MIDGETS PREPARE FOR AUGUST 13 SALEM RACE COONS,

AUGUST 1, 2005

MIDGETS PREPARE FOR AUGUST 13 SALEM RACE
COONS, DARLAND TEAM UP TO SWEEP BELLEVILLE; LINCOLN RAINED OUT

             Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif. needs to look over his shoulder 
this week as the National Midget Series prepares for the Aug. 13 Jasper 
Engines & Transmissions "Joe James/Pat O'Connor Classic" at the Salem 
(Ind.) Speedway.

             Wise's series point lead has slipped to 92 points over 
fast-closing Jerry Coons, Jr., who scored his biggest career triumph in 
Saturday night's 40-lap 28th Bud Racing "Belleville Midget Nationals" in 
Kansas.

             Coons led all 40 laps in his Venture Racing US 
Technologies/Spike Chassis Esslinger to beat Davey Ray, Johnny Rodriguez, 
Danny Stratton and Tracy Hines. Coons also finished second in Friday 
night's 25-lap feature at Belleville behind teammate Dave Darland. Darland 
suffered mechanical problems Saturday night and failed to finish the 40-lap 
finale. Ray, Hines and Robby Flock rounded out the "top-five" Friday.

             Rains forced cancellation of Tuesday night's scheduled Pepsi 
"Mid-Summer Nationals" at Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, Neb.

             Wise finished ninth and seventh in the two Belleville feature 
events, while Coons has now strung together three consecutive podium finishes.

             The Aug. 13 Salem program also includes the Valvoline USAC 
National Sprint Cars.

             Glenn Revell of Canberra, Australia remained in Wichita's 
Wesley Hospital Monday recuperating from injuries suffered in a Friday 
night flip at Belleville. He is improving and is expected to be released 
some time this week.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS

1.-Josh Wise-599
2.-Jerry Coons, Jr.-507
3.-Bobby East-429
4.-Ron Gregory-426
5.-Teddy Beach-376
6.-Tom Hessert III-374
7.-Brad Kuhn-361
8.-Jay Drake-326
9.-Dave Steele-321
10.-Michael Lewis-309