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BC39
BC39 Features Exciting, Four-Night Event Format at The Dirt Track at IMS

September 26, 2023 | By Indianapolis Motor Speedway

A new format expanded across four nights at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will welcome competitors to the fifth running of the Driven2SaveLives BC39 featuring the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship on Sept. 27-30.

The competition to make the field for the event has proven to be intense with only 24 starting spots available for the final night’s $20,039-to-win main event Saturday, Sept. 30 at the action-packed quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The 39-lap feature race honors late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign.

Let’s take a look at the format.

Wednesday, Sept. 27

  • Wednesday's program will feature all cars on the track for practice.
  • The Stoops Pursuit race on Wednesday night is a 25-lap race split into five-lap segments. The field consists of a total of 24 starters. The top-10 drivers in USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship points are locked into the event, as are the 10 fastest during Wednesday night’s practice not already locked in. Up to four promoter’s options will be available to start the event.
  • The Stoops Pursuit starting lineup is inverted by fastest hot lap time, with promoter’s options starting at the rear. Any car involved in a caution is eliminated. Every five laps, a competition yellow flag will be displayed, and cars with a net loss in position will be called to exit the track.
  • A checkered flag ends the final segment, with the winner earning $1,500 plus $100 for each position gained. All race participants will receive a free right rear tire, courtesy of Hoosier.

Thursday-Friday, Sept. 28-29

  • The field will be split for Thursday and Friday’s racing program, with half the field competing Thursday and the other half competing Friday.
  • Thursday and Friday night will both feature a full program of racing consisting of eight-lap heat races and 10-lap qualifying races, followed by a 10-lap C-main (if needed), a 12-lap semi-feature and a 30-lap feature race paying $5,000 to win.
  • Points for the heats will be accumulated by finishing position and total number of positions advanced. Cars will be positioned into qualifying races based on the passing points accumulated in the heats.
  • Total points from the heat races and qualifying races will be added to set the starting lineups for the prelim main events Thursday and Friday. The top-16 overall in accumulated points will start straight up in the first eight rows of Thursday and Friday’s A-Main feature.
  • The top-three feature finishers from each night’s prelim will be locked into Saturday’s feature. Prelim night finishers 4-17 will be eligible for one of two semi-features on Saturday night. Prelim night feature finishers 18-22, plus finishers 7-15 in the semi-feature, will start in Saturday’s C-Main. Prelim night semi-feature finishers of 16th or lower will start in Saturday’s D-Main.

Saturday, Sept. 30

  • Hot laps and main events only will take place Saturday night.
  • E-Main (if needed): 10 laps, top four transfer (two to each D-Main)
  • Two D-Mains: 10 laps, top four transfer to the C-Main
  • Two C-Mains: 12 laps, top four transfer to the semi-feature
  • Two Semi-Features: 12 laps, top four transfer to the feature
  • Last Chance Race: 15 laps, top eight transfer to the feature
  • The 39-lap feature will have 22 starters, plus two USAC provisional starters (if applicable) and two IMS options.

Public gates open at 4 p.m. each of the four days. On-track action starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, with the Stoops Pursuit set for 9 p.m. Cars will be on track starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with opening ceremonies for BC39 Feature Night at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and pit passes or for more information.

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