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ARDC CARQUEST Midgets Sign Heat Race Sponsors For 1998 Season

31 March 1998

The American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) Midgets added more contingency sponsor stickers to the side of their racecars at their annual Media Day and Tech inspection on Saturday, March 28. The event was held at Lobitz Catering in Hazleton, Pa. and sixteen Midgets were on hand to go through the inspection. Some of the ARDC CARQUEST drivers who were in attendance and ready to rumble in '98 includ ed defending ARDC CARQUEST Midget champion, Ed Stimely, Jr. and the 1997 Rookie of the Year, Don Trent. Sophomore driver Ray Bull, Mark Freeland, rookie Mark Wakefoose, Duane and Randy Mausteller, T ed Schmid, Mike Lapp, Bryan Kobylarz, rookie Shawn Burke, Fred Schell, Doug Borger, rookie Billy Courtwright and Ron Lauer were also a part of Saturday's event.

ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series President, Ray McCabe, announced the addition of Heat Race sponsors as well as several more contingency sponsors that will support ARDC in 1998. HLS Wings in Mechanicsbur g, Pa is giving an HLS Wing for the opening race at Silver Spring Speedway on April 4. That wing will be presented to the race team that finishes between 10th and 15th position. ARDC Officials plan to draw a numbered pill to determine which position wins the wing. One heat race at every ARDC CARQUEST Midget event will be called the Mason Racing Ignitions Heat Race. Mason Racing Ignitions in Sp ringmount, Pa. is giving a $25.00 gift certificate to that winner. Hank's Performance Products in Columbia, Pa. is returning to the ARDC series as a heat race sponsor in 1998 and Sander Engineering from Torrance, California is also participating again as a heat race sponsor for the ARDC Midgets. ARDC drivers and car owners will also benefit at the end of the racing season with sponsorship comm itments from other manufactures. Weiland Racing Enterprises, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois will give $100.00 gift certificates to the top ten finishers in the point standings and Nields Steering Componen ts is giving $100.00 gift certificates toward the purchase of a new steering box to the top three car owners in the final point standings. These sponsors join Pennzoil, Power Mist Racing Fuel, Desi gn 500, Fontana Automotive and Ellis Chassis in supporting the ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series this racing season.

The ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series visits Flemington Speedway four times in 1998. The first race is on May 30. The second race at Flemington on June 20 marks the return of the ARDC/NEMA Mini Indy. 33 cars three abreast take the green flag for the start of this event. The ARDC Midget teams want to get to meet the Flemington race fans before the May 30 race. So, on Saturday, May 9, ARDC will presen t "ARDC Fan Appreciation Day" at Flemington Speedway. The ARDC drivers will have their cars on display behind the Flemington grandstands and will be there to meet the Flemington Speedway fans. Also, anyone who is in attendance that night will have the opportunity to win racing hats, T-shirts and other prizes from the American Racing Drivers Club.

Of special note, the 1997 ARDC Rookie of the Year, Don Trent, is scheduled to be a guest on an upcoming "Monday Night MotorSports" broadcast along with drag racers, Barry and Lisa Moyer and CART Fed Ex Championship Series driver, Andre Riberio. Following Trent on future "Monday Night MotorSports" shows throughout the coming weeks will be other ARDC drivers.