Fishers, IN | March 9, 2018 - Returning to the USAC National Midget Series for another season, the Fishers, Indiana based Clauson-Marshall Racing group will bring a three-car team to Du Quoin, Illinois tomorrow night as they open a 21-race chase for the championship. Beginning their season with the third annual "Shamrock Classic" at the Southern Illinois Center, CMR will be returning to a venue that has always treated their Spike Chassis, Stanton Racing Engine entries quite well. Returning two of last year's stars and adding an up and coming rookie, the CMR trio will consist of "Sunshine" Tyler Courtney piloting the No. 7BC, Justin Grant switching over to wheel to the No. 17BC, and 15-year old Zeb Wise guiding the No. 39BC.
Sharing a shop with the newly-established Clauson-Marshall-Newman Racing team, the crew has already started off the 2018 season with success. Debuting with Tyler Courtney behind the wheel of the No. 7BC, CMNR took to Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida last month and left the "Sunshine State" with two victories in three nights. Appearing as an early force with the USAC National Sprint Car Series, the CMR midget team will look to duplicate that success as they begin their own title pursuit this weekend.
Back in the No. 7BC for another attempt at the USAC National Midget Championship, Indianapolis, Indiana's "Sunshine" Tyler Courtney will look to better his sixth-place points finish from last year. A 23-year old who climbed his way up the ladder after working as a crew member on Bryan Clauson's 2010 USAC Midget Championship team, Courtney carries in all of the momentum after his two USAC Sprint Car wins in Florida. A former winner at the Southern Illinois Center in December of 2016, "Sunshine" is a proven force in Du Quoin and looks to continue his hot start to 2018 this weekend.
Also returning to the USAC National Midget Series, but sporting a new number, is Ione, California's Justin Grant in the No. 17BC. After scoring a fifth-place points run in 2017, Grant is back with Clauson-Marshall Racing in 2018 for another run at the title. The defending winner of the "Shamrock Classic," Grant will be back in the midget for the first time since winning his second-straight Chili Bowl preliminary night in January. After a nail-biting second-place finish in last year's USAC National Sprint Car Championship, Grant heads into this weekend's 2018 season opener with a vengeance as he also pursues his first-career USAC title.
Transitioning from a development driver to full-time competitor in 2018, Angola, Indiana's Zeb Wise will round out the trio as he pilots the No. 39BC. Chasing Rookie of the Year honors while actively in the hunt for the USAC National Midget Championship, the 15-year old rising star has already been opening eyes and wowing crowds for nearly a year now. Running up front at several POWRi National Midget events and earning Rookie of the Race honors at the historic Turkey Night Grand Prix in only his second-career USAC event, Wise has already shown his potential that is nearly limitless.
Beginning the 2018 USAC National Midget Championship tomorrow night, the season will kick off in Du Quoin, Illinois with the third annual "Shamrock Classic" at the Southern Illinois Center. Fans can watch the action LIVE on www.SpeedShiftTV.com, but Clauson-Marshall Racing will also have live updates on our social media accounts.
MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClausonMarshall/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClausonMarshall
Website: http://www.clausonmarshallracing.com/
CLAUSON-MARSHALL RACING:
Race on. A saying that Bryan Clauson always related to his father Tim when our sport faced its darkest moments. It's what racers do, we continue to race on. Following Bryan's tragic passing in August of 2016, Tim Clauson and Richard Marshall never wavered when they formed Clauson-Marshall Racing. After unveiling a dream team at the 2017 Chili Bowl, CMR shifted focus to USAC. With a trio of Tyler Courtney, Justin Grant and Zeb Wise competing on the national level, the outstanding group will be chasing their first title together in season two. After a successful freshman campaign, the team will also be expanding to sprint cars in 2018 as Ryan Newman joined in an ownership role to form Clauson-Marshall-Newman Racing. CMNR will tackle the 2018 USAC National Sprint Car slate with Tyler Courtney behind the wheel.
- administrator on Mar 10, 2018
- Article Date: 3/10/2018 by Brian Walker