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The Profreight International sponsored American Midget team for the 2009 International Midget World Series at Western Springs has been announced. Profreight International USA Test Squad Jerry Coons Jnr Dave Darland Cory Kruseman Brad Kuhn Davey Ray Henry Clarke Brad Kuhn Avon, Indiana’s Brad Kuhn returns to New Zealand as the defending International Midget World Series Champion. The two-time National Midget Driver of the Year and former BMARA Champion is arguably one of the most underrated Midget racers in the US, and his ‘stand on the gas, take no prisoners’ style has won him many fans here in NZ. Fresh from a qualifying night victory and a third place finish in the ‘A’ Main at this years Chili Bowl Midget Championship, Kuhn will race the Mick Quin owned Stealth Mopar Midget at Western Springs. www.bradkuhn.com Jerry Coons Jnr. This will be Jerry Coons Junior’s third tour to New Zealand, coming off a stellar year in the US. Coons won the USAC Silver Crown and USAC Sprintcar Championships in 2008, with Coons now joining an elite group of just five drivers, Pancho Carter, Dave Darland, JJ Yeley, and Tony Stewart, who have all won the USAC ‘Triple Crown’ over all three USAC divisions in their careers. Hailing from Tucson, Arizona, Coons, celebrating a qualifying night win and fourth overall at the Chili Bowl this year, and the birth of his son in December, will again be driving at Western Springs for Danny Lendich in a brand new Spike Esslingler. www.jerrycoonsjr.com Dave Darland Lincoln, Indiana’s Dave Darland is a legend in the sport of open wheel dirt track racing. One of just five USAC ‘Triple Crown’ winners, Darland again finished inside the top ten of all three USAC divisions in 2008. He has visited NZ many times and has won the prestigious 30-lap Midget World Derby on numerous occasions, including last season. But the one he really wants to win is the jewel in the crown here in NZ, the 50 Lap Midget World Championship. Darland will drive the ADL Fontana powered Breka owned by Auckland’s Shane Snookes, for the 2009 World Series. Cory Kruseman Ventura, California’s Cory Kruseman has been voted one of the best wingless Sprintcar racers of all time and returns to NZ for his fourth tour. The two-time Chili Bowl Midget Champion and SCRA Sprintcar Champion has a thriving Midget and Sprintcar driving school business in California, and like Davey Ray, and Jerry Coons has also won an Australian Midget Championship in the past. Kruseman is mentoring many young racers in the US currently, including young Henry Clarke who will race for ‘The Kruser’ in the World Series. Kruseman will drive his own #47 Esslinger powered Spike chassis at The Springs. www.kruseman.com Davey Ray Davenport Iowa’s Davey Ray is another top US Midget pilot to return to New Zealand this season for the World Series, and will again race the Simon Longdill owned Synergy V8 powered Aggressor Midget. Ray won his second Australian Midget title in this car last season and one of the International Midget World Series Midget rounds as well. He’s already raced twice in NZ this season, and will fly back to NZ fresh from defending his Australian Midget title this weekend, along with Jerry Coons, and Brad Kuhn. www.daveyray.com Henry Clarke A winner of two Ford Focus Midget races in the US this season at Ventura, Clarke spent the 2008 season under the tutelage of two-time Chili Bowl winner Cory Kruseman in Midgets and Sprintcars. The nineteen year old from Villa Park, California will race a Kruseman Motorsports Spike Gaerte on his first tour ‘Downunder’. The NZ Midget Test team is Michael Pickens (C), Brad Mosen, Carl Worboys, Lance Beale, Shayne Alach, Graham Standring, and Shaun Insley. Five cars from each squad will race in the test race on each of the four nights of the 2009 International Midget World Series. The selection of the five international test team members for each country will be self selected on the night, based on the highest qualifying points in the heats amongst all of the international drivers. The four-round 2009 International Midget World Series starts at Western Springs on Wednesday January 28. Gates open at 5.00pm, with racing starting at 6.45pm.
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