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11/30/17 1:04 PM FREE CAR ENTRY OPEN TO KNEPPER 55 COMPETITORS! TICKETS ON SALE TOO!

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FREE CAR ENTRY OPEN TO KNEPPER 55 COMPETITORS! TICKETS ON SALE TOO!

Du Quoin, Illinois………The Knepper family is once again sponsoring FREE entry for competitors to enter their midgets for the Saturday, December 16th “Junior Knepper 55” USAC Special Event at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Illinois.

After visiting https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2...pper-car-entry, use the coupon code "KNEPPER" to enter your car for the race for no charge.* The offer expires Sunday, December 10th, 2017.* The complete pre-entry list for the event will be published the following day, Monday, December 11th.

Additionally, tickets are now on sale for the 3rd annual “Junior Knepper 55” at http://www.usactickets.com/. *The race will serve as the final event of the 2017 USAC racing season.* Adult general admission tickets are available for just $18 in advance compared to the $20 price at the gate on race day.

Furthermore, on http://www.usactickets.com/, you may order your “Junior Knepper 55” event t-shirt now for just $25.* Sizes small through 4XL are available, but make sure to get yours soon while supplies last.

The event carries no points toward the USAC National Midget season championship, but has quickly become one of the most coveted races to win on the series calendar, annually boasting a large car count and a star-studded field to boot.

In the inaugural running in 2015, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. electrified the crowd in the 55-lap feature, coming from the back of the pack to score the victory in the final laps.* In 2016, Tyler Courtney earned his first career USAC-sanctioned Midget feature victory in his first start for the Clauson/Marshall Racing team.

The 55-lap event honors the memory of one of USAC’s most accomplished car owners – Walter “Junior” Knepper of Belleville, Illinois – whose famed yellow number 55 midgets and sprint cars raced to 58 career USAC feature victories, including 34 in Sprints and 24 in Midgets, with drivers Bob Wente, Tom Bigelow, Mel Kenyon, George Snider, Dana Carter, Rich Vogler and his son Steve Knepper.

Nick Knepper, grandson of Junior and son of 13-time USAC National Midget winner Steve Knepper, will promote the event along with Derek LeMaster.

Cars are scheduled to hit the track at 4pm (Central).* A format utilizing passing points will be used to seed the feature lineups.

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[jim goerge]

I'm counting the days down for this race.

[illinisprintfan]

Thinking about going for the first time this year. What should I expect as far as conditions? How are the fumes? I went to the Indy invitational a couple of years ago, how does it compare? Is the building completely closed up, or is it partially open? Do you need a coat or does it stay fairly warm? After the Leffler memorial got cancelled, I am not sure I can wait until the Spring to get my racing fix.

[ISF]

Originally Posted by illinisprintfan Thinking about going for the first time this year. What should I expect as far as conditions? How are the fumes? I went to the Indy invitational a couple of years ago, how does it compare? Is the building completely closed up, or is it partially open? Do you need a coat or does it stay fairly warm? After the Leffler memorial got cancelled, I am not sure I can wait until the Spring to get my racing fix.

This will be our 7th or 8th trip down to Du Quoin for the indoor show. Generally the fumes aren't too bad. I wasn't at the Indy Invitational so I can't compare the two situations but I've never encountered fumes any worse at Du Quoin than at The Chili Bowl. You'll probably want to wear a light to medium weight jacket depending on the outside temperature but most times a sweatshirt is sufficient.

If you intend to stay the night you might want to look into a place about 12 miles East of the track near Rend Lake. Lake Cove Resort, Whittington, Illinois is the name of the place. Good quality, clean rooms for under $75.00 per night. It's at the corner of Illinois Rt. 154 and Illinois Rt. 37 just east of Interstate 57 at exit #77 East of Rend Lake.

If you're getting into town early enough you might look into having lunch or an early dinner at The St. Nicholas Brewery. It's located in downtown Du Quoin at 12 South Oak St. Very good, reasonably priced food and a great selection of craft beers. It's kind of a neat place since it's in the same building where the old St. Nicholas Hotel used to be. The old timers tell about how many of the drivers would stay there back when Du Quoin was on the AAA & USAC Championship Trail. There's a little racing history and just a touch of racing ambiance going on in the place.

[Simon_says17]

Originally Posted by illinisprintfan Thinking about going for the first time this year. What should I expect as far as conditions? How are the fumes? I went to the Indy invitational a couple of years ago, how does it compare? Is the building completely closed up, or is it partially open? Do you need a coat or does it stay fairly warm? After the Leffler memorial got cancelled, I am not sure I can wait until the Spring to get my racing fix.

Ha well as far as "weather" conditions...that has been an absolute crap shoot for this race. Usually cold, windy (not alot of cover around the building), and ice/snow have happened here before, but such is life in the Midwest in the middle of December. Fumes are bearable but I've seen them get to people after a while. My uncle brought in an industrial fumes reader from work out of curiosity one year and the alarm on it was going off almost the whole time lol. There were different thresholds on it and during the feature it was losing it's mind telling us to leave the area immediately. I try to take breaks in the parking lot or the pits whenever I can. I was also at Indy but I don't remember how the fumes compare to this race but as far as the racing...well there's just no comparison to be made there.

The pits at Du Quoin snake from the back stretch all the way around turns 1 & 2 and then spill out of the back of the building (behind turns 1 & 2). So it is partially open and yes I would bring a coat. You can always leave what you don't need in the car. It can get pretty cold in the building depending on what's going on outside. If you need your fix, I definitely recommend it. I've been going every year I've been able to since it started and have no plans of stopping.

[chathamracefan]

I'd recommend taking goggles (for fumes more so than dirt). My eyes would burn a little during the feature event. The goggles helped that. Other than that, it is an outstanding event. Can't go this year due to my daughter's college graduation being that day. Otherwise would definitely go. The 2015 race that Stenhouse won is among the best races I've personally seen in any division. Crazy action everywhere.

[ISF]

Several years ago a blizzard was predicted for just about all of Southern Illinois on the weekend of the December race. IIRC they cancelled the event 2 or 3 days in advance. It was a good call as Du Quoin got most of what was predicted in regards to snow and wind. If there is a significant weather system headed for Southern Illinois it's a safe wager that an appropriate course of action will be enacted.

Just on a side note, the best race we ever witnessed in the Southern Illinois Center was the year BC & T-Mez locked up in an epic battle of traffic management and huge slider bombs thrown both ways. My wife attends a lot of races but it takes a lot to impress her. Well, she was impressed that night, along with everyone else in attendance. The Saturday night show of the two night show during the fair back in 2012 was epic, as well. A hurricane pummeled Du Quoin with 5" or 6" of rain over Labor Day Weekend that year and the 2 indoor shows were all the racing we got to see that year over LDW.