Dec 08, 2019 that thanksgiving night win marked just the third occasion in usac national midget history that a driver won the final three races to conclude the season billy boat 1995 and larson in 2012. Its been absent from the series schedule ever since, but this year on june 2, that all changes when the 14mile paperclipshaped oval welcomes the series as the opener to the 16 th edition of indiana midget week. Officials of the national midget driver of the year championship announced the expansion of the program to include the inaugural western midget driver of the year for the 20 season and beyond. Previous powri rookie of the year winners includes the likes of eventual national midget champions zach daum 2007, andrew felker 2009, spencer bayston 2014 and logan seavey 2017. Tanner thorson has locked up the national midget driver of the year award for the secondstraight year. Points show the following as 20 national midget champions. Kyle larson of elk grove finished the race in 12th place. Nmdoty is defined as national midget driver of the year car racing. Starting in 2020, a drivers past performance, both at the chili bowl and with. Nov 25, 2019 kyle larson became the first driver in 16 years to win backtoback usac nos energy drink national midget features in the state of california on saturday night at bakersfield speedway, picking off michael pickens for good on the 11th lap and commanding the final 20 laps to score his third series victory of the year.
New year, new midget field chasing usac glory sprint car. Courtney was the first usac national midget champion driver since cole whitt in 2008 to win the title without starting every feature run during the season after missing the transfer in late novembers hangtown 100 opener. He has raced in the united states auto club, the auto racing club of american, and nascar. Series champions from the most recent calendar year in the world of. Fike, he was suspended from nascar competition from 2007 to 2012 due to a drugrelated arrest. Tanner thorsons second place in fridays jason leffler memorial at wayne county speedway helped him secure the national midget driver of the year championship for the second straight year. Happy birthday badger midget auto racing association. Kofoid and pursley eye usac midget rookie of the year. The national midget driver of the year award was started in 1999. They originated in the united states in the 1930s and are raced on most continents. Many indycar and nascar drivers used midget car racing as an. That makes her the granddaughter of nascar legend dale earnhardt. The viroc gets revamped for 2020 lucas oil chili bowl nationals.
Larson also became the first driver in 24 years to win threestraight usac national midget races in the state of california also boat in 1995. After a debut year that saw carrick win the usac midget national championship rookie of the year award, the california native is competing across both national midget car racing series in 2018, ranking sixth powri and 12th usac in points. Several other rules changes will be in effect for the sprint car and midget national series this year. Holly shelton is riding high after setting a milestone for a female driver in a national midget series feature event on dirt this past weekend. Us this definition appears somewhat frequently and is found in the following acronym finder categories. Kyle larson wins usac race at bakersfield jayskis nascar. The award was founded and is directed by wellknown midget racing publicist and announcer, bryan gapinski. The award determines the top national midget driver using a unique point system based on several factors including. Yeley 2003, have achieved the triple crown in a single season. After a 20year nascar driving career, the last 18 of which were spent in the. The 1986 inductee into the national midget auto racing hall of fame won a pair of usac national midget titles. In 2001, east became the youngest driver in usac history to win a feature when he won a usac national midget event at the illiana motor speedway in schererville, indiana at the age of 16 years, six months, and 25 days in 2001.
The earnhardt family continues tradition on the race track. In fact, the usac national midget division didnt find its first driver champion under the age of 30 until its 15th year of existence when 25yearold jimmy. Bryan is a well known midget racing publicist and announcer. In 20, he joined keith kunz motorsports in usac racing, replacing kyle larson. To be exact, nine previous winners are expected to compete in this years. Aaron fike born november 24, 1982, in galesburg, illinois is an american racing driver, a former competitor in nascar and usac driver. Usac racing announces new rules changes for national series. The 17year old high school senior from shelby township, michigan is already the winningest female driver ever to compete in the famed usac midget series and is now about to become the youngest female driver in the arca racing series presented by menards decorated history to tackle the tricky triangle at pocono raceway. National midget driver of the year how is national midget driver of the year abbreviated.
