BELLEVILLE, Kan. — The summer’s most prestigious and most important midget race will take place this weekend at the historic Belleville High Banks.
The half-mile oval has hosted auto racing for nearly a century, and the Mopar Belleville Nationals has been the signature event at the track since 1978. This year marks the 30th annual Mopar Belleville Nationals.
While the event is sanctioned and officiated by the USAC National Midget Car Series, drivers from midget organizations across the country make the trek to the Jayhawk State for the event. Among the participating organizations are BCRA, BMARA, ARDC, RMMRA, POWRi and AMRA.
The event will pay out more than $83,000 in purse monies with $12,500 going to Saturday night’s feature winner. Each championship feature starter will earn at least $1,000, making it one of the highest-paying midget races of the year.
The Belleville track is unlike any other track in the country. It is billed as the “World's fastest half-mile dirt track” and allows drivers the rare opportunity to run wide open all the way around the track.
The Belleville Nationals with its two-day format will see all of the top drivers facing off on Friday night for a spot in the finals on Saturday night. The top-six finishers in Friday's main will be guaranteed the top starting spots in Saturday's championship feature.
One of the drivers expected to be running in this year’s Nationals is two-time and defending Belleville champion Josh Wise, who will drive a Toyota-powered machine owned by drag racer Cruz Pedregon. Bud Kaeding will drive a second car out of the Pedregon stable.
Jerry Coons, Jr., who won Belleville in 2005, will steer the Wilke-Pak entry, while the Kasey Kahne Racing Mopar team will have Brady Bacon and Kevin Swindell behind the wheel. Two-time race winner Dave Darland and Davey Ray will wheel the Steve Lewis-owned Nine Racing Toyotas. Tony Stewart Racing, which fielded the car that Wise drove to victory last season, will have two cars for Levi Jones and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
USAC point-leader Darren Hagen, 1996 race winner Robby Flock and defending Badger Midget Series champion Brad Kuhn will also compete. The Klatt Enterprises team will field Ford-powered cars for former winner Bobby East and Stephanie Mockler.
Other top drivers expected include Johnny Rodriguez, Brad Loyet, Scott Hatton, Danny Stratton, Cole Carter, Tom Hessert, Cody Brewer, Scott Pierovich, Mike Hess, Chad DeSelle, Chuck Gurney, Jr. and Chase Scott.
Only six drivers in the history of the Midget Nationals have won the Belleville Nationals more than once. They are the late Stan Fox, Sleepy Tripp, Steve Knepper,  Kahne, Dave Darland and Wise.
The Belleville High Banks is managed by a volunteer racing committee and hosts eight to 12 racing events annually.