ON AUTO RACING: SPRINT CARS ZIP TO CENTER STAGE THIS WEEKEND

It's a good time of year to be a fan of sprint car racing.

The 410 cubic-inch cars continue the three-day Missouri-Illinois Clash today at Jacksonville Raceway near Springfield, Ill., then round out the schedule Saturday at St. Francois Co. Raceway near Farmington, Mo. Both events pay $2,000 to win.

Many of those same race teams will be on the road Tuesday for the World of Outlaws' stop at Paducah (Ky.) Raceway. Series point leader Mark Kinser will be a contender for the $10,000 top prize. It's only the second time the series has appeared at the wide, high-banked track; the first was in 1998.

Further south, 360 cubic-inch cars will compete in a pair of big events in the Memphis, Tenn., area. The American Sprint Car Series rolls into Memphis Motorsports Park today and goes to Riverside Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., Saturday. Mike Ward of Memphis could be a frontrunner after he won $4,000 in a pair of similar events Friday at Malden, Mo., and Saturday at Garnertown, Tenn.

Big money at ATPR

Track officials expect a big field of cars Saturday at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark when $1,000 goes on the line for the winner in the open-wheel modified feature race.

The track drew 17 modifieds Saturday. Larry Hull of Old Appleton won after early leader John Barnett dropped out.

Saturday's first-place money is more than double that division's typical $400 winner's share. Track president Doug Friese said he's received inquiries from several out-of-state racers for Saturday's event.

Extra money also will be available for the pure street stock class on June 23. That night's feature race will be worth $500 to the winner.

Who, what, where

* Indiana's Danny Smith opened the Missouri-Illinois Clash with a $2,000 win Wednesday at I-55 Raceway near Pevely, Mo. Jerrod Hull of Sikeston led early before giving way to Smith and, ultimately, a flat tire. He finished 11th. Heat race winners included Hull, Tim Montgomery of Fredericktown and Steve Zelch Jr. of Perryville. Kevin Gundaker of St. Charles won the late model feature race.

* Ken Rumble of House Springs, Mo., and Keith Adamson of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were the big winners in a two-day program at Fredericktown Raceway. Rumble won Friday's make-up late model feature from May 25, while Adamson won the regularly schedule feature races Friday and Saturday. In Friday's program, Pete Koenig (pure street) and Karl Francis (pro street) won feature races, and on Saturday Koenig and Doug Savage (pro streets) won.

Jamie Hall is the graphics and design editor at the Southeast Missourian. Reach him at (573) 335-6611, extension 174, or at jhall@semissourian.com