Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 27, 2007) - The O'Reilly Sprint Bandits will once again rumble across the plains in topless fashion, as the 2008 Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing has been set.

The nation's top wingless Sprint Car drivers will converge for seven nights of O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT action at a half dozen different tracks throughout Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas in August as the series celebrates its Fourth Annual Midwest Swing.

The swing will kick off on Monday night, August 11, with the TNT troops taking to Wheatland, Missouri's Lucas Oil Speedway.  It marks a return to "The Diamond of Dirt Tracks", where Dickie Gaines won in 2006.

The next night, August 12, it's on to Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, NE, for the fourth consecutive year.  Dave Darland nipped Tim Kaeding at the line at I-80 Speedway this year, with other past TNT Nebraska winners including Robert Ballou (2006) and Levi Jones (2005).

Wednesday night, August 13, the Sprint Bandits TNT travelers swarm to the south for a stop at Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway.  It marks the series first Oklahoma City stop since the inaugural Midwest swing in 2005, when Levi Jones snared victory honors.

Then it's up the Turner Turnpike on Thursday night, August 14, for another stop atop Creek Cont Speedway's ¼-mile clay oval in Sapulpa, OK, where Robert Ballou posted one of his 2007 wins.

The wild week of wingless Sprint Car action concludes with the traditional two-night event at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS, with the Saturday night, August 16, Ron Shuman Classic offering up a $10,000 winner's share.  Robert Ballou swept both nights of Lakeside competition in 2007, with other TNT winners at Lakeside including Brad Sweet (2006) and Bud Kaeding (2005).

Illinois' Levi Jones reigned as the inaugural O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest swing champion in 2005, with Missouri's Jesse Hockett taking top honors in 2006.  The 2007 edition of the Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing culminated in a tie atop the point charts between California shoes Robert Ballou and Tim Kaeding.

Additional information regarding the O’Reilly Sprint Bandits is available at http://www.sprintbandits.com/.

2008 O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing:

August 11 – Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO)

August 12 – I-80 Speedway @ Nebraska Raceway Park (Greenwood, NE) 

August 13 – State Fair Speedway (Oklahoma City, OK)

August 14 – Creek County Speedway (Sapulpa, OK)

August 15 – Lakeside Speedway (Kansas City, KS)

August 16 – Lakeside Speedway (Kansas City, KS) - $10,000 to win

-end- 

Robert Ballou & Tim Kaeding are Dyno-Mite! - Tie for Sprint Bandits TNT Honors
 
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (August 23, 2007) – In what proved to be the most competitive O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing yet, it was only fitting that a pair of drivers ended up knotted atop the points charts for the TNT title.

A pair of Northern California natives, both from winged racing backgrounds, proved to be the cream of the crop over the course of the week with Rocklin's Robert Ballou and Campbell's Tim Kaeding tying for championship honors on the Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing.

More than $100,000 in purse money, point fund and tow money was distributed over the course of the week as record car counts bolstered the popular series.

After finishes of eighth and fourth in the first two rounds of the week, 18-year-old Ballou went on a tear by winning the final three features of the week, including the $10,000 to win finale at Lakeside Speedway on Saturday night, August 18.

Ballou needed every bit of those three triumphs to tie Kaeding, who claimed podium finishes in all five feature events.  Both drivers collected an extra $2,000 for their share of the championship.

Making just his second career wingless start, and first in more than three years, in the Tuesday night, August 14, event at Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway, Kaeding finished second to Dave Darland by mere inches.

Kaeding also finished second to 16-year-old Chris Windom the next night at Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK, as well as in the Lakeside finale, with third-place finishes at Creek County Speedway on August 16 and in the Lakeside preliminary feature.

Ballou and Kaeding ended the week with 726 points apiece, 40 markers ahead of Warsaw, Missouri's Jesse Hockett, who finished third in points after claiming last year's TNT Midwest Swing championship.

After finishing well back in the field in the I-80 opener, Hockett finished among the top-five in the remaining four events of the week with a third-place run in Saturday night's Ron Shuman Classic at Lakeside Speedway his top finish of the week.

Sixteen-year-old Cole Whitt of Alpine, CA, ran strong throughout the week to finish fourth in points, with Bedford, Indiana's Brady Short rounding out the top ten.

The balance of the top ten included Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA), Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ), Neil Shepherd (Warsaw, IN), Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) and Mat Neely (Robinson, IL).

Ten other drivers competed in all five events over the course of the week, including Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ), Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, MO), Michael Trimble (San Jose, CA), Chad Boat (Phoenix, AZ), R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ), Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE), Jesse Mack (Fresno, CA), Mike Leslie (Litchfield Park, AZ), Bret Mellenberndt (Sioux Falls, SD) and Tony Everhart (El Cajon, CA).

A total of $10,000 was divvied up among the top ten points finishers, with more than $5,000 distributed to each of the teams that competed in each event during the week.

Sixty-eight different drivers competed in at least one O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing event last week, with a record average car count of 37.8 cars per night. 

Final O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing 2007 Points (Top 30):

1. Robert Ballou (Rocklin, CA) 726
1. Tim Kaeding (Campbell, CA) 726
3. Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 686
4. Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA) 664
5. Brady Short (Bedford, IN) 662
6. Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA) 632
7. Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ) 626
8. Neil Shepherd (Warsaw, IN) 616
9. Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) 602
10. Mat Neely (Robinson, IL) 590
11. Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) 575
12. Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, MO) 560
13. Michael Trimble (San Jose, CA) 555
14. Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN) 554
15. Chris Windom (Canton, IL) 544
16. Chad Boat (Phoenix, AZ) 537
17. R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ) 536
18. Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE) 534
19. Jesse Mack (Fresno, CA) 492
20. Mike Leslie (Litchfield Park, AZ) 486
21. Dustin Morgan (Collinsville, OK) 484
22. Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) 474
23. Bret Mellenberndt (Sioux Falls, SD) 445
24. Bud Kaeding (Campbell, CA) 428
25. Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ) 380
26. Tony Everhart (El Cajon, CA) 375
27. Matt Rossi (Peoria, AZ) 370
28. Trey Robb (Newcastle, OK) 264
29. Ricky Williams (Clinton, OH) 242
30.  Cody Cordell (Tulsa, OK) 240
 
The success of this year's O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing already has several new tracks inquiring about TNT dates for 2008.

-end-

Ballou Pockets $10K in Ron Shuman Classic at Lakeside
 
Lonnie Wheatley, KANSAS CITY, Kan. (August 18, 2007) – Robert Ballou put the wraps on the Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing by posting a commanding victory in Saturday night's $10,000-to-win 30-lap Ron Shuman Classic at Lakeside Speedway.

Ballou wired the field for his third consecutive TNT win of the week and earned a share of the Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing championship, as he and Tim Kaeding ended up knotted atop the point charts to become TNT co-champions splitting first and second place money of $2,500 and $1,500 to earn $2,000 apiece.

After winning Friday night's preliminary feature to earn the pole position for Saturday's finale, Ballou gunned into the lead at the outset on Saturday night and led throughout aboard the Don Ott-powered MPHG Promotions No. 81 Maxim to post his fourth career series victory.

And he did it without the help of any brakes over the final two-thirds of the race.

"I lost my brakes after that yellow flag nine laps into the race," Ballou explained in victory lane.  "I was lucky we got those cautions when we did, otherwise Tim (Kaeding) probably would have got by me in lapped traffic."

In addition to the $10,000 winner's share, Ballou also earned the coveted pedal car trophy annually awarded to the Lakeside Speedway wingless winner.  "That's what I really wanted was that pedal car."

Ballou got the jump on fellow front row starter Brady Short at the drop of the green flag and quickly raced away from the field as Short held off Kaeding for second.

The race's first caution flew after nine laps when Neil Shepherd got into the turn one wall, erasing Ballou's half straightaway lead.  On the ensuing restart, Kaeding blasted around Short for second and tried unsuccessfully to keep pace with the fleet Ballou.

Four laps later, the caution flew again when Gary Taylor came to a stop on the backstretch.  Taylor, piloting the mount driven by Cody Cordell earlier in the week after junking his primary mount on Friday night, rejoined the field at the tail.

With Ballou and Kaeding leading the way, Hockett battled past Short for third at the midway point. Kaeding began to reel Ballou in as lapped traffic came into play, but a caution after 24 laps for Mat Neely gave Ballou all the clear track he needed for the final six laps.

Ballou raced away from the field once again to secure the win, with Kaeding and Hockett taking the final podium positions.  Teen shoe Hunter Schuerenberg posted his top finish of the week by advancing four positions to claim fourth, with Don Droud, Jr., also turning in his strongest drive of the week by racing from 11th to round out the top five as Short slipped to sixth in the final rounds.

After missing his heat race when his flight from Silver Crown in action in Springfield was delayed, Dave Darland won the "B" Main and then charged from 21st to seventh in the feature, with 16-year-old Cole Whitt, Cory Kruseman and 17th-starter Damion Gardner completing the top ten.

Taylor, Whitt, Chris Windom and Gardner topped heat race action, with Charles Davis, Jr., Chris Morgan, Kruseman and Casey Shuman winning the qualifying races.

Twenty different drivers competed in all five rounds of the Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing, including Ballou, Kaeding, Hockett, Whitt, Short, Kruseman, Shuman, Shepherd, Gardner, Neely, Davis, Schuerenberg, Michael Trimble, Chad Boat, R.J. Johnson, Droud, Jesse Mack, Mike Leslie, Bret Mellenberndt and Tony Everhart.

Sixty-eight drivers competed in at least one event over the course of the week.

O’Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless Lakeside Speedway Ron Shuman Classic Saturday Results:
Locked in from Friday Night's Preliminary Feature:
81-Robert Ballou, 2b-Brady Short, 10k-Tim Kaeding, 75-Jesse Hockett.

Heat Races (8 laps)
First Heat:  1. 5c-Gary Taylor, 2. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 3. 30-Chad Boat, 4. 4-Casey Shuman, 5. 65-Chris Parkinson, 6. 12b-Mike Boyer, 7. 71m-Jesse Mack, 8. 75g-Rob Hockett.  DNS: 11-Levi Jones.

