The nation''s top wingless Sprint Car drivers will converge for six consecutive nights of O''Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT action atop five different tracks throughout Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas in August as the series celebrates its Fourth Annual Midwest Swing.

A pair of Northern California natives, both from winged racing backgrounds, proved to be the cream of the crop over the course of the week with Rocklin's Robert Ballou and Campbell's Tim Kaeding tying for championship honors on the Third Annual O'Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing.

Pictured: The four-wide salute led by TNT co-champions Robert Ballou (81) and Tim Kaeding (10k) along with Jesse Hockett (75) and Brady Short (2b).

Ballou posted his third consecutive series win of the week in front of Tim Kaeding, Jesse Hockett, Hunter Schuerenberg and Don Droud, Jr.

With the triumph, Ballou earned a share of the Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing championship, as he and Kaeding were declared co-champions after tying for the points lead.

Ballou powered by Brady Short for the lead on the eighth round and cruised the rest of the 25-lap distance unchallenged, with Short, 16th-starter Tim Kaeding and Jesse Hockett claiming the four lock-in positions to Saturday's TNT Midwest Swing finale.

Action for Saturday night's Ron Shuman Classic fires off at 7:30 p.m.

After starting tenth, Ballou charged past early pacesetter Tim Kaeding for the lead on the fifth lap and raced to the checkered flag in front of Bud Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, Jesse Hockett and Chris Windom.

The Third Annual O''Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing wraps up with two nights of action at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS, on Friday and Saturday, with Saturday''s Ron Shuman Classic offering up a $10,000 winner''s share.

Windom led a charge of three teen aged shoes among the top four finishers, with 16-year-old Cole Whitt finishing a close third behind fellow California racer Kaeding and then 18-year-old Robert Ballou of Rocklin, CA, in fourth. Defending Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing champion Jesse Hockett of Warsaw, MO, rounded out the top five.

The third leg of the Third Annual O''Reilly Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing takes place at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK, on Thursday night.

Darland wrestled the lead away from Kaeding on the 23rd lap and, after battling for the point over the final rounds, Darland took the checkered flag with a miniscule 0.052-second advantage over Kaeding to give the Trucker's 24-Hour Road Service No. 10 entry its first triumph in Sprint Bandits TNT action.

But Mother Nature had other plans in store. Sprinkles that began at 7:30 p.m. soon blossomed into a torrential downpour that forced the cancellation of the blockbuster event. With no suitable raindate available, the event will not be made up.

Ticket holders may obtain refunds by mailing their tickets along with name and mailing address to McTwo Promotions, P.O. Box 185, Altoona IA 50009.

Monday night winner Jesse Hockett paced the opening 24 rounds, with Jones and Mike Brecht shadowing his every move along the way. But the slightest of hesitations in lapped traffic on the 25th lap was just the opening Jones was looking for.

After snaring last lap victories from Roger Rager in both heat and qualifying race action, Hockett found himself chasing the cagey veteran once again in the "A" Main. But when Rager slipped high in turn four on the 12th circuit, "The Rocket" raced into the lead and never surrendered the point aboard the Wesmar-powered VKCC Motorsports No. 75 DRC.

Hockett, currently ranked third in O''Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National points and tied for the lead in the Rookie of the Year chase, edged Robinson, IL, racer Mat Neely for the title by just a dozen points. Neely was the only other driver to finish among the top ten in all five feature events.