One of the hidden jewels in flat tracks in the Midwest is Mid-America Speedway on Indianapolis' south east side, located at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Having hosted flat track and speedway racing since the 2007 season, the track has started to grow a big following amongst fans and riders alike over the course of the last few seasons.
Run by fellow flat track fanatic Jim Terchila, the track hosts 8-10 events a year ranging from the youngsters all the way to the Pros in a variety of classes and displacements on the immaculately prepared short track. During regional and local races on the track's schedules, rider turn-outs of 140-150 with 27-30 races is commonplace.
The racing lines around Mid-America are abundant, too, as evidenced in the shot above taken during the June 23, 2012 event. Ben Knight #85P leads Jake Tolbert #90J, Brett Terchila #9 (the track president's younger brother), and Ricky Leak #96J. All are area and/or local riders that regularly contest the events held at the Marion County Fairgrounds track. Track president Jim Terchila himself regularly runs the speedway class himself and is quite the hot shoe on his brakeless 500cc methanol-burning machine.
Last year on the Friday night of the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP Weekend the track held it's first 'Night Before the Indy Mile' event that was one of the facility's best-attended rounds of the season, and hosted AMA Pro Flat Track riders such as Jared Mees (who won last year's Pro 450 main and is expected back again this year), Henry Wiles, Ion Stear and Rob Pearson, among a big list of other notable Pros.
Next Friday, August 17 will be the track's official 'Night Before the Indy Mile' after last season's Lucas Oil Indy Mile was canceled due to the tragic events surrounding the rigging collapse on stage during the Sugarland concert held just two weeks before the event had originally been scheduled. Mid-America will again be running a limited program for the evening, and the list of regulars/locals and Pro riders is growing fast. And the track again will also host the 1949 Indian Arrow 250cc Challenge that drew a nostalgic following for the vintage event's first run.
This will be an event that is a must see for any flat track fan and/or any racing fan in Indy over the big weekend of racing in the Hoosier Capital. Check out the full press release below and get ready to head east after the first day of practice wraps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to check out some of the best of the best on the great little short track at Mid-America Speedway. You won't be disappointed!
Mid-America
Speedway in Indianapolis Brings You the '2012 Night Before the Indy
Mile' presented by Harley-Davidson of Bloomington, IN. on MotoGP
Weekend Friday, August 17
Mid-America Speedway,
Indianapolis, IN.--August 10, 2012—In just one week, one of
the biggest weekends of a motorcycle racing fan's dream will all come
together in the Indiana capital as the Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP
will reign supreme for it's 5th Annual gathering at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
There are many events that help to
highlight the great weekend of racing in Indy, but one of the most
exciting will be happening on Friday, August 17 as Mid-America
Speedway , located at the Marion County Fairgrounds, will be hosting
their inaugural 'Night Before the Indy Mile' on the beautifully
prepared short track venue located on Indianapolis' south east side
of town.
Hosting flat track racing at it's
facility since the 2007 season, the local venue will host the stars
of AMA Pro Flat Track and some of the riders on the regional and
local circuit for what is sure to be a great kick-off to the
following night's Lucas Oil Indy Mile held at the Indiana State
Fairgrounds. For the second year in-a-row, Mid-America will again
play host to some of the best racing on wheels in the world as some
of the stars of The Rolling Thunder Show in AMA Pro Flat Track will
roll into town the night before to contest the Pro 450 Class.
Riders such as current AMA Grand
National Championship points leader Jared Mees #9, Illinois resident
and Mid-America regular Rob Pearson #27, Canadian flat tracker Doug
Lawrence #73, full-time AMA Road Racer/part-time AMA Flat Tracker JD
Beach #95, and Pro Singles riders Zakk Palmer #81C, Ben Knight #85P
and Fight for Dirt Track.com's Tyler Porter #28C. Last year's event
in the Pro 450 Class saw Mees, Australian Mick Kirkness and Rob
Pearson fill-out the podium.
As most remember from the 2011 season,
the originally-scheduled round of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile was
canceled due to the tragic results of the rigging collapse on the
main stage just over two weeks before the event was to run.
Mid-America Speedway hosted it's original outing on Friday night of
the '11 MotoGP Weekend and saw a great turn-out of Pro and local
talent in spite of the cancellation at the Indiana State Fairgrounds,
and is expecting an even better turn-out of talent for this year's
event on Friday, August 17.
AMA
Pro Flat Track National #27 Rob 'Bugs' Pearson and AMA Pro Singles
rider Tyler Porter #28C (Fight for Dirt Track.com) head towards turn
one at Mid-America Speedway during the Pro 450 Class held on
Saturday, June 23, 2012. The inaugural 'Night Before the Indy Mile'
will be held on Friday, August 17, 2012. Photo by Mike
'Stu' Stuhler/Stu's Shots/Indianapolis, IN.
Along with the big names, local
favorites such as Dreyer Motorsports/Tucker Rocky-backed Ricky Leak,
Nathan and Kevin Wilson and Ken Maynard are also expected to be
racing at Mid-America, and Clermont, Indiana's Dan Ingram #31J will
also be on-hand. For those of you unfamiliar with Dan, he just
returned to the Expert ranks in AMA Flat Track at the ripe young age
of 47 years old after being injured and forced to retire prematurely
during the '93 racing season. Ingram will be on-hand to sign
autographs for the fans and will be selling t-shirts to help support
his Expert Twins Series program. All riders will be available
throughout the evening to sign autographs and talk with the fans.
Mid-America will be running a limited
program at this event, with Pro 450 money class, 250 money class, 30+
vet, 50+ Super Senior, Vintage Light (0-350 air-cooled/twin shock),
85-200 Youth (two and four-stroke), Open Quad and Speedway for the
evening's program.
Harley-Davidson
of Bloomington, Indiana is the presenting sponsor for
the
2012 Night Before the Indy Mile at Mid-America Speedway
on
Friday, August 17 at the
Marion County Fairgrounds, 7300 East Troy Ave.,
Indianapolis, IN. 46239
For the second year in-a-row, we will
also be showcasing the by-invitation only Bob Starke Indian Arrow
Challenge, which features a fine collection of 1949 Indian Arrows.
Texan 'Wild Will' Kelley, a former AMA Pro Flat Track competitor and
6-Time VDTRA Pro #1 competitor will be making the swing into Indy
after competing in the Kansas Fair races to ride one of these
immaculate machines.
Gates are scheduled to open at 1:30 PM
EDT on Friday, August 17, with rider's meeting scheduled for 4:00 PM
and first practice at 4:30 PM. Opening ceremonies and the first heat
races are scheduled to roll off at 7:00 PM. Admission for this great
event is only $10.00 for ages 10 and up, with children 5-9 only
$5.00.
For more information, be sure to visit
our website at www.midamspeedway.com
and make your plans now for what will truly be a great night of short
track racing at Mid-America Speedway, the 2012 'Night Before the Indy
Mile' at the Marion County Fairgrounds on Indy's south east side.
Mid-America
Speedway
7300
E. Troy Ave.
Indianapolis,
IN. 46239
Jim
Terchila-Track president
Cell
(317) 871-4392
Press release prepared by:
Mike 'Stu'
Stuhler
Stu's Shots
Indianapolis,
IN. 46234-7686
Cell (317)
373-0522
Posts
Nice article, thanks Mike
ReplyDeleteBruce Wishart 22j
Thanks Bruce, glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for visiting!
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