Sweet lassoes fourth Mopar Midget National Win at Lawrenceburg
Team Mopar driver Brad Sweet was among the stars of the United States Auto Club (USAC) "Indiana Midget Week," winning the Saturday-night round at Lawrenceburg Speedway. It was the fourth Mopar Midget National Championship victory of 2008 for Sweet, in his first full season with Kasey Kahne Racing.
Mopar led every lap of the Lawrenceburg feature, with Sweet leaping from a row-three start to take over from Jerry Coons Jr. on the fifth of 30 laps. Sweet's KKR teammate, Brady Bacon, finished a fine sixth, and California kid Alfred Galedrige powered his Mopar machine to a 10th-place finish. Two-time USAC Midget champ Jerry Coons Jr. had mechanical issues and finished 21st.
In Wednesday's Gas City I-69 Speedway opener, fourth-place Coons was the top Mopar man. Bacon, the night's top qualifier, finished 10th. It was a tough night for Sweet, who overcame qualifying woes to gain a tail-end start, only to be caught up in another competitor's early accident. He was classified 24th. At Bloomington Speedway on Friday, Sweet made the proverbial silk purse from a sow's ear, finishing a terrific second after flipping hard during qualifying. Bacon was strong in the closing laps, placing seventh. The Kokomo finale was frustrating for Coons, Sweet and Bacon. Coons had the fastest car in the 30-lap feature, but started so far back -- in 19th -- that his hope of victory was slim. In the end he was brilliant, advancing to third at the checkers. Sweet placed 19th, with Bacon 17th.
After "Indiana Midget Week," Sweet sits fourth in the Mopar Midget National Championship, with Bacon fifth and Coons eighth. Next up: an August 23-24 doubleheader at Sun Prairie, Wis. For more info on the USAC Mopar Midget National Championship Series, visit usacracing.com.