Another NASCAR star plans stop at a local track

Another driver from the Winston Cup ranks will make a stop at a local track soon, bringing the number to four so far this year.

Mike Wallace, a Busch Series and Winston Cup racer and younger brother of Rusty Wallace, will sign autographs at SEMO Motor Speedway during its special event of MARA midgets, NMMA micro sprints and RAMS mini stocks July 13.

Wallace is schedule to compete earlier in the day at a Busch Series event near Chicago, then fly to the rural Scott County track north of Sikeston for the evening event.

It's another in a series of local stops for NASCAR names. Earlier this season Kenny Schrader competed at Malden (Mo.) Speedway, and last week Dale Jarrett signed autographs at I-55 Raceway near Pevely, Mo.

In case that's not enough, there could be more before the season's over. Officials at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark say they're working to finalize a deal that would bring at least one more familiar NASCAR name to its track later this year.

MARA back this week

The MARA midget-car series was at St. Francois County Raceway near Farmington, Mo., on Saturday, and this week the tour will make another nearby stop at SEMO Motor Speedway. Donny Lehman, who won Saturday at SFCR, is among those likely to be in this week's field. Their visit to SFCR was their first in about 10 years; the MARA series has never been to SEMO Motor Speedway.