[Bill Gardner]

5/28/13 10:26 AM “HUT HUNDRED” MOVES TO TRI-CITY FRIDAY

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“HUT HUNDRED” MOVES TO TRI-CITY FRIDAY;

HAGEN GETS 2ND “NIGHT BEFORE THE 500” WIN

The prestigious “Hut Hundred” finds a new home this Friday night when it debuts at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill. The 100-lap Honda USAC National Midget race, co-sanctioned by Powri, opens a great weekend of USAC racing which includes Saturday’s “Gateway 100” for the TRAXXAS Silver Crown Series at nearby “Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill.

Defending National Champion Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif. led all 30 laps of Saturday night’s 68th “Night Before the 500” classic for the Honda USAC National Pavement Midget Championship at Lucas Oil Raceway. Driving the RFMS Racing Liberty Village/McGladrey & Pullen Beast/Esslinger, he beat Bobby Santos to the checkered flag for his second victory in the American classic.

Fast qualifier Tracy Hines took third, followed by Kyle O’Gara and Caleb Armstrong. The race was delayed due to rain but finally conducted during a window late in the evening.

Santos emerged as the new Honda USAC National Midget Pavement point leader going into the June 29 “Rocky Mountain Classic” at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo. Prior to the race Pancho Carter, A.J. Watson and Bob Wilke were celebrated as new inductees into the USAC Hall of Fame.

The “Hut Hundred” dates back to 1952 and has created a spectacular legacy, with race winners including many of the greats of Midget racing. The race also signals the opening of the 2013 Honda USAC National Dirt Midget Championship.

The last 10 runnings of the “Hut Hundred” have resulted in 10 different race winners.

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