Fairgrounds dirt track has big plans for big weekend

The area's biggest racetrack has its biggest racing weekend of the year planned for Sunday and Monday.

The DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds will host the United States Auto Club's Silver Crown Series today, followed Monday by the full-bodied stock cars of the Automobile Racing Club of America and the United Midwestern Promoters modifieds. Each event is on the track's mile-long dirt oval.

Sunday's schedule includes USAC practice at 9 a.m., modified practice at 10 a.m. and USAC qualifying at 11 a.m. Preliminary events start at 12:30 p.m., with the Southern Illinoisan 100 for the USAC cars at 1:30 p.m. J.J. Yeley won the event last year.

On Monday, ARCA drivers will practice at 9 a.m. with modified heat races at 10:30 a.m., ARCA qualifying at 11 a.m. and preliminary events at 12:30. The 100-lap ARCA event and modified event will follow. Frank Kimmel (ARCA) and Brian Shaw (modifieds) won last year's twin bill.

Winston Cup racer Ken Schrader is scheduled to compete in Monday's ARCA event. Perry Tripp of Fredericktown, Mo., and Jim Eubanks of Dexter, Mo., also are entered.

More this weekend

The Southern Missouri Dwarf Cars are scheduled to compete with the regular program today at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark. Ron Wick won the event there last week.

Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., will host the Bob Wente Classic today. The event on the quarter-mile oval track will be for the USAC and MARA series. Racing begins at 8 p.m.

Paducah (Ky.) Raceway will host late models and modifieds Monday. Racing is at 8 p.m.

Around the tracks

Friday's late afternoon rain put an early damper on this weekend's events. The first day of two days of racing at St. Francois County Raceway near Farmington, Mo., was rained out.

Joey Mack of Benton, Mo., was ninth and 17th in a pair of Mid America Racing Series events last weekend in Bolivar, Mo., and Lebanon, Mo. He's 11th in the season standings.

Daron Clayton of Sikeston finished 10th at Wichita, Kan., and 15th at Tulsa, Okla., in a pair of sprint events co-sanctioned by the NCRA and All Stars last weekend. He remains third in the NCRA season standings.

Jimmy Kite, a Stockbridge, Ga., racer with local ties, finished 15th among 32 starters Saturday at the USAC Silver Crown Series pavement race at Nazareth, Pa. The event was dedicated to the memory of Kite's grandfather, who died Aug. 18. Kite has competed several times this seasons at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark.

Malden (Mo.) Speedway has dropped its Mid America Racing Series late model event that was rescheduled for Sept. 26. It will not be rescheduled.

Clayhill Motorsports near Atwood, Tenn., has planned a street stock event Oct. 2 to 4 worth $5,000 to the winner. Each starter will earn $500.

Godfrey (Ill.) Speedway near St. Louis has scheduled a street stock event Sept. 26 and 27 that will pay $10,000 to win with $500 to start (based on a 200-car field).