Is it just me or is this the most ridiculous call yet, (well, besides provisionals and the winner of the B Main starting on the pole of the A Main). You have one of, if not thy, biggest midget race in the country, you invite only a select few, you exclude who know's how many, then you run a 20 lap prelim with the top four locked in to "THE BIGGEST MIDGET RACE IN THE COUNTRY". *** is this all about. It's no wonder teams are running "AWAY" from USAC. I just don't understand....Someone please educate me...:34;

Just maybe, it's already under "government control", wonder who the czar of this mononononky binus is?

I agree Pine...One or Two maybe but four? that is over a third of the field. I like running there but just can't justify traveling out there for this kind of format. Also if you run fifth on friday, one spot out of the transfer, you get thrown into the pool and could have to start last in a heat on saturday behind cars that you beat the night before. It's also especially hard to pass on saturday cuz the track is fast at heat race time. Just some of my thoughts...

I think I saw this race for the first time in 1983 and my recollection is that is how they did it then

This whole deal is Bull$hit USAC gets the big bird on this one.

That's more than a little disingenuous.
In 1983 it wouldn't have been possible to let 11 cars run one night for the 4 guaranteed spots, considering there were 73 total entries.
The field was divided in half by a drawing which took place at the Republic County courthouse and the top 4 from each night were locked in, but in 1983 that would have meant a top 4 finish from roughly a 35 car field, a far cry from last night's situation.

Looks like the club gave some special treatment to the select few imagine that happening with these guys.And this is how much they appreciate the outsiders

I agree that USAC does play favorites with their select few. I have always felt the way that someone can run the B main and start ahead of those who perhaps win a heat race is unfair- the heats are nothing more than hot laps, qualifying is everything. We went to midget week and the very first time the cars were on the track was for group qualifying-- no practice laps at all. Who does that favor?....those who run the tracks all the time! Out of state teams are at a severe disadvantage with set ups. The teams that run with USAC are for the most part friendly fun people, but the officials often seem to be not eager to have any "outsiders" run with them, or if they do they can just fill up the back of the field. So now they are discouraging people from going to Belleville, too. Yes, the cream will always rise to the top, but people spending money to get to these races should feel like they just might have a chance!