Midwest Racing Association

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The Wholesale Batteries, Inc. USAC MRA Sprint Car Series returns to Lakeside Speedway for the famed Weld Memorial Presented By Country Kids Day Care of Olathe.

Only on FloRacing

Times for tonight’s Weld Memorial Presented By Country Kids Day Care of Olathe.

Attention Drivers and Teams:

As a reminder, mufflers are required at Valley Speedway on Saturday.

Also, Justin Johnson will have fuel for sale both Friday and Saturday at his trailer.

Weld Memorial Friday & Dirty 30 Saturday Highlight Big Border Showdown Weekend For MRA!

By Ray Cunningham

Kansas City: This Friday August 28th, and Saturday August 29th, the Wholesale Batteries USAC MRA Sprint Car Series hosts a border showdown weekend doubleheader not to be missed!

On Friday the 28th the venue will be Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, for the Weld Memorial. A race whose roots go back to 1973 when the Jerry Weld Memorial took place for the first time at the original Lakeside Speedway located at 92nd in Leavenworth road in KCK.

Last time at Lakeside:
The MRA in its first season of competition comes to Lakeside for the second time in 2026 after racing there previously on July 10th. On that night Jack Wagner won the “High Voltage Hustle” over Ricky Lewis, Xavier Doney, Trey Osborne, and Wyatt Burks respectively.

Weld Memorial History at New Lakeside:
This will be the seventh year in a row that the new Lakeside (just up the road from the original site) will host the Modern Weld Memorial. Which honors besides Jerry, his brothers Greg, Kenny, Ricky, and father Taylor “Pappy” Weld, all now deceased since the Jerry Weld Memorial started 53 years ago. Since 2020, Wyatt Burks has won the Weld Memorial three times (2020, 2022, 2023) with Jack Wagner winning in 2021, Cody Baker in 2024, and Samuel Wagner in 2025.

On Saturday the 29th the MRA travels across the state line over to Grain Valley, Missouri, to race at Valley Speedway in the Dirty 30.

Valley Speedway in 2026 with the MRA:
The MRA comes to Grain Valley for the
fifth time in 2026, and later will conclude their season there on Saturday September 26th for the Ninth Annual Helm Memorial. This season racing at Valley, Wesley Smith on May 23rd, Jack Wagner on June 19th, and Tom Curran on
June 20th have all found victory lane. While the last trip for the MRA at Valley on July 11th was won by Ricky Lewis over Jack Wagner, Samuel Wagner, Trey Osborne, and Luke Howard respectively.

Championship point standings with three races to go:
The Wholesale Batteries USAC MRA point standings are led by Jack Wagner with only three races left. Wagner leads Chase Howard in second, and Wyatt Burks in third. While rounding out the top twelve are Samuel Wagner, Braydon Cromwell, Dakota Earls, Luke Howard, Jake Kouba, Justin Johnson, Tyler Burton, Junior Parkinson, and Jared McCarty.

Join us this Friday night August 28th, at Lakeside Speedway for the Weld Memorial. And this Saturday night August 29th at Valley
Speedway for the Dirty 30. Modern photos courtesy of John Lee High Fly'N Photos

USAC Racing
Wholesale Batteries, Inc.
High Fly'N Photos www.highfly-nphotos.com
Country Kids Day Care of Olathe
FloRacing
Lakeside Speedway
Valley Speedway

With the Weld Memorial being this Friday, we thought it’d be a perfect time to sit down with Linda Weld to discuss the Weld family's racing endeavors, Country Kids Day Care of Olathe, and much more.

Full Interview 👇

Linda Weld Interview | USAC MRA Sprint Car Series Mitchell Moore sits down with Linda Weld to talk about her family, ...

Don’t Forget!

The final 3 events of 2026 are streamed live, exclusively on FloRacing. Additionally, every Wholesale Batteries, Inc. USAC MRA Sprint Car Series broadcast replay is available on-demand as well.

Weld Memorial This Friday Night at Lakeside Speedway!

By Ray Cunningham

Kansas City, Ks: This Friday Night, August 28th, The Wholesale Batteries, USAC MRA Sprint Car Series proudly continues on the history, and the tradition, of the Weld Memorial at Lakeside Speedway, in KCK sponsored by Country Kids Day Care.

53 years ago at the old Lakeside Stadium, the first Weld Memorial was held to honor the racing legacy of Jerry Weld who tragically passed away at age 33 after being hit by a car.

Jerry was a top jalopy, super modified, and sprint car, racing star in the 1950’s and 1960s. And was the oldest of Taylor “Pappy” Weld and his wife Ella’s six children, (which included boys ,Jerry, Greg, Kenny, and Ricky, as well as girls Dee and Mary Jo).

