Buckeye Nationals preview

Anderson Winner Beach & Point Leader East Eyes 3rd "Buckeye Nationals" in Ohio

Teddy Beach of Donnelsville, Ohio notched his second career USAC National Midget feature triumph Saturday night, leading all 40 laps at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. His initial triumph came in 2002 at South Boston, Va.

Beach and his Beach Manufacturing/Fram Beast/Mopar fought off repeated challenges from runner-up Aaron Pierce, who finished second in the recent "Little 500" Sprint car race at the track. Ron Gregory, recent winner of the "Night Before the 500" Midget Classic, finished third ahead of series point leader Bobby East and Tracy Hines.

East continues to lead the standings by 94 points over Josh Wise, who failed to finish the Anderson feature.

The series faces four straight nights of competition this week as the third "Buckeye Nationals" unfolds at four Ohio tracks beginning Wednesday. Attica Raceway Park host Wednesday night's USAC Valvoline National Sprint & National Midget "doubleheader," while similar events will follow at Fremont Speedway Thursday night, Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima Friday night and at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg Saturday night.

Practice at Attica, Fremont and Lima begins at 6 pm. Qualifying at each track starts at 6:30, followed by racing at 7:30. The Eldora timetable on June 19 has practice at 6:30, qualifying at 7 and racing at 8. All feature events are 30 laps except the Eldora Midget finale, which is 25 laps.

Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind., who did not compete at Anderson, "swept" last year's "Buckeye Nationals" Midget feature events and currently ranks fourth in the National standings.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1.-Bobby East-332
2.-Josh Wise-238
3.-Cole Carter-206
4.-Dave Darland-197
5.-Tom Hessert-178
6.-Teddy Beach-167
7.-Ron Gregory-165
8.-Davey Ray-155
9.-Brad Kuhn-146
10.-J.J. Yeley-145