Hunter Schuerenberg tames the high banks of the Spoon River Speedway in taking the Tom Knowles Memorial (Mark Funderburk Racing Photo)
Associate Sponsors: Hoseheads.com, TheCushion.com, Buckeye Threads. Front Row Challenge
Product Sponsor: EMi
(Bill W) September 11, 2017 – A busy Midwest Thunder Sprints presented by www.OpenWheel101.com weekend saw four different winners in four events. Bret Tripplett became a first time winner with the series in taking the Herb Barlow Memorial in Jacksonville, Illinois on Friday. Also on Friday, Bill Balog picked up the victory with the IRA at Superior Speedway in Wisconsin. While Hunter Schuerenberg was winning Saturday night at Spoon River Speedway’s Tom Knowles Memorial near Canton, Illinois, Ian Madsen was claiming the prestigious Jerry Richert Memorial at Cedar Lake Speedway near New Richmond, Wisconsin. It was Ian’s series leading seventh win.
The schedule is dominated by three IRA events this week. On Wednesday, the Dirt Oval at Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois will be paying $4,000 to win and $400 to start. On Friday, the Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa will play host, followed by the Deer Creek Speedway near Spring Valley, Minnesota Saturday.
The Midwest Thunder schedule has seen 25 different winners in the 52 events contested. The top ten (excluding Platinum WoO drivers) in the standings see Kerry Madsen leading over Ian Madsen, Brian Brown, Brooke Tatnell, Tim Kaeding, Mark Dobmeier, Terry McCarl, Austin McCarl and Paul Nienhiser
Join us in supporting sprint car racing in the Midwest!
So far, Hoseheads.com, Buckeye Threads, TheCushion.com and the Front Row Challenge have jumped on board as associate sponsors for the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by Open Wheel 101.
EMi is providing a $500 gift certificate to the highest finishing EMi driver in the season point race, as well.
Whether you are just wanting to chip in or become a title sponsor for the series, there are several options for you. Visit www.OpenWheel101.com or e-mail Bill Wright at sprntcar@hotmail.com for more details!
Stay tuned to Open Wheel 101 all season long for point and race updates!
Next Up!
Wed, Sept 13 – Dirt Oval at Route 66 (IL) IRA
Fri, Sept 15 – Clay County Fair Speedway (IA) IRA
Sat, Sept 16 – Deer Creek Speedway (MN) IRA
Current Point Standings (Through 9/9/17) (Includes all drivers)
Driver, Hometown, Points (Wins)
Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 971 (4)
Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust., 936 (7)
Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND, 725 (6)
Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO, 710 (5)
Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA, 709 (2)
Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK, 479 (2)
Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Aust., 469
David Gravel, Watertown, CT, 463 (3)
Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA, 425 (2)
Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND, 414 (1)
Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK, 397 (1)
Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA, 386 (1)
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA, 372
Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA, 365 (2)
Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL, 310 (3)
Matt Juhl, Sioux Falls, SD, 301 (1)
Bill Balog, Hartland, WI, 290 (2)
Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO, 279 (1)
Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO, 270 (1)
Lynton Jeffrey, Sydney, NSW, Aust./Prairie City, IA, 244
Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN, 230 (1)
Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH, 209
Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX, 190 (1)
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN, 175
Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA, 175 (2)
Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA, 172
Jason Sides,Bartlett, TN, 166
Justin Henderson, Tea, SD, 151
Jake Blackhurst, Hanna City, IL, 151
Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN, 148
Chad Kemenah, Arvada, OH, 144 (1)
Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN, 142
Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 141
Scott Winters, Butterfield, MN, 131
Logan Schuchart, Hanover, PA, 130
Jim Moughan Jr., Springfield, IL, 119
Bret Tripplett, Lincoln, IL, 113 (1)
Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, OH, 110
Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN, 104
Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL, 103
Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN, 100
Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA, 98
Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA, 91
Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO, 90 (1)
Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA, 88 (1)
Joe B. Miller, Millersville, MO, 84
Jacob Patton, Bethalto, IL, 82
Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, IN, 78
RJ Johnson, Tampa, FL, 78
Dusty Zomer, Sioux Falls, SD, 76
Dakota Hendrickson, Omaha, NE, 74
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH, 72
Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK, 72
Justin Peck, Monrovia, IN, 72
Cap Henry, Bellevue, OH, 68
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno, CA, 68
AJ Bruns, Lincoln, IL, 68
Skylar Prochaska, Lakefield, MN, 67
Jeremy Standridge, Springfield, IL, 66
Greg Hodnett, Spring Grove, PA, 65
Mike Terry Jr., Plainfield, IN, 65
Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH, 64 (1)
Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA, 54
Scotty Thiel, Sheboygan, WI, 53
Scott Neitzel, Beaver Dam, WI, 50
Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL, 50
Cory Eliason, Selma, CA, 46
Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA, 46
Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL, 46
Terry Babb, Decatur, IL, 44
Jeremy Schultz, Beaver Dam, WI, 43
Logan Faucon, Elkhart, IL, 42
Jamie Veal, Warrnambool, VIC, Aust., 41
Travis Whitney, Blaine, MN, 41
Aaron Andruskevitch, Riverton, IL, 39
Austin Johnson, Pleasant Hill, IA, 38
Steve Meyer, Sheboygan Falls, WI, 34
Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL, 32
Danny Dietrich, Gettysburg, PA, 32
Kyle Marten, Sheboygan Falls, WI, 32
Skylar Gee, Leduc, ALB, Can., 30
Mike Reinke, Howards Grove, WI, 28
Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL, 26
Jimmy Hurley, Springfield, IL, 26
Brinton Marvel, Lizton, IN, 24
Tayler Malsam, Sammamish, WA, 22
Carson Macedo, Lemoore, CA, 22
Jacob Allen, Hanover, PA, 20
James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Aust., 20
Scott Bogucki, McLaren, SA, Aust., 18
Kody Kinser, Bloomington, IN, 18
Thomas Kennedy, Winnipeg, MB, Can., 18
Josh Baughman, Odessa, TX, 18
Thomas Kennedy, Winnipeg, MB, Can., 18
Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA, 18
Kris Spitz, Salem, WI, 18
Blake Nimee, Oswego, IL, 18
Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN, 16
Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA, 16
Matt Wasmund, Jackson, MN, 16
Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN, 16
Andrew Andruskevitch, Riverton, IL, 14
Christopher Bell, Norman, OK, 14
Clyde Knipp, California, MO, 14
Dustin Adams, Crystal City, MO, 14
Russel Borland, Kewaskum, WI, 14
Andy McElhannon, Nesbit, MS, 12
Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL, 12
Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK, 12
Wayne Modjeski, Oak Creek, WI, 12
Dave Uttech, Kenosha, WI, 12
Bronson Maeschen, Pleasantville, IA, 10
Dylan Tuxhorn, Pawnee, IL, 10
CJ Leary, Greenfield, IN, 10
Robbie Standridge, Springfield, IL, 8
Eric Schulz, Sioux Falls, SD, 8
Justin Standridge, Springfield, IL, 8
Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA, 8
Howard Moore, Memphis, TN, 6
Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN, 6
Bill Boles, Harris, IA, 6
AJ Moeller, Rockwell City, IA, 6
Cory Bruns, Lincoln, IL, 6
Trey Starks, Puyallup, WA, 6
Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA, 6
George Crawford, Springfield, IL, 6
Michael Decker, Silver Lake, WI, 6
Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA, 4
Tyler Bear, Elliottsville, PA, 4
Brandon Spithaler, Evans City, PA, 4
Austin Pierce, Grand Forks, ND, 4
Ryan Bickett, Ramona, SD, 4
Dean Brown, Springfield, MN, 4
Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, AL, 4
Danny Smith, Chillicothe, OH, 4
Dennis Spitz, Lewisburg, KY, 4
Matt Vandervere, Zion, IL, 2
Max Stambaugh, Lima, OH, 2
John Lambertz, Sioux Falls, SD, 2
Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA, 2
Trevor Serbus, Olivia, MN, 2
Bob Weuve, Newton, IA, 2
Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, PA, 2
Heikkenen Patrick, Eveleth, MN, 2
Tentative Races that will be counted for Points with the Midwest Thunder Sprint Cars presented by www.OpenWheel101.com (Winners)
Fri, April 7 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA (Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO)
Sat, April 8 – 34 Raceway (IA) IRA (Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL)
Sat, April 15 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Sat, April 22 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, April 29 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Fri, May 5 – Missouri State Fair Speedway WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Sat, May 6 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, May 12 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, May 13 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, May 20 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Rain)