Second Heat:  1. 29w-Cole Whitt, 2. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 3. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 4. 11w-Ricky Williams, 5. 21L-Mike Lefholz, 6. 20-Ron Lefholz, 7. 97-Bret Mellenberndt.  DNS: 10-Dave Darland.

Third Heat:  1. 17-Chris Windom, 2. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 3. 96c-Jim Cameron, 4. 7c-Chris Morgan, 5. 76-Mike Leslie, 6. 69-Mike Moore, 7. 18-Tim Newman.  DNS: 92J-J.R. Topper.

Fourth Heat:  1. 71-Damion Gardner, 2. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 3. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 4. 15-R.J. Johnson, 5. 21-Michael Trimble, 6. 55-Tony Everhart.  DNS: 17n-Mat Neely, 36L-Joe Larkin, Jr.

Qualifying Races(8 laps) – Top 16 in Combined Passing Points from Heats & Qualifiers to "A" Feature; Balance to "B" Main

First Qualifier:  1. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 2. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 3. 71m-Jesse Mack, 4. 65-Chris Parkinson, 5. 69-Mike Moore, 6. 71-Damion Gardner, 7. 17-Chris Windom.  DNS: 11-Levi Jones, 36L-Joe Larkin, Jr.

Second Qualifier:  1. 7c-Chris Morgan, 2. 5c-Gary Taylor, 3. 10-Dave Darland, 4. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 5. 96c-Jim Cameron, 6. 21L-Mike Lefholz, 7. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 8. 12b-Mike Boyer.

Third Qualifier:  1. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 2. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 3. 76-Mike Leslie, 4. 30-Chad Boat, 5. 20-Ron Lefholz, 6. 18-Tim Newman, 7. 11w-Ricky Williams.  DNS: 92J-J.R. Topper.

Fourth Qualifier:  1. 4-Casey Shuman, 2. 29w-Cole Whitt, 3. 17n-Mat Neely, 4. 15-R.J. Johnson, 5. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 6. 75g-Rob Hockett, 7. 55-Tony Everhart, 8. 21-Michael Trimble.

"B" Main – Top 4 Advance to "A" Main
"B" Feature (15 Laps):  1. 10-Dave Darland, 2. 76-Mike Leslie, 3. 17n-Mat Neely, 4. 11w-Ricky Williams, 5. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 6. 69-Mike Moore, 7. 18-Tim Newman, 8. 20-Ron Lefholz, 9. 75b-Rob Hockett, 10. 21L-Mike Lefholz, 11. 12b-Mike Boyer, 12. 65-Chris Parkinson, 13. 55-Tony Everhart, 14. 92J-J.R. Topper.  DNS: 21-Michael Trimble, 11-Levi Jones, 36L-Joe Larkin, Jr.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Lakeside Speedway Ron Shuman Classic "A” Main

“A” Main (30 Laps):  1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 3. 75-Jesse Hockett, 4. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 5. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 6. 2b-Brady Short, 7. 10-Dave Darland, 8. 29w-Cole Whitt, 9. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 10. 71-Damion Gardner, 11. 17-Chris Windom, 12. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 13. 15-R.J. Johnson, 14. 4-Casey Shuman, 15. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 16. 30-Chad Boat, 17. 17n-Mat Neely, 18. 11w-Ricky Williams, 19. 5c-Gary Taylor, 20. 96c-Jim Cameron, 21. 71m-Jesse Mack, 22. 7c-Chris Morgan, 23. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 24. 76-Mike Leslie.

Lap Leaders: Robert Ballou 1-30.

Final O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing Points (Top 25):  1. (tie) Robert Ballou and Tim Kaeding 726, 3. Jesse Hockett 686, 4. Cole Whitt 664, 5. Brady Short 662, 6. Cory Kruseman 632, 7. Casey Shuman 626, 8. Neil Shepherd 616, 9. Damion Gardner 602, 10. Mat Neely 590, 11. Charles Davis, Jr. 575, 12. Hunter Schuerenberg 560, 13. Michael Trimble 555, 14. Dave Darland 554, 15. Chris Windom 544, 16. Chad Boat 537, 17. R.J. Johnson 536, 18. Don Droud, Jr. 534, 19. Jesse Mack 492, 20. Mike Leslie 486, 21. Dustin Morgan 484, 22. Gary Taylor 474, 23. Bret Mellenberndt 445, 24. Bud Kaeding 428, 25. Jerry Coons, Jr. 380.

-end- 

Ballou Bags Second Straight Sprint Bandits TNT Win in Lakeside Prelim
 
Lonnie Wheatley, KANSAS CITY, Kan. (August 17, 2007) – California's Robert Ballou snared his second O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless feature win in as many nights and earned the pole position for Saturday night's $10,000 to win Ron Shuman Classic by topping Friday's 25-lap preliminary feature at Lakeside Speedway.

Ballou powered by Brady Short for the lead on the eighth round and led the rest of the way to secure his third career Sprint Bandits TNT feature win in front of Short, 16th-starter Tim Kaeding and Jesse Hockett, each of whom are also locked into the front two rows of Saturday's Third Annual Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing finale.

Ballou survived a hole in a radiator hose over the final rounds to post the win and climbed to within four points of Tim Kaeding in the Sprint Bandiits TNT Midwest Swing points chase.  "I kept watching the temperature and it was alright so I kept going.  We'll have to look the engine over tonight though to make sure it's alright."

After surviving a pair of flips earlier in the week, Damion Gardner earned the pole position for the feature with Short alongside and Ballou inside the second row.

The initial start of the feature was waved off when South Dakota's Bret Mellenberndt slid too high entering turn one and flipped after contact with the wall.  Mellenberndt was uninjured.

Gardner gunned into the lead on the restart with Ballou and Short chasing until the caution flew after three laps for Gary Taylor, who tagged the turn four wall with Matt Rossi also suffering front end damage in the scramble behind Taylor.

Short motored past Ballou for second on the restart and took the point from Gardner on the sixth round.  Short's lead was brief however, as Ballou raced in front the next time around to take command for keeps aboard the Don Ott-powered MPHG Promotions No. 81 Maxim.

Ballou gradually opened up a straightaway lead over Gardner by the 20th round.  But Gardner's week of bad luck continued as a cut left rear tire brought him to a stop on the backstretch on the 21st lap.  Gardner rejoined the chase at the tail.

Ballou took off once again on the restart and took the checkered flag with a half straightaway's worth of breathing room over Short in Scott Benic's Lucas Oil Products No. 2b.

After struggling in his heat race, current Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing points leader Tim Kaeding raced from seventh to third in his qualifying race to earn the 16th starting position in the feature.

Kaeding advanced ten positions by the time the caution flew after seven laps for debris in turn three, raced past Neil Shepherd for fifth by the tenth round and moved to fourth when misfortune struck Gardner.

Kaeding picked off Jesse Hockett in the final rounds to claim third, with defending TNT Midwest Swing champion Hockett settling for the fourth and final lock-in position.

Shepherd raced from eleventh to round out the top five, with Hunter Schuerenberg charging from 14th to sixth.  Mat Neely climbed from 13th to seventh in front of 12th-starter Don Droud, Jr., with Gardner racing back through the field to claim ninth.  Casey Shuman came from 17th to complete the top ten.

Gardner, Ballou, Mike Leslie and Short topped heat race action for the 35-car field, with Hockett, Schuerenberg, Dustin Morgan and Neely winning qualifying races. 

Making his Sprint Bandits TNT debut, Ohio teen Ricky Williams held off Cory Kruseman to win the 12-lap "B" Main then climbed from 19th to eleventh in the feature.

The Third  Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing wraps up with Saturday night's $10,000 to win Ron Shuman Classic at Lakeside Speedway.

O’Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless Lakeside Speedway Friday Results:

Heat Races(8 laps)
First Heat:  1. 71-Damion Gardner, 2. 21-Michael Trimble, 3. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 4. 75-Jesse Hockett, 5. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 6. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 7. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 8. 55-Tony Everhart. DNS: 65-Chris Parkinson.

Second Heat:  1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 92-Gary Taylor, 3. 30-Chad Boat, 4. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 5. 71m-Jesse Mack, 6. 02-Matt Rossi, 7. 21L-Mike Lefholz, 8. 36L-Joe Larkin, Jr., 9. 12b-Mike Boyer.

Third Heat :  1. 76-Mike Leslie, 2. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 3. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 4. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 5. 4-Casey Shuman, 6. 15-R.J. Johnson, 7. 17n-Mat Neely, 8. 9x-Kevin Battles, 9. 5ma-Mallory Armfield.

Fourth Heat:  1. 2b-Brady Short, 2. 11w-Ricky Williams, 3. 20-Ron Lefholz, 4. 29w-Cole Whitt, 5. 44-Phillip Heavelow, 6. 75g-Rob Hockett, 7. 7c-Chris Morgan, 8. 92J-J.R. Topper.

Qualifying Races(8 laps) – Top 18 in Combined Passing Points from Heats & Qualifiers to "A" Feature; Balance to "B" Main

First Qualifier:  1. 75-Jesse Hockett, 2. 71-Damion Gardner, 3. 71m-Jesse Mack, 4. 92-Gary Taylor, 5. 21-Michael Trimble, 6. 20-Ron Lefholz, 7. 55-Tony Everhart, 8. 75g-Rob Hockett, 9. 12b-Mike Boyer.

Second Qualifier:  1. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 2. 2b-Brady Short, 3. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 4. 4-Casey Shuman, 5. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 6. 11w-Ricky Williams, 7. 36L-Joe Larkin, Jr. 8. 21k-Cory Kruseman.  DNS: 5ma-Mallory Armfield.

Third Qualifier:  1. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 2. 29w-Cole Whitt, 3. 81-Robert Ballou, 4. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 5. 21L-Mike Lefholz, 6. 65-Chris Parkinson, 7. 15-R.J. Johnson, 8. 9x-Kevin Battles, 9. 30-Chad Boat.

Fourth Qualifier:  1. 17n-Mat Neely, 2. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr. 3. 81-Robert Ballou, 4. 02-Matt Rossi, 5. 76-Mike Leslie, 6. 92J-J.R. Topper, 7. 44-Phillip Heavelow.  DNS: 7c-Chris Morgan.

