Motorsports
Job Finished for McIntosh! 2025 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Review – Speedway Digest
Resilience was at the forefront of Cannon McIntosh’s ascension to the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship in 2025.
One year after finishing as the runner-up in the series standings, the Bixby, Oklahoma native climbed to the top after leading the series with five victories, 14 top-fives and 19 top-tens at the wheel of his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports/Mobil 1 – Toyota – Curb Records/LynK/Speedway Toyota No. 71K.
By a 44-point margin, McIntosh became the third Oklahoman to capture the USAC National Midget crown following Christopher Bell (2013) and Daison Pursley (2024), who McIntosh finished as a runner-up to in the standings one year ago.
Meanwhile, McIntosh also provided Keith Kunz Motorsports its record-extending 13th USAC National Midget entrant title. For Curb-Agajanian, their latest entrant title is their 11th.
Since returning to KKM in 2024, McIntosh has accumulated eight wins, 29 top-fives and 39 top-tens in a total of 46 feature starts, a consistent run that saw him win more often (5) than he finished outside the top-ten (4) throughout the 2025 campaign. Mission accomplished.
“(Crew chief) Beau (Binder) and I sat down and talked about our goals and what we needed to do to accomplish them,” McIntosh explained. “I just took it one race at a time and I felt like we struggled at the beginning and just learned from every race as we went on. We had our down moments but I feel like that’s when we came out and did our best, whether it was winning or just running up front the next time out.”
That seemed to be a reoccurring theme for the 22-year-old McIntosh. In May in Belleville, Kansas, McIntosh tangled with his championship nemesis, Justin Grant, while battling for second on the first of two nights on the short track. Restarting at the tail, he charged back from 22nd to finish fifth! One night later at Belleville, he bounced back to take the victory.
In July at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a mishap relegated him to a 21st place finish on the opening night of the BC39 Presented by Avanti Windows & Doors. On the next night at IMS, misfortune seemingly continued after flipping wildly in his heat race. After repairs, he came back to win the semi-feature. Starting 19th in the feature, it seemed to be a long shot to win it, but don’t tell that to Cannon. After passing teammate Jacob Denney with two laps remaining, McIntosh had earned a $20,039 prize while becoming the first multi-time BC39 winner. The +18 run proved to be the biggest charge of the series season by any driver.
“We were really good at being resilient and overcoming bad nights,” McIntosh noted. “When I look back at the BC39, on the first night, we struggled, stalled the car and ended up in the back. When we came back the next night, I was scratching my head. I knew the car was capable, and then we went out and won it. That’s the moment I knew this team was capable of doing this.”
Prior to his BC39 triumph, McIntosh stood a distant 106 points out of the championship lead behind Justin Grant and Kale Drake. That just so happened to be when Cannon was at his best as he strung together seven consecutive podium finishes that resulted in another pair of victories during Mid-America Midget Week at Missouri’s Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex and Nebraska’s Jefferson County Speedway, the latter of which was worth a cool $10,000.
In a mere five races, McIntosh had erased a 106-point deficit to reign at the top of the standings following his Jefferson County win. After initially pulling away to a 39-point edge, the first event of November’s Golden State Invasion at Placerville Speedway’s Hangtown 100 had shrunk McIntosh’s lead to three over Grant.
But when the walls began to close in on McIntosh, he responded. He won the next race out, this time at Merced Speedway’s Midget Madness, and subsequently, stretched out his lead over Grant, a lead he did not relinquish. In fact, the Merced win was monumental as it provided car owner Keith Kunz his 200th career USAC national victory across the three divisions (Midget, Sprint Car, Silver Crown).
“It was those bad moments that really helped us do what we had to do,” McIntosh acknowledged. “But we weren’t going down without a fight. We were down a lot of points but we just kind of forgot about that and decided to go out and start clicking off wins and podiums, and I think we went on a streak of seven podiums in a row. That got us right back in the fight. We were just not even thinking about it and just going out and racing.”
Behind every winning driver is a winning crew, and McIntosh is no exception.
“These guys worked really hard all year – Beau (Binder), Phil (Zubizareta) and Spencer (Rolenc) – that was our core group throughout the entire season,” McIntosh said. It took all these pieces to make it happen along with Pete Willoughby and Keith Kunz. it’s an honor to do this for them. These guys stayed confident in me and I stayed confident in them all the time. That’s what did it. Belief in ourselves and belief in the group that we have. I definitely couldn’t have done it without these guys.”
Elsewhere, Justin Grant led the points longer than any other driver on the circuit, topping the standings for 12 races throughout the first half of the season. He won three times, including April’s Kokomo Grand Prix at Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway where he set a new record by winning across all three USAC national divisions quicker than any driver in series history. He won again in his next outing at Belleville, then scored the opening night of the BC39 at IMS en route to a runner-up points finish for the third time in his career, also doing so in 2022 and 2023. He also led all series drivers with three fast qualifying times.
Kevin Thomas Jr. equaled a career best finish in the USAC National Midget points by taking third in the standings a full decade after also finishing third in 2015. Despite no wins, he tied McIntosh for the series lead with 19 top-ten results, while garnering four second place finishes at Circle City, Bloomington and Eldora twice. He did accrue the most heat race victories of the season as well, amassing eight.
