[STARS Racing]

STARS Pavement Nationals Sets Stage for Second Leg of Triple Crown

By: Rich Murray

(MORRIS, IL – AUGUST 19, 2014)—The D’Arcy GMC STARS National Midget series makes its triumphant return to the Grundy County Speedway this Saturday night, August 23rd for the “D’Arcy GMC Pavement Nationals presented by Bell Helmets.” Though the event is only four years old, it has quickly established itself as one of the premier races on the pavement midget racing calendar. The total purse of more than $14,000 with a winner’s share of $3500 sure has the STARS Midget competitors sitting up in the driver’s seats. The race is also round two of the Safety-Kleen Triple Crown which could net “Illinois State Championship” feature winner, Nick Baran, a $2000 bonus at the end of the season.

Baran, the Plainfield, Illinois driver who earned his first career STARS Midget victory in the first round of the “Safety-Kleen Triple Crown” just three weeks ago at Grundy County Speedway, is in a prime position to earn the big payout. If Baran is able to win the “Pavement Nationals,” he would be two-thirds of the way toward earning a $2000 bonus for winning all three of the “Triple Crown” races. If he is unable to win this Saturday night’s race, the shift turns to which driver can earn the most points throughout the three “Triple Crown” races which concludes with the “Alex Pruett Memorial” on September 27th. The driver and team who can accomplish that feat will earn a $750 bonus.

In the first year of the “Pavement Nationals” in 2011, it was Auburn, Illinois’ native and Grundy County Speedway’s one-lap track record holder in a midget, Mario Clouser, who took the checkered flag. The two most recent editions of the race were won by a pair of drivers who have been familiar faces in victory lane this season in STARS action: Austin Prock and Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton, the 2012 winner, has only run a limited schedule this season, taking part in only four features, but has won two of them. Prock, who won the most recent “Pavement Nationals” event in 2013, is coming off yet another win just one week ago at Kalamazoo Speedway. Prock, who currently leads the STARS point standings, is also batting .500 this year after winning his fourth race in the eight features run so far. Prock, a resident of Avon, Indiana, considers Hamilton to be his toughest foe in the quest for the big paycheck handed out at the end of the night.

“We will have to be absolutely perfect to beat Kyle (Hamilton) and I think that goes both ways,” Prock said. "Both of our cars have been on point the past few weekends. A few weekends ago at the STARS/USAC race at Grundy, it showed how perfect you have to be. We both drove perfect races up until four laps to go when I spun. That one mistake was one more than Kyle made.”

Hamilton, the Danville, Indiana native who makes his home in West Lafayette, Indiana during the school year as a student at Purdue University, has shown his prowess at Grundy County Speedway in recent years, particularly in the 50-lap features. In fact, all five of Hamilton’s midget wins at Grundy County have come in the 50-lappers. Hamilton also won the previous 50-lap race at Grundy County two weeks ago during the “Border Battle.” The 22-year-old Hamilton, a former high school cross country runner, believes he has an edge on the rest of the field in the longer races due to his fitness regimen.

“I like to think I have a little bit of an advantage in the longer races because I have run several half marathons,” Hamilton proudly admits. “I am used to holding my focus for an extended period of time."

The purse of $14,075 for the Pavement Nationals is the biggest payout of the STARS season. The pursuit of big money is certainly an enticement for drivers to step their game up even further. For the hottest competitors in STARS such as Hamilton and Prock, the thought of what the winner’s share of $3500 could provide to them, their team, and others has already entered each of their minds.

“It's always nice to win some extra money, so it would be nice to grab it along with the Bell helmet,” Prock exclaimed. “Getting the win could pay for tires for the rest of the year which would be a huge plus!”

Hamilton admits that the higher the numbers on the paycheck are, the more hyped-up he gets for the race.

“Some drivers don't think about the money, but I always step up when the bigger paycheck is on the line,” Hamilton acknowledges. “It’s just one more factor that gets the competitive adrenaline pumping for me.”

The recent internet phenomenon, the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge,” has Hamilton getting involved in the fundraising campaign for a great cause.

“I don't really see the money that is earned from race wins. We put that money back into the pot that keeps us racing throughout the season, although, this week will be a little different. I was challenged by a few people to do the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge,” so I'll donate a portion of my winnings to the ALS Foundation along with completing the challenge.”

Along with the STARS National Midgets, the “D’Arcy GMC Pavement Nationals presented by Bell Helmets” features the STARS Classic Modifieds, INEX Legends, CSR Super Cups, and Legacy Midwest Series. Adult tickets are just $12. Kids age 5-12 get in for $2. Children age 4 and under are free! Grandstands open up at 5 p.m. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m. Grundy County Speedway is located one mile north of I-80 on Route 47 in Morris, Illinois.

THE D’ARCY GMC PAVEMENT NATIONALS PRESENTED BY BELL HELMETS” FEATURE PURSE

(DRIVERS MUST START FEATURE AND COMPLETE 5 LAPS TO QUALIFY)

1st: $3500
2nd: $1250
3rd: $1125
4th: $1050
5th: $1000
6th: $500
7th: $400
8th: $375
9th: $350
10th: $325
11th: $300
12th: $300
13th: $300
14th: $300
15th: $300
16th: $300
17th: $300
18th: $300
19th: $300
20th: $300
21st: $300
22nd: $300
23rd: $300
24th: $300

TOTAL PURSE: $14,075