INDIANAPOLIS -- USAC’s Mopar National Midget Series heads for Kansas and this weekend’s 32nd Speedway Motors “Belleville Midget Nationals.” Brad Kuhn of Avon, Ind. continues to pace the standings after his ninth-place finish in Thursday night’s race at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind.

Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Ind. led the final 22 laps of Thursday’s 30-lapper in his DMS Race Products/F & F Mechanical Beast/Esslinger Ford. He took the lead from Tracy Hines on lap nine and led the rest of the way to beat Bobby Santos III, Hines, Darren Hagen and Josh Wise. Chase Scott led lap one and Hines led the next seven.

Kuhn emerged with a 38-point lead over Hagen going into the Belleville event, which includes a special 12-car Thursday night “Shootout,” followed by complete events Friday and Saturday.

A revised format will await Belleville participants and fans this year, building to Saturday night’s 40-lap, $10,000-to-win finale at the 1/2-mile dirt oval at the North Central Kansas Free Fair.

Brad Sweet of Grass Valley, Calif. is set to defend his “Belleville Midget Nationals” championship, piloting a Kasey Kahne entry. He is expected to be joined by former Belleville champions Jerry Coons Jr. (2005 and 2007), Josh Wise (2003 and 2006), Bobby East (2004), Dave Darland (1999 and 2002).

Heavy rains in Indianapolis and central Indiana Saturday forced cancellation of Saturday night's scheduled 200-lap "Anderson 200" USAC Mopar National Midget race.


USAC MOPAR NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS

1-Brad Kuhn-833, 2-Darren Hagen-795, 3-Brad Sweet-789, 4-Jerry Coons Jr.-774, 5-Tracy Hines-753, 6-Bobby East-696, 7-Cole Whitt-630, 8-Bryan Clauson-598, 9-Chad Boat-560, 10-Kevin Swindell-540.