Jerry “Butch” Weld was also like his father, and brothers, a very mechanically gifted individual.Revolutionizing a jalopy stocker that was nicknamed the “Flying Suitcase”. The oldest Weld sibling would also promote races around the Kansas City area.

Next in line to race was Greg Weld, who by 1963 at the age of 19 would take super modified racing by storm winning the Knoxville
Nationals, and the track title there in his own designed roadster super modified.

Weld would later become one of the top drivers in USAC open wheel racing in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Winning the USAC Sprint title in 1967 after being runner up in the division in 1965 at age 21. Greg would race in the Indy 500 in 1970, as well as being the founder and operator of Weld Wheels for many years during and after his career as a racer.

Brother Kenny Weld came on the racing scene shortly after his brother Greg. Kenny would win back to back Knoxville Nationals in 1964-65. Driving for father Pappy. Kenny would also win back to back Knoxville Nationals titles in 1972-73. While designing and building significant racing machines like his older brothers. Including his own roadster sprint, and a modified nicknamed the Bat Mobile. That was so dominant in its maiden voyage, it was banned for further competition.

The final racing Weld brother was Ricky, who started his career in racing in the 1970’s driving for his father Pappy in the iconic super modified known as the tank. Ricky would have a successful career in supers and sprints like his older siblings. While winning more races for his dad than any of the rest.

Greg Weld would promote the Jerry Weld Memorial in 1973 at Lakeside. Ironically he had mechanical issues while leading, giving the win, and the title of being the first Jerry Weld Memorial victor to his brother Kenny.

Over the years the Jerry Weld Memorial would become the Weld Memorial after his father Pappy passed in 1983. Followed by Kenny in 1997, and Greg and Ricky in 2008. Kenny, Greg, and Ricky, were all battling cancer at the time of their deaths.

In 2020 the modern Weld Memorial was brought to the new Lakeside Speedway (just down the road from the original location). With winners that have included Wyatt Burks in 2020, 2022, and 2023 in the Rumsey Special 11w. Jack Wagner in 2021 driving the Jesse Hockett Racing 77. Cody Baker driving for grandpa Ted Hall in 2024. And Samuel Wagner racing the Wagner Boys Racing 75 in 2025.

Join us this Friday August 28th for the Weld Memorial honoring a great Kansas City racing family at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.

USAC Racing
Wholesale Batteries, Inc.
High Fly'N Photos www.highfly-nphotos.com

30 Laps For Glory 👑

This Saturday, August 29th, the Wholesale Batteries, Inc. USAC MRA Sprint Car Series returns for its penultimate appearance at Valley Speedway. $2000 to win, $300 to start.

Pits Open: 3pm
Gates Open: 5pm
Hot Laps: 5:30pm
Racing: 6pm

Get Your Tickets Here 👇
https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/2785/tickets/1496253

Midwest Sprint Racing - Non-Wing Sprint Cars | Midwest Sprint Racing Join Midwest Sprint Racing for thrilling non-wing sprint car events, racer profiles, live results, and community news that fuel your passion for sprint car racing.

🚨 Sponsor Spotlight 🚨

In today’s Sponsor Spotlight, we’re proud to recognize a business that gives back to both local families and the racing community — Country Kids Day Care of Olathe.

Not only has Country Kids Day Care added extra money to the Weld Memorial purse, but they've also awarded an extra $100 to the "Hard Charger" at each and every MRA event.

Our Mission
At Country Kids, our mission is to provide quality child care and early education services in an environment that is warm and nurturing so that it enhances our children’s positive sense of themselves and provides optimal learning opportunities to enable our children to grow socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

Our History
For three decades, Country Kids Day Care has offered a unique child care program in a relaxed and home-like environment, which includes a wonderful exposure to the outdoors. In 1996, as a working mother of three, Linda Weld changed the course of her career to pursue making a real difference in the lives of children needing out of home care. In December of that year, Country Kids Day Care opened its doors in Lenexa, Kansas and began serving families in the area.

As her children got older, they too began to take active roles in running the center. In 2016 they decided, as a family, to grow Country Kids and open a second location. After two years of hard work, they opened their second location in Olathe, Kansas. Linda and all three children – Jeremy, Jamie, and Danny – are all actively involved and on-site each day working with an outstanding team to make Country Kids the best and most unique childcare program in the area.

Thank you Linda Weld and Country Kids Day Care!

History Continues!

On Friday, August 28th, the Wholesale Batteries, Inc. USAC MRA Sprint Car Series returns to Lakeside Speedway for the famed Weld Memorial presented by Country Kids Day Care of Olathe. $2500 to win and $350 to start!

Pits Open: 5pm
Grandstands Open: 6pm
Hot Laps: 7pm
Racing: 7:30pm

General Admission
Adult (16+): $20
Military and Seniors (62+): $15
Juniors (12-15): $5
Under 12: FREE