"B" Main – Top 4 Advance to "A" Main
"B" Feature 1. 11w-Ricky Williams, 2. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 3. 30-Chad Boat, 4. 02-Matt Rossi, 5. 15-R.J. Johnson, 6. 20-Ron Lefholz, 7. 21k-Mike Lefholz, 8. 55-Tony Everhart, 9. 36L-Roy Larkin, Jr., 10. 75g-Rob Hockett, 11. 12b-Mike Boyer, 12. 9x-Kevin Battles, 13. 65-Chris Parkinson, 14. 92J-J.R. Topper.  DNS: 44-Phillip Heavelow, 7c-Chris Morgan, 5ma-Mallory Armfield.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Lakeside Speedway Friday "A” Main
“A” Main (25 Laps):  1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 2b-Brady Short, 3. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 4. 75-Jesse Hockett, 5. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 6. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 7. 17n-Mat Neely, 8. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 9. 71-Damion Gardner, 10. 4-Casey Shuman, 11. 11w-Ricky Williams, 12. 21-Michael Trimble, 13. 29w-Cole Whitt, 14. 30-Chad Boat, 15. 71m-Jesse Mack, 16. 76-Mike Leslie, 17. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 18. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 19. 92-Gary Taylor, 20. 02-Matt Rossi, 21. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 22. 11d-Dustin Morgan.

Lap Leaders: Damion Gardner 1-6, Brady Short 7, Robert Ballou 8-25.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing Points (Top 25 Through Four of Five Rounds):  1. Tim Kaeding 580, 2. Robert Ballou 576, 3. Jesse Hockett 542, 4. Cole Whitt 530, 5. Brady Short 524, 6. Neil Shepherd 512, 7. Casey Shuman 504, 8. Cory Kruseman 500, 9. Michael Trimble 480, 10. Mat Neely 474, 11. Damion Gardner 472, 12. Charles Davis, Jr. 449, 13. Bud Kaeding 428, 14. Chad Boat 419, 15. (tie) Dave Darland and Hunter Schuerenberg 418, 17. Chris Windom 416, 18. R.J. Johnson 412, 19. Don Droud, Jr. 394, 20. (tie) Mike Leslie and Jesse Mack 384, 22. Jerry Coons, Jr. 380, 23. (tie) Bret Mellenberndt and Matt Rossi 370, 25. Dustin Morgan 364.

-end-

Kaeding & Kaeding Lead Sprint Bandits TNT to Lakeside

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (August 17, 2007) – No wings?  No problem for California's Tim Kaeding, who leads the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing championship chase into two nights of action at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS.

The Third Annual Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing champion will be crowned upon the culmination of Saturday night's $10,000 to win Ron Shuman Classic at Lakeside Speedway.

Tim Kaeding is best known for his prowess in winged Sprint Cars, racking up numerous titles and nearly 100 feature wins this decade, including a whopping 17 wins last season.

But prior to this week, Kaeding had made just one wingless Sprint Car start in his career, an SCRA appearance at the Thunder Bowl Raceway in Tulare, CA, on April 4, 2004, that resulted in a 22nd place finish.

After getting rained out at Southern Iowa Speedway's Non-Wing Ultimate Challenge in Oskaloosa, IA, last Tuesday night, August 7, Kaeding kicked off his pursuit of the Sprint Bandits TNT crown this week aboard the Tom Rolfe Trucking/Northgate Rock No. 10k Maxim. 

And he hasn't disappointed.

Displaying his natural talent, Kaeding has earned podium finishes in all three events completed thus far this week against the top wingless shoes in the nation by finishing second at both I-80 Speedway and Mid-America Speedway and then third at Creek County Speedway.

Entering Lakeside's double on Friday and Saturday, Kaeding's closest challenger is his brother Bud Kaeding, a two-time winner of Lakeside's Ron Shuman Classic.  Bud Kaeding enters the TNT weekend finale just eight points off Tim's pace after putting the Kaeding name in the runner-up slot for the third night in a row at Creek County Speedway on Thursday night.

Just two points behind Bud Kaeding in third is another Northern California representative, Rocklin's Robert Ballou who raced to victory lane at Creek County.

Dave Darland, Tuesday's winner at I-80 Speedway, and Wednesday's Mid-America Speedway winner Chris Windom round out the current top five.

A total of $10,000 will be doled out to the top ten in O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing points following Saturday night's finale, with $2,500 going to the champion.  Other payouts include $1,500 (second), $1,250 (third), $1,100 (fourth), $1,000 (fifth), $800 (sixth), $600 (seventh), $500 (eighth), $400 (ninth) and $350 (tenth).

Defending Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing champion and two-time Ron Shuman Classic winner Jesse Hockett of Warsaw, MO, enters the two-night stand at Lakeside Speedway seventh in points, 36 markers off the lead pace.

The ½-mile semi-banked Lakeside Speedway dirt oval is located off I-435 Exit 18, then one miles northwest on SR 5.  Both nights of racing action go green at 7:30 p.m.  For more information, call the track at 913-299-2040.

Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing Points (Through three of five events):
1. 10k-Tim Kaeding (Campbell, CA) 436
2. 29-Bud Kaeding (Campbell, CA) 428
3. 81-Robert Ballou (Rocklin, CA) 426
4. 10-Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN) 418
5. 17-Chris Windom (Canton, IL) 416
6. 29w-Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA) 406
7. 75-Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 400
8. 21k-Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA) 384
9. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ) 380
10. 2b-Brady Short (Bedford, IN) 378
11. 4-Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ) 374
12. 4n-Neil Shepherd (Warsaw, IN) 372
13. 21-Michael Trimble (San Jose, CA) 354
14. 71-Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) 340
15. 17n-Mat Neely (Robinson, IL) 338
16. 15-R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ) 337
17. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) 335
18. 30-Chad Boat (Phoenix, AZ) 297
19. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, MO) 280
20. 76-Mike Leslie (Litchfield Park, AZ) 266
21. 71m-Jesse Mack (Fresno, CA) 264
22. 12-Trey Robb (Newcastle, OK) 264
23. 97-Bret Mellenberndt (Sioux Falls, SD) 262
24. 02-Matt Rossi (Peoria, AZ) 260
25. 2J-Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE) 260
26. 11d-Dustin Morgan (Collinsville, OK) 258
27. 92-Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) 250
28. 5c-Cody Cordell (Tulsa, OK0 240
29. 55-Tony Everhart (El Cajon, CA) 225
30. 4J-Jamie Passmore (Rose, OK0 197
31. 9x-Larry Carter (Independence, KS) 150
32. 15k-Kerry McAlister (Mustang, OK) 150
33. 8-Rodger Eckhardt (Tulsa, OK) 150
34. 27-Andy Shouse (Oklahoma City, OK) 150
35. 52-Roy Larkin (Tulsa, OK) 150
36. 42-Dean Franklin (Tulsa, OK) 150
37. 7s/71T-Tim Simmons (Houston, TX) 150
38. 71T/7s-Jake Simmons (Terre Haute, IN) 150
39. 9x-Kevin Battles (Collinsville, OK) 118
40. 71b-Robert Bell (Colfax, IA) 75
41. 45-Jeff Lowery (Eagle, NE) 75
42. 53-Brodie Tulloch (Queensland, AUS) 75
43. 4d-Danny Smith (Danville, IN) 75
44. 87-Brian McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 75
45. 10r-David Wheeler (Valley Center, KS) 75
46. 5$-Danny Smith (Sand Springs, OK) 75
47. 22J-Jasiel Randolph (Tulsa, OK) 75
48. 85s-Forrest Sutherland (Cherryvale, KS) 75
49. b4-Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) 75
50. 22-Koby Barksdale (Norman, OK) 75
51. 8k-Danny Jennings (Norman, OK) 75
52. 75x-Jac Wallace (Kellyville, OK) 75
53. 41-Brent Swift (Oklahoma City, OK) 75

Additional information regarding the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless series is available at www.sprintbandits.com.

After starting tenth aboard the Don Ott-powered MPHG Promotions No. 81 Maxim, Ballou raced around early pacesetter Tim Kaeding for the lead on the fifth lap and led the rest of the way to post his second career Sprint Bandits TNT triumph by 1.638 seconds over Bud Kaeding, with Tim Kaeding taking the show position.

"We struggled a little bit earlier in the night, but the car was great for the feature," the 18-year-old commented from victory lane.  "I thought we'd be alright here, this isn't any smaller than some of the places we race back home," Ballou explained of the ¼-mile Creek County Speedway oval.

After a rocky start to the feature that included several cautions in the opening rounds, the final 20 circuits clicked off with but just one late interruption.

Entering the night atop the Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing point charts, Tim Kaeding earned the pole position for the first wingless 410-ci Sprint Car feature in Creek County Speedway history by winning both his heat and qualifying races.

Kaeding outgunned fellow front row starter Brady Short for the early lead, with the caution flying on the third lap when 15-year-old Chad Boat of Phoenix, AZ, looped his mount in turn two while battling for second, collecting Cole Whitt and Jerry Coons, Jr., in the process.  Coons was done, while Boat rejoined the field before exiting a lap later when the caution reappeared for Kevin Battles' turn one spin.

In those opening two circuits, Ballou had used the high side of track to pick off several positions and gained three more spots when Boat spun to climb to second behind Kaeding.

After Mat Neely nearly turned over in turn two while battling among the top five and coming to a stop a lap later, Ballou went to Kaeding's outside and took command.

After two more minor cautions over the next several laps, the red flag flew after ten rounds for Damion Gardner, who went for a high flyer after being squeezed into the backstretch wall entering turn three.  Gardner was uninjured but done for the night.

Ballou set sail on the restart, slipping away to a half straightaway advantage in front of Bud Kaeding, who had battled past his brother Tim Kaeding by the tenth round.

Even when Ballou encountered lapped traffic on the 19th lap, he maintained his lead by running the high line masterfully and picking off several lapped cars before the race's final caution flew after 23 laps when Michael Trimble and Jamie Passmore tangled on the backstretch while racing for eighth position.

