---

FANS OF THE HIGH BANKS CONTRIBUTE TO LARGE PURSE FOR THIS WEEKEND’S BELLEVILLE MIDGET NATIONALS

The purse for this week’s 39th annual Belleville Midget Nationals on Aug. 5-6 at the Belleville High Banks exceeds $86,000 for the two-day midget portion of the event.

"The Fans of the High Banks" - a group of race fans who follow and attend Belleville events - have again gone the extra mile this year and raised money through sponsorships and donations to increase the payoff for the midget events. The 17 individuals have contributed $1000 each to be used as added incentive for more high-quality drivers, owners, and crews to return to the "world's fastest half-mile dirt track."

The contributors are: Brad Boyer, Belleville; Ken Ebert, Salina; Dennis Erkenbrack, Republic; Scott Hoard, Courtland; Kevin Jensen, Courtland; Wade Jensik, Belleville; Tanner Johnson, Courtland; Don McChesney, Munden; Jim McDonald, Belleville; Arlen Mickelsen, Superior, Neb.; Adrian Polansky, Belleville; Jon Russell, Courtland; Brent Scott, Belleville; Jeff Sothers, Courtland; Jeff Strnad, Scandia; Darrell Wineinger, Belleville; and one anonymous donor.

The event has the largest posted purse for an outdoor midget auto race during the 2016 season. The positive economic impact on the Belleville area is tremendous and the entertainment value of this event draws people back year after year.

Opening night Aug. 5 features qualifications and preliminary races, concluding with a 25-lap midget feature race. The winner’s share will be $3000 with tenth place collecting $800 and last place $450. The popular two-person cruiser stock car division will race on the track’s infield quarter-mile track.

Saturday Aug. 6 will feature last chance races along with a trophy dash to set the 40-lap feature. A check of $12,500 awaits the winner of the main event with $1,000 minimum going to each feature starter. The United Rebel Sprint Car Series again returns for the 4th annual “305 Sprint Nationals.”

Before the racing events commence, on Thursday Night, Aug. 4, the Belleville High Banks infield will feature a Tim Dugger concert. Admission is $10 per person and persons under the age of 14 years old are free. A free BBQ meal will be provided while supplies last.

General admission tickets for all events are sold first-come first-serve on race day at the ticket gate. Reserved seating tickets are available for the event. General admission is available only if the event is not sold out and is available only on the day of the race at the track ticket office. Special children ticket pricing is being offered this year. A link to order tickets from Ticket Force can be found by logging onto the track’s website at www.bellevillehighbanks.org.

Courtesy of Bryan Gapinski

Back to News