Sprint car Racing and then came back to race Mini Sprints. These little cars are a great place to start out racing but also a great place to come back to when the racer does not want to spend the time and money to race in the bigger classes.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Some of those guys mentioned never raced or only raced a few times in MINI-sprints. However these people mentioned did race MICRO-sprints which are an entirely different type of car. Merry christmas.

Generalization of all Mini Sprints chain driven cars.

Mini Sprint would be a Category
The class that falls below that:
250cc micro
600 sidewinder
600 upright
1000 upright (Lightning Sprints)
1200cc

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

Well

I started out in a chain drive Quarter Midget, Moved up to a Chain drive Half Midget, then to a 250cc chain drive Micro, Had to wait around 40 or 50 years for the Mini Sprints to come along. Then raced a couple 600cc chain drive Mini Sprints with 12 inch wheels (Upright) next as an owner. Raced the 600cc car with the 1000cc cars for a year and did pretty good, then went 1000cc. I have seen a chain or two in my lifetime.:)

I don't think the drive method should describe a race car however. It limits your possibilities to experiment. The only drive more efficient than a chain is the timing belt. I see the Quarter Midget guys are heading down that path now, interesting.:D;);)

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Not to sound like a old guy.
But I even ran a 125 micro, then 250, 600 sidewinder, and then 600 upright. Before moving to sprint cars.
Back in the day with the Bradleys at Linton.

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

Do you know which one of these classes run at Path Valley? They're pretty cool, my favorite support class... I think 600s?

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

Just looked it up. They run 2 classes, 270 & 600, both chain driven. Haven't seen the 270s, but 600s are fun

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

Leo

Sounds like you are a young pup to me.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Just a reminder our banquet and general meeting is coming up on DEC 13th at Frenchlick Karting Center!

If you have interest in becoming a part of this great series we highly suggest you come out!

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

I think they need more Non-wing races. Watched them go wingless for the first time this year at LPS, and I would like to see them do it much more!

We strive for 50/50 to give the drivers the experience of both driving styles. Wing vs Non Wing is dictated by the promoter usually if we are support to non wing sprint cars they always choose to have us wing to give the spectators a different dynamic. However we are open to either.

Re: Premiere Support Series!
 

I will add one thing to this. Scorers generally aren't a big fan of us non wing at a track that has a tall front stretch wall unless we're running transponders. They can't see our numbers because of the wall, so they generally asked me to be up in the box calling out numbers as they passed by the flag stand. Just food for thought, I've always been a proponent of electronic scoring for the simple fact that you can't blame anyone for messing up the scoring, and it's much better at making calls on closely contested races.

2016 schedule is underway 8 dates confirmed including (3) nights of Lightning Sprint Nationals brought to you by Speedway Motors!