Ballou went unchallenged over the final seven circuits, slipping away from the field once again and pulling a wheelie the length of the front straightaway as he flashed underneath Will Hale's checkered flag.

Bud Kaeding and Tim Kaeding earned second and third, respectively, with reigning Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing champion Jesse Hockett crossing the stripe fourth.

Wednesday night winner Chris Windom advanced from 14th to fifth in front of Tuesday winner Dave Darland and Cory Kruseman.  Whitt rebounded from the early incident to claim eighth, with Gary Taylor also bouncing back from an incident on the fifth lap to snare ninth.  Brady Short completed the top ten.

Ballou, Whitt, T. Kaeding, Gardner and Darland topped heat race action for the 42-car field, with Boat, T. Kaeding, Short, Windom and Neil Shepherd victorious in qualifying race action.

Dustin Morgan won the first 12-lap "B" Main, with Trimble topping the second "B" Main.  Charles Davis, Jr., surrendered the early lead in the first "B" Main with a cut right rear tire, while Hunter Schuerenberg suffered race-ending mechanical woes while leading midway through the second "B" Main.

Matt Rossi's night came to an early end when he tumbled wildly off of turn one and into the pit area fencing on the opening lap of the night's fifth heat race.  Danny Jennings was caught up in the melee as well, also turning over.  Rossi was uninjured, while Jennings returned for "B" Main action.

The Third Annual O'Reilly Sprints TNT Midwest Swing concludes with two nights of action at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS, on Friday and Saturday, with Saturday night's Ron Shuman Classic offering up a $10,000 winner's share.

O’Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless Creek County Speedway Results:

Heat Races (8 laps):
First Heat:  1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr., 3. 9x-Kevin Battles, 4. 42-Dean Franklin, 5. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 6. 4-Casey Shuman, 7. 52-Roy Larkin, 8. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 9. 22-Koby Barksdale.
Second Heat:  1. 29w-Cole Whitt, 2. 75-Jesse Hockett, 3. 17n-Mat Neely, 4. 92-Gary Taylor, 5. 15-R.J. Johnson, 6. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 7. 76-Mike Leslie, 8. 5c-Cody Cordell, 9. 8-Rodger Eckhardt.
Third Heat:  1. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 2. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 3. 2b-Brady Short, 4. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 5. 17-Chris Windom, 6. 55-Tony Everhart, 7. 7s-Jake Simmons, 8. 75x-Jac Wallace.
Fourth Heat:  1. 71-Damion Gardner, 2. 29-Bud Kaeding, 3. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 4. 21-Michael Trimble, 5. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 6. 71m-Jesse Mack, 7. 41-Brent Swift, 8. 27-Andy Shouse.
Fifth Heat:  1. 10-Dave Darland, 2. 30-Chad Boat, 3. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 4. 12-Trey Robb, 5. 71T-Tim Simmons, 6. 15k-Kerry McAlister, 7. 02-Matt Rossi, 8. 8k-Danny Jennings.

Qualifying Races  (8 laps)– Top 16 in Combined Passing Points from Heats & Qualifiers to "A" Feature; Balance to Twin "B" Mains
First Qualifier:  1. 30-Chad Boat, 2. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr., 3. 29w-Cole Whitt, 4. 9x-Kevin Battles, 5. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 6. 71m-Jesse Mack, 7. 52-Roy Larkin, 8. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 9. 22-Koby Barksdale.

Second Qualifier:  1. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 2. 17n-Mat Neely, 3. 4-Casey Shuman, 4. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 5. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 6. 5c-Cody Cordell, 7. 76-Mike Leslie, 8. 71T-Tim Simmons, 9. 8-Rodger Eckhardt.

Third Qualifier:  1. 2b-Brady Short, 2. 75-Jesse Hockett, 3. 15-R.J. Johnson, 4. 81-Robert Ballou, 5. 42-Dean Franklin, 6. 75x-Jac Wallace, 7. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 8. 7s-Jake Simmons.

Fourth Qualifier:  1. 17-Chris Windom, 2. 92-Gary Taylor, 3. 10-Dave Darland, 4. 71-Damion Gardner, 5. 21-Michael Trimble, 6. 55-Tony Everhart, 7. 41-Brent Swift.  DNS: 27-Andy Shouse.

Fifth Qualifier:  1. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 2. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 3. 29-Bud Kaeding, 4. 12-Trey Robb, 5. 15k-Kerry McAlister, 6. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr.  DNS: 02-Matt Rossi, 8k-Danny Jennings.

Twin "B" Mains (12 laps)  – Top 3 from Each Advance to "A" Main
First:  1. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 2. 4-Casey Shuman, 3. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 4. 15-R.J. Johnson, 5. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 6. 52-Roy Larkin, 7. 71T-Tim Simmons, 8. 8-Rodger Eckhardt, 9. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 10. 41-Brent Swift, 11. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 12. 15k-Kerry McAlister.  DNS: 27-Andy Shouse.
Second:  1. 21-Michael Trimble, 2. 5c-Cody Cordell, 3. 9x-Kevin Battles, 4. 71m-Jesse Mack, 5. 42-Dean Franklin, 6. 76-Mike Leslie, 7. 75x-Jac Wallace, 8. 7s-Jake Simmons, 9. 55-Tony Everhart, 10. 8k-Danny Jennings, 11. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12. 22-Koby Barksdale.  DNS: 02-Matt Rossi.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Creek County Speedway "A” Main

“A” Main (30 Laps):  1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 29-Bud Kaeding, 3. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 4. 75-Jesse Hockett, 5. 17-Chris Windom, 6. 10-Dave Darland, 7. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 8. 29w-Cole Whitt, 9. 92-Gary Taylor, 10. 2b-Brady Short, 11. 5c-Cody Cordell, 12. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 13. 4-Casey Shuman, 14. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 15. 21-Michael Trimble, 16. 9x-Kevin Battles, 17. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 18. 12-Trey Robb, 19. 71-Damion Gardner, 20. 17n-Mat Neely, 21. 30-Chad Boat, 22. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr.

Lap Leaders:  Tim Kaeding 1-4, Robert Ballou 5-30.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing Points (Top 25 Through Three of Five Rounds):  1. Tim Kaeding 436, 2. Bud Kaeding 438, 3. Robert Ballou 426, 4. Dave Darland 418, 5. Chris Windom 416, 6. Cole Whitt 406, 7. Jesse Hockett 400, 8. Cory Kruseman 384, 9. Jerry Coons, Jr. 380, 10. Brady Short 378, 11. Casey Shuman 374, 12. Neil Shepherd 372, 13. Michael Trimble 354, 14. Damion Gardner 340, 15. Mat Neely 338, 16. R.J. Johnson 337, 17. Charles Davis, Jr. 335, 18. Chad Boat 297, 19. Hunter Schuerenberg 280, 20. Mike Leslie 266, 21. Jesse Mack and Trey Robb 264, 23. Bret Mellenberndt 262, 24. (tie) Matt Rossi and Don Droud, Jr. 260.

-end-

Windom Leads Youth Movement with Sprint Bandits TNT Win at Mid-America
 
Lonnie Wheatley, SOUTH COFFEYVILLE, Okla. (August 15, 2007) – Sixteen-year-old Chris Windom of Canton, IL, posted the biggest win of his young career by pocketing $4,000 in Wednesday night's 25-lap O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless feature at Mid-America Speedway, the second leg of the series Third Annual Midwest Swing.

Windom took quick advantage of Mat Neely's early misfortune and then held off a late charge from Tim Kaeding to take the checkered flag in the BORN Paint Company No. 17 DRC-chassis by a mere two car-lengths.

Windom led a charge of three teen aged shoes among the top four finishers, with 16-year-old Cole Whitt finishing a close third behind fellow California racer Kaeding and then 18-year-old Robert Ballou of Rocklin, CA, in fourth.  Defending Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing champion Jesse Hockett of Warsaw, MO, rounded out the top five.

"My car kept getting tighter there near the end of the race," Windom explained in victory lane.  "I knew Tim (Kaeding) and those guys were right on me and if I slipped up the track just a little bit they'd race right by me."

But Windom held his line like an experienced professional to become the youngest winner in Sprint Bandits TNT history.

Windom earned the front row outside starting position for the feature through heat race and qualifying race action as wingless 410-ci Sprint Cars debuted at Mid-America Speedway, but it was fellow Illinois racer Mat Neely gunning into the early lead from the pole position.

Neely held the early lead over Windom and fourth-starter Kaeding, with the first caution flying after just three laps when fifth-starter Gary Taylor came to a stop in turn three with a cut right rear tire.  Almost simultaneously, 18th-starting Cory Kruseman suffered front-end damage after jumping Neil Shepherd's right rear tire and retired to the infield.  Taylor rejoined the chase after putting on fresh rubber.

Action was halted again two laps later when Shepherd and Brady Short tangled entering turn one, with the ensuing restart waved off when Jesse Mack and Cody Cordell got together in turn one as well.

With the field set to return to green flag racing, Neely came to a stop near the end of the backstretch with power steering box woes, denying what could have been his first Sprint Bandits TNT triumph.

Windom assumed the point on the restart and asserted himself in short order by establishing a half straightaway lead over Kaeding and Whitt by the race's midway point.  But Windom's lead would soon start to shrink as lapped traffic became a factor.

Kaeding and Whitt closed the gap and were on Windom's tail tank over the final laps.  Windom picked off a pair of lapped cars at opportune times to establish the slightest amount of breathing room, albeit temporarily as Kaeding and Whitt would follow soon after.

Kaeding closed to Windom's rear bumper on the final lap and pressured the leader through the final pair of corners.  Not phased by the pressure, Windom held steady and beat Kaeding to the stripe.  Kaeding settled for a close second-place finish for the second time in as many nights and took over the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing points lead.

Right on Kaeding's heels was Whitt in third, with Ballou and Hockett next across the line.

Bud Kaeding advanced a handful of positions to claim sixth, with Charles Davis, Jr., Jerry Coons, Jr., Dustin Morgan and 16th-starter Dave Darland completing the top ten.

With 45 cars in the pit area, Neely, Hockett, Whitt, Windom and Taylor topped heat race action while Tim Kaeding, Don Droud, Jr., Ballou, Neely and Davis won the qualifying races.