Sun, May 21 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) All Stars/IRA (Rain)
Fri, May 26 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Sat, May 27 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Thur, June 1 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, June 2 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, June 3 – Jackson (MN) Nationals WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Thur, June 8 – Angell Park Speedway (WI) IRA (Bill Balog, Hartland, WI)
Fri, June 9 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway WoO (Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA)
Sat, June 10 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Sun, June 11 – 34 Raceway (IA) All Stars (Chad Kemenah, Arvada, OH)
Tue, June 13 – Eagle Raceway (NE) WoO (Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA)
Fri, June 16 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO (David Gravel, Watertown, CT)
Sat, June 17 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Matt Juhl, Sioux Falls, SD)
Sat, June 17 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO (Rain)
Tue, June 20 – Granite City Speedway (MN) WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Fri, June 23 – West Liberty (IA) Speedway WoO (Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK)
Fri, June 23 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH)
Sat, June 24 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO)
Tue, June 27 – The Dirt Oval at Route 66 (IL) WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Thur, June 29 – Deer Creek Speedway (MN) WoO (Rain)
Fri, June 30 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA)
Sat, July 1 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Thur, July 6 - Deer Creek Speedway (MN) WoO (Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, IN)
Fri, July 7 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) WoO (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, July 8 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, July 14 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA)
Sat, July 15 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND)
Sat, July 22 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Wed, July 26 – Peoria Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rain)
Thur, July 27 – Tri-City Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rain)
Fri, July 28 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX)
Fri, July 28 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA (Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA)
Sat, July 29 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA)
Sat, July 29 – Macon Speedway (IL) MOWA (Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL)
Fri, Aug 4 – I-55 Raceway (MO) WoO (Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK)
Sat, Aug 5 – I-55 Raceway “Ironman 55” (MO) WoO (Rain)
Sun, Aug 6 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Cappy Classic (Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO)
Mon, Aug 7 – Southern Iowa Speedway Front Row Challenge (Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK)
Wed, Aug 9 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA)
Thur, Aug 10 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (David Gravel, Watertown, CT)
Fri, Aug 11 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (Friday feature only) (Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA)
Sat, Aug 12 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway Nationals (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Fri, Aug 18 – River Cities Speedway (ND) WoO (Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND)
Sat, Aug 19 – Red River Valley Speedway (ND) WoO (Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA)
Sat, Aug 19 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Rain)
Sun, Aug 20 – Nodak Speedway (ND) WoO (David Gravel, Watertown, CT)
Sat, Aug 26 – Knoxville (IA) Raceway (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Thurs, Aug 30 – Peoria Speedway (IL) MOWA (Jake Blackhurst, Hanna City, IL)
Fri, Sept 1 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Rain)
Fri, Sept 1 – Tri-City Speedway (IL) MOWA (Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL)
Sat, Sept 2 – Jackson (MN) Motorplex (Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Fri, Sept 8 – Superior Speedway (WI) IRA (Bill Balog, Hartland, WI)
Fri, Sept 8 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA (Bret Tripplett, Lincoln, IL)
Sat, Sept 9 – Cedar Lake Speedway (WI) Jerry Richert Memorial (Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Aust.)
