ON AUTO RACING: TOURING SERIES BRINGS SHOW, STARS TO MALDEN SPEEDWAY

Officials at Malden Speedway expect a big crowd of fans and cars tonight when the Mid-America Racing Series returns to the track for its second and final appearance of the year.

In its last program May 4 at the 3/8-mile dirt oval, 36 cars and drivers competed for a $3,000 top prize. Another big field is expected today in the second stop of a three-day weekend.

The series competed Thursday at West Plains (Mo.) Speedway and goes to Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, Ky., Saturday. All three events are worth $3,000 to the winner.

Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., leads the series standings by 52 points over Bill Frye of Greenbriar, Ark. Jeff Taylor, a Batesville, Ark., racer who won the MARS series event May 4, is third.

It's a welcome stop for Southeast Missouri late model racers Joey Mack, Billy James and Todd Hall, who have followed the series on its other stops as far away as Kansas and Oklahoma this season. James, a former Malden Speedway champion from Sikeston, Mo., leads the local pack and is 12th in the series standings.

Tonight's schedule features extra prize money that could also boost entries in other divisions.

The track's feature race for open-wheel modifieds will pay $750 to win, or $1,000 to win if there are more than 30 entries. Super stock and pure stock events are worth $500 and cruisers will race for $150 to win.

Racing begins at 8 p.m.

Here and there

* Fans at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark near Benton, Mo., on Saturday may notice an addition to the infield of the track -- 95 loads of dirt were trucked into the facility to use for the Extreme Moto Music Madness, an event that combines motocross racing with live music. The program is Sunday, July 15.

According to ATPR officials, the infield track will be a short-term addition. Dirt from that project could be used to resurface the existing 3/8-mile track in the off-season. It also could be used to build a permanent motocross track in the area west of the existing track.

* Two new racetracks are nearing completion that could eventually attract local competitors. A new 3/8-mile dirt oval track near Warrenton, Mo., will compete each Saturday with late models headlining the schedule, while a track near Lexington, Tenn., will compete on Fridays with modifieds as its top draw. Both are scheduled to open this month.

* AMA Grand National motorcycle racers will compete Saturday under the newly installed lights at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds. The event was postponed from Oct. 15 because of weather. Tickets from that date can be used for Saturday's program. Otherwise, general admission is $25 with children 3-under admitted free.

The series will return to the DuQuoin track Sept. 29.

Jamie Hall is the graphics and design editor of the Southeast Missourian