Short won the first "B" Main with Kruseman topping the second "B" Main.

Dean Franklin was the night's only flip victim when he got upside down on the second lap of the first "B" Main.  Franklin was uninjured.

The five-race O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing moves on to Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK, on Thursday night along with the ASCS2 Non-Wing Micro Sprints before wrapping up with two nights at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS, on Friday and Saturday.

O’Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless Mid-America Speedway Results:

Heat Races (8 laps)
First:  1. 17n-Mat Neely, 2. 71-Damion Gardner, 3. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 4. 85s-Forrest Sutherland, 5. 10r-David Wheeler, 6. 4-Casey Shuman, 7. 22J-Jasiel Randolph, 8. 55-Tony Everhart.  DNS: 8-Rodger Eckhardt.

Second:  1. 75-Jesse Hockett, 2. 29-Bud Kaeding, 3. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 4. 21-Michael Trimble, 5. 52-Roy Larkin, 6. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 7. 12-Trey Robb, 8. 02-Matt Rossi, 9. 97-Bret Mellenberndt.

Third:  1. 29w-Cole Whitt, 2. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr., 3. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 4. 7s-Tim Simmons, 5. 10-Dave Darland, 6. 87-Brian McClelland, 7. 30-Chad Boat, 8. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 9. 5$-Danny (Okla.) Smith.

Fourth Heat:  1. 17-Chris Windom, 2. 27-Andy Shouse, 3. 71m-Jesse Mack, 4. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 5. 15-R.J. Johnson, 6. 42-Dean Franklin, 7. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 8. 15k-Kerry McAlister, 9. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg.

Fifth Heat: 1. 92-Gary Taylor, 2. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 3. 5c-Cody Cordell, 4. 81-Robert Ballou, 5. 2b-Brady Short, 6. 76-Mike Leslie, 7. 71T-Jake Simmons, 8. 9x-Larry Carter.  DNS: 4d-Danny (Ind.) Smith.

Qualifying Races  (8 laps)– Top 16 in Combined Passing Points from Heats & Qualifiers to "A" Feature; Balance to Twin "B" Mains

First: 1. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 2. 10-Dave Darland, 3. 2b-Brady Short, 4. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr., 5. 29w-Cole Whitt, 6. 27-Andy Shouse, 7. 22J-Jasiel Randolph, 8. 55-Tony Everhart.  DNS: 97-Bret Mellenberndt.

Second:  1. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 2. 5c-Cody Cordell, 3. 92-Gary Taylor, 4. 17-Chris Windom, 5. 12-Trey Robb, 6. 71m-Jesse Mack, 7. 15-R.J. Johnson, 8. 5$-Danny (Okla.) Smith, 9. 02-Matt Rossi.

Third: 1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 3. 4-Casey Shuman, 4. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 5. 11d-Dustin Morgan, 6. 42-Dean Franklin, 7. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 8. 30-Chad Boat.  DNS: 4J-Jamie Passmore.

Fourth: 1. 17n-Mat Neely, 2. 10R-David Wheeler, 3. 21-Michael Trimble, 4. 71-Damion Gardner, 5. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 15k-Kerry McAlister, 7. 8-Rodger Eckhardt, 8. 7s-Tim Simmons.  DNS: 87-Brian McClelland.

Fifth:  1. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 2. 76-Mike Leslie, 3. 29-Bud Kaeding, 4. 75-Jesse Hockett, 5. 52-Roy Larkin, 6. 9x-Larry Carter, 7. 85s-Forrest Sutherland.  DNS: 71T-Jake Simmons, 4d-Danny (Ind.) Smith.

Twin "B" Mains (12 laps)– Top 3 from Each Advance to "A" Main
First "B" Feature: 1. 2b-Brady Short, 2. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 3. 4-Casey Shuman, 4. 27-Andy Shouse, 5. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 6. 02-Matt Rossi, 7. 15k-Kerry McAlister, 8. 4d-Danny (Ind.) Smith, 9. 22J-Jasiel Randolph, 10. 55-Tony Everhart, 11. 42-Dean Franklin, 12. 52-Roy Larkin, 13. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 14. 71T-Jake Simmons.  DNS: 87-Brian McClelland.

Second "B" Feature (12 Laps):  1. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 2. 71m-Jesse Mack, 3. 15-R.J. Johnson, 4. 30-Chad Boat, 5. 10R-David Wheeler, 6. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 7. 76-Mike Leslie, 8. 5$-Danny (Okla.) Smith, 9. 8-Rodger Eckhardt, 10. 85s-Forrest Sutherland, 11. 9x-Larry Carter, 12. 12-Trey Robb, 13. 7s-Tim Simmons.  DNS: 97-Bret Mellenberndt.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Mid-America Speedway "A” Main

“A” Main (25 Laps):  1. Chris Windom, 2. Tim Kaeding, 3. Cole Whitt, 4. Robert Ballou, 5. Jesse Hockett, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Charles Davis, Jr., 8. Jerry Coons, Jr., 9. Dustin Morgan, 10. Dave Darland, 11. Casey Shuman, 12. Michael Trimble, 13. R.J. Johnson, 14. Damion Gardner, 15. Neil Shepherd, 16. Gary Taylor, 17. Brady Short, 18. Jesse Mack, 19. Cody Cordell, 20. Don Droud, Jr., 21. Mat Neely, 22.Cory Kruseman.

Lap Leaders:  Mat Neely 1-5, Chris Windom 6-25.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing Points (Top 25 Through Two of Five Rounds):  1. Tim Kaeding 292, 2. Bud Kaeding 282, 3. Dave Darland 280, 4. (tie) Robert Ballou and Chris Windom 276, 6. Jerry Coons, Jr. 274, 7. Cole Whitt 272, 8. R.J. Johnson 262, 9. Charles Davis, Jr. 260, 10. Jesse Hockett 258, 11. Neil Shepherd 256, 12. Casey Shuman 250, 13. (tie) Cory Kruseman and Brady Short 248, 15. Michael Trimble 234, 16. (tie) Mat Neely and Damion Gardner 228, 18. Hunter Schuerenberg 205, 19. Mike Leslie 191, 20. (tie) Chad Boat and Jesse Mack 189, 22. Bret Mellenberndt 187, 23. (tie) Matt Rossi and Don Droud, Jr. 185, 25. (tie) Tony Everhart, Larry Carter and Trey Robb 150.

-end-


Darland Edges "TK" in Sprint Bandits TNT Huskerland Nationals
 
Lonnie Wheatley, GREENWOOD, Neb (August 14, 2007) – The Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing kicked off in spectacular fashion with Lincoln, Indiana's Dave Darland nipping California's Tim Kaeding at the line to capture his first career TNT feature win in Tuesday night's 30-lap Huskerland Non-Wing Sprint Car Nationals main event at Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway.

Darland wrestled the lead away from Kaeding on the 23rd lap and, after battling for the point over the final rounds, Darland took the checkered flag with a miniscule 0.052-second advantage over Kaeding to give the Trucker's 24-Hour Road Service No. 10 entry its first triumph in Sprint Bandits TNT action.

"I knew Tim (Kaeding) was going to be trying hard on the high side in the last corner, so I tried to go into turn three in the middle," Darland commented in victory lane as he displayed his $4,000 winner's share in the form of 2,000 two dollar bills.  "I knew I wanted to come off turn four on the bottom where the moisture was, so I couldn't really run it into three too hard."

While fifth-starting Darland and fourth-starter Kaeding ultimately fought it out for the win, the duo spent the early portion of the race chasing R.J. Johnson and Bud Kaeding, as Johnson paced the opening 14 rounds after outgunning polesitter Bud Kaeding for the point after the initial start was red-flagged for Damion Gardner's turn three tumble.  Gardner was uninjured but done for the night.

Following the initial aborted start, the race ran in non-stop fashion with the 21 remaining starters all taking the checkered flag in a feature event that just took nine minutes and 56 seconds.

Arizona's Johnson led the early rounds in front of Bud Kaeding, Darland and Tim Kaeding, with Bud Kaeding and Darland trading the runner-up spot on the seventh and eighth rounds.  Tim Kaeding began making the topside work dividends, relegating Darland to fourth on the tenth lap and then overtaking brother Bud Kaeding for second two rounds later.

Tim Kaeding closed the narrow gap on Johnson and charged into the lead as the midway point was displayed, two laps after Darland had taken third from Bud Kaeding.

With Tim Kaeding leading the way, Darland and Bud Kaeding both raced past Johnson by the 17th round and battled for the second position for several laps before Darland took command of second on the 21st lap.

Having outlasted Bud Kaeding, Darland set his sights on Tim Kaeding and edged into the lead on the 23rd lap. With Darland working the low side and Tim Kaeding up top, the pair battled in side-by-side fashion over the final laps.

As the white flag flew, the duo entered turn one wheel-to-wheel.  Kaeding surged ahead through the corner, but gripping the low side of the track Darland charged back ahead with front wheels clawing at the air as they raced off turn two.

Kaeding used his top-side momentum to move back ahead through turns three and four, but Darland's strong run of the bottom of turn four proved to be the deciding factor as he took the checkered flag in the closest finish in Sprint Bandits TNT history.

"For a guy that hasn't run much, if at all, without a wing, Tim did a great job," Darland commented.

Kaeding, making just his second career wingless start and first in three years, settled for runner-up honors as he opened his assault upon the TNT crown, with Bud Kaeding taking show honors after finishing second in the initial two editions of the Huskerland Non-Wing Sprint Car Nationals.

Cory Kruseman climbed from tenth to finish fourth, with Jerry Coons, Jr., rounding out the top five.  R.J. Johnson crossed the stripe sixth, with 13th-starter Neil Shepherd, last year's Huskerland Non-Wing Nationals winner Robert Ballou, Brady Short and Hunter Schuerenberg completing the top ten.

Bud Kaeding, Johnson, Tim Kaeding and Coons claimed heat race wins, with Ballou, Short, Bud Kaeding and Schuerenberg each earning qualifying race wins among the 30-car field.

Cole Whitt made a last-lap pass of Bret Mellenberndt to win the "B" Main and then climbed from 19th to finish eleventh in the feature event.

