9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Saturday, September 28th

Sponsorship opportunities available
Lap Sponsors - $25 a lap to be paid to the leader of each lap in the Midget A-Main.

For more information or to sponsor a lap, please call Stephanie Meents at
618-210-4342 or e-mail me at Meents05@yahoo.com


The 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial race will take place on September 28th when the POWRi midgets and micros once again invade the dirt at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, IL. “Little Belleville” was always one of Charlene’s favorite race tracks, so it is only fitting that the race to honor Charlene’s life and dedication to midget racing return again to the track where she enjoyed working so many races during her racing career.

Charlene was a longtime officer and race official for the MARA midgets. During the 27 years that Charlene was active in MARA, she served in all capacities, including President for many years. During this time, she was instrumental in some key note races that took place in the 1980s and 90s. In addition to great local races at tracks like Little Belleville, Macon, and Pevely just to name a few, she was also a big factor in MARA’s involvement in races such as the Belleville Nationals, the Wolverine Nationals, and the first running of what is now the Chili Bowl Nationals.

Charlene dedicated her entire life to the sport of midget racing. When she wasn’t negotiating race contracts, she was calling members to gain support for upcoming races or calling to check on the well-being of any member that may have been sick or injured from racing. She knew no strangers when it came race time and welcomed everyone to the sport with open arms. Although she was only one person, she often did the jobs of three or four people before the races, all while battling severe health issues. Her disability never stopped her devotion to the one thing she loved more than anything in life - in fact this one love kept her fighting everyday just so she could listen to every race, every weekend.

Prior winners:
2005 - Matt Sandy
2006 - Mike Hess
2007 - Brad Loyet
2008 - Brett Anderson
2009 - Brad Loyet
2010 - Brad Loyet
2011 - Brett Anderson
2012 - Austin Brown

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Wouldnt miss it! The last midget race of the year at my favorite midget track,Little Belleville.

Will try to scrape up some lap money too.

After thinking about it at work this morning, who wants to go in together on a lap in memory of Morty?

I'll start out with $25 for a lap to be determined. Maybe even more than $25. Ill check with my wallet.

How many laps is it this year?

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

I attend every POWRi event at Belle-Clair, but I may miss this one as TSS is running that night and it is only 25 miles versus 166 to Belleville. Hope to attend all three nights of the Gold Crown at Tri-City, my favorite event of the year.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

So far I have 4 other people besides myself going in on a lap for Morty. That's $125.00
so far. Who else wants to go in on a lap?

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

What a great lady! no better way to honor her than to have her own race. Such a pleasure at the track and 100% all about midget racing. I miss her alot.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by msan16:
What a great lady! no better way to honor her than to have her own race. Such a pleasure at the track and 100% all about midget racing. I miss her alot.

I can hear her now "It's the Indiana boys!"

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by DaveP63:
I can hear her now "It's the Indiana boys!"

We figured she was only so nice to us because she thought anyone crazy enough to tow from NCentral Indiana to St. Louis on a sunday night must love midget racing as much as she did!:10:

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Myself & 2 other buddies are in for $25 each. So that should bring the new total to $200. Let me know the details & perhaps we could meet before the race. You can pm me with other info if you like

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by msan16:
We figured she was only so nice to us because she thought anyone crazy enough to tow from NCentral Indiana to St. Louis on a sunday night must love midget racing as much as she did!:10:

Ain't that the truth! God, I miss those days. I don't think I've ever had more fun racing. Before or since.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by wrtracing:
Myself & 2 other buddies are in for $25 each. So that should bring the new total to $200. Let me know the details & perhaps we could meet before the race. You can pm me with other info if you like

Thanks guys. So far I have $100.00 cash to hand out,which I got this weekend from others and also including myself .

I'm sure we can raise more before the race,and even take some more laps to spread it out a bit.

Anyone else want to get in on this in Memory of our friend Morty?

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Thank you all for the kind words. I love reading this. I can hear her saying "it's the Indiana boys." While she loved all her dedicated/local MARA members, she also absolutely loved when out of towners came to show their support. She's the reason I have spent all my money putting another midget together. Whlie midget racing has sort of lost its family feel, she would be proud of how much it's grown in recent years and I think she'd be amazed at what has happened to races like the Chili Bowl (good amazement) and the Belleville Nationals (disappointment). Those two races especially had a lot of sentimental value to her.

