PONTOON BEACH, Ill. -- The countdown has officially begun for the 2nd Annual Gold Crown Midget Nationals presented by DuPont at Tri-City Speedway. In less than two weeks, USAC and POWRi team up for the premier event of the season, which takes place on the three-eighths-mile clay oval in Pontoon Beach, Illinois.

It all begins on Wednesday, October 7, with a practice night that is free to the public. Thursday and Friday will see preliminary events for the USAC and POWRi Midgets, which will determine the front row of Saturday night’s Bob Wente Classic presented by O&W Restaurant and Hoosier Tires.

In addition to the Midgets, the POWRi 600cc Outlaw Micros will compete all three nights, and the season champion will be crowned Saturday.

As an added attraction, 410 non-winged Sprints round out Friday night’s card, competing for the $2,000 prize.

The entire weekend is an Open-Wheel fan’s dream, so make plans now to be at Tri-City Speedway for the 2nd Annual Gold Crown Midget Nationals.

TURN-BY-TURN

Your guide to the 2009 Gold Crown Midget Nationals is right here. From tickets to contact information, you’ll find it. If you need more information, please check the web site, or call the number below.

TURN 1: Just the facts.

• The 2009 Gold Crown will be held on October 8-10, 2009, with a practice night on Wednesday, October 7.
• Midgets and Micros will be racing every night, with 410 non-winged Sprints on Friday.
• Midget Purse: $1,500-to-win on Friday and Saturday; $15,000-to-win and $1,000-to-start on Saturday night.
• Micro Purse: $750-to-win Friday and Saturday, $1,500-to-win Saturday.
• 410 non-winged Sprints will pay $2,000 to Friday night’s winner.
• Midgets and Micros sanctioned by USAC and POWRi
• POWRi National Midget Champion and POWRi 600cc Outlaw Micro Champion to be crowned on Saturday night.

TURN 2: Tickets! Get your tickets!

Tickets for the 2009 Gold Crown Midget Nationals are all general admission. Prices are as follows:
Thursday - $20
Friday - $22
Saturday - $28
Kids 12 and under free with paid adult
Gates open at 5pm.

TURN 3: We’ve got you covered.

2009 Gold Crown Midget Nationals t-shirts are available for pre-order now by emailing tricityspeedway@msn.com or calling 1-800-617-9077. They can be picked up at the track during the event. Credit cards only on pre-orders, please. Prices are as follows:
Small to XXL Black or White shirts - $15
Long-sleeve shirts - $18
Sweatshirts - $22
Hoodies - $25

TURN 4: It’s all in the details.

Tri-City Speedway is located just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri, in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. Take exit 4 off of I-270 and go ½ mile south on SR 203. For your GPS device, the physical address is 5100 Nameoki Rd., Pontoon Beach, IL 62040.

Camping is allowed, however there are no hook-ups.

Kevin & Tammy Gundaker, Tri-City Speedway/Promoters
Email: tricityspeedway@msn.com
618-931-7836 Racetrack
website: tricityspeedway.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TriCitySpeedway

Hotels/Motels
(All 4 Motels are Located at Exit 6/Hwy 111 - 1 mile from Racetrack)
Magnuson Camelot Inn (New Name 2009)
1240 E. Chain of Rocks Road, Pontoon Beach, Illinois 62040
(618) 931-2262

Days Inn & Suites
5105 Highway 111, Pontoon Beach, Illinois 62040
(618) 797-2727
(800) 272-6232

Holiday Inn Express
Highway 111, Pontoon Beach, Illinois 62040
(618) 797-1200
(800) 465-4329

Super 8
4141 Timberlake Drive, Pontoon Beach, Illinois 62040
(618) 931-8808
(800) 800-8000

ON THE MIDWAY: More fun than a body has a right to.

Washers tournament on Saturday 3pm. Fans can sign up on the midway and compete against their favorite driver.

Autograph session Saturday, time to be announced.

Tim's Simulators – Eight simulators on site all weekend for your driving pleasure. A Fast Time award will be presented Saturday to the resident speed demon.

FINISH LINE: The finer points.

Previous Winners
2008 – Inaugural Gold Crown Midget Nationals
Thursday – Brad Sweet
Friday – Brad Sweet
Saturday – Jerry Coons, Jr.

