Archive for Midgets
Thunder on the Hill Racing Series
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Thunder on the Hill
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July 18, 2019
CONTACT: BOB MILLER 43 513 4456
THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES
NAPA AUTO PARTS THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES CONTINUES WITH USAC NATIONAL MIDGETS & NASCAR MODIFIEDS TUESDAY NIGHT, JULY 30
CHRISTOPHER BELL, JERRY COONS JR., CHAD BOAT & TYLER COURTNEY PART OF USAC MIDGET ROSTER HEADING TO GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
BECHTELSVILLE, PA JULY 18, 2019 . . . . . . . . . . .A big night of racing, filled with national stars and local favorites is planned for the Grandview Speedway on Tuesday night, July 30 when the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series presents the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series and the NASCAR 358 Modifieds in a spectacular double-header. USAC stars already pre-entered include Christopher Bell, Jerry Coons Jr., Chad Boat and Tyler “Sunshine” Courtney as they chase a $3,500 winners’ share in the 30 lap Ken Brenn Midget Masters.
The one-third mile high banked Grandview Speedway has a rich history in presenting some of the best midget racing in the country and Tuesday night, July 30 will mark a historic return of the midgets to the track on the hill. Modified favorites expected to be in the house include Jeff Strunk, Duane Howard, Craig VonDohren, Ryan Watt and Brett Kressley as they chase $3,000 to win the 30 lap Modified feature event. Gates open at 5 PM with race time set for 7:30 PM.
Christopher Bell of Norman, OK is in the field and he’s no stranger to Grandview after winning the July 2 410 Sprint Speedweek show collecting $10,000. Bell is the 2017 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series titlist and a two time winner of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at California’s Ventura Raceway. The twenty-five year old sensation owns twenty-three USAC National Midget victories.
All the way from Phoenix, Arizona, Chad Boat is also heading east for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Pennsylvania Midget Week. Boat has three midget wins in Pennsylvania over the past two years winning at Path Valley, Linda’s Speedway and BAPS Motor Speedway.
Popular USAC driver Jerry Coons, Jr. from Tucson, AZ is a two-time USAC National Midget Champion (2006-2007) and owns nineteen USAC National Midget wins. Coons is one of six drivers that are USAC Triple Crown winners , having won Silver Crown, National Sprint and National Midget titles in his career.
Tyler Courtney of Indianapolis, IN is the current NOS Energy Drink National Midget point leader and won six time in the first sixteen races this season. Nicknamed “Sunshine”, he is still looking for his first USAC Midget victory in Pennsylvania. Courtney did win a USAC sprint car feature this season at the Port Royal Speedway.
The 358 Modifieds will play an equally important part of this event with qualifying and a 30 lap feature that will $3,000 to the winner. Jeff Strunk is hot off a Thunder on the Hill victory and he’ll be challenged by Ryan Watt, the winner of the opening Thunder on the Hill modified event in June. Other expected entries include Rick Laubach, Doug Manmiller, Billy Pauch Jr., Kevin Hirthler, Jared Umbenhauer and many more.
The Tuesday night, July 30 Ken Brenn Midget Masters and 358 NASCAR Modified double-header will get underway at 7:30 PM with gates opening at 5 PM. Low, Down & Dirty is already hard at work planning the pre-race Meet and Greet.
Be sure to plan and attend the first return of the USAC National Midgets to Grandview in thirty years.
Advance tickets may be ordered by calling 443-513-4456. Please speak your name clearly and leave the number of tickets you needed. Tickets may be paid for and picked up on race night at the WILL CALL window after 3:30 PM. Advance ticket holders may enter the grandstands at 4:30 PM, one-half hour prior to General Admission tickets going on sale at 5 PM. General admission tickets are $28 for adults, $10 for children 6 to 11 and kids 5 and under will be admitted for free. The pit fee is $35 and a license is not required.
Grandview Speedway Contact Information
GPS USERS: 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505
Located less than a mile off Route 100, 10 miles north of Pottstown, PA
Speedway Phone: 610-754-7688
Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Phone: 443-513-4456
Series Website: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com
Track Website: www.grandviewspeedway.com
Twitter/Instagram: @TOTHRACING
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thunderonthehill
About Thunder on the Hill Racing Series
The brainchild of Grandview Speedway owner Bruce Rogers, special events promoter Bob Miller and local driving star Dave Kelly, the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series celebrates 30 years of the most anticipated events of the racing calendar year after year. In 134 events, over $4.6 million dollars has been divvied up among the area's fastest racers. What started as a single 410 Sprint Car event in 1990 has blossomed to feature a variety of racing action including 358 Modifieds, USAC Wingless Sprints, All-Star Circuit of Champions, 360 & 410 Sprint Cars, Sportsman, Late Models, Midgets, Legend Cars, DIRTcar and ROC Modified events. The 2019 30th Anniversary Series of Thunder on the Hill is dedicated to Bruce Rogers.
About Grandview Speedway
Grandview Speedway is a high-banked one-third mile clay oval, celebrating their 57th Anniversary season in 2019. The facility offers free parking, quality food at reasonable prices (be sure to try the french fries), a program book, Grandview Speedway and Thunder on the Hill race wear and great viewing from every seat in the house. Race fans may take part in the Inside/Out promotion, where you can sign up (no charge) to watch warm-ups from inside turn four. Race fans are also invited to victory lane following the racing program and, race fans may enter the pits after the races to meet the drivers. Be ready to enjoy the spine-tingling fireworks salute on the feature event parade lap.
Thunder on the Hill
Posted by: | CommentsThunder on the Hill
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JULY 16, 2019
CONTACT: BOB MILLER 43 513 4456
THUNDER ON THE HILL RACING SERIES
USAC MIDGETS HEAD TO GRANDVIEW, JOIN 358 MODIFIEDS IN NAPA AUTO PARTS THUNDER ON THE HILL EVENT TUESDAY NIGHT, JULY 30
BECHTELSVILLE, PA JULY 16, 2019 . . . . . The stars of USAC will return to the East, this time taking part in the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series that will open at the Grandview Speedway on Tuesday night, July 30. The USAC Midgets will share the program with the 358 NASCAR Modifieds in the third event of the 2019 NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series. The USAC National Midget event at Grandview will be the Ken Brenn Midget Masters going 30 laps and paying $3,500 to the winner. Gates open at 5 PM with race time set for 7:30 PM.
The Ken Brenn Midget Masters is dedicated to Ken Brenn Sr., a winning Open-Wheel and Dirt-Track Modified Stock-Car Racing car owner for some 30 years (1954-1983) whose accomplishments on the track were accompanied by an unblemished record of integrity and professionalism. And win or lose the resident of Warren, New Jersey, always presented a first-class effort and treated everyone with gentlemanly courtesy and respect.
