Fresh off a win in the “King Doodlebug Classic” feature at Iowa’s legendary Knoxville Raceway last weekend, USAC National Midget Series point leader Darren Hagen has announced that he will be competing in the Firecracker Derby at Perris Auto Speedway on Wednesday night, July 4th. The City of Perris will host the annual race and fireworks extravaganza that will feature the Lucas Oil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars presented by Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply. Wednesday’s main event will be 40 laps. Spectator gates will open at 3:00 PM with racing at 7:00.
Hagen, who will turn 21 on Monday, will be headed home for the event. The native of Riverside, California saw his first ever Sprint Car race at Perris Auto Speedway as a youth and has a good history at the track as a driver. A few days shy of his 16th birthday in 2002, Hagen won the California Lightning Sprint Car Nationals at The PAS. The personable star won his first ever USAC National Sprint Car race at The PAS in one of the preliminary nights for the 2005 Budweiser Oval Nationals. That same year he was named Rookie of the Year in both the USAC National Sprint Car and the USAC National Midget Series’.
Hagen kicked off the PAS’ 2007 season when he won the first Lucas Oil USAC/CRA main event of the year on February 4th. He drove the famous Mark Priestly #7 Sprint Car to that win and will be behind the wheel of the same car next Wednesday.
Hagen’s season has been outstanding thus far as in addition to leading the USAC National Midget standings; he is second in the National Sprint Car standings only 25 points Levi Jones of Illinois.
Soon after Hagen finishes his July 4th work at The PAS, he will jet back to the Midwest for a USAC National Midget and Sprint Car doubleheader on the half-mile high banks of Toledo Speedway on Friday night, July 6th.
July 4th at The PAS will include entertainment starting at 3:00 PM including a live band, autograph session, games for the kids & Lucas Oil USAC/CRA drivers, a drivers meeting open to all fans, the best auto racing on the west coast and a sensational fireworks show & sky concert to close the show. Remember, the gates open two hours earlier than normal at 3:00 PM. Citizens of Perris who show a valid id with their address will get in for just $5.00 on the 4th.
This Friday the red-hot drag racing action at the Street Legal Strip at The PAS will continue. Friday’s gates will open at 5:00 PM with racing at 6:00.
Anyone wishing more information can contact Perris Auto Speedway at (951) 940-0134.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), approximately one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit at the Ramona Expressway and go two miles east to the fairgrounds.
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