Update on sponsors for the Charlene Meents Memorial

I have about half the A-main laps sponsored - each lap leader will receive $25 and it looks like whoever wins will get an extra cash bonus from the Friends of Morty.

I have gift certificates from Rod End Supply for various finishers throughout the night.

I am very close to having additional money for B-main non transfers. I believe POWRi pays the top 32 positions, I am working to have money for any cars beyond that so that noone will go home empty handed.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by Smeents:

I have about half the A-main laps sponsored - each lap leader will receive $25 and it looks like whoever wins will get an extra cash bonus from the Friends of Morty.

I just talked to Stephanie,and this is what we're going to do in Memory of Morty: Right now I have $300 pledged for lap money,so I took 3 laps and will spread whatever we get for lap money in Memory of Morty on 3 different laps.So right now it stands at $100 per each lap.I'm sure we can get more than that before the race,which is a few weeks from now.

I have taken lap 4 as Morty's Birthday is on Sept 4th.
Lap 13 as that is what lap he took for the Smackdown the last 2 years,and lap 28 as that lap was available.

I figure this way we can spread the money around from the start,middle and the end of the race.

I've had inquires from over in the St Louis area on how to get money to me for this. Give me a week,and I will get you an address over that way where you can drop it off over in that area,and I will post it here then. Thanks for the support.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by DaveP63:
Ain't that the truth! God, I miss those days. I don't think I've ever had more fun racing. Before or since.

jeez, i just about had dad convinced i was ready to come outta retirement and go for another "Charlene" and realized i missed "those days" too. its official. we're old timers.:14:

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

I've had checks arrive here from members wishing to donate in Memory of Morty for laps 4,13,and 28. All of the money collected so far is sitting in a jar awaiting Sept 28th. I'll be collecting up to that date. Some here have sent PM's to me for my address.

Donations can also be dropped off at Bake U Smile bakery 611 E. Airline Drive Rosewood Heights,Illinois. That is Morty's wife Debbies Bakery,and for anyone stopping in,I recommend buying some Brownies off her while your there!

I still have about 10 laps available if anyone else is interested!!! Will post a list of sponsors so far once I get home to my laptop early next week.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by Smeents:
I still have about 10 laps available if anyone else is interested!!! Will post a list of sponsors so far once I get home to my laptop early next week.

Make sure to hit Stephanie up and buy a lap.This race is in her moms memory,and I have been to every one of them since I moved to Indiana in 2006,and,by chance that year found Little Belleville.It would be nice to fill in all the laps,and then all the drivers putting on a show for us fans have the opportunity to end the night with a some extra $$$$ in the pocket.

Thanks to Kenny Brown and POWRi for putting this flyer together.

Only about five laps left unsponsored! I've also picked up gift certificates from Rod End Supply and Hinchman Indy! If anyone else is interested, just let me know. The drivers love getting extra cash after the races, no matter the amount.

Would love to do something for the hard charger in the A main if anyone has any ideas :-)

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

I had a check arrive at the house today for $100 to be put towards a lap "In memory of Morty" I have already purchased a lap in the laps specified on the note accompanying the check,so after some debating on whether to purchase another lap for $100,or put it towards a hard charger award,I decided to put it towards the hard charger award.

So right now we have 3 laps at $100 each,and $100 towards the hard charger award. $400 all up as of right now. If anyone else would like to donate,just get in touch with me. I'd love to be able to hand over a lot more to Stephanie Meents to be handed out to the drivers next weekend at Little Belleville in memory of our friend Randy Mortland.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by Andrew S. Quinn:
I had a check arrive at the house today for $100 to be put towards a lap "In memory of Morty" I have already purchased a lap in the laps specified on the note accompanying the check,so after some debating on whether to purchase another lap for $100,or put it towards a hard charger award,I decided to put it towards the hard charger award.

So right now we have 3 laps at $100 each,and $100 towards the hard charger award. $400 all up as of right now. If anyone else would like to donate,just get in touch with me. I'd love to be able to hand over a lot more to Stephanie Meents to be handed out to the drivers next weekend at Little Belleville in memory of our friend Randy Mortland.

Andrew, I'll see you tomorrow night With a few more bucks @ Macon.:22:

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by luckybuc97:
Andrew, I'll see you tomorrow night With a few more bucks @ Macon.:22:

Thanks,see you there !

