Kid Rocket and Onwer Tony Stewart Part of 46 Car ARCA Enty List at DuQuoin
by: Jay Hardin

DuQUOIN, IL (Aug 30) - The young man known simply as “Kid Rocket” in dirt late model circles has joined forces with two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion and 2003 Southern Illinois 100 winner Tony Stewart to debut the Tony Stewart Racing ARCA stock car in the 55th running of the Federated Car Care-Southern Illinois 100 at the DuQuoin State Fair on Labor Day. Nineteen year old Josh Richards of Shinnston, West Virginia joins an entry list for the Southern Illinois 100 that at this time has 42 entries with drivers representing nineteen different states, including nine drivers from Illinois, one female from Arizona and for the first time in DuQuoin history a native of France!

It was known for sometime that Richards, a veteran of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, Lucas Oil Late Model Series and the UMP Late Models was a strong possibility for a run on the “Magic Mile” at DuQuoin but that dream became reality this week as Stewart purchased a stock car from his own NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs and the car is currently being prepared by Tony Stewart Racing team members. Richards joins another youngster who has a similar background in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) RE/MAX Series, Patrick Sheltra of Indiantown, Florida is also a veteran of the World of Outlaws and Lucas Oil late model series, Sheltra ran 4th at the Allen Crowe 100 on the Illinois State Fair one mile dirt oval on August 19 and comes to DuQuoin as a contender for the Federated-Southern Illinois 100.

Richards seeks to make his ARCA debut in the heavier cars on the big mile at DuQuoin and will be trying to make a field that is one of the most talented and diverse in the 57 year history of stock car racing on the Southern Illinois oval. The entry list, 46 cars strong at this time includes 8 time ARCA champ and 5 time Southern Illinois 100 winner Frank Kimmel, defending Southern Illinois 100 winner and NASCAR star Ken Schrader, former ARCA champ Bill Baird, current ARCA rookie Michael McDowell and former USAC star Josh Wise among the drivers looking to post a victory on the historic DuQuoin ‘Magic Mile’.

The 55th Federated Car Care-Southern Illinois 100 for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is slated for 1 p.m. Monday, September 3 at the picturesque DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster, the DuQuoin State Fair Box Office at 618-542-1535 or Track Enterprises at 217-764-3200.