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A Plethora of New Names Aim For First Belleville Nationals Title This Weekend

Three of the last five Belleville Midget Nationals have produced brand-new champions of the Kansas spectacular. All three came from the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports stable. Kyle Larson (2011), Christopher Bell (2013) and Rico Abreu (2014) were the latest. This year, a quintet of drivers could become the heir-apparent with Kunz/Curb-Agajanian expected to field five possible first-time winners.

Leading the charge will be Spencer Bayston of Lebanon, Ind., who has vaulted into the USAC National Midget point lead with a victory at Gas City, Ind., a second at Kokomo, Ind. and five other “top-10s” in eight starts. He has a 10-point lead over Bryan Clauson in the latest tally.

Tanner Thorson of Minden, Nev. is fourth in the standings, only 60 behind Bayston after victories at Putnamville, Ind. and West Memphis, Ark. Carson Macedo of Lemoore, Calif. is coming off a pair of podium finishes at West Memphis, while Ryan Robinson of Foresthill, Calif. has four “top-10s’ in his last four starts. Newcomer Holly Shelton of Sacramento, Calif. completes the Kunz team and scored a “top-10” at West Memphis. Thorson and Bayston finished third and eighth in the Belleville finale last year.

Other “top-10” point drivers Brady Bacon (third) and Chad Boat (fifth) are seeking their first Belleville Nationals victory. Boat’s father Billy won the 1995 title.

Two former Belleville champions are expected to compete this year, raising the possibility of a first-time winner. Bryan Clauson and Jerry Coons Jr. are three-time champs and one of them could become the first four-time winner of the classic.

The Belleville spectacular follows USAC National Midget races Tuesday at Jefferson County Speedway in Fairbury, Neb. and Wednesday at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, Kans.

Belleville action gets underway on both Friday’s preliminary night and Saturday’s final night with gates opening at 5pm, hot laps at 6:30pm and racing getting underway at 7:30pm.

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