Mario Clouser - USAC National Midget Driver Website

MCM CLOSES OUT THE 2011 SEASON

MCM recently ran its final race for the 2011 season, bringing to a close one of the most successful seasons the team has been a part of. The fall was kicked off at Eldora Speedway for the 4-Crown Nationals, where Mario managed a 12th place finish while struggling with an ignition issue on the car.

The first weekend of October, Powri held there season finale in Belleville, IL, a track that Mario had run well at in the past and was looking to do so again. The night started off well as Clouser finished 2nd in his heat race which set him up for a 5th place starting position in the feature. At the drop of the flag in the feature Mario, within a couple laps had worked his way up to 2nd position and proceeded to run down the leader. On lap 15 Mario took the lead, but when a caution came out on lap 25 it allowed the field to get bunched back up. On the restart second place runner Brett Anderson made a charge for the lead and got by Mario. Mario worked the next few laps to get back up to Anderson and on the final lap threw a slide job for the lead. Anderson passed Mario back on the backstretch and with him came Bubba Altig. Clouser and Altig tangled in turns three and four and Clouser crossed the line in 3rd. "It was a bummer to end up 3rd tonight when we were leading it just 5 laps ago, but I guess that racing and just how things played out tonight.", said Mario after the race.

The following weekend Granite City, IL hosted the Gold Crown Midget Nationals, a race that has quickly become one of the premier events in midget racing. With over 50 cars entered every night competition was very tough. Mario made the A-feature every night of the 3 night event, all three nights racing his way in via the B-Main. Clouser finished 15th the first night, 18th the second, and 14th the third. "This is a tough event down here, lots of good cars and its tough. I'd say this is one of the hardest races we run all year, between the competition that's here and the way the track ends up during the feature. It's a tough place to pass and if you get yourself in a hole early on in the night you pay for it come feature time. I was very happy to make the show every night though and to run inside the Top 15 here puts you among some great drivers", said Mario.

Irwindale, CA held the final event for MCM in 2011. The Turkey Night Gran Prix is one of the longest running races in the country. This 98 lap feature event is held at the Toyota Speedway on its 1/2 mile Pavement track. Clouser worked hard on practice day fighting a motor issue early which was unable to be fixed forcing the team to have to change a engine Wednesday night. Thursday morning the team fired the new engine but overall would be left to qualify on a motor that hadn't been practiced with. Mario qualified in 15th position out of the 36 cars present at the event and would start there in the feature as well. Clouser fell back early in the feature but stayed out of trouble early on and by lap 80 had worked his way but up to the 12th position. When a caution came out on lap 90 Mario had just passed for 9th, but on the restart Clouser lost a couple positions and had to settle for 12th, being unable to work his way back through the field.

I got to thank everyone that helped us out this year. We have had an Amazing season with a win, multiple quick times as well as a track record at the Belleville High Banks and Grundy County Speedway, it's just been great. Without the help of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, RTS Farms, Steele Performance, Joe Gibbs Driven, Areoquip, TSR, Saldana, and VP Racing none of this would have been possible. I got to work with a great crew chief this year, Evan Avart, who taught me a lot about what it takes to go fast and to have a car to do it. Thanks to everyone, and we are looking forward to next season! --Mario Closuer

SUMMER ENDS IN VICTORY LANE

The end of summer brought great success for Mario Clouser and team. July ended with a string of dirt races in the Midwest, MCM ran 2 nights in Nebraska the first of which looked as though Mario would have a runner up finish, but after a late race restart and a bobble by the lead pack Clouser had to settle for a 5th place finish. The following night Mario had to start deep in the field and after battling hard on a very slick track finished in the 10th position. The next night MCM was in Cameron, MO and had a very good run finishing 5th.

