Iowa preview

SANTOS' 139.553 MPH RECORD THE TARGET IN IOWA'S "CASEY'S GENERAL STORES USAC TRIPLEHEADER" MIDGETS

Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif., who set a World's Sprint Car qualifying record last year at Iowa Speedway, will aim for Bobby Santos' USAC Midget qualifying record of 139.552 mph when the National Midget Series competes as part of this Saturday's "Casey's General Stores USAC Triple Crown" at the 7/8-mile paved oval.

Hagen leads defending series champion Jerry Coons Jr. by just three points going into Saturday's event, which includes a 25-lap feature. The USAC Silver Crown Cars and National Sprint Cars share the billing, with a 25-lap Sprint race and a 100-lap Silver Crown race planned.

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. won last year's Iowa Midget debut and returns with teammate Dave Darland in Toyota-powered cars entered by Nine Racing of Laguna Beach, Calif.

NASCAR vets Bobby East and A.J. Fike, lady driver Stephanie Mockler, Ford Focus phenom Chase Scott and "Turkey Night Grand Prix" champion Billy Wease are other top candidates for a Midget feature victory Saturday.

-credit: usac