Brenn’s stellar Midget history shows a long association (1954-1972) with the old American Racing Driver’s Club and that relationship includes holding every office in the organization, including being a two-time (1969-1970) ARDC president. Plus, he was also a five-time ARDC Champion Car Owner (1963-1964, 1968-1969 and 1971) and listed on the ARDC's Honor Roll as a Lifetime Member.
But Brenn – who also did some Midget and Modified Stock-Car promoting – didn’t just race with ARDC as he provided rides for over 150 top drivers who competed in: the Indianapolis 500; USAC Championship Dirt Car, Sprint Car and Midget Racing; NASCAR’s old Midget Division; and, the highly-competitive Pennsylvania-New Jersey and DIRT Motorsports Modified Stock-Car Series.
Brenn was also a leader in making auto racing as safer sport as his efforts in this area saw him: design a universally-accepted roll bar for Midgets in 1958; have the first USAC Sprint Car to ever use a roll cage in 1966; and, be instrumental in making roll cages – and shoulder harnesses – mandatory for ARDC in 1970.
“I consider Ken a close friend, someone I have known for years but further secured our relationship through the Dirt Track Heroes Car Show at the Phillipsburg Mall over the past ten years”, commented Bob Miller who with the Rogers Family, promotes the Thunder on the Hill Racing events. “I remember when Mr. Brenn promoted midget races here at Grandview, he was always very professional, a great asset to the sport”, added Theresa Rogers.
And he continues to be regarded by the racing community as one of its finest representatives.
Christopher Bell, hot off a $10,000 win at Grandview on Tuesday, July 2 in a 410 sprint car is planning to compete in the Ken Brenn Midget Masters 30 along with Tyler “Sunshine” Courtney, Chris Windom, Kevin Thomas, Jr, Zeb Wise, Chad Boat, Tanner Carrick, Jerry Coons Jr. and C.J. Leary just to name a few. Time trials and qualifying events will lead up to the Ken Brenn Midget Masters 30 lap feature event paying $3,500 to the winner.
The 358 Modifieds will play an equally important part of this event with qualifying and a 30 lap feature that will $3,000 to the winner. Jeff Strunk is hot off a Thunder on the Hill victory and he’ll be challenged by Ryan Watt, the winner of the opening Thunder on the Hill modified event in June. Other expected entries include Brett Kressley, Duane Howard, Craig VonDohren, Rick Laubach, Doug Manmiller, Billy Pauch Jr., Kevin Hirthler, Jared Umbenhauer and many more.
The Tuesday night, July 30 Ken Brenn Midget Masters and 358 NASCAR Modified double-header will get underway at 7:30 PM with gates opening at 5 PM. Low, Down & Dirty is already hard at work planning the pre-race Meet and Greet.
Be sure to plan and attend the first return of the USAC National Midgets to Grandview in thirty years.
Advance tickets may be ordered by calling 443-513-4456. Please speak your name clearly and leave the number of tickets you needed. Tickets may be paid for and picked up on race night at the WILL CALL window after 3:30 PM. Advance ticket holders may enter the grandstands at 4:30 PM, one-half hour prior to General Admission tickets going on sale at 5 PM.
Grandview Speedway Contact Information
GPS USERS: 43 Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505
Located less than a mile off Route 100, 10 miles north of Pottstown, PA
Speedway Phone: 610-754-7688
Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Phone: 443-513-4456
Series Website: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com
Track Website: www.grandviewspeedway.com
Twitter/Instagram: @TOTHRACING
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thunderonthehill
About Thunder on the Hill Racing Series
The brainchild of Grandview Speedway owner Bruce Rogers, special events promoter Bob Miller and local driving star Dave Kelly, the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series celebrates 30 years of the most anticipated events of the racing calendar year after year. In 134 events, over $4.6 million dollars has been divvied up among the area's fastest racers. What started as a single 410 Sprint Car event in 1990 has blossomed to feature a variety of racing action including 358 Modifieds, USAC Wingless Sprints, All-Star Circuit of Champions, 360 & 410 Sprint Cars, Sportsman, Late Models, Midgets, Legend Cars, DIRTcar and ROC Modified events. The 2019 30th Anniversary Series of Thunder on the Hill is dedicated to Bruce Rogers.
About Grandview Speedway
Grandview Speedway is a high-banked one-third mile clay oval, celebrating their 57th Anniversary season in 2019. The facility offers free parking, quality food at reasonable prices (be sure to try the french fries), a program book, Grandview Speedway and Thunder on the Hill race wear and great viewing from every seat in the house. Race fans may take part in the Inside/Out promotion, where you can sign up (no charge) to watch warm-ups from inside turn four. Race fans are also invited to victory lane following the racing program and, race fans may enter the pits after the races to meet the drivers. Be ready to enjoy the spine-tingling fireworks salute on the feature event parade lap.
COLWELL CASHES IN FOR FIRST MIDGET WIN AT HUMBOLDT
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POWRi Racing
Winner Jesse Colwell (Jessica Edmiston Photography Photo)
COLWELL CASHES IN FOR FIRST MIDGET WIN AT HUMBOLDT
HUMBOLDT, KANS. (July 14, 2019) - Another first-time winner made the trip to victory lane on Sunday night at Humboldt Speedway with Jesse Colwell of Red Bluff, Calif. topping the
POWRi Lucas Oil National / West Midget League feature. Inheriting the lead after Zach Daum flipped on lap 25, Colwell controlled the final five laps and drove the Keith Kunz Motorsports, JBL Audio, Bullet/Toyota No. 71 to his first-career triumph.
Earning PAC Racing Springs High Point Man honors with a fifth-to-second heat race, Zach Daum of Pocahontas, Ill. paced the field aboard his Daum Motorsports, Bullet/Toyota No. 5D. Jonathan Beason of Broken Arrow, Okla. was slated to start on his outside, but trouble during the pace laps sent him to the work area and back to the tail, giving Blake Edwards of Claremore, Okla. the outside pole.
The initial green flag was short lived as a lap one caution involving Luke Howard, Devin Simmons, Cannon McIntosh and Holley Hollan, sent McIntosh and Hollan to the work area, with only Hollan returning to the track.
Driving away from the field, Daum immediately began to distance himself as a long-run was established. Building a 3-second lead by lap ten, Daum grew his advantage further as he galloped into lap traffic near the halfway mark. While Daum was checked out in front, both Hollan and Beason were crafting stellar charges into the top ten from the rear, and Jesse Colwell and Jake Neuman began tracking down Daison Pursley for the second spot.
Hitting the ten to go mark, Daum continued to stretch his lead while the battle for second heated up, as Colwell and Pursley went slider-for-slider with the runner-up position up for grabs. After swapping the spot back-and-forth for almost four laps, Colwell assumed the advantage and moved into second just before catastrophe struck.
