Grandview Kicks off USAC PA Midget Week July 30
Grandview Kicks off USAC PA Midget Week July 30
The stars of the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship return to the East on July 30 to kick off PA Midget Week at Grandview Speedway.
The stars of USAC will return to the East, this time taking part in the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series that will open at the Grandview Speedway on Tuesday night, July 30.
The USAC Midgets will share the program with the 358 NASCAR Modifieds in the third event of the 2019 NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series. The USAC National Midget event at Grandview will be the Ken Brenn Midget Masters going 30 laps and paying $3,500 to the winner. Gates open at 5 PM with race time set for 7:30 PM.
The Ken Brenn Midget Masters is dedicated to Ken Brenn Sr., a winning Open-Wheel and Dirt-Track Modified Stock-Car Racing car owner for some 30 years (1954-1983) whose accomplishments on the track were accompanied by an unblemished record of integrity and professionalism. And win or lose the resident of Warren, New Jersey, always presented a first-class effort and treated everyone with gentlemanly courtesy and respect.
Brenn’s stellar Midget history shows a long association (1954-1972) with the old American Racing Driver’s Club and that relationship includes holding every office in the organization, including being a two-time (1969-1970) ARDC president. Plus, he was also a five-time ARDC Champion Car Owner (1963-1964, 1968-1969 and 1971) and listed on the ARDC's Honor Roll as a Lifetime Member.
But Brenn – who also did some Midget and Modified Stock-Car promoting – didn’t just race with ARDC as he provided rides for over 150 top drivers who competed in: the Indianapolis 500; USAC Championship Dirt Car, Sprint Car and Midget Racing; NASCAR’s old Midget Division; and, the highly-competitive Pennsylvania-New Jersey and DIRT Motorsports Modified Stock-Car Series.
Brenn was also a leader in making auto racing as safer sport as his efforts in this area saw him: design a universally-accepted roll bar for Midgets in 1958; have the first USAC Sprint Car to ever use a roll cage in 1966; and, be instrumental in making roll cages – and shoulder harnesses – mandatory for ARDC in 1970.
“I consider Ken a close friend, someone I have known for years but further secured our relationship through the Dirt Track Heroes Car Show at the Phillipsburg Mall over the past ten years”, commented Bob Miller who with the Rogers Family, promotes the Thunder on the Hill Racing events. “I remember when Mr. Brenn promoted midget races here at Grandview, he was always very professional, a great asset to the sport”, added Theresa Rogers.
And he continues to be regarded by the racing community as one of its finest representatives.
Christopher Bell, hot off a $10,000 win at Grandview on Tuesday, July 2 in a 410 sprint car is planning to compete in the Ken Brenn Midget Masters 30 along with Tyler “Sunshine” Courtney, Chris Windom, Kevin Thomas, Jr, Zeb Wise, Chad Boat, Tanner Carrick, Jerry Coons Jr. and C.J. Leary just to name a few. Time trials and qualifying events will lead up to the Ken Brenn Midget Masters 30 lap feature event paying $3,500 to the winner.
The 358 Modifieds will play an equally important part of this event with qualifying and a 30 lap feature that will $3,000 to the winner. Jeff Strunk is hot off a Thunder on the Hill victory and he’ll be challenged by Ryan Watt, the winner of the opening Thunder on the Hill modified event in June. Other expected entries include Brett Kressley, Duane Howard, Craig VonDohren, Rick Laubach, Doug Manmiller, Billy Pauch Jr., Kevin Hirthler, Jared Umbenhauer and many more.
The Tuesday night, July 30 Ken Brenn Midget Masters and 358 NASCAR Modified double-header will get underway at 7:30 PM with gates opening at 5 PM. Low, Down & Dirty is already hard at work planning the pre-race Meet and Greet.
Be sure to plan and attend the first return of the USAC National Midgets to Grandview in thirty years.
Advance tickets may be ordered by calling 443-513-4456. Please speak your name clearly and leave the number of tickets you needed. Tickets may be paid for and picked up on race night at the WILL CALL window after 3:30 PM. Advance ticket holders may enter the grandstands at 4:30 PM, one-half hour prior to General Admission tickets going on sale at 5 PM.