Sat, Sept 9 – Spoon River Speedway (IL) Tom Knowles Memorial (Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO)
Wed, Sept 13 – Dirt Oval at Route 66 (IL) IRA
Fri, Sept 15 – Clay County Fair Speedway (IA) IRA
Sat, Sept 16 – Deer Creek Speedway (MN) IRA
Sun, Sept 24 – LaSalle Speedway (IL) Bill Waite Jr. Memorial IRA/MOWA
Sat, Sept 30 – St. Francois County Raceway (MO) Queen’s Royale
Fri, Oct 6 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) MOWA/IRA
Sat, Oct 7 – Fairbury American Legion Speedway (IL) MOWA/IRA
Fri, Oct 13 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Sat, Oct 14 – Jacksonville Speedway (IL) MOWA
Fri, Oct 20 – Lakeside Speedway (KS) WoO
Sat, Oct 21 – Salina Highbanks Speedway (OK) WoO
Point System
The top fifteen finishers in the feature event each night receive points:
Winner - 50 2. 40 3. 35 4. 30 5. 25 6. 20 7. 18 8. 16 9. 14 10. 12 11. 10 12. 8 13. 6 14. 4 15. 2
Associate Sponsors
Hoseheads.com
For over twenty years, Hoseheads.com has been your source for “All the News That’s Fit to Sprint”. From the latest results and photos, to some of the greatest columnists in the sport, check in every day at Hoseheads!
The Cushion
T2 Digital, Inc./The Cushion has been involved in LIVE video broadcasting over the internet since early 2007. The Cushion has covered some of the most prestigious events at some of the greatest facilities in racing over the years. They are currently enjoying their eighth full year in partnership with “The Sprint Car Capital of the World”, Knoxville Raceway. Join them for Pay Per View coverage of Knoxville’s events all year long!
Visiting www.TheCushion.com is not only your ticket to LIVE events at the Knoxville Raceway and other great venues, it also provides access to nearly 1,000 On Demand Videos from sanctions like the World of Outlaws, All Stars, USAC, King of the West Series, ASCS, regional tracks and much more! Also catch live audio from the All Stars, “Cushion Originals” not found anywhere else!
Buckeye Threads
BOLTS • NUTS • SCREWS • WASHERS • RODS • ANCHORS • CUTTING TOOLS
• Standard & special threaded fasteners
• Next day delivery on hard-to-find sizes
• Specials made to your print
• Quality manual conforming to ISO 9001:2000
• A Veteran-owned family business
• Celebrating 32 years of service in 2016
• E-mail, call or fax us your requirements
Visit them online at www.BuckeyeThreads.com!
Front Row Challenge
The Price Chopper Front Row Challenge presented by Musco Lighting and Don Long’s Searsboro Telephone Company will again pay $20,000 to the winner! It will be held Monday, August 7 at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. The 410 sprints will be supported by the IMCA Racesaver sprint cars. For more information, visit www.OskyChallenges.com!
Product Sponsor
EMi
It goes without saying that the open wheel industry is constantly evolving and ever-changing. Customers often measure a company in two different ways. The first is by the products that are offered, and the second is by the service.
EMI has excelled at both since the beginning. Here at EMI, the goal is to exceed the customer’s expectations with emphasis on quality and safety. Our technical support combined with our ongoing commitment to product safety sets us apart.
Product research and development focused on your current and future requirements will continue to position EMI at the forefront of the sprint car industry.
EMI continues to value the relationships built with each and every customer. EMI's reaching dealer network, both domestically and internationally, ensures product and support at a moments notice.
New alignments with Speedway Motors, Schnee Chassis, Stallard Chassis, and Henchcraft Chassis forms a foundation for future success. EMI's team of industry experts is poised to assist you with your every need. Please contact us toll free for sales, service, and technical support for your racing endeavors at 855-525-1941 or 402-438-0392. Visit EMi online at www.EagleMotorsports.com.
Photo: Hunter Schuerenberg tames the high banks of the Spoon River Speedway in taking the Tom Knowles Memorial (Mark Funderburk Racing Photo)
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
sprntcar@hotmail.com
Twitter: @BillWMedia
Website: www.OpenWheel101.com