Running away in lap traffic with five to go, tragedy struck for Zach Daum in a big way. Hauling down the front stretch, his Toyota Racing powerplant suddenly locked-up and shot the No. 5D dead right into the wall. What ensued was a violent series of end-over-end flips before he came to a rest at the entry to turn one. The scary moment concluded when a flame emerged and his machine caught on fire, but Daum was able to escape the wreckage and quickly climbed out of the car under his own power to the roar of the thankful crowd.
Inheriting the race lead following Daum's rough misfortune, Colwell led the field back to green and controlled the final restart with ease. The Red Bluff, Calif. native pulled away to lead the last five laps and earn his first-career POWRi Lucas Oil National / West Midget League victory aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports, JBL Audio, Bullet/Toyota No. 71.
Following Colwell to the line and earning his own career-best finish was 14-year old Daison Pursley of Locust Grove, Okla. with a second-place finish in the Keith Kunz Motorsports, Toyota Racing No. 9. Rounding out the podium with a strong 12th-to-third charge was Jake Neuman of New Berlin, Ill. in the Jim Neuman Racing, BRANDT, BOSS/SR-11 No. 3N.
Closing out the top five was Jonathan Beason with a magnificent recovery to finish fourth after going tail back, and Holley Hollan scoring fifth with her own impressive rebound after heading to the rear of the field. Behind them was Andrew Felker in sixth, Ace McCarthy in seventh, Trey Marcham in eighth, Chance Morton in ninth and Luke Howard in tenth.
The POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League will enjoy some downtime next weekend before coming back to life on Friday, July 26 at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill. and Saturday, July 27 at Macon Speedway in Macon, Ill.
For more information on POWRi Racing, you can visit www.powri.com online, follow @POWRi_Racing on Twitter and Instagram, or like POWRi on Facebook.
Auto Meter Heat One (8 Laps):
1. 7-Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK (2); 2. 9-Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK (4); 3. 71-Jesse Colwell, Red Bluff, CA (5); 4. 3N-Jake Neuman, New Berlin, IL (1); 5. 20G-Noah Gass, Mounds, OK (3); 6. 32-Trey Marcham, Oklahoma City, OK (8); 7. 2H-Luke Howard, Overland Park, KS (7); 8. 56X-Mark Chisholm, Cheyenne, WY (6).
KSE Racing Products Heat Two (8 Laps):
1. 08-Cannon McIntosh, Bixby, OK (1); 2. 17-Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL (2); 3. 44S-Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO (5); 4. 44-Wesley Smith, Nixa, MO (8); 5. 7M-Chance Morton, Coweta, OK (4); 6. 42-Hank Davis, Sand Springs, OK (6); 7. 6-Merril Lamb, Iola, KS (7); 8. 10J-Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK (3).
Advanced Racing Suspensions Heat Three (8 Laps):
1. 67-Holley Hollan, Broken Arrow, OK (1); 2. 5D-Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL (5); 3. 7X-Blake Edwards, Claremore, OK (6); 4. 15H-Tony Hudlin, Iola, KS (4); 5. 28X-Ace McCarthy, Tahlequah, OK (7); 6. F5-Devin Simmons, Knoxville, IA (2); 7. 15L-Merril Lamb, Colony, KS (3).
POWRi Lucas Oil National / West Midget League Main Event (30 Laps):
1. 71-Jesse Colwell (7); 2. 9-Daison Pursley (3); 3. 3N-Jake Neuman (12); 4. 7-Jonathan Beason (2); 5. 67-Holley Hollan (6); 6. 44S-Andrew Felker (8); 7. 28X-Ace McCarthy (20); 8. 32-Trey Marcham (11); 9. 7M-Chance Morton (13); 10. 2H-Luke Howard. (17); 11. 5D-Zach Daum (1); 12. 20G-Noah Gass (14); 13. 7X-Blake Edwards (4); 14. 56X-Mark Chisholm (19); 15. 42-Hank Davis (15); 16. 17-Austin Brown (9); 17. 44-Wesley Smith (22); 18. 6-Merril Lamb (18); 19. F5-Devin Simmons (16); 20. 08-Cannon McIntosh (5); 21. 15H-Tony Hudlin (10); 22. 15L-Rick Horn (DNS); 23. 10J-Matt Sherrell (DNS).
Lap Leader(s); Daum 1-25; Colwell 26-30.
Hard Charger(s): McCarthy +13.
It’s Sweet, Sweet Springs Victory for Carrick
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The United States Auto Club.
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Tanner Carrick (Lincoln, Calif.) celebrates his first career USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget victory Sunday night at Missouri's Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex.
(Rich Forman Photo)
IT'S SWEET, SWEET SPRINGS VICTORY FOR CARRICK
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Sweet Springs, Missouri (July 14, 2019).........Most times, it seems the only thing predictable in USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget racing is unpredictability. And sometimes when you think you know what's about to transpire, that's when everything turns on its head. At times, literally.
Lincoln, California's Tanner Carrick found that out in Sunday's trip to Missouri's Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex where he became the fourth first-time series winner this year, following Cannon McIntosh, Chris Windom and Jason McDougal. It's the first time the series has produced four first-time winners in a single season since 2008, and it's still only mid-July.
Carrick ran fifth with five laps remaining as point leader and race leader Tyler Courtney and defending champ Logan Seavey waged their battle for the lead. Seavey mustered a big, bold slider for the lead entering turn three. Courtney quickly countered underneath to steal the spot back from Seavey off turn four.
Seavey remained just about three car-lengths back on the following lap until his car got a bit tight on the cushion in between turns three and four, allowing Courtney to open up a roughly eight car-length lead despite catching the lapped car of Brady Bacon in traffic as he worked turns one and two.
Traffic parted the seas for Courtney with a free path on the high side entering turn three. With seemingly everything in check, Courtney snagged the turn three cushion, flipping him over. On Courtney's rebound, second-running Logan Seavey clipped his own right front wheel against Courtney's tail tank, giving terminal damage to Seavey's car and eliminating him from a repeat Sweet Springs victory. Courtney restarted, albeit from the tail and out of contention for his seventh series win of the year.
That slotted Carrick into third on the final restart behind McDougal and Windom. Throughout much of the duration of the 40-lapper, Carrick had been waging in a see-saw slider session behind Courtney and Seavey, battling the likes of McDougal, Windom and Kevin Thomas, Jr., just to name a few, for what, at the time, seemed to be for "best in class" for third as the front two checked out.
On the lap 38 restart, McDougal went topside as Windom headed to the bottom to toss a slider at McDougal. Windom appeared to not have enough mustard on the slide to get up in front of McDougal but was content to fall in line and chase him into the next corner. Before all that could even play out, McDougal's right rear snagged the turn two cushion, turning him to the right and pushing him into the outside wall.
Windom ducked under McDougal to take the lead momentarily heading down the back straightaway. Yet, even lower on the track was Carrick, who used the bottom to pull ahead of Windom at the entrance to turn three. Carrick slid up in front of Windom to the top, while Windom charged to the bottom as Carrick nipped Windom at the stripe by three-quarters of a car length.
