PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series is running full throttle at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Du Quoin, Ill., with tight racing and an impressive lineup of Pro and Pro-Am riders highlighting the on-track action in the Steve Nace Racing-promoted series.

“We’re having a great series with competitive racing across the board, in both motorcycle and ATV competition. These riders don’t slow down when the outside temperatures drop,” said promoter Steve Nace. “There’s a lot of exciting short-track and TT racing on the schedule through late February — not to mention an indoor, heated facility to keep the fans nice and warm — so come on out and catch some racing.”

One of the tighter championship races is in the 250cc Modified class, where just 1 point separates class leader Kolby Carlile from Canandaigua, N.Y., and Jeffery Lowery from St. Louisville, Ohio. Carlile, who has performed better in the short-track events, has three wins to Lowery’s two.

Lowery, however, leads the points in the 251-500cc DTX class and 450 Mod class, where Carlile is fourth in the points.

The Vet riders are also heating up the track. Shawn Granderson from Chandler, Ind., leads the Vet 30+ class and the Senior 40+ class, where Tim Trowbridge from Eau Claire, Mich., sits second in points. James Dean Faulkner from Simpson, Ill., with one short-track win, is keeping Granderson honest in the Vet 30+ class, while Trowbridge currently leads the points chase in the 50+ class.

The fastest racing on the track is the Open Pro-Am competition, which has included current dirt-track and roadracing stars, including JD Beach from Philpot, Ky.; Hayden Gillim from Philpot, Ky.; Chad Cose from Freemont, Calif.; JR Addison from Bucyrus, Ohio; and Jeffrey Carver from Alton, Ill. Addison and Carver are past winners of the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award, presented to the amateur dirt-track racer poised for success in the pro ranks. Gillim has won the AMA Roadrace Horizon Award.

All racing takes place at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds’ Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Ill. Gates open at 2 p.m., with practice beginning at 5 p.m. A pit pass is $15, while children 5 years old and younger get in free. Friday night practice is available from 6-9 p.m. for $25.

Remaining rounds are Dec. 8, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Jan. 12, Feb. 9 and Feb. 23. The Dec. 29 round is short-track competition only. The other rounds feature both short-track and TT racing.

For more information about the AMA Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series, call Steve Nace Racing Productions at (270) 442-7532 or see www.stevenaceracing.com.