Bell set to defend Belleville Midget Nationals title

[rebelracewriter]

Bell Set to Defend Belleville Midget Nationals Title after 17th Win of the Year

by Lonnie Wheatley

 

NORMAN, Okla. (July 28, 2014) - The Belleville Midget Nationals.

Those few words say it all, and it doesnt get much bigger in Midget racing than that. The powerful little cars hustling around the Belleville High Banks at breathtaking speeds, its the stuff of legend where past winners include the likes of current NASCAR stars Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne among others.

This weekend, 19-year-old Christopher Bell of Norman, OK, aims to become just the fourth repeat winner in the 37th running of the Belleville Midget Nationals in Belleville, KS, after capturing his first Belleville crown last year en route to the USAC National Midget title.

And he does it coming off an open-wheel racing world best 17th win of 2014 last Wednesday night when he scored the MOWA Speedweek opener victory in Highland, IL.

Along with the Belleville Midget Nationals this Thursday and Saturday, this weeks slate opens with USACs Kansas Midget Week kicking off Tuesday night at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, KS, where Bell also won last years Chad McDaniel Memorial.

Its a fun little place, last year it rained some the night before and built up an awesome cushion, Bell explained of the Solomon Valley Raceway.

From there, its on to the Belleville High Banks where Bell will also pilot the RPM/Gormly No. 99 in Friday nights USAC Silver Crown event atop the ½-mile oval.

Theyre total opposite racetracks, we go from one of the smallest tracks well race on to about the biggest and fastest well see, Bell explained of the difference between the Beloit and Belleville tracks. Its good, we get some real diversity in tracks that way.

The history surrounding the Belleville Midget Nationals isnt lost on the youngster gunning for a second consecutive event win. It would be an honor to win it back-to-back, I dont think thats something that many guys have done.

Indeed it isnt, as only three drivers have gone back-to-back at Belleville including Stan Fox in 1979 and 1980, Kasey Kahne in 2000 and 2001 and most recently Bryan Clauson in 2009 and 2010.

This weeks events also offer up an opportunity for Bell to gain some ground on Keith Kunz Motorsports teammate Rico Abreu in the chase for the USAC National Midget championship. Something pretty major will have to happen to catch Rico at this point, all I can do is just take it race by race, Bell commented of his pursuit for a second consecutive championship.

Bell comes off a rain-shortened weekend that included his 17th win of the year last Wednesday night before rallying from deep in the field after a Thursday heat race incident for another top-ten finish.

In Wednesdays MOWA Speedweek opener for winged 410 Sprint Cars, Bell rallied from the tail of his heat to finish second before winning the Dash and then dominating the feature event in the Fox Brothers No. 53 Sprint Car for win number 17 of the year.

The car was on rails, it was perfect, Bell commented.

It looked like more of the same on Thursday night at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL, with Bell slicing through his heat race field until the night got derailed when he got collected in a Brady Bacon flip.

Rebounding to win the B Main, Bell advanced from his 17th starting position to salvage a seventh-place finish.

I passed all I could in about the first ten laps, then it locked down and we just rode around the rest of the way, Bell commented.

With two more nights of winged 410 action set for the following two nights, Mother Nature dictated otherwise with rainouts at Jacksonville and Macon.

More winged 410 Sprint Car action is right around the corner though, with Bell taking the seat of Brandon Berrymans No. 31b All-Pro Auto Reconditioning for Sunday nights Third Annual Capitani Classic at Knoxville Raceway.

But first, theres business to be taken care of at the High Banks.

2014 Quick Stats: 64 races, 17 wins, 33 top-fives, 42 top-tens.

Next Up:

Tuesday, Solomon Valley Raceway (Beloit, KS) Kunz 67 Midget

Thursday, Belleville High Banks (Belleville, KS) Kunz 67 Midget

Friday, Belleville High Banks (Belleville, KS) RPM/Gormly 99 Silver Crown

Saturday, Belleville High Banks (Belleville, KS) Kunz 67 Midget

Sunday, Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) Berryman 31b Winged 410 Sprint Car

Monday, Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) Berryman 31b Winged 360 Sprint Car

Keep Track: Keep track of Christopher Bells on-track action including schedule and results at http://www.christopherbellracing.com/.

If you would like to keep up with all of Christopher Bells racing action by having press releases e-mailed directly to you, simply send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.

Penning the recurring series of The Wheatley Chronicles articles on racinboys.com, Lonnie Wheatley provides media, public relations and more for select tracks, drivers and events. For more information, Wheatley may be contacted at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.