"I just wanted to be there at the end," Seavey said. "I saved my stuff. I kind of figured (Windom) was going to try to slide McDougal (on the restart). My only odds were rolling the bottom on the last restart and getting to the lead. and it worked out."
Carrick was on a mission to take away Windom's line and prevent the slider into the first turn as he dove across the nose of Windom to secure the bottom before sliding up to the top in turn two as Windom had the front left wheel kicking up a little dust on the inner berm.
Carrick was meticulous in sliding himself into each corner from bottom to top, leaving Windom and hard-charging Zeb Wise a narrow window of opportunity that Carrick had no intentions of relinquishing.
Carrick, the 2017 series Rookie of the Year in his 54th career start, finished it out with authority for his first career series win. Wise, who returned from an opening lap flip, rode the rim around Windom on the final lap to take second by two car-lengths over Windom, while McDougal fell to fourth and Chad Boat rounded out the top-five after starting 15th.
Tanner Carrick became the fourth first-time series winner this year, following Cannon McIntosh, Chris Windom and Jason McDougal. It's the first time the series has produced four first-time winners in a single season since 2008.
(Rich Forman Photo)
Carrick and his Keith Kunz-Curb-Agajanian/Craftsman - CVC Concrete/Bullet by Spike/Speedway Toyota had been fast of late, entering Sunday night's triumph. Just two weeks ago, Carrick drove to a career-best-equaling third-place result in Joliet, Ill. after establishing a new eight-lap track record during the heat race. He set a new 10-lap track record Friday's heat in Fairbury, Neb., followed by a 7th place feature finish Saturday at Fairbury. The speed has been there, but the results they've been striving for these past three years finally came to fruition.
"It means a lot to me getting a win for (crew members) Big Al (Scroggins), for Ronnie (Gardner), for Keith Kunz, everyone that helps out on the team. We've been really close. I've been really close lately. I could say there's numerous races I should've won but didn't play out my way, but this one did."
Despite the dramatic finish, the feature arrived with inauspicious beginnings initially. The first of two red flags came out on lap one as front row starters Seavey and Andrew Layser banged wheels on the back straightaway, creating a chain reaction of events entering the third turn.
As Layser fought to regain control, McDougal slowed to avoid Layser. In turn, sixth-starting Tanner Thorson ramped over McDougal's left side wheels and flipped. Wise, who started 9th, plowed in and hit Thorson, sending himself flipping as well. Ethan Mitchell was also collected in the mishap. Thorson did not restart and, ultimately, finished 23rd.
Curtis Spicer flipped in turn two on the second lap. Spicer's car went off on the hook and he was finished for the night, taking a 22nd place finish.
Meanwhile, with 25 cars passed throughout the four nights of "Mid-America Midget Week," Jerry Coons, Jr. collected the ProSource Passing Master Award. The two-time series champ started 16th and finished 7th Sunday at Sweet Springs.
Contingency award winners Sunday night at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex were Chris Windom (Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier), Sam Johnson (Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Cole Bodine (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Zeb Wise (AutoMeter/Indy Race Parts Third Heat Winner), Daniel Robinson (KSE Racing Products/ProSource Hard Charger), Joe Boyles (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher) and Jerry Coons, Jr. (ProSource Passing Master Champion).
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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: July 14, 2019 - Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex - Sweet Springs, Missouri - 1/6-Mile Dirt Oval
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING: 1. Chris Windom, 17BC, Clauson/Marshall-11.951 (New Track Record); 2. Tanner Thorson, 98, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.959; 3. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.970; 4. Jason McDougal, 76m, FMR-11.979; 5. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-12.004; 6. Andrew Layser, 47BC, Clauson/Marshall-12.073; 7. Logan Seavey, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.080; 8. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5, Petry-12.081; 9. Zeb Wise, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-12.171; 10. Sam Johnson, 72, Johnson-12.233; 11. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.248; 12. Brady Bacon, 21H, TKH-12.251; 13. Ethan Mitchell, 19m, Bundy Built-12.257; 14. Clinton Boyles, 9, Mounce-12.262; 15. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-12.341; 16. Jerry Coons, Jr., 25, Petry-12.380; 17. Cole Bodine, 35, Petry-12.658; 18. Chad Winfrey, 321, Winfrey-12.830; 19. Curtis Spicer, 4, Spicer-13.120; 20. Joe Boyles, 98B, Boyles-13.212; 21. Chad Frewaldt, 4F, Frewaldt-13.291; 22. Casey Hicks, 5H, Hicks-14.034; 23. Daniel Robinson, 11, Harris-NT; 24. Shaun Shapel, 84s, Shapel-NT; 25. Gunner Ramey, 19s, Mounce-NT.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Sam Johnson, 2. Jerry Coons, Jr., 3. Ethan Mitchell, 4. Jason McDougal, 5. Logan Seavey, 6. Chris Windom, 7. Curtis Spicer, 8. Casey Hicks. NT
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Cole Bodine, 2. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 3. Tyler Courtney, 4. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 5. Tanner Thorson, 6. Daniel Robinson, 7. Joe Boyles, 8. Clinton Boyles. NT
AUTOMETER/INDY RACE PARTS THIRD HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Zeb Wise, 2. Chad Boat, 3. Tanner Carrick, 4. Andrew Layser, 5. Brady Bacon, 6. Chad Winfrey, 7. Chad Frewaldt. 2:10.11
FEATURE: (40 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Tanner Carrick (5), 2. Zeb Wise (9), 3. Chris Windom (7), 4. Jason McDougal (4), 5. Chad Boat (15), 6. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (8), 7. Jerry Coons, Jr. (16), 8. Daniel Robinson (23), 9. Tucker Klaasmeyer (11), 10. Andrew Layser (2), 11. Cole Bodine (17), 12. Tyler Courtney (3), 13. Joe Boyles (20), 14. Chad Frewaldt (21), 15. Casey Hicks (22), 16. Logan Seavey (1), 17. Brady Bacon (12), 18. Chad Winfrey (18), 19. Clinton Boyles (14), 20. Ethan Mitchell (13), 21. Sam Johnson (10), 22. Curtis Spicer (19), 23. Tanner Thorson (6). NT
**Tanner Thorson and Zeb Wise flipped on lap 1 of the feature. Curtis Spicer flipped on lap 2 of the feature. Tyler Courtney flipped on lap 38 of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-2 Andrew Layser, Laps 3-37 Tyler Courtney, Laps 38-40 Tanner Carrick.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS/PROSOURCE HARD CHARGER: Daniel Robinson (23rd to 8th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Joe Boyles
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Tyler Courtney-1086, 2-Chris Windom-999, 3-Logan Seavey-984, 4-Kevin Thomas, Jr.-934, 5-Zeb Wise-917, 6-Chad Boat-879, 7-Jerry Coons, Jr.-813, 8-Tanner Carrick-804, 9-Tucker Klaasmeyer-750, 10-Jason McDougal-726.
