Kinsers add more big names to area weekend event

First it was three Wallaces.

Now throw in three Kinsers, a trio of sprint racers from a familiar Indiana family who have added their names to the rare program of sprints, mini sprints and midget cars Friday night at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark near Benton, Mo.

Kraig Kinser, the 18-year-old son of World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser, said this week that he will join cousin Kelly Kinser and uncle Randy Kinser -- all of Bloomington, Ind. -- along with a host of regional racers and track regulars for the $5,000-to-win event in the two-day Motorsports Fall Classic.

It's part of an event headlined by three other family members -- brothers Rusty, Kenny and Mike Wallace, three Winston Cup and Busch Series racers who will sign autographs in the grandstands.

Racing will begin at 7 p.m. The Wallaces will arrive at about 8 for autographs and will sign even if the racing itself is postponed by rain.

Competing with the sprint division will be the U.S. Outlaw Mini Sprint Association, which will race in the first of its two-day national championship program. MARA midgets also will compete Friday.

The mini sprints will conclude their events Saturday, along with modifieds, pure stocks and cruisers. Advance seating still is available. More info: 382-2423.

Many of the sprint racers competing Friday at ATPR will head to St. Francois County Raceway near Farmington, Mo., on Saturday for another $5,000-to-win event. Info: 756-1734.

USCS's Missouri visit

Memphis racers Eddie Gallagher and Mike Ward were the big winners on the two-day visit by the USCS sprint circuit to a pair of area tracks.

Gallagher won Saturday's event at ATPR, and Ward followed with a win Sunday afternoon at Malden Speedway. That event was pushed back from Friday because of rain.

At ATPR, Gallagher, the track's 1992 season points champion, won his 26th feature race event at the track and 33rd on the USCS trail. He took the lead from Paul Sides on lap 18 and led the final 12. Sides was second with Jeff Swindell and Ward behind.

Ward passed Tim Montgomery of Fredericktown for the lead six laps from the finish and led Montgomery and Terry Gray of Bartlett, Tenn., at Malden. Among local racers, Daron Clayton of Sikeston was fifth and Shawn King of Cape Girardeau was 12th.

Around the tracks

Batesville: Claudie Cook of Portageville was second to winner Jeff Greene and earned $5,000 in the Mid-America Street Stock Championship event at Batesville, Ark. Greene earned $10,000 out of 112 entries. The track will host an event for modifieds Oct. 2 through 5 that will pay $8,000 to win and $2,000 to start. Info: (870)251-1200.

Beebe: The O'Reilly's Street Stock Classic this weekend pays $5,000 to its winner at Beebe Speedway in Northeast Arkansas. Racing is Friday and Saturday. Info: (501)882-3617.

I-55: The rescheduled Pepsi Nationals will be Saturday for at I-55 Raceway near Pevely. Late models will race for $10,000 to win and modifieds race for $1,200. Info: (636)479-3219.

KLMS: A $2,000-to-win event for winged sprints has been set for Oct. 19 at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway near Calvert City. Late models and modifieds also will compete. Info: (270) 395-3600.

SFCR: Jerrod Hull of Sikeston led Saturday's pack of sprints. Joey Montgomery was second and Tommy Worley Jr. third. ATPR season champ Robbie Standridge was fourth. Other winners were Kenny Harris in hobby stock, Jeff Lebaube in modifieds and Kevin Bess in the mini sprint class.

Sikeston Drag Strip: Rodney Benson of Scott City won for the first time this season in super pro, posting a time of 5.27 seconds (126 mph). Mark Murakami of Cape Girardeau was second in 6.23 (108 mph). Jeff Hays of Herrin, Ill., won in pro (8.14, 83 mph) over William French (7.46, 90) of Perryville. Josh Ames of Dongola, Ill., won in the ET class (7.35, 93) over Hays (8.16, 83).