August brought on one of the major high-lights of Mario's racing career. Racing at the Belleville High Banks in Kansas for the Midget Nationals Mario was excited to be making his debut on the famed, world's fastest half mile dirt track. After a promising round of practice Clouser set fast time and a new track record of 17.497 in qualifying. "This is just amazing, I felt like I ran a great lap but just didn't know having not been here before. I told myself, well good or bad that's the best I could have done right there. I was absolutely shocked when I got to tech and my crew said it was a new track record. I just would have never guessed that I'd do this my first time here. It's great, I will definitely never forget this." said Mario after his qualifying run. Clouser went on to finish 6th the first night but unfortunately fell out of the second night's feature after a battery malfunction.

The following week MCM found themselves at one of the smallest race tracks on the circuit, Belle-Clair

Speedway. Mario picked up a heat race win and a 7th place finish in the feature. The next race at Lincoln, IL Clouser scored another win in the B-Feature and a 7th place run in the A-main. The day after Mario raced in Sun Prairie, WI and after a flip while running 6th and only 7 laps remaining Mario raced his way back to salvage a top 10 for the evening.

The final weekend of August MCM raced a USAC regional event at Grundy County Speedway, a track thatheld a national event earlier in the season. (That race Mario set quick time but after getting tangled up in an incident Clouser was only able to race his way to 8th.) Mario was determined to not let that happen again and showed it early on. Mario had quick time in practice and backed it up by setting fast time and a new track record during qualifying with a time of 14.095. Clouser started 7th in the feature after a random pill draw,

and by lap 15 had the lead. He then managed to hold off all competition and pick up the first victory of his 2011 season! "I'm so excited to get this win, it's been a while since I've won a feature and you kind of forget how good this really feels. My team has been working so hard this year and it seems we have just lacked the little bit of luck it takes to get it to victory lane. It's great to be here though", said Mario in victory lane.

The next weekend Clouser looked to carry the recent momentum of a victory at the dirt track in La Salle, IL. The night started off strong but after spinning to avoid a spin, Mario had to race from the back yet again, nonetheless Mario raced his way up to 6th place for a solid evening, the next nights race at Angel Park Speedway was rained out. Stay tuned as the next months contain some very big dirt races, including the 4-Crown at Eldora Speedway and the Gold Crown in Granite City, IL.

MID SUMMER RECAP

June and July were a couple busy and very successful months for Mario Clouser. June was kicked off with Indiana Midget week. A week which includes 5 nights of racing all held back to back and which attracts some of the best drivers in the country. Clouser and team took advantage of the consecutive nights of racing to gain familiarization of new cars and working with new set-ups. Mario made the feature event 4 of 5 nights throughout the week and had some strong finishes. Midget week ended a run of dirt races for the next month and started a string of pavement races.

Mario made his first trip to the famed Milwaukee Mile the following weekend, qualifying 7th and finishing 8th in the feature kept the momentum up from midget week and left the team looking forward to Iowa speedway the following weekend. Iowa speedway is a track that Mario had been fast at before and was looking forward to running there again. "Practice that day was somewhat disappointing, struggling with the line and some chassis issues I wasn't exactly looking forward to qualifying, but after talking with my crew chief, Evan Avart, I felt we had a good strategy for qualifying." Mario said. Clouser pushed off for qualifying and after the first lap was 3rd quick, the team was anticipating and even fast lap for the 2nd and as Mario crossed the line, Quick Time!! This set Mario up for a pole position start in the feature, but a first lap incident involving the 3rd place car would leave Clouser spun and going to the tail. Clouser battled back for a strong 2nd Place finish though which marked Mario's best USAC finish to date.

MCM backed up this performance at the next event in Toledo, OH qualifying quick time again and finishing a strong 5th place in the feature. The next day in Morris, IL Clouser again qualified quick time, but a early race restart cause a crash which Mario was tangled up in and battling from the back again Mario Finished 8th. "We've been very fast, and we've showed that with our recent runs, getting everything to fall into place in the feature is all we need to put together a win, I know were close and I think everyone else see's that too. All we can do is keep working hard like we have been and it will come." Said Mario after a string of quick times without a feature win.