FINAL PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Jerry Coons, Jr.-25, 2-Tyler Thomas-23, 3-Chad Boat-21, 4-Zeb Wise-18, 5-Daniel Robinson-15, 6-Chris Windom-12, 7-Jonathan Beason-12, 8-Logan Seavey-11, 9-Tyler Courtney-10, 10-Matt Sherrell-10.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: July 30, 2019 - Grandview Speedway - Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania - "Pennsylvania Midget Week" - 1/3-Mile Dirt Oval
MCCARTHY MAGNIFICENT IN FIRST-CAREER WIN AT VALLEY
Posted by: | Comments- POWRi Racing
Winner Ace McCarthy (POWRi Photo)
MCCARTHY MAGNIFICENT IN FIRST-CAREER WIN AT VALLEY
GRAIN VALLEY, MO. (July 13, 2019) - Winning his first-career POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League feature on Saturday night at Valley Speedway, Ace McCarthy of Tahlequah, Okla. was undeniable in the 30-lap main event. Driving around his teammate, Jake Neuman, on the second circuit, McCarthy then fended off several attacks from young Holley Hollan as he held on for an impressive first-career triumph aboard the Jim Neuman Racing, Two-Eight Drilling, BOSS/SR-11 No. 28.
Sharing PAC Racing Springs High Point Men honors, the Jim Neuman Racing duo of Jake Neuman and Ace McCarthy brought the feature field to life as the green flag dropped. Neuman of New Berlin, Ill., who won Friday's feature, led the opening circuit aboard his Brandt, BOSS/SR-11 No. 3N by a nail-biting 0.008 seconds over McCarthy at the line.
Making his move on Neuman the next time by, McCarthy tossed a slider towards his teammate and received one right back at him in turn three. However, McCarthy was able to cross him up and dive down low to lead the second circuit and gain command of the top spot.
A pair of cautions bunched the field up and put a spotlight on Holley Hollan of Broken Arrow, Okla., as the 17-year old young woman maneuvered her Keith Kunz Motorsports, SIRIUS XM, Bullet/Toyota No. 67 into the second spot from seventh. Restarting with eight laps down, Hollan snuck below McCarthy and made it a side-by-side affair at the stripe, but McCarthy's momentum up top was too strong and he held on.
Coming by on lap 11, Hollan perfected the bottom side of turns three and four and was able to snag the lead as McCarthy's No. 28 was reeled in by the cushion. However, her lead was short-lived, as the caution flew for a three-car pileup, reverting us back to the last completed lap and handing McCarthy control.
Going back to green on the final restart with 12 laps to go, McCarthy caught some breathing room as Hank Davis of Sand Springs, Okla. challenged Hollan for second and held her up. The two briefly exchanged positions before Hollan was able to regain command of the runner-up spot and reasserted her attention to tracking down McCarthy.
Switching to the low side of turns one and two, but remaining committed to the cushion on the opposite end, McCarthy was able to build his advantage in the closing stages as an all-out war for third between Davis, Andrew Felker, Zach Daum, Jake Neuman and Daison Pursley took center stage.
In the end, Ace McCarthy's Jim Neuman Racing, Two-Eight Drilling, BOSS/SR-11 No. 28 was not to be denied, as the Tahlequah, Okla. native broke through to score his first-career POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League victory in the "Thunder in the Valley" finale at Valley Speedway.
Holley Hollan followed him to the line with career-best finish, driving the Keith Kunz Motorsports, SIRIUS XM, BOSS/SR-11 No. 67 from ninth-to-second. Andrew Felker of Carl Junction, Mo. rounded out the podium for the second night in a row, this time driving the Chad Shields Racing, MelMark Pipe & Supply, Ripper/Fontana No. 44S from 11th-to-third.
Rounding out the top ten on Saturday at Valley Speedway was Zach Daum in fourth, Hank Davis in fifth, Trey Marcham in sixth, Jake Neuman in seventh, Daison Pursley in eighth, Cannon McIntosh in ninth and Jesse Colwell in tenth.
The POWRi Lucas Oil National / West Midgets will pair up again tomorrow Sunday, July 14 to conclude the three-day weekend with a trip to Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kansas. For those unable to make it, you can watch LIVE on www.speedshifttv.com.
For more information on POWRi Racing, you can visit www.powri.com online, follow @POWRi_Racing on Twitter and Instagram, or like POWRi on Facebook.
Auto Meter Heat One (8 Laps):
1.9-Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK (2); 2. 5D-Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL (4); 3. 4F-Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS (1); 4. 77W-Joey Wirth, Waterloo, IL (3); 5. 2-AJ Gilbert, Tonganoxie, KS (6); 6. 15L-Merril Lamb, Iola, KS (7); 7. 5H-Casey Hicks, Platte City, MO (5).
KSE Racing Products Heat Two (8 Laps):
1.32-Trey Marcham (3); 2. 3N-Jake Neuman (7); 3. 11-Daniel Robinson, Ewing, IL (2); 4. 2H-Luke Howard, Overland Park, KS (5); 5. 7S-Pat Schudy, Springfield, MO (4); 6. 3H-Wesley Smith, Nixa, MO (6); 7. 60E-Mark Billings, Columbia, MO (1).
Advanced Racing Suspensions Heat Three (8 Laps):
1.67-Holley Hollan, Broken Arrow, OK (2); 2. 08-Cannon McIntosh, Bixby, OK (5); 3. 20G-Noah Gass, Mounds, OK (1); 4. 17-Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL (6); 5. 3-Dustin Gilbert, Tonganoxie, KS (3); 6. 98-Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO (4); 7. 84-Shaun Shapel, Wichita, KS (7).
Schoenfeld Headers Heat Four (8 Laps):
1. 7U-Kyle Jones, Kennedale, TX (4); 2. 28-Ace McCarthy, Tahlequah, OK (7); 3. 44S-Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO (5); 4. 7M-Chance Morton, Coweta, OK (6); 5. 7X-Blake Edwards, Claremore, OK (3); 6. 84M-Kade Morton, Coweta, OK (1); 7. 28X-Mark Chisholm, Cheyenne, WY (2).
Racing Electronics Heat Five (8 Laps):
1.42-Hank Davis, Sand Springs, OK (4); 2. 71-Jesse Colwell, Red Bluff, CA (2); 3. 9X-Clinton Boyles, Greenwood, MO (7); 4. 19S-Trey Gropp, Lincoln, NE (3); 5. 3B-Shelby Bosie, Sherman, IL (1); 6. 321-Chad Winfrey, Gladstone, MO (6); 7. 7MX-Heath Murry, Tonganoxie, KS (5).
