[Rpracing1]

Cottle runs 2nd

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[SpfldMile]

I really didn't know what to expect at this race, but I was pleasantly surprised. The racing was really good. High and low grooves, slide jobs, great runs from the back from Darland and Clauson, it was unique and cool. The flying dirt was a problem, but once you're dirty, you're dirty. Wore glasses to keep it out of my eyes because it wasn't dust, it was little pellet projectiles. All in all a good night for a great cause. I'm glad I went.

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[illinisprintfan]

Originally Posted by SpfldMile I really didn't know what to expect at this race, but I was pleasantly surprised. The racing was really good. High and low grooves, slide jobs, great runs from the back from Darland and Clauson, it was unique and cool. The flying dirt was a problem, but once you're dirty, you're dirty. Wore glasses to keep it out of my eyes because it wasn't dust, it was little pellet projectiles. All in all a good night for a great cause. I'm glad I went. Posted via Mobile Device

I agree, it was a great way to spend a Wednesday night. From the size of the facility, you can tell this was a way bigger event than they are used to hosting. The track staff and Power I officials did a great job.

[Rpracing1]

From Tim Tuttle

Wayne City, IL — (August 28, 2013) — Zach Duam started from pole and was never seriously challenged for the lead in winning the Jason Leffler Memorial in a POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series feature before an overflow crowd Wednesday at Wayne County Speedway.

Daum’s green-to-checkered flag triumph in the 30-lap race on the one-eighth mile track was his third of the season in POWRi and opened up his lead in the championship to 190 points, 3,100-2,910, over Andrew Felker. Daum earned $5,000 against an outstanding 34-car field that raced to honor Leffler, a three-time USAC National Midget champion who went on to success in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series and also drove in the Indianapolis 500 1999. Leffler, 37, died in a sprint car crash on June 12 and proceeds from the event, sponsored by Great Clips, will go to a fund for his five-year-old son, Charlie Dean.

“What I liked the most about Jason was he was a gasser, a true racer,” Daum said. “I didn’t know him that well, raced against him a couple of times, but I watched him growing up winning three straight (USAC) midget national championships. I’m honored to win this race in his honor. It means a lot. The amount of people who came out showed that he was as good as it gets as a father and a driver.”

The 22-year-old Daum of Pocahontas, Ill., drove his Toyota-powered Eagle to wins in his heat and qualifying races to start on the pole. He was the class of the field in the 22-car feature, which was slowed by three cautions. The final 10 laps were run under green and Daum finished with a healthy advantage over runner-up Shane Cottle of Kokomo, Ind. Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind., was third.

Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind., started on the outside of the front row and had a flat running second on the second lap. It caused an eight-car traffic jam in turn four and sent Clauson, a three-time National Midget Driver of the Year, to the back of the field.

“Once Clauson got that flat, I knew it would be a little easier,” Daum said. “I never really felt threatened in the middle of the race. Once I got into lapped traffic, I thought maybe I would lose some ground, but I started passing lapped cars and kept passing lapped cars so I could keep one of them between me and second if there was a caution.

“I ran the middle until the last few laps when I moved up a little, where the track was still tacky.”

Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif., ran second from the second lap to the 28th, but had to pull off with a broken u-joint. Cottle, driving A.J. Felker’s FSC-Esslinger, had run in the top five from the start and he moved into second with Hagen’s retirement.

“We had a real good car, but it was way too tight early and it allowed him (Daum) to get a lead and we couldn’t catch him,” Cottle said. “I liked racing with Jason Leffler and money that was raised for his son is a good thing. It shows how the racing community comes together when it’s needed.”

Darland had started 16th and restarted near the back after the initial caution on the second lap. He earned $250 for the Hard Charger Award, for improving the most positions in the feature.

“I’m proud to be here in his honor,” Darland said. “Jason was a great driver and a great guy. We had some luck. We had a great race car (a Spike-Esslinger co-owned by Ebby Bergfield and Justin Allgaier). It was hard to pass for sure. We found some things that worked and the race track was really good. It has a good size and shape and just needs a better surface. It’s too sandy.”

