For Logan Prickett to secure a TQ midgets feature win on his home track Thursday, he will have to outmaneuver a veteran field that also will include former NASCAR great Tony Stewart.
Stewart, who owns the All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midget series, will make a special guest appearance at the Shelby County Fair Thursday and take to the dirt track that has ties all the way back to former Indianapolis 500 winner Wilbur Shaw.
The TQ midget series has struggled to finish events in 2022 due to inclement weather but the forecast is hot and dry Thursday which should make for exciting dirt-track racing.
“It really is exciting. You have nose-to-tail racing and sliding into each other,” said Mike Prickett, father of Logan Prickett (photo), a rising Shelbyville High School senior. “With 24 cars out there, there is a lot going on.”
The dirt track at the Shelby County Fairgrounds has long been a traditional stop of racing enthusiasts. The TQ midget series was forced to cancel the May 21 event in Shelbyville due to a wet track.
There are two more local stops scheduled for the series on July 30 and Aug. 27.
Stewart has expressed a desire for Shelbyville to grow in stature which is why he is coming to compete Thursday at the Shelby County Fair.
“He wants to come out and support the series,” said Prickett. “He thinks the Shelby County Fairgrounds is a great staple to run three, four or five times a year. This will allow Shelby County to embrace the series much like Bartholomew County and Rush County.”
Prickett anticipates at least 25 cars show up Thursday with hot laps and qualifying happening before the 7 p.m. green flag for heat races which lead to the “B main” and the “featured” main event.
Stewart and Logan Prickett will be joined on the track by veterans Joey Paxson – the defending series champion, Tate Martz and Matt Lux who have spent countless hours racing at the local fairgrounds.
“(Logan) will be nervous on some levels but he’s excited for the race,” said Mike Prickett.
Grandstand admission for the event is $10. Pit passes are $20.