Rod End Supply B-Main (12 Laps):
1. 20G-Noah Gass (2); 2. 7X-Blake Edwards (9); 3. 19S-Trey Gropp (4); 4. 77W-Joey Wirth (3); 5. 3B-Shelby Bosie (10); 6. 3H-Wesley Smith (11); 7. 7S-Pat Schudy (6); 8. 7MX-Heath Murry (17); 9. 2-AJ Gilbert (5); 10. 98-Joe Boyles (13); 11. 60E-Mark Billings (19); 12. 3-Dustin Gilbert (8); 13. 15L-Merril Lamb (7); 14. 5H-Casey Hicks (16); 15. 321-Chad Winfrey (12); 16. 28X-Mark Chisholm (18); 17. 84M-Kade Morton (15); 18. 4F-Chad Frewaldt (1); 19. 84-Shaun Shapel (14).
POWRi Lucas Oil National / West Midget League Main Event (30 Laps):
1. 28-Ace McCarthy (2); 2. 67-Holley Hollan (9); 3. 44S-Andrew Felker (11); 4. 5D-Zach Daum (10); 5. 42-Hank Davis (4); 6. 32-Trey Marcham (5); 7. 3N-Jake Neuman (1); 8. 9-Daison Pursley (8); 9. 08-Cannon McIntosh (6); 10. 71-Jesse Colwell (12); 11. 7M-Chance Morton (14); 12. 3B-Shelby Bosie (21); 13. 7X-Blake Edwards (18); 14. 19S-Trey Gropp (19); 15. 2H-Luke Howard (16); 16. 17-Austin Brown (13); 17. 2-AJ Gilbert (23); 18. 3H-Wesley Smith (22); 19. 11-Daniel Robinson (15); 20. 77W-Joey Wirth (20); 21. 20G-Noah Gass (17); 22. 9X-Clinton Boyles (7); 23. 7U-Kyle Jones (3).
Lap Leader(s); Neuman 1; McCarthy 2-30.
Hard Charger(s): Bosie +9.
Courtney Gets Win #6 at Jeff. Co.
Posted by: | Comments- The United States Auto Club.
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Tyler Courtney in victory lane after winning Saturday night's Midwest Midget Championship at Jefferson County Speedway.
(Rich Forman Photo)
COURTNEY GETS WIN #6 AT JEFF CO.
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Fairbury, Nebraska (July 13, 2019).........Only one driver has reached the six-win mark in a single USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget season faster than Tyler Courtney has this season. That was none other than Rich Vogler who reached six in his 13th race in 1978 and in his 14th race in 1988.
If there's a driver to run second to in the annals of USAC history, Vogler isn't a bad one to be looking up to.
Thus far, through 15 races of the season, Courtney hasn't had to look up to much of anybody. Nor did he in Saturday night's Riverside Chevrolet Midwest Midget Championship presented by Westin Packaged Meats and Schmidt's Sanitation at Jefferson County Speedway where he fended off a pesky Kevin Thomas, Jr. on a late-race restart to win the 40-lapper.
To put the season into perspective, Courtney came into this season with just five USAC National Midget feature wins to his credit. It took him less than half a season to outdo that mark on the 1/5-mile bullring in Fairbury, Neb. By doing so, he maintained his 90-point lead in the standings and inched closer to becoming the first driver to reach double-digit wins in the series since Vogler in 1988.
Though it appeared mostly stress-free for Courtney through much of the middle portion of the feature as he cut through traffic, that wasn't the case in the end, as the Indianapolis, Ind. native had to endure a late-race restart versus Thomas after the yellow flag flew with four laps remaining.
"I didn't want to see that," Courtney admitted. "I hadn't been on the bottom since the beginning of the race. I knew on restarts, it might be alright, but I was committed to running the top. I saw (Kevin Thomas, Jr.) race me on the last restart, and I knew I just needed to hit my marks there on the top. I messed up a couple times, and luckily, I think he may have messed up too. It worked out tonight and we're standing here in victory lane."
Courtney started from the pole, but it was outside front row starter Thomas who got the jump initially, riding the top to the lead as Courtney got shuffled back to 4th on the opening lap while Tanner Thorson and Jerry Coons, Jr. snuck by for 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Courtney instantly worked his way back to the front, and quickly got returned to 3rd on the second lap and to the runner-up spot during a mad scramble behind race leader Thomas.
Following ninth-running Chad Boat's stoppage in between turns 3 and 4 on the fourth lap, Courtney took control on the ensuing restart as Thomas pulled the wheels up exiting the turn two cushion. Courtney drove by off the bottom to the lead.
Thomas ably reeled in Courtney by the halfway mark in traffic as the lappers went two and, at times, three-wide, forcing Courtney to split the cars of Lance Bennett and Shannon McQueen in turn one to find separation. He was successful and broke away, while Coons, Thomas and Seavey raced three-wide for fourth.
Although Brady Bacon's stop with 14 to go on the other side of the turn two banking tightened up the gap, the three lapped cars of Curtis Spicer, McQueen and Sam Johnson lie between Courtney and Thomas for the restart. On the tight bullring, Thomas got hung up behind the traffic and Courtney once again shot away to a one second advantage.
With four to go and a near-certain victory in sight for Courtney, Ethan Mitchell found himself spun backwards in turn three, setting up a last ditch, trophy dash for the win. With under five to go, lapped cars are sent to the tail by rule, putting Thomas and Tuesday night's Red Dirt winner Seavey right on Courtney's tail tank for the restart.
Tyler Courtney's 11th victory moved him into 62nd on the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget career win list alongside Kasey Kahne, Jimmy Knight, Bob McLean, Johnny Moorhouse, Bobby Santos and Brad Sweet.
(Rich Forman Photo)
"Racing with these guys is tough," Courtney said. "Especially when you've got (Kevin Thomas, Jr.) and Logan behind you. Really, everybody in the field is tough right now. We're on our game now and we've got to capitalize on nights like this when we start up front like that. You can't give up positions. You don't have any to give up."
Thomas put the challenge right on Courtney as he utilized the bottom to pull even with high-riding Courtney exiting turn two. With two laps remaining, Thomas got a surge off turn two to edge ahead of Courtney midway down the back straightaway. Courtney showed no wavering, riding the top back around Thomas to secure the spot off turn four. Thomas stayed within striking distance throughout the final lap, but Courtney was flawless, finishing out the victory by 0.365 sec. over K. Thomas, Seavey, Coons and ProSource/KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Tyler Thomas, from 11th.
For Kevin Thomas, Jr., despite the win eluding him on Saturday night, a second is a welcome gift after front-running efforts during the first two "Mid-America Midget Week" events were all for naught after getting caught up in a pair of wrecks that were not of his doing.
"We had a good racecar," K. Thomas said. "If only I just didn't screw up there at the beginning of the race; track position's everything. We had pretty equal cars there and he got through lapped traffic a little bit better. It was a little greasy down and was hard to maneuver around down there, but it was a really good racetrack. I tried to get cute there by running the bottom and trying to sneak by. It worked until I hit the grease down there. I think if I wouldn't have pushed, I could've won that race, but I did push, and we didn't win the race."
