Today marked my first time experiencing the awesomeness that is midget racing. The 2nd Annual “Battle at the Brickyard” took place July 7-10 for the more than 270 USAC Mopar .25 Midget drivers and entrants. Admissions was free- Bonus!
When I arrived Saturday morning I really wasn’t sure what to expect. My heart was soon won over by the crowd, which was impressive- mostly parents, friends and family supporting their young drivers. As I approached the mini-track, set up behind the garages at Gasoline Alley, I noticed parents and coaches talking strategy to drivers waiting to race. I snapped this photo of a pep-talk, complete with umbrella.
Pep Talk
The first heat I watched was incredible; the 40 lap race was complete with the intense racing you would expect from an IndyCar Series race. These junior drivers really have a passion for racing and it showed. In fact, the amount of pure racing enthusiasm surrounding the entire event was immense. This event marked Round #6 in the USAC “Generation NEXT” National Series. These young drivers, ages ranging from as young as 4 ½ to 16 have already competed in North Carolina, Georgia, California, at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Florida and at Kokomo, Indiana. Not a bad gig if you ask me.
Race Time.
A few yellow flags later and we had a winner. The winner is then given the checkered flag and takes a few victory laps- a monumental moment for a young driver.
This event was a lot of fun, seeing young athletes race in the shadow of the Pagoda at the infamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway was enough to be energized by. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was surrounded by the next generation of driving superstars.
Battle at the Brickyard
This afternoon, Victory Lane Ceremonies will take place announcing the top 3 drivers in the 18 different classes, awarding each with a commemorative brick and championship flag. Although my youthful memories do not contain anything remotely close to being strapped in a high tech go-cart, “Battle at the Brickyard” made me somewhat nostalgic for my younger years. It also made me appreciate the dedication these young drivers and teams are showing for the sport of racing. Race on! (Be sure to check out more photos from this event on our Flickr set here.)
Want to get involved? Visit USAC for more information on midget racing.
If you want a really great story about overcoming adversity, you should interview the flagman, Aaron Likens. He has just started flagging for USAC but has been a flagman since he was 12. He is the flagman for the largest kart race in America, The SuperNats, and he is also the author of Finding Kansas: Decoding the Enigma of Asperger’s Syndrome. You can read about his experience at the Battle of the Brickyard and his research project to try and overcome eye contact issues at his blog http://www.aaronlikens.com. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s when he was 20. He is now 27. You can also learn more about the training he does for police departments, teachers, and parents at his web site http://www.findingkansas.com.
His Dad
Beth,
Would it be possible to get a high rez of the photo with Aaron giving the checkered flag with the Pagoda in the background?
Jim Likens
314-308-5203
Create an account on the media site for high resolution photos: http://media.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/
Thanks for the cool blog about midget racing.. When I saw the title in google i thought it was real midgets racing on foot!
I’ve been looking for a place to pose a question about the first races at IMS. I live in Oslo, Norway, but come from Indianapolis. I saw a TV inteview with a frenchman who claimed to have won the first race. I’m sure he wasn’t Ray Haroun. He said he travelled to Indianapolis and won the race (maybe as a mechanic), They said they would transmit the prize money to him in Paris. When his bank called to say that the money had come, he was actually surprized. He used the money to buy a house, which he called Ville Indianapolis. He said he was invited back some years later and drove that same car (from the museum) once around the track. He said he was very proud. I doubt that this was a bluff, I probably heard wrong and it wasn’t the first race.
Could you help me clear up this matter?
Sincerely yours,
Jack Zeigler, formerly from Indianapolis