100 race cars do not make a good show. Close, exciting, competitive racing is what will keep the fans in the stands entertained. I think the VUMTQRL has accomplished this, especially over their last 4 events.
One thing you have to remember is that Saturday's
Tribute to Larry Rice & Salute to the Hall of Fame will only be the tenth race that the Vincennes University Midwest TQ Racing League has ever held. They had 20 cars at their Shelbyville fair race the first of the month and a total of 21 cars competed last weekend at the Madison and Franklin fairs. Momentum is building.
Rushville has a great tradition of three-quarter midget racing and I believe the VUMTQRL will have their best turnout ever.
The VUMTQRL has already had 31 different drivers comepete with them so far this season. Six drivers have perfect attendance (Jeff Bruce, Brett Hankins, Kyle Lux, Chris Mann, Tate Martz and Jason Willis) and Kenny Byrge and Chris Guinn have only missed one race each.
Kenny Byrge (2), Tim Lynch (1), Tate Martz (2), and Jason Willis (3) have each won a feature and 12 other drivers have recorded at least one top five feature finish (Tad Cheek, Anthony Couch, Chris Guinn, Brett Hankins, Chad Hankins, Kyle Lux, Chris Mann, Joe Miller, Will Nedderman, Rick Robinson, Jamie Ross and Nick Speidel). Also, a whopping 17 different drivers have won heats (Jeff Bruce, Patrick Bruns, Byrge, Cheek, Couch, Eddie Gagnon, Brett Hankins, Lynch, Mann, Martz, Miller, Robert Nichols, Kevin Rice, Robinson, Ross, Speidel and Willis).
If you want to see some good old fashioned TQ midget racing head on out to the Rush County Fairgrounds on Saturday night. Grandstand gates open at 4:00 pm and Hall of Fame drivers Gary Bettenhausen, Steve Chassey, Larry Dickson, Jack Hewitt and Bill Vukovich will be introduced to the crowd at 6:00 pm. Then, while the Midwest TQ's are qualifying, you can participate in a meet & greet/autograph session with some of your racing heroes. The family of the late Larry Rice will also be on hand for the tribute.
At 7:00 pm Rushville mayor Merv Bostic will present each of the Hall of Fame drivers with a "Key to the City." Racing begins 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 evening will be a 50-lap feature.
For more information please visit
www.mtqrl.com.