The five-race O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing moves on to Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK, on Wednesday night and then Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK, on Thursday night before wrapping up with two nights at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS, on Friday and Saturday.

O’Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless I-80 Speedway Huskerland Non-Wing Sprint Car Nationals Results:

Heat Races:
First Heat (8 Laps):  1. 29-Bud Kaeding, 2. 10-Dave Darland, 3. 17n-Mat Neely, 4. 2b-Brady Short, 5. 12-Trey Robb, 6. 71m-Jesse Mack, 7. 71b-Robert Bell, 8. 29w-Cole Whitt.
Second Heat (8 Laps):  1. 15-R.J. Johnson, 2. 4-Casey Shuman, 3. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 4. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 5. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 6. 02-Matt Rossi, 7. 45-Jeff Lowery, 8. 9x-Larry Carter.
Third Heat (8 Laps):  1. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 2. 17-Chris Windom, 3. 75-Jesse Hockett, 4. 81-Robert Ballou, 5. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 6. 21-Michael Trimble, 7. 53-Bodie Tulloch.
Fourth Heat (8 Laps):  1. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr., 2. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 3. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 4. 30-Chad Boat, 5. 76-Mike Leslie, 6. 55-Tony Everhart.  Disqualified: 71-Damion Gardner (failed to report directly to scales after finishing first).

Qualifying Races – Top 18 in Combined Passing Points from Heats & Qualifiers to "A" Feature; Balance to "B" Main
First Qualifier (8 Laps):  1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 15-R.J. Johnson, 3. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 4. 30-Chad Boat, 5. 75-Jesse Hockett, 6. 29w-Cole Whitt, 7. 71b-Robert Bell, 8. 71m-Jesse Mack.
Second Qualifier (8 Laps):  1. 2b-Brady Short, 2. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr., 4. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 5. 4-Casey Shuman, 6. 02-Matt Rossi, 7. 45-Jeff Lowery, 8. 9x-Larry Carter.
Third Qualifier (8 Laps):  1. 29-Bud Kaeding, 2. 21-Michael Trimble, 3. 17n-Mat Neely, 4. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 5. 76-Mike Leslie, 6. 53-Brodie Tulloch, 7. 12-Trey Robb.
Fourth Qualifier (8 Laps):  1. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 2. 71-Damion Gardner, 3. 10-Dave Darland, 4. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 5. 17-Chris Windom, 6. 55-Tony Everhart, 7. 2J-Don Droud, Jr.

"B" Main – Top 4 Advance to "A" Main
"B" Feature (10 Laps):  1. 29w-Cole Whitt, 2. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 3. 76-Mike Leslie, 4. 02-Matt Rossi, 5. 2J-Don Droud, Jr., 6. 53-Brodie Tulloch, 7. 12-Trey Robb, 8. 71m-Jesse Mack, 9. 45-Jeff Lowery, 10. 9x-Larry Carter, 11. 71b-Robert Bell, 12. 55-Tony Everhart.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT I-80 Speedway Huskerland Non-Wing Sprint Car Nationals "A” Main
"A” Main (30 Laps):  1. 10-Dave Darland, 2. 10k-Tim Kaeding, 3. 29-Bud Kaeding, 4. 21k-Cory Kruseman, 5. 69-Jerry Coons, Jr., 6. 15-R.J. Johnson, 7. 4n-Neil Shepherd, 8. 81-Robert Ballou, 9. 2b-Brady Short, 10. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg, 11. 29w-Cole Whitt, 12. 17-Chris Windom, 13. 21s-Charles Davis, Jr., 14. 4-Casey Shuman, 15. 17n-Mat Neely, 16. 75-Jesse Hockett, 17. 76-Mike Leslie, 18. 30-Chad Boat, 19. 97-Bret Mellenberndt, 20. 02-Matt Rossi, 21. 21-Michael Trimble, 22. 71-Damion Gardner.

Lap Leaders:  R.J. Johnson 1-14, Tim Kaeding 15-22, Dave Darland 23-30.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing Points (Top Ten):  1. Dave Darland 150, 2. Tim Kaeding 146, 3. Bud Kaeding 144, 4. Cory Kruseman 142, 5. Jerry Coons, Jr. 140, 6. R.J. Johnson 138, 7. Neil Shepherd 136, 8. Robert Ballou 134 9. Brady Short 132, 10. Hunter Schuerenberg 130.

-end-

Five Nights of TNT Ignites Tuesday at I-80; ASCS Midwest Region in Action as Well

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (August 11, 2007) – Race fans in Nebraska, and even those just passing through, will get to enjoy the best of both worlds at Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, NE, on Tuesday night, August 14.

It will be an open wheel Sprint Car spectacular as the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless series kicks off five consecutive nights of wingless 410-ci Sprint Car racing, while the ASCS Midwest Region opens up the four-race "AK 360" Shootout.

The event marks the opening leg of the Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest swing, with more than $85,000 in feature purse money along with another $7,350 in point fund money up for grabs during the swing. 

Following Tuesday night's event at I-80 Speedway, the Sprint Bandits TNT Tour moves on to Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK, on Wednesday night (August 15) and Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK, on Thursday night (August 16) before wrapping up with the blockbuster $10,000 to win two-night card at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS, on Friday and Saturday (August 17 and 18).

Approximately twenty different drivers from throughout the nation have already committed to chasing down championship honors in the Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing, with many more top competitors slated to compete in selected events during the week.

Among those vying for title honors will be defending champion and two-time Lakeside Classic winner Jesse Hockett of Warsaw, MO.  Hockett, a TNT winner at Wichita's 81 Speedway last year, added a second series win at Tampa's East Bay Raceway Park earlier this year.

Hockett will have his hands full in his title defense however, with top contenders including California hotshoes Cory Kruseman and Damion Gardner, Arizona ace Jeremy Sherman and Lincoln, Nebraska's Don Droud, Jr., who will serve as Jack Yeley's hired gun for the week.

Plenty of other capable contenders will be in the mix as well including two-time Sprint Bandits TNT feature winner Brady Short of Bedford, IN, aboard Scott Benic's Lucas Oil No. 2b entry, Oklahoma's Dustin Morgan and Missouri's Daron Clayton aboard Jeff Walker entries, Missouri teen Hunter Schuerenberg at the wheel of one of the familiar Trucker's No. 10 machines and last year's I-80 Speedway TNT victor, Robert Ballou of Rocklin, CA.

In addition to Jeremy Sherman, winner of nine of eleven ASCS Canyon Region events this year, the Arizona contingent will flex some muscle over the course of the week with top guns including Charles Davis, Jr., aboard the stylish Mark Swanson No. 21s machine, along with R.J. Johnson, Mike Leslie, Matt Rossi and 15-year-old gunner Chad Boat.

Also bidding for victory lane over each night will be TNT veteran Tony Everhart of El Cajon, CA, along with Bret Mellenberndt (Sioux Falls, SD), Lee Stark (Sidney, OH), Larry Carter (Independence, KS) and Kruseman protégé Michael Trimble (Gilroy, CA).

Several other top guns will take in a majority of the events, including past National champion Dave Darland of Lincoln, IN, who will compete in all events other than the Lakeside preliminary aboard one of the Trucker's No. 10 entries.  Young gun Chris Windom of Canton, IL, who charged from 23rd to seventh in this year's Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, will take in the same events as well.

California's Bud Kaeding, the runner-up in both previous editions of the Huskerland Non-Wing Sprint Nationals at I-80 Speedway, and Arizona's Jerry Coons, Jr., last year's winner of Oskaloosa's Ultimate Challenge, will both be in action during the opening three rounds of Sprint Bandits TNT action at I-80 Speedway, Mid-America Speedway and Creek County Speedway.

Past ASCS Rocky Mountain Region champion and RMMRA Midget champion Gary Taylor, now residing in Broken Arrow, OK, by way of Wheat Ridge, CO, and Snohomish, WA, will pick up the Tour at Mid-America Speedway and compete in the final four nights aboard an entry fielded by his current Midget car owners, Mike and Megan Eubanks.

A slew of other top contenders will try to play the role of spoiler on each night of O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless action as well.

Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing:

Round 1: Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway (Greenwood, NE)

When: Tuesday, August 14
Description: 4/10-mile semi-banked dirt oval.
Location: Between Lincoln and Omaha off I-80 Exit 420, then 0.4 miles north on SR 63 then west.
Race Time: 7:00 p.m.
Track Phone: 402-944-2233 or 402-342-3453
Notes: The first of five straight nights of action paying points towards the $7,350 Sprint Bandits TNT point fund for the week's top five point earners takes place as I-80 Speedway hosts the $4,000 to win Huskerland Non-Wing Sprint Car Nationals for the third consecutive year.  Bud Kaeding has played the role of bridesmaid each of the past two years, getting edged by Levi Jones in 2005 and then chasing California's Robert Ballou to the stripe last year.  The ASCS Midwest Region joins in on a Sprint Car twin bill. 
Past Huskerland Non-Wing Sprint Car Nationals Winners:  Robert Ballou (2006), Levi Jones (2005).
Racer's Hotels:  Big Inn (Greenwood, NE) 402-944-3313 and Settle Inn (Lincoln, NE) 402-435-8100.

Round 2: Mid-America Speedway (South Coffeyville, OK)
When: Wednesday, August 15
Description: 3/10-mile semi-banked dirt oval.
Location: One mile south of the Oklahoma-Kansas state line on US 169, then 0.7 miles west on County Road 2.
Race Time: 7:00 p.m.
Track Phone: 918-255-6698
Notes: Another $4,000 is up for grabs as wingless 410-ci Sprint Cars take to Mid-America Speedway for the first time in track history.
Racer's Hotels:  Holiday Inn Select (Tulsa, OK) 918-622-7000.  Ask for the Sprint Bandits rate.

