Four area modified stock car drivers are going to be racing for a big prize right in their own backyard. All four call Humboldt Speedway their home track and come Wednesday they are ready to run with the national crowd.
The inaugural King of America Modified Nationals are Wednesday through Saturday at Humboldt Speedway. It is sanctioned by the United States Modified Touring Series, the one-of-a-kind blockbuster event is expected to attract the biggest names in open wheel dirt modified racing.
Humboldt Speedway’s 2011 USRA modified points champion Justin Folk of Iola, John Allen of Chanute, Scott Daniels of Humboldt and Jess Folk Jr. of Iola are going to be in the field also. All four have run against the USMTS drivers most of the time that the series has stopped at Humboldt over the years.
“It says a lot for what Ron and Rhenda have done in improving Humboldt Speedway to have such a big event here,” said Jess Folk Jr. “It’s a tough place to race at against the USMTS drivers. We feel like its a win for us if we make the Saturday main feature.”
Justin and his brother Jess have won the last 14 points championships at the Speedway in the modified Division. Justin has won it the last three years.
“I traveled to New Mexico and raced in big races. This will be the biggest one in my 23 years of racing right here five miles from home,” Justin said. “We’re excited. “The competition will be great.”
The Folk brothers said they’ve been working on their cars to get them ready. They plan to race at Coffeyville this weekend to test their cars.
John Allen challenged Justin Folk for the points championship this season. It came down to the final race in September.
“Man, this is fantastic to run for at $15,000 prize. I went up and ran in the USMTS event at Deer Creek (Iowa). I didn’t win it but felt I raced really well,” Allen said.
“I’ve won some big races in my career but to win this at home would be great.”
Allen also pointed to the economical impact the four-day racing event is going to have on the Chanute, Humboldt, Iola area.
Scott Daniels ran second in The Prelude to the King held at the Speedway, Sept. 30-Oct. 1. He said he’s ready to run in the big event.
“I hope to do well. I’ve always run pretty well against the USMTS drivers when they’ve been at Humboldt,” Daniels said. “There’s a lot of luck involved as you go through the qualifying rounds. Then there’s the skill of the drivers.”
Drivers enter and pick a day to qualify for Saturday’s main race. Qualifying is done Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with drivers receiving points which puts them in order. A driver can buy a “mulligan” — an extra round of qualifying. The top 20 drivers automatically go to the A-feature on Saturday.