USAC National Midget Series Driver Points as of September 21, 2009:

1 Brad Kuhn 1110
2 Brad Sweet 1091
3 Darren Hagen 1087
4 Jerry Coons Jr. 1027
5 Cole Whitt 902
6 Bobby East 893
7 Tracy Hines 880
8 Bryan Clauson 755
9 Chad Boat 702
10 Kevin Swindell 540
11 Levi Jones 450
12 Dakoda Armstrong 441
13 Zach Daum 433
14 Josh Wise 420
15 Henry Clarke 400
16 Brad Loyet 394
17 Caleb Armstrong 392
18 Bobby Santos III 338
19 Shane Hmiel 260
20 Kody Swanson 257

National Midget Driver Points as of September 15, 2009:

Brad Kuhn 2500
Tim Siner 2230
Brad Loyet 2210
Nick Knepper 2200
Andrews Felker 1980
Daniel Adler 1945
Austin Brown 1735
Daniel Robinson 1695
Derrick Myers 1300
Derek King 1015
Ryan Criswell 930
Brett Anderson 870
Tracy Hines 790
Kellen Conover 785
Shane Cockrum 755
Dave Camfield Jr. 735
Rich Camfield 565
Tyler Robbins 565
Tony Roney 510
Kyle Neal 505
Zach Daum 425
Kenny Brown 400
Kent Schmidt 385
Donnie Lehmann 350
Caleb Armstrong 315
Ricky Erghott 310
Derek Rossio 260
Davey Ray 225
Steve Knepper 215
Matt Sherrell 195
Hud Cone 100
Danny Frye III 80
Andrew Deal 60
Steven Weber 55
Johnny Murdock 15
Matthew Fox 5
Dale Ballinger 5
Don O'Keefe Jr. 0
Dan Mecum 0
Jay Mounce 0
Don Cunningham 0
Ted Kirkpatrick 0
Dave Camfield Sr. 0
Billy Mentgen 0

600cc Outlaw Micro Driver Points as of September 4, 2009:

32k Derek King 3020
11a Andrew Felker 1940
51b Joe B. Miller 1665
79j Jacob Patton 1620
33 Ryan Guyett 1510
39 Brandon Graybeal 1460
8 Tony Roney 1345
2g Jeremy Camp 1275
87 Caleb Graybeal 1225
1k Kara King 1070
42m Spencer Montgomery 985
3 Braylon Fitzpatrick 965
9L Ryan Langston 810
1e Eric Edwards 735
32x Brad McDaniel 725
7b Austin Brown 705
2 Nathon Benson 695
15b Austin Laskey 670
85 Ryan Ruf 625
94 Andrew Peters 610
41 John Paynter Jr. 610
9 Paul Nienhiser 570
7x Max Pozsgai 520
19 Natasha Cox 515
61a Toby Brown 510
29 Kyle Amerson 505
52f Logan Faucon 435
2p Jake Palmisano 415
3n Jake Neuman 410
83 Gregg Dillion 390
10 Derek Lemaster 370
37 Brunson Behning 350
17w Britt Pemberton 350
N2 Nic Harris 340
22m Andy Malpocker 290
40h Mike Hudson 275
38 Evan Weyant 275
67 Steven Russell 270
24s Scott Plew 240
97d Devon Piper 235
69 Ryan Frantz 205
75 Trent Beckinger 205
8j Jason Cooper 205
71 Jeff Wiggs 110
14 Willy Sylvester 105
3b Shelby Bosie 95
14p Broc Pemberton 95
85t Mike Terry Jr. 90
96 Mark Gass 80
M2 Michael Bustamante 80
401k Ted Kirkpatrick 70
52 Jason Harms 60
73 Jake Mosley 50
24w Jimmy Wells 50
22p John Potter 45
5b Brody Stewart 40
55s Tracey Simmons 35
42 Mike Smallwood 30
6b Andy Baugh 25
5 Mike Obst 20
JJ1 Colin Violes 20
55 Shawn Sears 15
11s Lucas Sprague 10
58h Luke Hanning 10
33p John Parker 5
95 Jimmy W. Miller 5
8s Scott Smith 5
44m Sam Miller 5
56s Mike Strain 5
01s Tim England 5
2 Todd Kirkman 0
41 Jim Shelton 0
49 Glen Miller 0