Round 3: Creek County Speedway (Sapulpa, OK)
When: Thursday, August 16
Description: ¼-mile semi-banked clay oval
Location: Southwest of Tulsa on I-44 to Exit 211, then 0.3 miles south on SR 33, then one mile west on SR 66.
Race Time: 7:30 p.m.
Track Phone: 918-247-6675
Notes: The Sprint Bandits TNT series takes to a bullring for the first time, as for the second night in a row a track is christened by the mudslinging wingless 410-ci Sprint Cars.  The $4,000 to win TNT event is joined on the card by the ASCS2 Non-Wing Micro Sprints.
Racer's Hotels:  Holiday Inn Select (Tulsa, OK) 918-622-7000.  Ask for the Sprint Bandits rate.

Rounds 4 and 5: Lakeside Speedway (Kansas City, KS)
When: Friday, August 17 and Saturday, August 18
Description: ½-mile semi-banked dirt oval.
Location: Off I-435 Exit 18 then one mile northwest on SR 5.
Race Time: 7:30 p.m. on both nights.
Track Phone: 913-299-2040

Notes: The week of topless Sprint Car action concludes with two nights at Lakeside Speedway for the fan-favorite "Ron Shuman Classic", which offers up $10,000 to the Saturday night winner.  The coveted Pedal Car trophy has gone back to California over each of the past two years, while the two years previous to that it went back to Warsaw, MO, with reigning Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing champion Jesse Hockett.

Past Ron Shuman Classic Winners:  Brad Sweet (2006), Bud Kaeding (2005), Jesse Hockett (2004), Jesse Hockett (2003), Bud Kaeding (2002), Troy Rutherford (2001), Tony Elliott (2000).

Racer's Hotels:  Hampton Inn (Kansas City, KS) 913-328-1400.  Ask for Lakeside Speedway Room Rate.

Additional information regarding the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless series is available at http://www.sprintbandits.com

-end-

Sprint Bandits TNT Ultimate Challenge Washed Out at Oskaloosa

Lonnie Wheatley, OSKALOOSA, Iowa (August 7, 2007)  Oh, what could have been, as 49 drivers from throughout the nation checked into the Southern Iowa Speedway pit area for Tuesday night's $30,000 to win Ultimate Challenge sanctioned by the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless series.

But Mother Nature had other plans in store.  Sprinkles that began at 7:30 p.m. soon blossomed into a torrential downpour that forced the cancellation of the blockbuster event.  With no suitable raindate available, the event will not be made up.

Ticket holders may obtain refunds by mailing their tickets along with name and mailing address to McTwo Promotions, P.O. Box 185, Altoona IA 50009.

The O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing resumes next Tuesday night, August 14, at Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, NE, before moving on to Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK, on Wednesday night, Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK, on Thursday night and then Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS, on Friday and Saturday.

The Sprint Bandits format was in effect, with passing points lining up four qualifying races, thus meaning the top 24 in heat race passing points would have made the six-car invert for the qualifiers with the balance filling each qualifying race field.  The top 18 in combined points from the heats and qualifiers were to advance to the "A" Main, with the balance of the 24-car feature field to be filled by the top three finishers from each of the twin "B" Mains.

Additional information regarding the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless series is available at http://www.sprintbandits.com/.

-end-

J.J. Yeley to Compete in Osky's Ultimate Challenge!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (August 1, 2007)  What already ranks as arguably the highlight of Southern Iowa Sprint Week, next Tuesday night's $30,000 to win Ultimate Challenge at Oskaloosa's Southern Iowa Speedway will have an added element of flare as NASCAR Nextel Cup star J.J. Yeley will throw his hat in the ring for victory honors.

A graduate of the Sprint Car and Midget ranks, the Arizona native returns to his roots for the night as he takes in his first O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless event.

Yeley won the inaugural edition of the Ultimate Challenge in 2001 and followed up with fifth and third place finishes in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Yeley's last Ultimate Challenge outing was in 2004, when he wound up 15th.

Yeley will face a stellar field of the nation's top wingless Sprint Car chauffeurs that will includes the likes of defending race winner Jerry Coons, Jr., 2005 Ultimate Challenge winner Levi Jones, Dave Darland, Brad Sweet, Darren Hagen, Tim Kaeding, Don Droud, Jr., Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., defending Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing champion Jesse Hockett and the Kruseman Motorsports duo of Cory Kruseman and Michael Trimble among others.

The event marks the first of six O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT events in August, with five races in five nights to follow on August 14-18. The five night stretch that kicks off on August 14 offers up more than $85,000 in feature event purse money along with another $7,350 distributed among the week's top five point earners.

Following the Tuesday night, August 7, Ultimate Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway, Sprint Bandits TNT action resumes on August 14 at Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway. The next two nights feature new venues for wingless 410-ci Sprint Car racing with Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK, on Wednesday, August 15, and then Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK, on August 16. The week wraps up with the two night spectacular at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS, with the Saturday night, August 18, winner pocketing $10,000.

Tickets for Southern Iowa Speedway's Non-Wing Ultimate Challenge are available by calling McTwo Promotions at 515-957-0020. Southern Iowa Speedway is located in Oskaloosa, IA, 0.5 miles west of US 63 on SR 92, then 0.3 mile north on N. I Street.

Additional information regarding the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits is available at http://www.sprintbandits.com/. 

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Draws Near!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (July 27, 2007) – As the month of July winds down, that can only mean one thing: the Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless Midwest Swing is drawing near!

The third edition of the popular tour will attract the nation's top 410-ci non-wing Sprint Car drivers to five different tracks throughout Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas for six nights of explosive racing action from August 7 to August 18.

It all kicks off in the middle of Iowa Sprint Week with Southern Iowa Speedway's $30,000-to-win Searsboro Telephone Ultimate Challenge in Oskaloosa, IA, on Tuesday night, August 7. Jerry Coons, Jr. reigns as defending champion of the Ultimate Challenge, with Levi Jones winning the first Sprint Bandits TNT sanctioned event at Oskaloosa in 2005.

Then, one week later, five consecutive nights of action commence with more than $85,000 up for grabs in the feature events along with another $7,350 doled out to the top five point earners over the five-night stretch. The champion will pick up a $2,500 bonus, with the balance of the top five receiving $1,500, $1,250, $1,100 and $1,000, respectively.

For the third consecutive year, the post-Knoxville stretch of wingless action kicks off at Greenwood, Nebraska's I-80 Speedway on Tuesday night, August 14, with the Third Annual Huskerland Non-Wing 410 Sprint Car Nationals. The TNT troops will be joined on the card by the ASCS Midwest Region for an Open Wheel Spectacular.

Levi Jones topped a wild TNT affair at I-80 in 2005, with California's Robert Ballou pulling off a surprise win in 2006.

Following the Tuesday night stop at Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway, which has featured two and three-wide racing throughout over each of the past two years, the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing moves on to a pair of new venues.

On Wednesday night, August 15, the series takes to Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK. Then on Wednesday night, the first bullring in TNT history is on tap in the form of Creek County Speedway's ¼-mile clay oval in Sapulpa, OK.

It will mark the first time for the powerful, wingless sprint cars to invade either track, as neither Mid-America nor Creek County has ever hosted wingless 410-ci Sprint Cars.

The events at I-80 Speedway, Mid-America Speedway and Creek County Speedway each offer up $4,000 to win.

The week of action wraps up with Lakeside Speedway's annual Wingless Clash in Kansas City, KS, on August 17 and 18, with Saturday night's Ron Shuman Classic feature winner pocketing a $10,000 winner's share along with the coveted pedal car trophy.

California's Brad Sweet is the reigning Ron Shuman Classic winner at Lakeside, with other winners including Bud Kaeding (2005 and 2002), Jesse Hockett (2004 and 2003) and Troy Rutherford (2001).

Missouri's Jesse Hockett is the reigning champion of the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing, with Levi Jones of Olney, IL, capturing the inaugural title in 2005.

Jones dominated the 2005 edition, winning four of five feature events. Last year, six different drivers reached TNT victory lane in as many Midwest Swing feature events, with Hockett edging Mat Neely for the crown. Jon Stanbrough and Dickie Gaines, the only two drivers to compete in all 17 events in TNT history (including Florida events), tied for third in last year's Midwest Swing. Shane Hollingsworth rounded out the top five.

Tickets for Southern Iowa Speedway's Non-Wing Ultimate Challenge are available by calling McTwo Promotions at 515-957-0020. Southern Iowa Speedway is located in Oskaloosa, IA, 0.5 miles west of US 63 on SR 92, then 0.3 mile north on N. I Street.

The semi-banked, 4/10-mile I-80 Speedway dirt oval is located in Greenwood, NE, off I-80 Exit 420 between Lincoln and Omaha. For more information, contact the track at 402-342-3453, 402-944-2233 or check http://www.neracewaypark.com/I80/index.php.  

The semi-banked, 3/10-mile Mid-America Speedway dirt oval is located one mile south of the Oklahoma-Kansas state line on US 169, then 0.7 miles west. For more information, contact the track at 918-255-6698 or check http://www.midamericaspeedway.com/.  

The semi-banked, ¼-mile Creek County Speedway dirt oval located southwest of Tulsa, OK, off I-44 Exit 211, then 0.3 miles south on State Road 33, then one mile west on State Road 66, then south. For more information, contact the track at 918-247-6675 or check http://www.creekcountyspeedway.com/.  

The semi-banked, ½-mile Lakeside Speedway dirt oval is located in Kansas City, KS, off I-435 Exit 18, then one mile northwest on State Road 5. For more information, contact the track at 913-299-2040 or check http://www.lakesidespeedway.net/. 

Additional information regarding the O’Reilly Sprint Bandits is available at http://www.sprintbandits.com/. 

-end-

Jones Banks $10K in East Bay Sprint Bandits TNT Finale!

Lonnie Wheatley, TAMPA, Fla. (February 2, 2007) Levi Jones saved the best for last in the third and final night of O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless action at East Bay Raceway Park's 31st Annual Winter Nationals, leading the final 16 circuits to capture the $10,000 winner's share in Friday night's 40-lap feature.

Monday night winner Jesse Hockett paced the opening 24 rounds, with Jones and Mike Brecht shadowing his every move along the way. But the slightest of hesitations in lapped traffic on the 25th lap was just the opening Jones was looking for.

"You've really got to give a lot of credit to the track owners, Al (Varnadore) and Todd (Hutto), at any other track in the country this race would have been cancelled early this afternoon," Jones commented of heavy rains over night. "I'm glad we gotLakeside Speedway (KS) to race and I'm going to enjoy their $10,000."

