Toledo, Mansfield preview, Knoxville summary

TOLEDO, MANSFIELD "DOUBLEHEADERS" NEXT - JULY 6-7; STENHOUSE WINS AT KNOXVILLE; HAGEN "KING DOODLEBUG

The USAC National Midget Series is preparing for July 6-7 "doubleheaders" at Toledo and Mansfield, Ohio, where the Lucas Oil National Sprint Cars will share the billing.

Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif. is back atop the series standings following his victory in Saturday's "King Doodlebug Classic" at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway. He failed to finish the 25-lap "Knoxville Midget Nationals" finale, succumbing to tire woes. He enters the Ohio events with an 18-point lead over defending series champion Jerry Coons, Jr.

Tony Stewart Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of Olive Branch, Miss. Won Saturday's "Knoxville Midget Nationals" main event, co-sanctioned by BMARA, ARDC, RMMRA, SMRS and POWRi. Stenhouse led all 25 laps in his Chevrolet/Bass Pro Shops Spike/Chevy to beat Coons, Davey Ray, teammate Levi Jones and Kevin Swindell.

Hagen, won Saturday's rain-postponed 25-lap "King Doodlebug Classic" in his Liberty Village/McGladrey & Pullen Spike/Esslinger Ford, taking the lead from Don Droud Jr. on the 18th circuit around the 1/2-mile dirt oval. Droud, who led the first 17 laps finished second ahead of Dustin Morgan, Jones and Stenhouse.

Rains forced postponement of Friday's Knoxville events, condensing the two-night program into a single night of racing.

-credit: usac