FORMER INDY 500 DRIVER, BEECHLER NAMED D’ARCY SHOOTOUT GRAND MARSHALL

Four-time Indy 500 veteran and Springfield, Illinois resident Donnie Beechler will serve as Grand Marshall for the Inaugural Short Track Auto Racing Series D’Arcy Shootout on August 27th. Beechler,the 1995 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Champion will also be on hand at D’Arcy GMC in Joliet the night before the Shootout for a cruise night to kick off the weekend’s festivities. The cruise night will be held in the D’Arcy GMC parking lot on Essington Road in Joliet from 6-9 pm

A four year career in open wheel racing’s top division, the Izod Indy Car Series, Beechler posted a career best finish of third on two different occasions. Once at the Copper World Classic in Phoenix and the other at the inaugural race at the Kansas Speedway. He also started in the Indy 500 four times with a best finish of 12th and start of 15th in 2000 driving for Larry Cahill. In 2001 he hopped in the seat of an AJ Foyt owned machine and qualified the car on bump day putting him 27th on the race day grid but his qualifying speed was quick enough to put him fifth had he qualified on pole day.

After hanging up the Indy Car suit in 2002 following a crash at the Homestead Speedway, Beechler has since gone back to the local dirt tracks, competing in the USAC Silver Crown dirt races and also the Midwest Open Wheel Association winged sprint car series.

The Inaugural D’Arcy Shootout will be the highest payout ever at the Grundy County Speedway with the winner taking home $4000. The car count looks to be pretty high as drivers from all over want to be part of this big event.

Still the best pavement midget racing in the country. I am sure it will be a great event. Jmo.
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