Contingency award winners Saturday night at Jefferson County Speedway were Logan Seavey (Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier & Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Tyler Thomas (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner & KSE Racing Products/ProSource Hard Charger), Zeb Wise (AutoMeter/Indy Race Parts Third Heat Winner) and Shannon McQueen (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher).
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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: July 13, 2019 - Jefferson County Speedway - Fairbury, Nebraska - Riverside Chevrolet "Midwest Midget Championship" presented by Westin Packaged Meats & Schmidt's Sanitation - 1/5-Mile Dirt Oval
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING: 1. Logan Seavey, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.412; 2. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-11.422; 3. Jerry Coons, Jr., 25, Petry-11.454; 4. Tanner Thorson, 98, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.476; 5. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5, Petry-11.530; 6. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-11.550; 7. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.584; 8. Jason McDougal, 76m, FMR-11.588; 9. Chris Windom, 17BC, Clauson/Marshall-11.651; 10. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.652; 11. Tyler Thomas, 91T, Thomas-11.700; 12. Ethan Mitchell, 19m, Bundy Built-11.746; 13. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen-11.749; 14. Brady Bacon, 85, Central-11.768; 15. Zeb Wise, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-11.794; 16. Sam Johnson, 72, Johnson-11.891; 17. Robert Dalby, 4D, Dalby-11.973; 18. Andrew Layser, 47BC, Clauson/Marshall-11.982; 19. Lance Bennett, 10, Bennett-12.139; 20. Tyler Seavey, 117, Washburn-12.373; 21. A.J. Valim, 4T, Valim-12.572; 22. Curtis Spicer, 4, Spicer-12.693; 23. Olivia Bennett, 77, Bennett-12.919.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Logan Seavey, 2. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 3. Tanner Thorson, 4. Sam Johnson, 5. Tanner Carrick, 6. Shannon McQueen, 7. Lance Bennett, 8. Curtis Spicer. 2:04.92
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Tyler Thomas, 2. Jason McDougal, 3. Brady Bacon, 4. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5. Chad Boat, 6. Robert Dalby, 7. Olivia Bennett. NT
AUTOMETER/INDY RACE PARTS THIRD HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Zeb Wise, 2. Tyler Courtney, 3. Chris Windom, 4. Jerry Coons, Jr., 5. A.J. Valim, 6. Ethan Mitchell, 7. Andrew Layser. 2:03.04
FEATURE: (40 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Tyler Courtney (1), 2. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (2), 3. Logan Seavey (6), 4. Jerry Coons, Jr. (4), 5. Tyler Thomas (11), 6. Jason McDougal (8), 7. Tanner Carrick (7), 8. Tanner Thorson (3), 9. Chris Windom (9), 10. Tucker Klaasmeyer (10), 11. Zeb Wise (15), 12. Chad Boat (5), 13. Shannon McQueen (13), 14. Andrew Layser (18), 15. Sam Johnson (16), 16. Ethan Mitchell (12), 17. Curtis Spicer (22), 18. Brady Bacon (14), 19. Robert Dalby (17), 20. Lance Bennett (19), 21. Tyler Seavey (20), 22. Olivia Bennett (23), 23. A.J. Valim (21). NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-4 Kevin Thomas, Jr., Laps 5-40 Tyler Courtney.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS/PROSOURCE HARD CHARGER: Tyler Thomas (11th to 5th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Shannon McQueen
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Tyler Courtney-1039, 2-Logan Seavey-949, 3-Chris Windom-926, 4-Kevin Thomas, Jr.-872, 5-Zeb Wise-842, 6-Chad Boat-814, 7-Jerry Coons, Jr.-754, 8-Tanner Carrick-724, 9-Tucker Klaasmeyer-699, 10-Jason McDougal-657.
NEW PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Tyler Thomas-23, 2-Jerry Coons, Jr.-16, 3-Jonathan Beason-12, 4-Logan Seavey-11, 5-Chad Boat-11, 6-Zeb Wise-11, 7-Tyler Courtney-10, 8-Matt Sherrell-10, 9-Curtis Spicer-9, 10-Chris Windom-8.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: July 14, 2019 - Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex - Sweet Springs, Missouri - 1/6-Mile Dirt Oval
McDougal Checks off First USAC Midget Win at Jeff. Co.
Posted by: | Comments- The United States Auto Club.
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Jason McDougal celebrates his first career USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget win Friday night at Jefferson County Speedway.
(Rich Forman Photo)
McDOUGAL CHECKS OFF FIRST USAC MIDGET WIN AT JEFFERSON COUNTY
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Fairbury, Nebraska (July 12, 2019).........Just three races into their new relationship, Jason McDougal and FMR Racing appear to be the perfect match.
McDougal joined the team in late June, and by mid-July, the pair hit paydirt in Friday's Riverside Chevrolet Midwest Midget Championship presented by Westin Packaged Meats and Schmidt's Sanitation at Jefferson County Speedway in Fairbury, Neb., round two of "Mid-America Midget Week."
Just this past Tuesday, McDougal was running up front in the "MAMW" opener at Red Dirt Raceway until a melee at the halfway point put the Broken Arrow, Okla. native on his lid and forced him out of contention for his first career USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget victory.
Three days later, the roles were reversed as, this time, it was McDougal who took advantage of a melee just after midway and was the only driver running in the top-four to avoid the carnage. McDougal seized the moment and powered to his first win in the series aboard the Black Watch Farms - Mobil 1 - Pro Shocks/Beast/Speedway Toyota.
McDougal has been strong on the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car tour this season, particularly at New Jersey's Bridgeport Speedway during "Eastern Storm," where he picked up his second career sprint win exactly one month prior to his first midget win with USAC.
Although it's no easy task to win in any of USAC National divisions, McDougal relays the difficulty that is winning a USAC National Midget feature. He chalks it up to being in the right spot at the right time with the right people, making his part of the equation infinitely easier on him when he gets behind the wheel.
"I've been telling people for a while that I feel like I should be able to win a midget race," McDougal explained. "But, like I tell everyone that tries to go USAC Midget racing, the midgets are ten times harder than a sprint car. To be in the position I'm in with the team that I'm with, I have a lot of great guys supporting me now. Everything's just clicking at the right time."
The key elements in the string that helped guide McDougal to victory lane is a great crew, including Brad Noffsinger and USAC Hall of Fame car builder and crew chief Bob East. McDougal's first Silver Crown start, which resulted in a 4th at Eldora last Fall, had the East touch as did his midget ride in Friday's victory. Familiarity creates comfort, and McDougal seems right at home in the No. 76m.
"I've run Silver Crown for Chris Dyson and Sean Michael, and Bob helped us on the setup a little bit," McDougal revealed. "I've always gotten along with Bob. I've always looked up to the Klatt cars when they had Damion Gardner in them at the Chili Bowl and Turkey Night. They're some of my favorite cars in midget racing. To be able to be a part of this is spectacular, but I get along with these guys so great, it's making everything easy."
