Brady Bacon, who’s already gotten off to a red hot start early in the 2020 season, has secured a USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget ride in the Kelly Hinck owned No. 21H for the 5^th annual Shamrock Classic presented by Dooling Machine on March 7 at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin.

Bacon, the 2014 and 2016 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car champion, is undefeated thus far in USAC National competition during the 2020 season, capturing a two-night USAC Sprint sweep at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla. in mid-February.

The Shamrock Classic would mark the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native’s first USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget appearance of 2020.  Bacon is one of just two drivers to have started in the feature event of all four previous editions of the Shamrock Classic with 4^th place finishes in both 2016 and 2017 serving as his best.  He also took 14^th in 2018 and 18^th in his most recent start in 2019.

Bacon, an eight-time USAC National Midget feature winner, drove for Hinck a year ago and will do so once again as they chase after the $5,000 winner’s Shamrock Classic share.  Bacon and Hinck will also team up to compete in the March 6-7 Micro Sprint portion of the Shamrock Classic.

Competitors can enter the Shamrock Classic Midget event at the LINK until Thursday, March 5th at noon eastern time.  After that deadline, entries for the midget division will increase to $100.  Early entry is highly suggested, as officials prepare to set heat race lineups with a “draft,” similar to that used previously at Du Quoin’s “Junior Knepper 55” in 2018 and the 2019 “BC39” at the IMS Dirt Track.

Winged micro-sprints will complete their program on Saturday after competing in preliminary events on Friday night, March 6th. Micro competitors are urged to enter here.

Micros will complete the majority of their program on Friday night, starting at 6:30pm Central and culminating with dashes to set up Saturday’s events.  Only last chance races and the feature will be mixed into a full program for the National Midget Series, which will feature a passing-points format with both heat races and qualifying races.

The “Shamrock Classic” features appearance points only for competitors chasing the NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship, so all eyes will be on the top prize, elevated to $5,000 for the fifth annual event thanks to event sponsors DM Machine, WWT Raceway, and Fast Lane Racing Apparel.

Fans and competitors alike are invited to join the fun on Friday night at the St. Nicholas Brewing Company in Du Quoin for food and drink specials after a night of micro-sprint racing. Midget teams are also welcome to unload and park on Friday night. Gates open on Friday at 4pm Central with cars on track at 6:30pm.  Grandstand tickets for Friday are just five dollars, with pit passes at $25.

Shamrock Classic tickets are on sale at Shamrock Classic Tickets with reserved seats at $25, while general admission tickets are $20 for ages 13 and up.  Children’s general admission tickets (Age 6-12) are $10. Kids 5 and under are free.  Pit passes for Saturday are $35, and those attending both days can purchase pit passes for $55.  Tickets and pit passes will be available at the door both days.

Doors open on Saturday at 1pm Central to prepare for hot laps starting at 4pm.  More information can be found at the Shamrock Classic website.