I was going to add this photo last night,but photo bucket was down. Morty showed up with his new hot rod one night,and I took a few pics of it.Luckily I got a photo with him in it,and the photo was taken at the same place we'll hand a bunch of money out"In memory of Morty" next Saturday night:At Belle-Clair Speedway,Belleville Illinois.

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...psd8d8766d.jpg

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

By the end of this week I anticipate having $500.00 to hand out "In memory of Morty" for 3 laps,and Hard Charger award. I gave Stephanie Meents $300.00 cash last night at Macon. I have a couple checks to cash,and anticipate some more coming in the mail,and I'll cash them and hand the money to Stephanie next Saturday at Belle Clair Speedway,Belleville Illinois.

Its not to late to donate if you would like to......

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

I have updated my list of midget cars and drivers to include all POWRi and USAC races and some other shows. It is on the same page as the other car and driver lists. I will update it again after the Meents Memorial and the first night of the Gold Crown. If you have any additions and/or corrections they would be appreciated.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Things are taking shape for this weekend’s 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - I finally have all the A-main lap sponsors taken care of and several other bonuses for the night. I can’t thank everyone who sponsored the T-shirts, a feature lap, a heat race, and everything else for their support. Also, a huge thank you to Andrew Quinn for collecting a lot of money in memory of his buddy Morty.

Thank you to the following T-shirt sponsors - Siner Transport, Grosvenor Trucking, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Billings Body Work and Medical Massage, In Memory of Chad McDaniel from Garett and Nate, and Lakeland Square Maytag Laundry.

Thanks to all the A-main lap sponsors - the leader of each feature lap will receive $25 per lap, with laps #4, 13, and 28 paying a minimum of $100 to the leader of those laps in Memory of Morty. Lap sponsors include all the above T-shirt sponsors plus KBR Performance, Quick Racing Products, Loyet Landscape Maintenance, Boss Chassis, Poverty Barn, Bland Brothers Enterprises, In Memory of Howard Lehmann, The Felker Family, Rich Standridge Racing, Canham Graphics, Kevin Crowder, POWRi, Rusty and Wanda Kunz, Roger and Marsha Branson, In Memory of Mike Stroud, Fast Time Racing Simulators, The Murray Family, Boss Chassis, Michael Clark, Chad Branson and Family, and In Memory of Rick Ferris.

Midget Heat Races - each heat race winner will receive $25 cash and a $30 Rod End Supply Gift Certificate
Heat Race 1 - Fast Time Racing Simulators
Heat Race 2 - Bill Willis
Heat Race 3 - Flesher Stoneworks
Heat Race 4 - Roof Bolt Express
Heat Race 5 - Roof Bolt Express

Midget High Point Earner - will receive $25 cash thanks to Roof Bolt Express

Midget B-mains - I am working to make sure that everyone who comes out receives some kind of tow money. As it is right now, any car falling outside of the top 32 after the B-main(s) will receive some kind of cash. The amount will depend on the car count. Any car outside of the top 32 will also receive a $30 gift certificate from Rod End Supply.

Midget A-main Hard Charger - will receive $100 in Memory of Morty

Midget A-main winner will also receive a custom designed sign from the Poverty Barn.

Hinchman Racing Uniforms has also donated a $250 gift certificate - in order to guarantee that this goes to someone who can and is most likely to use it, I will have a sign up sheet at the pill draw. Any interested driver can put their name in the bucket for a chance to win this. It’s a great opportunity to save some money on a suit from the best company out there!

If I forgot anyone, I am terribly sorry. I’ve been working off two lists and my iphone deleted one of them. Thank you again to everyone for their support. Next year will be the 10th Annual race and I hope to make it even bigger and better. A big thanks to POWRi for allowing my family to be part of this each and every year!

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Daum, Felker take POWRi Midget championship battle to Belle-Clair; Benson, Thomas neck-and-neck for Micro title

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 24, 2013)-Zach Daum owns a healthy late-season championship lead over Andrew Felker in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and Cale Thomas and Nathan Benson are neck-and-neck for the title in the POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series going into the ninth annual Charlene Meents Memorial on Saturday (Sept. 28) at Belle-Clair Speedway.



Daum has built a 270-point advantage, 4,030-3,760, over Felker in the official points with four events, including the Meents, remaining. The 22-year-old from Pocahontas, Ill., loses 90 points of that lead when the POWRi scoring system requirement of tossing out the driver's two worst finishes is included. Daum was 16th (worth 50 points) in the season opener at Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway and 15th (worth 60 points) at Jacksonville on June 6. Felker has a pair of 21st-place finishes, worth the maximum low of 10 points each, to eliminate. With the 90-point loss, Daum still leads by 180 points.



