(Sun Prairie, WI - January 5, 2023) – The Badger Midget Auto Racing Association announced the formation of a new Illinois-based division to begin operations in 2023. The new series will be referred to as the Midget Auto Racing Association and bring the Badger brand to central Illinois.
The series will revive the once-famous MARA acronym, but will be owned, operated, and sanctioned by the BMARA and will sport a full 2023 schedule. The MARA Midgets will participate in their own races, crown their own champion and receive their own point fund paid to car owners and drivers at a year-end banquet. All purse money for individual races will be paid out by the BMARA and MARA members will receive benefits afforded to BMARA members including additional insurance.
“We saw a need in central Illinois and decided to put a plan into action over the last few months,” stated BMARA President and Illinois native Quinn McCabe, “We feel like we can provide a stable and professional midget series for our central Illinois racers while also giving central Illinois fans exciting and fast-paced racing action.”
McCabe also stated that the growth of the new series is extremely important.
“Our goal is to grow the series into a self-sustaining operation with healthy car counts. We want to see MARA become a prosperous midget series that race fans will travel to see while also giving the promoters a well-run event from a professional sanctioning body.”
The 2023 MARA schedule will be anchored by nine events at the Lincoln Speedway located in Lincoln, IL. Five additional events will be held in conjunction with the BMARA Badger Midgets at the Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, IL just 150 miles North of Lincoln. The season opener for the MARA Midgets will be April 7 at Lincoln Speedway. The first combined BMARA and MARA event will be held at Kankakee Speedway on May 5th.
“We are building a solid schedule for the inaugural MARA season with 17 signed events already,” stated McCabe, “We are continuing to seek partners for the series and hope to find a title sponsor before the season opens.”
Additional information and updates on the series can be found on the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association website at BMARA.com or the new MARA Facebook page MARA Racing. An informational meeting for interested car owners and drivers is being planned with a date to be announced.
2023 MARA Midget Series Schedule
April
7 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
21 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
May
*5 - Kankakee Speedway, Kankakee, IL
19 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
June
9 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
*10 - Sycamore Speedway, Maple Park, IL
July
2 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
14 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
21 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
*22 - Sycamore Speedway, Maple Park, IL
August
*5 - Sycamore Speedway, Maple Park, IL
18 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
*19 - Sycamore Speedway, Maple Park, IL
25 - Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln, IL
September
*2 - Sycamore Speedway, Maple Park, IL
*3 - Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, WI
*4 - Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, WI (NP) (Labor Day)
Co-sanctioned with Badger Midgets
(NP) - Special non-points event.
- MIKE BURBA on Feb 08, 2023
- Article Date: 1/5/2023 by Droz Andrews