Now Things get REALLY busy

Big doings in New Zealand and Tulsa, OK this week.  We will try to keep you up to date on what is happening in NZ, but we recommend watching the Tulsa Shootout live.
Fans can now purchase both Speedway Motors Tulsa Shootout, January 1-4 and Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire, January 14-18 by clicking the event tabs on the RacinBoys home page.
View each day of the Tulsa Shootout for $15.00 (Wed-Thu-Fri), $20 (Sat) or entire event package for $54.99.
The Chili Bowl can be seen for $25.00 each day or $99.00 for the entire five days. Note: RacinBoys will NOT be carrying Saturday night’s championship feature race as MavTV broadcasts live from the Chili Bowl for the first time. Saturday day-long coverage begins around 12:00 noon CT and continues until MavTV takes over live in the early evening.
Tulsa Shootout and Chili Bowl webcasts on RacinBoys are brought to you by MavTV and Lucas Oil Products. For more information about the RacinBoys PPV events or sponsorship opportunities, send e-mail to racinboys@racinboys.com.

Dates	Event	Website
1/1	Western Springs, NZ (King of The Springs)	http://springsspeedway.com/
1/2-1/4	Tulsa Shootout, Tulsa, OK USA	http://www.tulsashootout.com/
1/4	Western Springs, NZ (50 Lapper Night)	http://springsspeedway.com/
1/5	Premier Speedway, Australia	http://premierspeedway.com.au/
1/8-11	Speedway City, Australia	http://www.speedwaycity.com.au/
1/14-18	Chili Bowl, Tulsa, OK, USA	http://www.chilibowl.com/

TELL US ABOUT THE CHILI BOWL - Bryan Clauson

'14 Rumble: Justin Peck Saturday Midget Winner Interview

Justin Peck? wins Night 2 at the Rumble

FORT WAYNE, Ind  - Justin Peck won the  midget feature Saturday in the Rumble in Fort Wayne at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center, becoming the youngest winner in the event's 16 years.  The high school freshman is 15.  Bobby East was 17 when he won in 2001.

In a late-race duel , Peck exchanged the lead twice with Friday night winner Russ Gamester in the closing laps before Peck moved in front for good with two laps to go.

Friday night Gamester, 47, had become the event’s oldest winner.  Peck made an impression last year at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center last year, finishing second on Friday and third on Saturday.

Peck, driving a Volkswagen-powered Beast started outside in the front row, beating pole-sitter Lynsey Liguori into the first turn he seemed in total control of the race until  Gamester passed him on the inside with eight laps to go when the youngster got into turn two too hard.  “I thought I was done,” Peck said.

Instead, Gamester developed an engine problem, and Peck nudged his way past with just two laps remaining. Gamester’s engine finally blew in turn four on the last lap, relegating him to a ninth-place finish.
Mike Fedorcak, subbing for the injured Tony Stewart, wound up second, with Grant Galloway, Billy Hulbert and Derek Bischak completing the top five before a near-capacity crowd.
Gamester was trying to join Stewart (2006 and ’11) and Billy Wease (’09) as the only drivers to sweep the weekend features.

Peck expects to race USAC and POWRi midgets on dirt in 2014 as he continues on a path that he hopes will lead to Daytona or Indianapolis.  Peck is not entered in the Chili Bowl this year, but we we certainly see him in a few years; after high school is out of the way.

Western Springs NZ Rained Out Friday

Russ Gamester wins night #1 of the Rumble

Russ Gamester was the big winner tonight in the "Rumble in Fort Wayne" midget race. He used a 1977 Grant King chassis that his grandparents bought him way back when. A very emotional win for Russ.
Here is his interview after the big win! Watch the full feature on www.jackslash.com!

Boxing Day Feature from Western Springs, New Zealand -- WOW!

BELL ON TOP DOWN UNDER

American teenager Christopher Bell added to his trophy cabinet in front of 13,000 fans on Boxing Day at WXC Speedway - Western Springs.
The 18-year-old Oklahoman started on the front row of the feature but was made to work for it by his countryman Rico Abreu.
The pair traded slide job passing maneuvers lap after lap as the roaring crowd drowned out all 20 cars on the track.
Following a mid-race caution, three of the Americans played accidental bumper cars leaving all three (Darren Hagen, Bryan Clauson, Abreu) scratching their heads on the infield, while Bell drove to victory.
"That was really tough, I definitely got some luck there when there was that pile-up. It was a shame losing those three United States drivers in one hit because they were really putting on a show for the fans," said Bell.
"That was a heck of a race and it was the first time I've ever been able to run in front of so many people; it's just fantastic. It blows me away how much support Speedway gets down here [in Auckland]."
Bell was the dominant driver in the USA this year, winning all the historic races and championships, but almost had this one stolen from him right at the death as 41-year-old American Jerry Coons Jr made a last lap lunge.
"I saw Jerry sneaking up on me on that last lap and I knew I really had to give it my all but we got there in the end so awesome for the team," said Bell.
The Springs' faithful were granted the best track surface of the season with two distinct racing lines and cars constantly dive-bombing each other for position. Bell decided to run as wide as possible, tapping the wall nearly every lap.
"I hit the wall several times in that race, I think we'll have to go over the car tomorrow because we might have bent a couple of wheels in that one," he said.
Coons Jr held on for second place while in-form Kiwi Chris McCutcheon took third. The first Australian home was 22-year-old Matthew Jackson in fourth.
The international midgets will be back in action at WXC Speedway - Western Springs Friday for the World 30-lap Derby.

