Stevei Reeves

Two-time USAC National Midget Champion and former NASCAR Busch Series driver Stevie Reeves will returned to the Indy Racing Northern Light Series for the first time in two years, driving for Logan Racing in the Midas 500 Classic on July 15.

Reeves, 33, an Indianapolis native who lives in Huntersville, N.C., will drive the Logan Racing Special Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It will be his second Indy Racing start. He placed 10th in July 1998 at Charlotte, N.C., in a Pagan Racing entry in his debut.

"I grew up about three blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Reeves said. "My lifelong goal is to run the Indy 500. I've wanted to run Indy cars my whole life, and I want it more than ever."

Reeves earned this chance with Logan Racing - a new team this season - through his driving ability and longtime friendship with Jeff Collins, the team's new chief mechanic. Collins recommended Reeves to team owner Dr. Jim Logan, a St. Louis chiropractor who is the only African-American team owner in the Northern Light Series.

Team officials called Reeves on Sunday at Loudon, N.H., where he attended a NASCAR Winston Cup race. The deal was done by Monday.

Maybe it was just coincidence, but the timing of Logan Racing's call to Reeves was perfect. His desire to return to the Northern Light Series grew stronger than ever after he watched the thrilling Casino Magic 500 on June 11 at Texas Motor Speedway. Scott Sharp won by a series-record 59-thousandths of a second in a race that had 31 lead changes, also a series record.

"I watched that Texas race, and I was chomping at the bit," Reeves said. "I wanted to be there so bad. That looked like so much fun."

Reeves drove a 1999 Dallara chassis at Atlanta, which he admits was a bit of an aerodynamic handicap. But he raced often on the 1.54-mile oval at AMS in the Busch Series, and he passed his Indy Racing League rookie test at the track in 1998.

"I've run a lot of races at Atlanta, so I know the track," Reeves said. "That helps remove one of the variables."

While this was Reeves' first Indy Racing start since 1998, he has stayed busy in racing. This year he has driven two races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and competed in a USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series race. He also has served as a spotter for NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Steve Park and spotted for Robby Gordon on May 28 in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 Winston Cup race at Charlotte.

NOTE: Some information was provided by Paul Kelly of indyracing.com