Hi, new to this forum and hoping for a few tips on my first Midget Week. This will be a major road trip for me. I will be leaving south PA and heading to Knoxville for the USAC show, then going back east to enjoy midget week.
I will be leaving PA on June 1st and hoping to make it out to Illinois by Thursday evening and stopping for the night maybe near Bloomington, Champaign, or Peoria. I was wondering if there is a Friday night sprint or midget race in one of those areas?
Saturday will be my first visit to Knoxville and I hope to be there in time for the Induction ceremonies and luncheon.
After I leave Knoxville and head east I would like to visit some of the tracks I have only read about, I know there won't be racing at these tracks but they are Terre Haute, Salem, IMS and the museum, Anderson, Winchester. I'm hoping to visit some of these tracks during my midget week travels.
I also plan on buying a non resident fishing license and wetting a line during non race times, any locations to fish would be greatly appreciated.
I also need to know the basics of Indiana Midget Week, such as camping info, good motels, "must see" things while I'm in the area.
I will be thankful for any advice!
Brian

6/1 Fairbury IL POWRi Midgets & WAR Sprints
6/2 Jacksonville IL POWRi Midgets & WAR Sprints
Although Fairbury doesn't host many open wheel shows, both are racey little joints, worth a visit.

Earl Richmond

You already have the IMS speedway and the IMS museum on the list. Those are a must do.

You mention that you are coming out for the USAC show at Knoxville. It is a real guessing game on how many cars will be at that show. You should not set your expectations of a high car count.

The last bit of advice would be to look at your travels from night to night. It may make more sense to pick a reasonably located motel than checking into a new motel night after night.

Midget week is a great show because at most tracks 410 Sprints are the support class.

Powri midget week will be at Jacksonville IL on Friday June 2. Running midgets and non wing sprints that night. It would be 4 hours or so to Knoxville from there. It is a fun banked quarter mile. Midgets are typically really good there.

Also the night before the same show is at Fairbury (about 45 minutes from Bloomington) if you can get there in time.

Fairbury is known in the dirt late model world for really good racing. They are making a few forays into sprint and midget racing.

I strongly recommend POWRi. Went to my first POWRI race last September on my way back to Colorado from East Coast, & loved it! No Time Trials, good car counts & best of all, very competitive.... especially on small tracks (I went to Belle Clair, Illinois)

Many thanks for the quick replies! I'm not expecting much more than a full field of cars at Knoxville but it will be my first time there. I'm really looking forward to visiting the facility and attending the HOF induction ceremonies, and seeing some racing. Knoxville has been on my bucket list for some time and now I have the time. Midget Week is the main goal of my vacation, Knoxville just happened to fall into "while I'm out there" catagory.
I do plan on getting a motel in Anderson IN. as kind of a home base but I plan on doing some camping. I can't afford a room every night.
I'm not sure I'll be up for a race on Thurs. the 1st after a long drive, but the Friday Jacksonville show is just what I was hoping to hear about! I'll have to get on Mapquest and figure my routes.
Its been a long time since I've taken a road trip like this and the closer it gets, the more exited I get.
Thanks again for all of your tips and advice!
I'll also be looking for that Aero410 guy that used to be from PA, I haven't seen him in a few years.

Really should check out fairbury if you have time on the first. This was midgets there last year. https://youtu.be/pk1OMnPy7Mc

My computer is on its last leg and wont do youtube right now. I'm thinking about Fairbury, it all just depends on when I leave and traffic conditions through 800 miles. If I get to Lafayette at a decent hour I might be able to make it. If not I will go to Jacksonville the next day.
Does the PowerI series have a race on Sunday the 4th while I'm heading back east?

Powri is at Lincoln IL on that Sunday. Another 1/4 mile that puts on a good show. About 30 miles north of Springfield.