[STARS Racing]

Prock takes high road to second consecutive STARS opening night victory
Sometimes taking the high road isn’t the easiest or most popular thing to do, but Austin Prock made it look spectacular by ripping the high side of the track to climb from his 7th starting position to the win on opening night of the Short Track Auto Racing Series (STARS) National Midget season at Grundy County Speedway.

By the seventh lap of the 30 lap feature, Prock, the 18-year-old Avon, Indiana native, had worked his Tony Stewart Racing Mopar/Beast up to the 2nd spot behind Nick Baran when trouble ensued behind them. Kyle Hamilton lost his brakes entering turn one, spun backwards through the infield and back onto the track, collecting his brother, Nick Hamilton, in the mayhem. Kyle Hamilton’s car ended up making contact with the outside wall and fence before the car came to a rest on its side. The accident brought out the red flag, but both drivers were able to walk away uninjured and Nick Hamilton was even able to restart the race.

On the ensuing restart, Prock changed routes by going to the low side in turn three to overtake Nick Baran for the lead which he never relinquished. With four laps to go, Kyle O’Gara, the brother-in-law of IndyCar Series team owner Sarah Fisher, passed Franklin, Indiana’s Travis Young for 2nd place. Prock led the final 22 laps to take the opening night victory in the STARS National Midgets for the second consecutive season. Dating back to last season, Prock has now won four of the last five STARS National Midget features at Grundy County Speedway. Finishing behind Prock at the checkered flag were O’Gara, Young, and Nick Baran, with Brad Greenup rounding out the top five.
In the Illini Racing Series Midget feature, Mike Anderson was able to capitalize on the misfortune of other frontrunners to take the feature victory. In the Classic Modified feature, Tom Schnabel picked up right from where he ended last year’s season at Grundy County Speedway: in victory lane. Andy Jones captured the checkered flag in the INEX Legends feature while Dallas Frueh took top honors in the CSR Mini Cup feature.
The STARS National Midgets, IRS Midgets, Classic Modifieds, INEX Legends, and CSR Mini Cups will all be back in action on Saturday, June 7th at Grundy County Speedway where it is “Ladies Night.” That means that all ladies general admission tickets are just $6. Adult admission is $12, children 5-12 get in for $2, and children age 4 and under are free. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. The grandstands open at 5 p.m. The first race begins at 6:30 p.m.