Jan 16, 2020 the 2019 usac national sprint car champion counted indiana sprintweek and the perris oval nationals amongst his wins this season. Vogler became the first driver to win the usac sprint car and midget championships in the same year 1980. Sun prairie, wi, november after 195 events over eleven months, saturdays old pueblo classic at the tucson raceway park, in tucson, az, could turn out to be the key race in the chase for the. Theyre only the second driverteam combo to accomplish winning each of the titles in usacs national midget and national sprint divisions in. No driver owns more current usac national midget track records at this years venues than tyler courtney with six, including the onelap mark. A number of drivers are seeking milestone victories this usac national midget. Usac midget drivers set 26 new track records last year. The 2016 usac silver crown and 2017 national sprint car champ took 9th in his first career shamrock classic start a. Kofoid and pursley eye usac midget rookie of the year honors. He won all 3 major midget races, the night before the 500 1975, the hut 100 1973, and turkey night 197173. He was the midget division rookie of year in 1969 with a 7th in the national points followed by. National midget driver of the year division two midget driver of the year award announced milwaukee, wi dec.
Midget auto racing publicist, announcer and columnist bryan gapinski, of wisconsin, had the idea to recognize midget racing drivers from all parts of the country in a unique point series. With 42 events on the agenda at 19 unique race tracks, each driver will be physically and mentally tested nightin and nightout in 2019. Nmdoty national midget driver of the year car racing. Nov 23, 2018 a toyota racing development driver, seavey captured three victories this season, establishing a 7point advantage over second place brady bacon in the standings to clinch the usac championship a year after winning the 2017 powri lucas oil racing series title. Sep 26, 2005 the national midget driver of the year award started in 1999. Leary earned seven of the thirteen firstplace ballots cast in the yearend poll. The national midget driver of the year nmdoty began in 1999. Female racer makes history with record finishes in dirt. No driver had ever won the sprint, midget and silver crown championships. Jesse colwell powri lucas oil national midget league champion. There is a worldwide tour and national midget tours in the united states. Bryson, colwell, love headline powri national midget. Midget cars, also speedcars in australia, is a class of racing cars. How is national midget driver of the year car racing.
One union that remains is the driver and team that captured both nights of last years midget events in ocala, tyler courtney and clausonmarshall racing. Karsyn has been racing on dirt in and around the north carolina area. Usac creates national driver of the year competition for 2010. National midget driver of the year listed as nmdoty. A toyota racing development driver, seavey captured three victories this season, establishing a 7point advantage over second place brady bacon in the standings to clinch the usac championship a year after winning the 2017 powri lucas oil racing series title. Christopher bell and chad nichols are current leaders in the national midget driver of the year championship and western midget driver of the year champions with eight midget races nationwide slated this week, highlighted by indiana midget week.
On october 31, he joined ch motorsports sprint car racing program. Rico emanuel abreu born january 30, 1992 is an american professional dirt track and stock car racing driver. In 2001, east became the youngest driver in usac history to win a feature when he won a usac national midget event at the illiana motor speedway in. Leary named driver of the year for 2019 national sports. Four kkm drivers won in their rookie usac national midget season, including bryan clauson in 2006 with one victory. Jan 12, 2005 page 1 of 3 50 greatest midget drivers. It didnt matter which primary sanctioning body they had.
Christopher bell is the current leader in the national midget driver of the year championship with eight midget races nationwide slated for the weekend, highlighted by indiana midget week. Midget auto racing publicist, announcer and columnist bryan gapinski. That thanksgiving night win marked just the third occasion in usac national midget history that a driver won the final three races to conclude the season billy boat 1995 and larson in 2012. The following year, he finished second in the short track nationals at i30 speedway, a race sanctioned by the american sprint car series. The award determines the top midget driver using a unique point system based on several factors, car count, purse, and event prestige. Sun prairie, wi, november 1tracy hines holds comfortable lead in the national midget driver of the year point standings heading into the final month of racing. West was the 1967 united auto racing association uara champion and winner of six usac natl midget features. Bryson, colwell, love headline powri national midget rookie. Bell holds a commanding 221point lead over teammate tanner thorson. Much of last years field remains intact for this years edition, however, many find themselves in new cars, new colors and new surroundings. Hes also the only driver in the group to win prior to his rookie of the year season as well, capturing victory in october of 2005 at ohios columbus motor speedway.
