Anderson 400 pre-race notes

400 LAPS FOR $10,000 SATURDAY IN ANDERSON MIDGETS

Pit stops have never played much of a role in determining the outcome of USAC Midget races but they might this Saturday night when the inaugural "Anderson 400 Midget Classic" unfolds at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. A red-flag stop will occur after 200 laps to allow for a 15-minute period for teams to adjust prior to a restart.

As a "special event" the race does not afford National points but should include many of the stars of USAC's Mopar National Midget Series in what promises to be a uniquely challenging event on one of America's most demanding short tracks.

The winner will take home $10,000 and the last of 34 finishers has been guaranteed over $1,000, so competition promises to be keen when the green flag drops at 8 pm Saturday night.

{Preliminaries are slated for Friday, with practice from 10 am to noon and qualifying from 12:30 to 3:30. Friday night offers additional practice and the Anderson 400 Midget Classic "qualifying races" and "last chance race." Race fans can attend a special autograph session for starting drivers at 6 pm Saturday.

Drivers will aim at Jason Leffler's 1-lap USAC Midget track qualifying record of 11.406 seconds, although qualifying will include four-lap attempts, similar to qualifying for the Pay Less "Little 500" Sprint race conducted at Anderson in May. The fastest 16 qualifiers are "locked in" and can not be bumped. The balance of the qualified cars will compete in Friday night's "qualifying races" and "last chance race" to determine the balance of the starting field for Saturday.

Some participating teams might take advantage of Wednesday night's USAC Regional racing program to fine tune their cars prior to Friday's "Anderson 400 Midget Classic" qualifying. The Regional, Kenyon and Ford Focus Midgets comprise Wednesday night's USAC "Open Wheel Extravaganza" at the 1/4-mile paved oval.

Bobby East won the USAC National Midget race held at Anderson in May and Darren Hagen was the fastest May qualifier at 11.515.

-credit: --USAC--