Missouri Racing goes Indoors in December
by Greg Clemons

URICH, Mo (Nov. 30, 2006) - GRS compact stock car racing and 600cc Micro Midgets are carrying the sport into December and the 2007 season by making a special appearance at Boone County Fairgound's indoor coliseum on the 9th and 10th. Columbia, Mo. is the hometown of NASCAR star, Carl Edwards who will also be going indoors in Dec. for NASCAR's televised 2006 awards banquet. Back home, the Boone County Fair's 2006 Compact Derby Champion, Cory Baysinger of Hartsburg, is preparing his indoor Figure 8 car for the local, Dec. 10th race, to be held in the heated fairgrounds facilty. The 1/8 mile dirt oval track events at the " Rod End Supply, Missouri Indoor Championships" will be topped off with the Figure 8 finale.

Nationally, Missouri is a hotbed of talented, young and upcoming drivers. Few states feature year round auto racing events. On New Year's Day 2006 at Grand River Speedway in Urich, Mo, Bill Dolez of Warsaw won the season opener on a 62 degree day! Indoors at Double J Arena in Jan. a young female driver, Kayla Koch won the 600cc Midget event. She hails from Sweet Springs, Mo and is expected to be one of the college students, racing in the Columbia indoor championship event. Another winning driver, from the track in Sweet Springs, who is headed indoors is 13 yr old, Cody Baker. He also holds a full size Sprint Car win in 2006! A 2005 Double J Kid's Outlaw Champion, now 10 yrs old, is Devon Huff of Nixa, Mo. stepping up into the 600s. Championship Midget drivers from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma are also expected to compete in the Missouri Championship. The TRS O'Reilly Extreme Sprints All Star Tour will bring winged racing to Columbia on Sat, Dec. 9 at 5 pm and join the 600cc Midget program on the first day. Both A Main events are Saturday night. On the 10th, Sunday at 2 pm the Midgets will return and start their events with Saturday's Championship finish to be inverted as the line-up. That 30 lap feature will be followed by oval track, compact stock car and figure 8 racing.

Most recently, many drivers winning at Grand River Speedway in Stock Car competition are also planning to attend the Columbia race. Wade Sherman of Kansas City will be racing a Honda Prelude. He won the Thanksgiving Leftover race and is also a Double J defending champ. Dakota Singmaster, 13, is leading GRS Hobby Stock points as of the 26th with 3 feature wins. Dave Edwards fell from the lead with another roll over. He should be exciting to watch in Columbia! Matt Marrant is undefeated in 1/8 mile exhibition races and should be a strong contender. Wes Briggs of Lebanon, Mo. won the Beverly Hill Memorial Cup on Nov. 19th in his Late Model. He will be driving his 600cc Midget at Boone Co. on the 9th and 10th. The 2006 GRS season ends New Year's Day in Urich, Mo. The points are kept at www.grandriverspeedway.net  and all Boone Co. information is there.

Callaway Co. and 24 Speedways nearby may provide several local compact oval drivers. Drivers of all ages are expected but it is young Jordan Toebben, Jefferson City, with his 2006 Moniteau Co. Fair Figure 8 win, who may want the Missouri Indoor Championship most of all, for his resume.