ROCKFORD, Ill. (Sept. 10, 2002) - The $36,000 purse posted for the Sept. 21-22 National Short Track Championships at the Rockford Speedway will likely be the largest purse ever paid for a Planet Pages Midwest AllStar Racing Series late model event.

The series got its start in 1999 with purses paying $10,000. Those numbers have risen each season, but only two prior evers have actually paid out over $30,000.

At Rockford each Sunday 150-lap feature will pay $2,537 to the winner on the banked quarter-mile track. The race will have an open concept and drivers do not have to be members of the series in order to compete.

"We want this race to be open to every template type car in the Midwest and we've also worked this out to be a Planet Pages MARS point race at the same time. It should be a great format for our fans. We're returning to the format that made this a great weekend," track manage Jack Deery said. Among the changes back to the old format includes a four lap average for qualifying.

NASCAR regional late models, Planet Pages Mid-American stock cars and super trucks will also compete during the week. The regional late models will compete in twin 100-lap features Sundays while the Mid-American stock cars and super trucks are each scheduled to compete in 50-lap features Saturday night along with a multitude of preliminary races.

Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday. Call the track for ticket information at 815-633-1500. Camping is offered on the track grounds for the weekend.