Jeff gordon from vallejo, the only norcal driver in the all star race started 12th and finished in 15th. Thorson named midget driver of the year speed sport. Usac national midget series archives norcal car culture. If so, he will be just the third driver to win the usac national midget championship as a rookie, joining christopher bell 20 and danny caruthers 1971. Thirtyfour years ago, john andretti scored his first and only career usac national midget feature win at paragon speedway. The award was founded, and is directed by bryan gapinski. Kyle larson became the first driver in 16 years to win backtoback usac nos energy drink national midget features in the state of california on saturday night at bakersfield speedway, picking off michael pickens for good on the 11th lap and commanding the final 20 laps to score his third series victory of the year. The triple crown is earned in usac racing when a driver claims all three national championships silver crown, sprint car, and midget car. Rules regarding added weight for aluminum blocks will remain the same, according to usac. He won the roger mauro classic in 1972 and was 2nd in the national points. Jul 17, 2018 holly shelton is riding high after setting a milestone for a female driver in a national midget series feature event on dirt this past weekend. He won the fireman nationals midget car race at angell park speedway in 1985.
I started to come up with a list who i thought would be considered great,but i know somebody else already has it. The point system is based on several factors, car count, purse, and event prestige. The weight limit has been increased to a 1,675pound minimum, with the driver. The cars are very small with a very high powertoweight ratio and typically use four cylinder engines. He won usac national sprint car series championships in 1980 and 1989, usac national midget series championships in 1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1988. National midget driver of the year racingjunk news. Joining crafton on the team will be 2017 camping world truck series champ christopher bell and 2017 usac national midget rookie of the year. Previous powri rookie of the year winners includes the likes of eventual national midget champions zach daum 2007, andrew. Bryan clauson originally from carmichael, finished in 6th in the 100 lap feature event. The national midget driver of the year award started in 1999. National midget driver of the year midgetmadness forum. Robert bobby east born december 17, 1984 in torrance, california, is an american auto racing driver.
I was wondering if marty or somebody else has a list of the 50greatest midget drivers. Nmdoty stands for national midget driver of the year car racing. Jan 23, 2020 weight rules were changed for the silver crown cars. Usac is launching a national driver of the year competition for 2010. National midget driver of the year how is national midget. National midget driver of the year how is national. Tonight is her first race as fulltime usac national midget driver.
The award determines the top midget driver using a unique point system. Bell concluded 20 as the usac national midget champion. Coons secures nmdoy honors speed sport staffnovember 23, 2012. Youth movement makes waves entering 2020 usac midget season. National methamphetamine and pharmaceutical initiative. The 2019 usac national sprint car champion counted indiana sprintweek and the perris oval nationals amongst his wins this season. East competed fulltime in the usac national midget series where he was the champion in 2004 driving the steve lewis. The 38mile dshaped bubba raceway park in ocala, fla. The top ten nmdoty drivers, car owner champion along with manufacturers champions, rookie of the year and western champion will receive their point fund checks and trophies, in the annual ceremony held during the final night of the lucas oil chili bowl midget nationals on jan. National midget driver of the year archives speed sport. The annual national midget driver of the year point standings are kept by midwesterner bryan gapinski, who originated the national rankings for midget racers from all sanctioning bodies. National midget auto racing hall of fame won a pair of usac national midget. Darland wins turkey night midget gp at perris hotrod hotline.
353 1522 1276 604 61 1160 826 1070 786 1291 1599 1245 1077 780 1052 867 1516 592 1129 254 157 1455 257 1345 1268 214 336 348 724 308 275