by Bill Wright
Perseverance pays off. To race in last year’s Knoxville Midget Championship was a surprise in itself for 28 year-old Mike Hess. After breaking a valve at Angell Park in Sun Prairie, WI the weekend before the race, Hess proceeded to dump the motor he would use at Knoxville out of his trailer and off his two-wheel dolly onto the ground. “I was ready to stay home,” he says. Enter his only crewmember, brother Bill. Bill picked up the motor, put it in, loaded the trailer and it was off to Iowa.
Mike hails from the historic town of Petersburg, IL. He manages a successful family Dairy Queen during the week, is a high school wrestling referee in the winter, and hits the racetracks most weekends. Last year’s win at Knoxville was a little surprising for most, as he beat 57 of the Midwest’s best chauffeurs to score his first midget victory. Cruising behind early leaders Davey Ray and Craig Carey, he made his winning pass of a strong Kerry Madsen to lead the last five laps, and claim the first race he ever ran at the famous half mile. He would prove it was no fluke, by capturing the famous Hut Hundred in Terre Haute, IN, as well as the Milwaukee Cup at Hales Corners and the Arnie Knepper Memorial at Belleville. In 26 races last year, Hess scored 22 top tens, as well as finishing third in the MARA (Midwest Auto Racing Association) standings, and fourth in the BMARA (Badger Midget Auto Racing Association) rundown. He comes in this weekend, fresh off a victory over a fine field of cars at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska. The show was sanctioned by the Illinois based MARA and the Colorado based RMMRA (Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association).
Hess utilizes a five-year-old Buzzard chassis with Esslinger power in his seventh year of racing competitively. He started driving in a UMARA (United Midget Auto Racing Association) Sportsman Midget and in his very first race, scooted by nine cars. After moving into the full midget scene, he struck a friendship with Jon Callahan through mentor Donnie Lehman. Callahan was just starting his Buzzard chassis business, and Hess still pilots the first chassis of its design. Sponsors on the machine include Petersburg DQ, Callahan Motors, 3rd Berry Lincoln Tavern, NAPA of Petersburg, Esslinger Engineering, Speedway Models, Simpson and Hoosier.
Known as a slick track master, Mike says, “Oh I don’t really mind either track, but I guess I would prefer a slick one, because it’s a lot easier on equipment.” When asked if he was looking forward to Knoxville he modestly states, “Yea we are, but I’m just as excited for the next weekend, when we run at Jacksonville, Farmington, and Belleville because they’re closer to home. Anytime you win at a place, you like to go back, though.” Hess has to be reckoned with close to home. One of the events not far from Petersburg, is the Tom Knowles Memorial at Spoon River Speedway, south of Canton, each September. For the exception of one breakdown, he has finished in the top three every time he’s signed in at the high banks. Competitors have included the likes of Jay Drake, Lehman, Critter Malone, Tracy Hines, Donnie Beechler, the racing Camfields and many more.
Hess hopes to drive 200 laps on the weekend of June 13 and 14 at Terre Haute. In addition to defending the Hut Hundred midget race on the 13th, he hopes that his Silver Crown dirt car owned by Scott Long will be ready to run the next evening. The team plans on running the USAC Silver Crown dirt races. “It’s our first time in the Silver Crown car. Hopefully, we should be ready by then,” says Hess of his chance in an Eagle chassis. He still hopes to chase points with MARA, and will probably spend a share of his time with BMARA. No word on whether the Hess brothers have dropped the motor on the shop floor this week, but you can bet they will be ready to tackle Knoxville!