From the Southern Illinois Miners

MARION, IL – The Southern Illinois Miners got back in the win column on Sunday night by getting a fantastic team pitching effort, with John Werner becoming the Miners’ all-time leader in single-season and career saves with his 21st of the year in a 3-1 win over the Evansville Otters at Rent One Park.

The Miners opened the game by getting on the board first against Evansville starter Ryan Etsell (1-2), as Ryan Sluder tripled to right field before Nolan Earley followed with an RBI single to make it 1-0 Miners in the bottom of the first inning. After two scoreless frames, Robby Rowland permitted a run to score in the third inning when Nick Walker’s fly ball into right field was dropped on a slide by Earley for an error, getting Walker to third base before an RBI groundout by Chris Riopedre tied the score at 1-1.

The Otters then loaded the bases with only one out, but Rowland (2-2) induced an inning-ending double-play grounder to first base to keep it tied, and Southern Illinois took advantage in the bottom half of the third. Sluder led off with a double, moved to third base on a groundout and scored on another groundout, with Ryan Lashley picking up the RBI to make the score 2-1.

The Miners led the rest of the way, as Rowland pitched six innings and allowed just three singles and the lone unearned run, walking four, but getting 14 of 18 total outs recorded on ground balls to keep the Otters off the scoreboard. Southern Illinois got an insurance run in the seventh inning when Lashley doubled with two outs, scoring pinch-runner Culver Plant from first base for the final margin of 3-1.

Southern Illinois’ bullpen also turned in a dominant effort to keep the lead, with Paul Young and Kyle Grana each striking out the side in order in the seventh and eighth innings. That set up Werner, who struck out Jeff Gardner looking, got Alejandro Segovia to ground out to Plant at shortstop, then struck out John Schultz looking to end the game and pass Derrick Miramontes (2014) to become the Miners’ all-time leader in saves.

Offensively, the Miners out-hit the Otters 10 to three, with Sluder finishing a homer away from the cycle by going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Lashley drove home two runs in going 1-for-4, while Craig Massey also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 as the Miners snapped a four-game losing streak.

After an off day on Monday, the Miners kick off their final home series of the season on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. against the Gateway Grizzlies. Chris Washington will pitch for the Miners, while Vincent Molesky will throw for Gateway.

The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at (618) 998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com

Three Time NASCAR Cup Champ To Compete With Modifieds

From Track Enterprises, Macon IL

The excitement continues to build for the Labor Day weekend races at the DuQuoin State Fair. In addition to a full field of USAC Racing Silver Crown Champ Cars expected for the Ted Horn 100 and a strong field of ARCA RACING SERIES competitors coming for the General Tire Grabber 100, the DIRTcar Racing UMP Modified entry list is filling up with some great competition. With the countdown around one week until cars hit the track, Track Enterprises has announced that 3-Time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Tony Stewart will be on hand competing with the DIRTcar Modifieds.

Tony Stewart, who retired from NASCAR competition at the end of the 2016 racing season, has been busy wheeling his 410 winged sprint car, promoting his Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champion Sprint Car Series, and running Eldora Speedway. For the first time this season, Stewart will get back behind the wheel of a Modified, which will excite fans at the Magic Mile.
Stewart is not a stranger of Du Quoin, as he previously raced there in a Modified in 2011, coming from the back of the field to finish second to Ken Schrader. Stewart also won an ARCA Racing Series event at the one-mile dirt track in 2003, after finishing 2nd to Frank Kimmel in 2001, which was his first appearance at the track.

Last year, over 20 Modifieds were in action at Du Quoin, with Schrader racing to victory. This year, 25+ entries have already arrived at the office with more expected for the $2,000 to win event. In addition to Stewart and Schrader, who will be driving team cars, fans will see Jesse Snyder, Curt Rhodes, Brian Shaw, Tyler Nicely, and many more names looking to take the top prize.

A number of fans may look at the Modifieds as a support class during the Labor Day weekend races at the Du Quoin State Fair, however, it has really gained a lot of steam over the years with strong fields of cars and has become a show of its own. This year, the Labor Day Monday feature, which leads up to the ARCA General Tire Grabber 100, could be the best in several years.

Pit gates are scheduled to open on Sunday, September 3 at 1:00 PM, with the grandstands at 4:00, hotlaps at 5:00, and racing at 7:00 with Modified heats followed by the Ted Horn 100 for the USAC Silver Crown Series. The ARCA Racing Series, presented by Menards comes to town on the following day for the General Tire Grabber 100 presented by Federated Car Care.
Monday pits will open at 6:30 AM, with grandstands opening at 9:00. ARCA practice will be on track at 10:45 with Modifieds trackside for hotlaps at 12:00 noon. General Tire pole qualifying will take place at 12:30 with the Modified feature to follow at 1:30. The green flag is scheduled to drop on the General Tire Grabber 100 presented by Federated Car Care at 3:00 PM.

Advance discount tickets are available, reserved and general, for $25 each day through the Du Quoin State Fair box office or through the Track Enterprises office. Tickets for children 11 and under are $10. Day of race purchases at the gate are $5 more at $30 per person. The Du Quoin State Fairgrounds ticket office can be reached by calling 618-542-1535, while the Track Enterprises number is 217-764-3200.

About Track Enterprises:

Track Enterprises is a racing promotion company that oversees popular events that feature top touring series like the ARCA Racing Series, USAC Racing, Dirtcar UMP, POWRi Racing, All Star Circuit Of Champions, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, CRA, Southern Super Series, and more. The company also oversees all racing promotions at Macon Speedway, Lincoln Speedway, and the Terre Haute Action Track.
For more information on the upcoming racing schedule, visit www.trackenterprises.com, like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TrackEnterprises, or call the office at 217-764-3200.