BELOIT, BELLEVILLE NEXT FOR DIRT MIDGETS;

HAGEN, CLAUSON SHARE “BELLEVILLE BASH” SPOTLIGHT;

RAIN FORCES “HUT HUNDRED” HALT

Christopher Bell of Norman, Okla. will lead the Honda USAC National Midget Dirt Series to Kansas races at Beloit (July 30) and Belleville (August 1-2), holding a 25-point lead over Bryan Clauson in the latest standings.

Prior to that the Honda USAC National Pavement Midgets combine with the TRAXXAS USAC Silver Crown cars in the “Rich Vogler Classic” July 31 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind.

Clauson, of Noblesville, Ind., closed out last week’s dirt activity by winning Saturday night’s 30-lap “Belleville Bash” feature at Belle Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill. He passed Jerry Coons Jr. on lap 28 and led the last three laps in his Curb Records/Mobil 1 Spike/Esslinger. Coons led 27 laps and finished second in the race co-sanctioned by POWRi and Badger. Brad Kuhn was third ahead of Tracy Hines and Bell.

Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif. led all but the first lap of Friday’s “Belleville Bash” feature in his Liberty Village/McGladrey DRC/Esslinger. Bell was second ahead of Kuhn, Ryan Criswell and Nick Knepper. Bubba Altig led the first lap. Hagen’s victory tied him with Rich Vogler and Bob Tattersall at five wins for the all-time lead in terms of USAC wins in the St. Louis area.

Last Wednesday night’s “Hut Hundred” at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Ill. was rained out for the second time this season. Track and USAC officials are discussing possible rescheduling.