"I won't feel good about the championship until the end, but it's nice to have a little bit of a barrier," Daum said.



After opening the season with three top-fives in the initial seven events, Daum has five victories and 14 top-fives in the last 18 in his Toyota-powered Eagle. He's been most impressive in the stretch run, four wins, three seconds, a third and two fifths in the last 15 events. Daum has eight straight top-fives and 16 consecutive top-10s.



Felker, the 2012 POWRi National Midget champion, also has been consistently strong with 13 top-fives and 23 top-10s. Felker has five second places, but the 20-year-old driver from Carl Junction, Mo., has only one victory in his Fontana-powered Spike.



"We're still in contention," Felker said. "We need to keep taking care of our business and get some wins."



Tyler Thomas of Collinsville, Okla., is third in the championship with 2,555 points and looking for his first win of the year. He had one victory in his rookie season of 2011 and two in 2012.



Brad Kuhn, the POWRi National Midget champion in 2006 and 2009, is fourth in the points with 2,490 despite running a partial season of 17 of 26 events. The 32-year-old from Avon, Ind., has announced this will be his final racing season. He plans on running the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl in January to conclude his career, which includes 22 POWRi wins, four Badger Midget and two USAC National Midget titles.



The POWRi Midgets conclude their season next week with the Gold Crown Midget Nationals, three events from Oct. 3-5 co-sanctioned with the Honda USAC National Midgets at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill.



Benson's victory, his fourth of the season, last Saturday at Macon (Ill.) Speedway vaulted him into the POWRi Micro Outlaw championship lead over Thomas by 40 points officially, 2,390-2,350. The 15-year-old Thomas led by 150 points going into the event, but touched wheels with Aaron Andruskevitch halfway through the feature and flipped, finishing 21st.



When POWRi's two-worst finish rule is applied, Thomas has a 40-point lead. Thomas has a pair of 21st-place finishes and Benson, a 29-year-old from Concordia, Mo., has 20th and 12th places, a swing of 80 points in the championship.



Saturday's event at Belle-Clair is the next-to-last of the season for the Micros. They close out 2013 next Saturday (Oct. 5) at Tri-City.



The Meents Memorial honors the long-time officer and race official for the MARA midgets. During the 27 years that Meents was active in MARA, she served in all capacities, including president for many years. During this time, she was instrumental in some keynote races that took place in the 1980s and '90s. In addition to great local races at tracks like Little Belleville, Macon, and Pevely, she was also a big factor in MARA's involvement in races such as the Belleville Nationals, the Wolverine Nationals, and the first running of what is now the Chili Bowl Nationals.



POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series top-10 points standings (after 26 of 30 events): 1. Zach Daum 4,030, 2. Andrew Felker 3,760, 3. Tyler Thomas 2,555, 4. Brad Kuhn 2,490, 5. Jake Blackhurst 2,285, 6. Parker Price-Miller 2,275, 7. Austin Brown 2,235, 8. Garrett Aitken 1,900; 9. Terry Babb 1,255, 10. Colten Cottle 1,110.



POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series feature winners: Jacksonville, Ill.-Shane Cockrum; Belleville, Ill.-Chris Bell; Macon, Ill.-Brady Bacon; Sun Prairie, Wis.-Michael Pickens; Jacksonville, Ill.-Kyle Larson; Lincoln, Ill.-Michael Pickens; Macon, Ill.-Andrew Felker; Sun Prairie, Wis.-Rico Abreu; Bloomington, Ind.-Zach Daum; Belleville, Ill.-Darren Hagen; Belleville, Ill.-Bryan Clauson; Wilmot, Wis.-Brad Kuhn; Sun Prairie, Wis.-Darren Hagen; Pontoon Beach Ill.-Terry Babb; Cameron, Mo.-Austin Brown; Grain Valley, Mo.-Zach Daum; Belleville, Ill.-Bryan Clauson; Lincoln, Ill.-Rico Abreu; Macon, Ill.-Chris Bell; Sun Prairie, Wis.-Bryan Clauson; Wayne City, Ill.-Zach Daum; Sun Prairie, Wis.-Zach Daum; Sun Prairie, Wis.-Zach Daum; Jacksonville, Ill.-Rico Abreu; Canton, Ill.-Chris Bell; Macon, Ill.-Danny Stratton.



POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series top-10 points standings (after 15 of 17 events): 1. Nathan Benson 2,390, 2. Cale Thomas 2,350, 3. Jeremy Camp 1,865, 4. Aaron Andruskevitch 1,815, 5. Joe B. Miller 1,660; 6. Jake Neuman 1,625, 7. Jason Harms 1,240, 8.Max Pozsgai 1,115, 9. Kyle Schuett 1,135, 10. Dereck King 1,055.



POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series feature winners: Jacksonville, Ill.-Dereck King; Belleville, Ill.-Joe B. Miller; Macon, Ill.-Dereck King; Jacksonville, Ill.-Mike Dicely; Lincoln, Ill.-Nathan Benson; Macon, Ill.-Cale Thomas; Bloomington, Ind.-Nathan Benson; Belleville, Ill.-Joe B. Miller; Belleville, Ill.-Cale Thomas; Belleville, Ill.-Cale Thomas; Belleville, Ill.-Nathan Benson; Lincoln, Ill.-Joe B. Miller; Macon, Ill.-Cale Thomas; Jacksonville, Ill.-Cale Thomas; Macon, Ill.-Nathan Benson.



POWRi Racing Sponsors

Auto Meter - "The Official Instrumentation" of POWRi Racing

Afco - "The Official Shock" of POWRi Racing

Ford - "The Official EcoBoost Challenge" of POWRi Racing

Hoosier Tire - "The Official Race Tire" of POWRi Racing

Impact Racing - "The Official Motorsports Safety Equipment" of POWRi Racing

Lucas Oil Products - "The Official Oil" of POWRi Racing

Speedway Motors - "The Official Performance Parts Store" of POWRi Racing



Team POWRi Racing

Advanced Racing Suspensions, Aggressive Graphics, Bell Helmets, BT Machine Inc., Butler Built Seats, Competition Suspension Inc., Edward Jones, Engler Machine & Tool Inc., Esslinger Engineering, Factor 1 Racing, Fontana Automotive, Hyper Racing, Kitchen Cooked, Leading Edge Composites, Millennium Components, MPD Racing, MoMo's Racing Engines, OSR Bikes & Motors, Purpose Wreckers, Race Bumpers.com, Racers for Christ, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers, Spike Chassis, Stanton Race Engines, SuperShox, The Engine Heater, Ti64, Total Power, TOYOTA, 600 Scene.com



For more information, go to www.POWRi.com.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by racenut69:
Someone put in a call to Mom Nature and tell her to control her bladder on Saturday,PLEASE!!!!! ;)

Last I checked, we're down to a 20% chance for Saturday.:6:

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Depending on where you sit at this track,you can literally be sitting within a few feet of the action.Even sitting in the top row,your sitting right on top of the action,and there is plenty of action here!

This Saturday night is the Charleen Meents Memorial race,and we'll be giving Stephanie Meents at least $500.00 to had out in lap money "In memory of Morty" at Belle-Clair Speedway,Belleville,Illinois
.
http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...ps539284f8.jpg

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Nothing like watching Knepper ride the wood,coming out of Turn 4 for 3 Laps,and not wreck!..:D:D:D

Originally Posted by Andrew S. Quinn:
Depending on where you sit at this track,you can literally be sitting within a few feet of the action.Even sitting in the top row,your sitting right on top of the action,and there is plenty of action here!

This Saturday night is the Charleen Meents Memorial race,and we'll be giving Stephanie Meents at least $500.00 to had out in lap money "In memory of Morty" at Belle-Clair Speedway,Belleville,Illinois
.
http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...ps539284f8.jpg

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

.making my 2nd ever trip back over there with a race 3 miles from my back door at tri state. After going there earlier in the year probley wont miss another one there inless work gets in the way

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by racenut69:
Bring your umbrellas.....:(

I'm bringing a lot of money to hand out "In memory of Morty" instead.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

Originally Posted by Andrew S. Quinn:
I'm bringing a lot of money to hand out "In memory of Morty" instead.

Local tv station said no umbrella's till after 10:30 pm, Now bite your tongue RACENUT 69.

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th
 

I would skip TSS also in favor of Belle-Clair, but I am short a co-pilot/navigator, so I am staying local tonight.

1Zach Daum
2 Dereck King
3 Daniel Adler

Re: 9th Annual Charlene Meents Memorial - Sept 28th