A big weekend for a local talent

Daron Clayton of Sikeston cut his teeth on dirt-track racing at local tracks in Benton and Farmington, and now he's making a lot of noise on a national level -- especially after the weekend.

Clayton dominated one of sprint-car racing's most recognized events, the 36th annual Tony Hulman Classic in Terre Haute, Ind., over the weekend. About 24 hours earlier, he won the opening-night events, too, although by a closer margin.

A Terre Haute Tribune-Star reporter wrote this week that Clayton's effort Saturday was "flawless" and heaped praise on the 22-year-old as one of sprint racing's fast-rising stars.

From the Tribune Star story:

A virtual unknown to casual USAC followers, the 22-year-old Clayton is just one of a select group of talented newcomers to the open-wheel scene, leaving their mark in the sprinters.

It was his Saturday night win that placed him in the record books as a prestigous Hulman Classic victor but it was his drive 24 hours earlier that had the sizable and apreciative fan turnout buzzing.

His battle with sprint car racing’s hottest driver —- Jon Stanbrough -— during Friday's 20-lap feature generated some the finest if not best racing of the season on the half-mile dirt oval.

Another Sikeston racer, Hunter Scheurenberg, had a strong weekend in the works after winning his heat race for the event. He finished 13th in the Hulman Classic behind Clayton.