The Vincennes University Midwest TQ Racing League will open their 2009 racing season on Saturday night May 16th when Hometown Country WIFE-FM 94.3 presents the “Salute to the Hall of Fame” at the Rush County Fairgrounds in Rushville, IN. This event will honor some of the all-time great drivers that are enshrined in the National Sprint Car and National Midget Hall of Fames.

Hall of Fame drivers that are scheduled to appear include:

GARY BETTENHAUSEN
1969 & 1971 USAC Sprint champion, 1980 & 1983 USAC Silver Crown champion

TOM BIGELOW
1978 USAC Sprint champion, 1984 USAC Midget champion

STEVE CHASSEY
President of the Midget Racing Hall of Fame

LARRY DICKSON
1968, 1970 & 1975 USAC Sprint champion

BUBBY JONES
1983 & 1984 CRA Sprint champion

MEL KENYON
1964, 1967, 1968, 1974, 1977, 1981 & 1985 USAC Midget champion

LARRY RICE
1973 USAC Midget champion, 1977 & 1981 USAC Silver Crown champion

The “Rushville Rocket,” Tony Stewart will also be honored. Stewart is unable to attend the festivities due to his NASCAR commitments at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC, but he will be represented by his father Nelson Stewart. Nelson will also bring along his #59 three-quarter midget and will be competing later in the evening.

Mel Kenyon will also be behind the wheel driving a TQ owned by Jay Parks. Others expected to compete alongside Stewart and Kenyon include former TQ champions Kenny Byrge and Robert Nichols, Rushville’s own Tate Martz, Jason Willis, Kyle Lux, Rick Robinson, Tad Cheek, Tim Lynch, Chris Mann, Chad & Brett Hankins, Eddie Gagnon, Tony Giltner, and Don “Rocket” Epley of Newton, AL.

The grandstand gates will open at 4:00 pm and the Hall of Fame drivers will be introduced to the crowd at 6:00 pm. After introductions there will be a meet & greet/autograph session while the Vincennes University TQ’s qualify. At 7:00 pm Rushville Mayor Merv Bostic will present each of the Hall of Fame drivers with a “Key to the City.”

Racing will start at 7:15 pm with the Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel pitting the fastest four qualifiers against each other. Following the Duel will be two rounds of heat races and a B main. Capping off the night will be a 50-lap feature.

Admission is $10.00 for adults 16 and over, $5.00 for children 6 to 16, children 5 and under are free.

For more information on the Vincennes University Midwest TQ Racing League please visit their website at www.mtqrl.com.

Attachment 1076