2009 News

SMRS MIDGETS “OFF” UNTIL TRI-CITY APRIL 30

STRATTON, LOYET TAKE COWTOWN; TITLE TO LOYET

Defending USAC/SMRS Great Plains Midget Champion Brad Loyet of Sunset Hills, Mo. is the early leader in the 2010 series standings after winning last week’s City Vending “Cowtown Midget Championships” title at Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, Texas, near Fort Worth.

Loyet will continue as the point leader while the series takes a hiatus until joining the USAC Mopar National Midget Series for the April 30 race at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill.

It appeared that Danny Stratton of Fontana, Calif. was going to “sweep” the Cowtown series but his car failed post-race technical inspection Saturday night after he had appeared to have won the 35-lap finale.

Stratton drove Wayne Simmons' Iowa Speedway F5 Twister/Esslinger Ford to victory in Friday's night's race. He battled with Loyet for the early lead and eventually won the 30-lap race over Don Droud Jr., Zach Daum, Loyet and Kevin Bayer. Loyet led the opening lap and Stratton led the rest of the way.

Loyet emerged the winner of Saturday’s race in the Beaver Stripes & Custom Graphics/Bell Helmets Spike/Esslinger Ford. He scored the victory over Chett Gehrke, Daum, Matt Sherrell and Droud Jr. The Stratton disqualification left Loyet as the official leader of all 35 laps.