From the 4th starting spot, McDougal was in the thick of the battle from the word "go," moving to third around Chris Windom at the start and to 2nd on lap seven with a turn four run off the bottom past USAC Western States Midget standout Robert Dalby.
Thirty laps can breeze by in a blur on the southeastern Nebraska bullring, which also means lapped traffic can come up in a hurry. Tanner Thorson, whose last appearance at the track resulted in a victory back in 2017, found that out the hard way as he held a one second lead over McDougal on the 19th lap of the 30-lapper.
Coming off turn four, the lapped car of Olivia Bennett got sideways on the top side, sliding right into the path of oncoming race leader, Thorson. Thorson, plus third-running Kevin Thomas, Jr. and fourth place Tucker Klaasmeyer all saw their winning hopes dashed in a split second as McDougal escaped through the fray and with the race lead only 12 laps from the finish.
Jason McDougal became the third first-time USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature winner in 2019, joining Cannon McIntosh (Du Quoin, Ill.) and Chris Windom (Lawrenceburg, Ind.)
(Rich Forman Photo)
Klaasmeyer's hopeful night went from bad to worse two laps later, escaping injury after flipping on the back straightaway.
On the restart with ten to go, the top-six were all suctioned to the bottom, momentarily, until Courtney bolted to the outside of CMR teammate Windom in a tussle for second with six lap remaining. The pair battled wheel-to-wheel for the next handful of laps while McDougal held steady at the head of the field.
On the final stretch, Courtney, who started 12th, finally cleared Windom and made a run on the high line at McDougal on the final lap. McDougal could hear somebody behind him, but wasn't exactly certain if it was a lapper or the second-place car. Courtney's charge halted short of the line as McDougal let his car float to the outside wall off turn four, up in front of Courtney's by a mere one tenth of a second.
McDougal was followed to the line by Courtney, Windom, 2016 Jefferson County winner Chad Boat and Jerry Coons, Jr., the two-time series champ, who finished in the top-five for the second consecutive race.
In victory lane, McDougal hoisted a sign reading "Get well soon, Frank," for FMR Racing owner Frank Manafort. McDougal became the third first-time USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature winner in 2019, joining Cannon McIntosh (Du Quoin, Ill.) and Chris Windom (Lawrenceburg, Ind.)
Contingency award winners Friday night at Jefferson County Speedway were Logan Seavey (Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier), Tanner Carrick (Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Tucker Klaasmeyer (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Chad Boat (AutoMeter/Indy Race Parts Third Heat Winner), Tanner Thorson (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher) and Tyler Courtney (KSE Racing Products/ProSource Hard Charger).
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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: July 12, 2019 - Jefferson County Speedway - Fairbury, Nebraska - Riverside Chevrolet "Midwest Midget Championship" presented by Westin Packaged Meats & Schmidt's Sanitation - 1/5-Mile Dirt Oval
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING: 1. Logan Seavey, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-10.685 (New Track Record); 2. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5, Petry-10.758; 3. Jason McDougal, 76m, FMR-10.842; 4. Chris Windom, 17BC, Clauson/Marshall-10.898; 5. Andrew Layser, 47BC, Clauson/Marshall-10.910; 6. Robert Dalby, 4D, Dalby-10.939; 7. Tanner Thorson, 98, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-10.947; 8. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-10.951; 9. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-10.962; 10. Jerry Coons, Jr., 25, Petry-10.984; 11. Zeb Wise, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-10.984; 12. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-10.985; 13. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.036; 14. Tyler Thomas, 91T, Thomas-11.059; 15. Sam Johnson, 72, Johnson-11.097; 16. Ethan Mitchell, 19m, Bundy Built-11.141; 17. Brady Bacon, 85, Central-11.176; 18. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen-11.301; 19. A.J. Valim, 4T, Valim-11.930; 20. Curtis Spicer, 4, Spicer-11.944; 21. Lance Bennett, 10, Bennett-11.976; 22. Olivia Bennett, 77, Bennett-11.993; 23. Tyler Seavey, 117, Washburn-NT; 24. Blaze Bennett, 10B, Bennett-NT.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Tanner Carrick, 2. Tanner Thorson, 3. Jerry Coons, Jr., 4. Logan Seavey, 5. Chris Windom, 6. Ethan Mitchell, 7. A.J. Valim, 8. Olivia Bennett. 1:56.27 (New Track Record)
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 2. Tyler Thomas, 3. Zeb Wise, 4. Brady Bacon, 5. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 6. Andrew Layser, 7. Tyler Seavey, 8. Curtis Spicer. 1:56.73
AUTOMETER/INDY RACE PARTS THIRD HEAT: (10 laps, all transfer to the feature) 1. Chad Boat, 2. Tyler Courtney, 3. Jason McDougal, 4. Sam Johnson, 5. Robert Dalby, 6. Shannon McQueen, 7. Lance Bennett. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Jason McDougal (4), 2. Tyler Courtney (12), 3. Chris Windom (3), 4. Chad Boat (9), 5. Jerry Coons, Jr. (10), 6. Tyler Thomas (14), 7. Logan Seavey (6), 8. Andrew Layser (7), 9. Zeb Wise (11), 10. Robert Dalby (2), 11. Brady Bacon (16), 12. Tanner Carrick (13), 13. Tanner Thorson (1), 14. Ethan Mitchell (18), 15. Sam Johnson (15), 16. Shannon McQueen (17), 17. Lance Bennett (19), 18. Curtis Spicer (22), 19. Olivia Bennett (20), 20. Tucker Klaasmeyer (8), 21. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (5), 22. Tyler Seavey (23), 23. A.J. Valim (21). NT
**Tucker Klaasmeyer flipped in turn 3 on lap 20.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-18 Tanner Thorson, Laps 19-30 Jason McDougal.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS/PROSOURCE HARD CHARGER: Tyler Courtney (12th to 2nd)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Tanner Thorson
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Tyler Courtney-961, 2-Chris Windom-874, 3-Logan Seavey-871, 4-Kevin Thomas, Jr.-798, 5-Zeb Wise-793, 6-Chad Boat-766, 7-Jerry Coons, Jr.-684, 8-Tanner Carrick-668, 9-Tucker Klaasmeyer-649, 10-Jason McDougal-595.
NEW PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Tyler Thomas-17, 2-Jerry Coons, Jr.-16, 3-Jonathan Beason-12, 4-Chad Boat-11, 5-Tyler Courtney-10, 6-Matt Sherrell-10, 7-Logan Seavey-8, 8-Chris Windom-8, 9-Hank Davis-8, 10-Zeb Wise-7.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: July 13, 2019 - Jefferson County Speedway - Fairbury, Nebraska - Riverside Chevrolet "Midwest Midget Championship" presented by Westin Packaged Meats & Schmidt's Sanitation - 1/5-Mile Dirt Oval