MCM finished up mid July by getting back on the dirt with a race in Wilmot, WI. Qualifying was rained out and Clouser had to start 16th in the feature, 30 laps later though after battling hard Mario had raced his way up to 4th for a respectable finish and a good practice for the upcoming dirt events.

July is finished off with a pavement race at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, IN on the 28th. MCM will then pack up and head west to race dirt July 29th in McCool Junction, NE for 2 nights, race Camron, MO on the 31st. Then racing the famed Belleville Nationals in Belleville, KS the first weekend in August. Stay tuned for more results.

MCM MONTH OF MAY RECAP

Mario Clouser had a busy month of racing during May. The month started out with some testing at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis for the Night before the 500 race that is held the day before the Indy 500. MCM was able to get a lot of laps in and make some great strides toward getting a good car for the race later that month. The first race of the month was rained out at Angel Park Speedway. This two day show is to be rescheduled but the date has yet to be set.

The Hut 100 in Haubstadt, Indiana was the first race that mother nature would allow to be held. MCM started the night off struggling a little bit but by feature time had the car dialed in. Starting from the 25th spot in the 33 car field, Mario was able to work his way up to 11th. The race was not easy though, Clouser got tangled up in multiple incidents on the track and had to work his way back through the field a couple times. "We had a tough night tonight but all things considered we had a good run" said Mario after the race.

The final race of the month for MCM was the famed Night Before the 500 event held in Indianapolis. The day started off well for MCM and they had the car very good by the end of practice. Mario qualified 3rd quick out of the 34 car field and was able to transfer through the heat race and get his time back for the feature race. Mario started 5th in the feature but with a fuel issue, the car did not take off like it should have setting him back to middle of the field by turn 1. From there Clouser did all he could to gain back position and made his way up to 13th but with 10 laps to go a U-joint broke which ended the night for MC motorsports. "We had a great car tonight, It is very disappointing for our night to end this way. Evan Avart did a great job on the set-up tonight and its a shame we didn't have a better run in the feature." stated Mario at the end of the night.

MCM is now gearing up for Indiana Midget week which kicks off June 8th at Gas City Speedway.

MCM COMPETES AT 2011 CHILI BOWL NATIONALS

MCM made its debut this year at the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, OK. The 25 year old event draws moremidgets than any other race in the country with a field this year of 264 race cars and more fans than any other midget race as well. MCM would be running the first ever car to be powered by E-98 Ethanol at this event, with permission from the promoters the team was very excited to get to race with the fuel at an event where emissions is of great concern.

Mondays practice was exciting with Mario getting his first laps on the 1/5 mile indoor oval and with the car performing extremely well. Mario's pre-lim night was Tuesday and after a promising practice he would line up 8th in his heat race. Within the first two laps of the heat race Mario had raced his way up to 4th running the high groove of the track, but on lap 3 when a car slid up in front of Clouser they touched wheels and Mario was sent flipping into the turn 3 fence and was unable to finish the heat. The team went to work getting the car fixed up for the rest of the evening as Mario would now have to race his way up from the C-main. Clouser ran 2nd in his C-main which transferred him to the B. Starting 16th in the B-main, a 4th place finish was needed to transfer to the A feature. Mario raced hard but was only able to make his way up to and 9th place finish in the B-Main

Tuesdays finish set up MCM for a F-main starting position on Saturdays event. Mario finished 3rd in the F-main and left him with yet again a 16th place starting position. Mario was still only able to rally up to 9th in the E-main which left him 5 places short of transferring on. "I'm happy with how we ran for this being our first time so such a large event, yet feel we could have run much better if not for such a unfortunate first night of racing. When you get in the back of these transfer races it becomes almost impossible to make up 12 position in only 8 laps. We know what this event is like now though and we will be all the more prepared for next year, and I'm already looking forward to it" said Mario.

MCM is now currently gearing up for the 2011 race season with the first USAC event slated for April 22-23 at Dodge City Speedway in Dodge City, KS. Stay tuned for more exciting news as the race season nears.