International Teams Racing returns Western Springs with a vengeance Thursday, Boxing Day

International Teams Racing returns Western Springs with a vengeance Thursday, Boxing Day as three countries fight for points, pride and a lofty prize pool.

Australia, USA and New Zealand will each field three drivers for the two international heat races which, unlike previous years, now also offer individual points towards feature race grid positions.

Team USA enters the series as favorites with three professional race drivers on their books.

California's Darren Hagen makes his first visit to New Zealand coming off two USAC National Midget Championships in 2012, alongside another newcomer in 18-year-old Oklahoman Christopher Bell who won everything there is to win in the USA this year. These two young guns will be marshalled around by 41-year-old speedway icon and Team USA captain Jerry Coons Jr from Indiana.

"It's an honor they chose me to be captain. Either that or it just means I'm the oldest," said former USAC Triple Crown winner Coons Jr.

"We've got an incredible team with both the 2012 and 2013 USAC National Midget Champions so we're pretty confident for tonight's teams racing, although we know the Kiwis are always strong too having raced Brad Mosen and Michael Pickens in the States this year."

Current New Zealand champion Pickens will captain the local contingent tonight, alongside former International series champion Mosen and current Western Springs points leader Chris McCutcheon.

"We couldn't be happier with the team we've put together and hopefully with a bit of crowd support and home track advantage we can keep the trophy in Auckland," said one of three New Zealand team selectors Graham Standring.

Current POWRI Australian Midget Super Series champion Nathan Smee is still fighting fit at 40-years-old and will captain the Aussie team. He will be joined by fellow speedway veteran and two-time national midget champion Adam Clarke, as well as 22-year-old rising star Matthew Jackson who is coming off his first campaign in the USA.

Promoters are expecting around 16,000 fans at the track, ready to witness some of the best midget racing ever seen.

"We don't get anywhere near the amount of fans at a midget race in the US like we do at The Springs. It's such a cool atmosphere here in Auckland with all the entertainment that goes on off the track too. We just love coming down here," said Coons Jr.

Dates	Event	Website
12/26	Western Springs, New Zealand (Boxing Night)	http://springsspeedway.com/
12/27-28	Rumble in Fort Wayne, IN USA	http://www.rumbleseries.com/
12/28	Western Springs, NZ (World Derby)	http://springsspeedway.com/
1/1	Western Springs, NZ (King of The Springs)	http://springsspeedway.com/

A strong entry list for the Rumble this weekend in Fort Wayne includes Bobby Santos III, Lou Cicconi Jr., Jarett Andretti, Matt Westfall, Tony Elliott, Russ Gamester, Dave Darland, Bobby East, Brian Gerster, and Billy Wease. 

DEFENDING RUMBLE IN FORT WAYNE CHAMPIONS: Billy Wease (first night) and Derek Bischak (second night)

TRACK QUALIFYING RECORD: 7.323 seconds set by Tony Stewart, Dec. 30, 2005

Cicconi is the only driver to beat Tony Stewart when Tony was still running at the end of the race.  The two will team up this year with Cicconi driving Stewart's "Munchkin" race car.  Stewart is still weeks away from his return following multiple operations for a broken leg suffered in a sprint car accident.

TELL US ABOUT THE CHILI BOWL - Steve Buckwalter

Name: Steve Buckwalter
Hometown: Royersford, PA     Occupation: Full Time Race Car Driver
How did you choose your car number? My midget number 25, was my Uncle Ricks
Chassis: Elite     Engine Builder: Don Ott Racing Engines
Sponsors: Don Ott Racing Engines, VRP Shocks, Hoosier Tires
Favorite Track: Gas City (Indiana)     Favorite Driver: Tony Stewart
Regular Tracks/Series: Sprint - Williams Grove; Midget - ARDC
What is your greatest accomplishment/best memory?  Making the A-Main at the Chili Bowl for the first time.
What is your ultimate goal?  To win the Chili Bowl