Shane Cockrum of nearby Benton, Ill., was fourth and Clauson finished fifth. Chett Gehrke of Broken Arrow, Okla., drove from 20th starting position to sixth, Dereck King of Vienna, Ill., was seventh, Felker of Carl Junction, Mo., eighth, Hud Cone of Oakland City, Ind., ninth and Daniel Robinson of Mount Vernon, Ill., 10th.

The next events for POWRi’s National Midgets are the 32nd annual Pepsi Nationals at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis., on Saturday and Sunday. They’re co-sanctioned by the Stark Automotive Group/Mid-State Equipment Badger Midget Series.

POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series feature results (30 laps): 1. Zach Daum, 2. Shane Cottle, 3. Dave Darland, 4. Shane Cockrum, 5. Bryan Clauson, 6. Chett Gehrke, 7. Dereck King, 8, Andrew Felker, 9. Hud Cone, 10. Daniel Robinson, 11. Bobby East, 12. Parker Price-Miller, 13. Tyler Robbins, 14. Justin Grant, 15. Jake Blackhurst, 16. Austin Brown, 17. Chris Bell, 18. Darren Hagen, 19. Tim Siner, 20. Colten Cottle, 21.Tyler Robbins, 22. Seth Motsinger.

[racenut69]

Congrats to Doug Stringer and crew!!!!...I hope this becomes an annual event.Zach,DD,Clauson,Tyler T. all were GASSING IT UP tonight! I have enough dirt in my ears to plant potatoes,but it was worth every minute! I can vouch for the Pork Steak Sandwich,it was good....Got to meet Andrew S. Quinn and his friend ,Peter from Australia.I hope I didn't make a bad impression.....Does anyone know yet how much money was raised?....Another track added to my LIST!...VERY Fan-Friendly place!

[tennesseeracefan]

Awesome little track. I was sitting at the exit of turn 4 and was getting HAMMERED with dirt and dust every lap and loved every minute of it. Only problem is that they need more seats. I would gladly make the 3 hour trip every Wednesday night for a show.

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[racing2bwithu2]

We also went, Gail, myself an my sister. Was there very early so we could have sat anywhere. But we chose between 1 & 2. We sat through the whole thing there. The dirt looked like a wave of water coming at us, an watching the cars come at us was awesome. Not recommened for any1 who can't stand a little dirt. My sister who is sorta gettin' use to racing now. At 1st thought we were nuts, but was enjoying it by the end of the night. A Big Thank You goes out to the track an staff, plus PowerI for putting on a great show for a great cause. We look forward to next year. Lloyd & Gail

[Rpracing1]

Very cool little racy joint. These guys handled their biggest event in their history very well. I am sure lot of planning and thought went into this event as they had a LifeFlight chopper there for a while, paratroopers, and the track crews handled all of their dutys very well. I think that this is the perfect size track for the midgets. I was curious to the speeds that these guys were hitting down the straights. Very little down time as POWRI runs their programs efficiently. Track announcers also knew the drivers and are to be commended. As others have said, the flying dirt was more than most expected. There were times when it felt as if some threw a bucket full of dirt on you. That being said, I still enjoyed the heck out of it and will go back if they run the midgets again. Very cool sitting 5 feet from the racing groove, but unfortunately you pay for it. Lots of passing all night long. POWRI's format is a good one with the heats and then the qualifyers. Steller fields of National Midget cars and drivers along with the proceeds going to Charlie Dean made this a night to remember.

[racing4aman]

what a great night with my brother and Gail, they have taught me so much about racing and how much fun it is...I got to see a lot of good drivers that tossed dirt on me and it was like a flood coming toward me ..wow and then on on Bryans heat race he won both of them so way to go Bryan ... I have two favorite drivers Dave Darland & Bryan Clauson ...everytime I try to say something to Bryan, I get so confused that I say everything backwards...lol...
congrats to Dave Darland he won the hard charger award... 16to3rd wtg...
this was a very good benefit and im glad that I got to go and see another track that I never been to ... im thankful for no injuries ..
Rhonda Chapman

[SETracing]

We also sat in turn 1 and 2 all night! Was a great night of racing and when I say they were on the wall the were literally on the wall great night for a great cause. As for how much they raised they had to do pretty good everyone that we came with gave more then the asked 10 to get it in and if I know my fellow IOWs we were not the only ones that gave extra.

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