Piloting the Tony Stewart Motorsports Kistler-powered Chevrolet/Bass Pro Shops No. 20J Maxim, the 2005 Sprint Bandits TNT champion notched his fifth career series win in front of Brecht, Hockett, Brady Short and Jon Stanbrough.

Tracy Hines, Jones' teammate, crossed the stripe sixth, with the balance of the top ten including Shane Cottle, Kaley Gharst, Zach Chappell and Dickie Gaines.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT 'A' Main - $10,000 to Win: (40 Laps): 1. 20J-Levi Jones (Olney, IL), 2. 97-Mike Brecht (Beaver Dam, OH), 3. 75-Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO), 4. 2b-Brady Short (Bedford, IN), 5. 21R-Jon Stanbrough (Jamestown, IN), 6. 21-Tracy Hines (Greenfield, IN), 7. 36-Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN), 8. 3-Kaley Gharst (Decatur, IL), 9. 8k-Zach Chappell (Talala, OK), 10. 21x-Dickie Gaines (Mitchell, IN), 11. 7-Jon Sciscoe (Bloomington, IN), 12. 6s-Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA), 13. 16-Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. (Brownsburg, IN), 14. 4-Danny Smith (Danville, IN), 15. 7s-Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN), 16. 17-Chris Windom (Canton, IL), 17. 2k-Roger Rager (Pequot Lake, MN), 18. 4b-Tom Busch (Bedford, IN), 19. 6x-Mark Cole (Lebanon, NH), 20. 4R-Robbie Vaughn (Mt. Vernon, WA), 21. 10-Daron Clayton (Sikeston, MO), 22. 85-Greg Leonard (Gibsonton, FL), 23. 29w-Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA), 24. 57b-John Heydenreich (Bloomsburg, PA).

Lap Leaders: Jesse Hockett 1-24, Levi Jones 25-40.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Points (Top Ten): 1. (tie) Brady Short and Jesse Hockett 438, 3. Mike Brecht 420, 4. Levi Jones 418, 5. (tie) Tracy Hines and Jon Stanbrough 414, 7. Shane Cottle 406, 8. Zach Chappell 390, 9. Danny Smith 386, 10. Chris Windom 384.

Lonnie Wheatley, TAMPA, Fla. (January 31, 2007) Indiana's Brady Short enjoys January 31st at East Bay Raceway Park. Last year, Short picked off his first career O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless feature win on January 31. Short celebrated the anniversary of that first major win by notching his second career Sprint Bandits TNT triumph in Wednesday night's second 25-lap preliminary feature event at the 31st Annual Winter Nationals.

Monday night winner Jesse Hockett jumped into the early lead and paced the opening six rounds before Short took command. In just his second night aboard Scott Benic's Gaerte-powered Lucas Oil Products No. 2b Maxim, Short held on the rest of the way to post the win.

Jon Stanbrough tried to mount a charge in the final laps but was forced to settle for second, with Hockett, Zach Chappell and 21st-starter Luke Hall rounding out the top five. Polesitter Mike Brecht crossed the stripe sixth, with the balance of the top ten including Chris Windom, Tracy Hines, Danny Smith and Cole Whitt.

The top six drivers in cumulative points from Heat Races, Qualifying Races and Features on both Monday and Wednesday are locked into Friday night's $10,000 to win O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT main event at East Bay Raceway Park's 31st Annual Winter Nationals. Those six drivers are Brady Short, Jesse Hockett, Mike Brecht, Levi Jones, Jon Stanbrough and Tracy Hines.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless East Bay Preliminary Night Two Results:

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT A Main: (25 Laps): 1. 2b-Brady Short (Bedford, IN), 2. 21R-Jon Stanbrough (Jamestown, IN), 3. 75-Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO), 4. 8k-Zach Chappell (Talala, OK), 5. 34-Luke Hall (Ludlow Falls, OH), 6. 97-Mike Brecht (Beaver Dam, OH), 7. 17-Chris Windom (Canton, IL), 8. 21-Tracy Hines (Greenfield, IN), 9. 4-Danny Smith (Danville, IN), 10. 29w-Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA), 11. 20J-Levi Jones (Olney, IL), 12. 36-Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN), 13. 2k-Roger Rager (Pequot Lake, MN), 14. 6s-Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA), 15. 85-Greg Leonard (Gibsonton, FL), 16. 7-Jon Sciscoe (Bloomington, IN), 17. 5-Kevin Briscoe (Mitchell, IN), 18. 57-Rob Chaney (Millersburg, OH), 19. 10-Daron Clayton (Sikeston, MO), 20. 10T-Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, MO), 21. 57b-John Heydenreich (Bloomsburg, PA), 22. 16-Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. (Brownsburg, IN), 23. 17b-Brett Burdette (Milan, IN), 24. 21x-Dickie Gaines (Mitchell, IN).

Lap Leaders: Jesse Hockett 1-6, Brady Short 7-25.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Points (Top Ten): 1. Brady Short 296, 2. Jesse Hockett 294, 3. Tracy Hines 276, 4. (tie) Mike Brecht and Jon Stanbrough 274, 6. Shane Cottle 270, 7. Levi Jones 268, 8. Chris Windom 266, 9. Danny Smith 264, 10. Zach Chappell 258.

-end-

Hockett Sweeps Through O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT East Bay Opener

Lonnie Wheatley, TAMPA, Fla. (January 29, 2007) Missouri's Jesse Hockett made a clean sweep of the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless opening night of action at East Bay Raceway Park's 31st Annual Winter Nationals by racing to victory lane in Monday night's 25-lap preliminary feature.

After snaring last lap victories from Roger Rager in both heat and qualifying race action, Hockett found himself chasing the cagey veteran once again in the "A" Main. But when Rager slipped high in turn four on the 12th circuit, "The Rocket" raced into the lead and never surrendered the point aboard the Wesmar-powered VKCC Motorsports No. 75 DRC.

"We've really struggled here in the winged stuff, so it's nice to turn it around with a win," the 2006 Sprint Bandits TNT COMP Cams Midwest swing champion explained afterward. "I felt like coming in that we could do some good without the wings and it worked out tonight."

While Hockett provided a pair of dramatic finishes in qualifying action, including a three-wide battle for the lead down the backstretch with Rager and Levi Jones in his Qualifying race, it was Dickie Gaines that earned the pole for the feature by virtue of a lap seven move to win his heat from sixth and a last corner of pass of Brad Sweet to win his qualifier.

With Gaines on the pole, last year's Sprint Bandits TNT opening event winner Brady Short gridded on his outside shoulder with Hockett and Jones in row two. But it was third-row outside starter Rager blasting into the lead on the opening circuit in front of Short and Hockett.

Hockett battled past Short for the runner-up slot on the second round and moved in on Rager to challenge for the lead. Hockett tried to slip underneath Rager repeatedly over the ensuing laps, only to have Rager successfully shut the door each time.

But when Rager pushed high exiting turn four on the 12th round, Hockett wasted little time rocketing into the lead. "We were a lot faster than him but it was really hard to get around him. When he slipped there, I knew I better take advantage while I could," Hockett commented.

Rager's slip cost him more than the lead, as Short, Shane Cottle and Gaines each freight-trained around as well to drop Rager to fifth. Rager's night then got cut short when he and Gaines tangled entering turn three on the 21st lap to bring out the race's only caution.

Hockett went on to post his second career O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT victory in front of Short and Cottle, with Tracy Hines and Levi Jones rounding out the top five in the debut of the Tony Stewart Motorsports Chevrolet-powered team.

Jason Sides crossed the stripe sixth, with Mike Brecht, Jon Sciscoe, Danny Smith and Chris Windom completing the top ten.

Brecht, Gaines, Hockett, Jones and Daron Clayton topped heat race action for the 42-car field, with Gaines, Hockett, Jason Meyers, Sides and Short victorious in Qualifying Race action.

Steve Buckwalter aced the first "B" Main, while Clayton took command midway through the second "B" Main en route to the win. Clayton took the checkered flag 15th in the "A" Main before going for a wild tumble after jumping a tire moments later. Clayton was uninjured.

Mikey Kemper was the evening's only other flip victim, getting upside down in the second "B" Main. Kemper was uninjured.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Tour 'N Topless action at East Bay Raceway Park's 31st Annual Winter Nationals resumes Wednesday night, preceding Friday night's $10,000 to win finale.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT 'A'Main (25 Laps): 1. 75-Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO), 2. 2b-Brady Short (Bedford, IN), 3. 36-Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN), 4. 21-Tracy Hines (Greenfield, IN), 5. 20J-Levi Jones (Olney, IL), 6. 7s-Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN), 7. 97-Mike Brecht (Beaver Dam, OH), 8. 7-Jon Sciscoe (Bloomington, IN), 9. 4-Danny Smith (Danville, IN), 10. 17-Chris Windom (Canton, IL), 11. 21R-Jon Stanbrough (Jamestown, IN), 12. 6s-Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA), 13. d12-Jason Meyers (Clovis, CA), 14. 5-Kevin Briscoe (Mitchell, IN), 15. 10-Daron Clayton (Sikeston, MO), 16. 16-Billy Puterbaugh, Jr. (Brownsburg, IN), 17. 8k-Zach Chappell (Talala, OK), 18. 17s-Steve Buckwalter (Royersford, PA), 19. 3-Kaley Gharst (Decatur, IL), 20. 21x-Dickie Gaines (Mitchell, IN), 21. 21s-Jeff Bland, Jr. (Bloomington, IN), 22. 2k-Roger Rager (Pequot Lake, MN), 23. 57b-John Heydenreich (Bloomsburg, PA), 24. 4b-Tom Busch (Bedford, IN).

Lap Leaders: Roger Rager 1-11, Jesse Hockett 12-25.

O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Points (Top Ten): 1. Jesse Hockett 150, 2. Brady Short 146, 3. Shane Cottle 144, 4. Tracy Hines 142, 5. Levi Jones 140, 6. Jason Sides 138, 7. Mike Brecht 136, 8. Jon Sciscoe 134, 9. Danny Smith 132, 10. Chris Windom 130.

-end-