Upright Mini Sprint Get Indoor Date in Early 2007

Last year was my first trip to the Chili Bowl.  What a welcome break to a long winter without racing.  The Chili Bowl is electric—well over 200 cars, close wheel-to-wheel action and a carnival like environment.  Although the racing action was great, being a spectator is never as much fun as actually racing.  However, this year upright mini sprint competitors will get a chance to do a little indoor racing of their own thanks to Kenny Brown’s invitation for the cars to compete indoors at Duquion, Illinois on the Mini Magic Mile.  Although, I realize it is not the Chili Bowl, the allure of getting to take the wing off and do a little racing while most of the racing community is at a stand still is really appealing. 

The first event of 2007 will be held on January 20^th and 21st at the Southern Illinois Center in Duquoin, Illinios.  The center is located at the fairgrounds and has been dubbed the “Mini Magic Mile”.  The track is a 1/6 mile dirt track and is said to be plenty wide for good wheel-to-wheel racing action.  American Mini Sprint Association (A.M.S.A.) regular Kellen Conover had the  opportunity to race his midget at the facility in late summer of 2006  and said that there was plenty of

room to race and that the track should be excellent for the upright mini sprints.  POWRI promoter Kenny Brown is putting on the event.  Brown has an excellent reputation, and has put on previous events in the arena including modified midget and midget races with the most recent event taking place during the fair in 2006.  Although there were plans to race at the facility during the winter months of 2006, it had to be cancelled since there was not a place to pit the cars indoors.  However, for the 2007 season, a large hangar style structure has been built adjacent to the arena which will act as the pits.  The upright mini sprints have been added to a card that already includes modified midgets. 

The upright mini sprints are a class which has been experiencing explosive growth across the country.  In addition to organizations and tracks that put on weekly events from coast-to-coast, the mini sprints now also have two national races that have drawn large fields from 8-10 different states.  2007 will mark the third annual running of the Mini Sprint Nationals at famed Lawrenceburg Speedway.  Additionally, the Central New York Mini Sprint Association puts on The Short Track Nationals—a late fall event.  Many are very hopeful that the winter event in Duquion can become another “National” type event for the class.  It is well positioned to draw cars from several different states and organizations including the American Mini Sprint Association, the Wisconsin Mini Sprint Association, The new group out of Illinois, The Midwest Outlaw Lightning Sprints and the many upright 600cc cars that run in Ohio and Indiana.  Since it is a two day event, it holds the potential for racers to plan ahead and make an entire weekend out of it. 

The opportunity to introduce new people to this class of racing is another very large side benefit of the event.  It is amazing that as long as this class has been around, many people still don’t know what an upright mini sprint is.  Maybe we’ll get lucky and see a few new faces join us.  You’ve got to wonder—with so many people spending $30,000-$50,000 just to compete in the Chili Bowl, if we might not get a few that would be willing to buy a used car for $6,000-$8,000 to come out and play during the winter.  Go karts have also been raced on the indoor track.  Since many new competitors are making their way out of karts and into the mini sprints, it is a great chance to showcase the cars to a new group of racers.  

A strong showing of cars is one sure way to make sure the mini sprints earn a spot on Brown’s racing card.  For competitors interested in attending, the event is open to upright mini sprints running 600cc-1200cc engines.  Although the event is not an American Mini Sprint Association sanctioned event, A.M.S.A rules will be utilized with the exception of weight.  Cars will be required to roll the scales at 700 pounds without a driver.  This is representative of the A.M.S.A’s 725 pound rule, however 25 pounds have been subtracted since the cars won’t be running a wing.  600cc upright mini sprints are encouraged to participate also.  A $50 bonus will be provided to the top finishing 600cc car.  It has been rumored that if the upright mini sprints have a strong enough showing of cars, they will likely be invited back again in February.

For more information on lodging and the schedule, visit www.powri.com.