Jacob Denney continued his rise up the rankings with three wins and a career best fourth place finish in the standings. His first USAC start for the KKM team resulted in victory in the season opener at Kokomo after starting 17th! That erased a drought of 48 series starts without a win. Furthermore, he won twice during USAC Indiana Midget Week in June at Paragon and then continued his prowess at Kokomo with his second of the win there to close out IMW.
Kale Drake finished fifth in the standings, starting off the year by winning back-to-back in extremely superstitious fashion. On the way to Sweet Springs, he paid $22.22 for gas, then drew pill #22, then put on 22 tear-offs before the feature. For good measure, he led the final two laps of the feature to earn his second career series win. In fact, he won – you guessed it – two times overall this season, including at Circle City in June. His second place finish at Kokomo clinched him the $15,000 USAC Indiana Midget Week championship by – wait for it – a 22-point margin. You can’t make this stuff up.
Gavin Miller experienced a breakout year, winning three times in a four-race span during the late summer months. After 763 days and 56 races without a USAC victory, he returned to victory lane at Jefferson County, then did it again twice on Labor Day weekend by scoring at Bloomington, then grabbing the prestigious 40th Firemen’s Nationals at Wisconsin’s Angell Park Speedway worth $10,000.
Logan Seavey also posted a victory in November at Merced’s Chase Johnson Classic and led all drivers with 115 laps led. Drake Edwards became a first-time USAC National Midget winner during the Chad McDaniel Memorial at Kansas’ Mitchell County Fairgrounds. Fellow Arizonan Hayden Reinbold also became a first-time series victor in September at Eldora in what was his 101st career series start, which occurred on the very same night he also earned his first career fast qualifying time with the series.
Non-championship contenders, but midget racing masters, also dropped in on occasion to flex their muscles. Daison Pursley’s historic September night at Eldora saw him perform a USAC sweep of the 4-Crown Nationals by winning the Silver Crown, Sprint Car and Midget portions of the program in a single $45,000 night. He backed that up in the next series round at Placerville’s Hangtown 100 where late-race contact between him and Kyle Larson for the lead led to a deafening chorus of boo birds. Yet, it was another $20,000 payday for Pursley.
Buddy Kofoid won the $12,500-to-win Jason Leffler Memorial at the event’s new home of Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in November, utilizing essentially the same team and car number that Leffler used to win his first USAC National Midget title in 1997. At Ventura, Corey Day closed out the year by becoming the youngest back-to-back winner in the 84-year history of the ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix Presented by the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame, which was worth $15,000.
Steven Snyder Jr. was named USAC National Midget MPI Rookie of the Year after finishing eighth in the standings with a pair of second place results at Kokomo and Placerville. Gunnar Setser, another impressive Rookie, finished 10th in the standings with a best result of fifth at Sweet Springs.
Also of note, Jerry Coons Jr. and his son, Cale Coons, each started both features at Belleville in May, making it one of the rare occasions a father has competed against his son in a USAC National Midget feature, joining Ted & Gene Hartley, Danny & George Kladis, Don & Rich Vogler, Bob & Bobby Wente, Bob & Terry Wente, Buddie & Trevor Boys, Jim & Ted Hines, Norm & Travis Young, Leon & Brady Bacon, Ryan & Randy Oerter, Ryan & Ashley Oerter and Joe & Clinton Boyles.
For the first time in series history, one team occupied the top four finishing positions of a feature event. In 2025, it happened twice for the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports team, in April at Belleville and again in November at Merced.
In a statistical oddity in August at Bloomington, every race conducted during the program was won by a car sporting the number 97. Zach Wigal scored the first heat race win in Pat O’Dell’s No. 97x. The second race victory was captured by Kale Drake in the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports No. 97K. Gavin Miller, aboard his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports No. 97, finished off the preliminaries with a win in heat race three, then completed the night as the feature victor.
Nine drivers started all 23 feature events: Jacob Denney, Drake Edwards, Justin Grant, Cannon McIntosh, Gavin Miller, Hayden Reinbold, Gunnar Setser, Steven Snyder Jr. and Kevin Thomas Jr. Overall, 107 drivers started a USAC National Midget feature in 2025.
2025 USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET STAT LEADERS
Driver Champion: Cannon McIntosh
Entrant Champion: Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K
Most Wins: Cannon McIntosh (5)
Rookie of the Year: Steven Snyder Jr. (8th)
Most Laps Led: 115-Logan Seavey
Most Top-Fives: 14-Cannon McIntosh
Most Top-Tens: 19-Cannon McIntosh & Kevin Thomas Jr.
Most Fast Qualifying Times: 3-Justin Grant
Most Heat Race Wins: 8-Kevin Thomas Jr.
Most Feature Starts: 23-Jacob Denney, Drake Edwards, Justin Grant, Cannon McIntosh, Gavin Miller, Hayden Reinbold, Gunnar Setser, Steven Snyder Jr. & Kevin Thomas Jr.
Biggest Charge of the Year: Jul 2: The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Cannon McIntosh (19th to 1st)
2025 USAC MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Apr 26: Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, IN
WINNER: Jacob Denney (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67)
Apr 27: Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, IN
WINNER: Justin Grant (CB Industries #87)
May 16: Belleville Short Track – Belleville, KS
WINNER: Justin Grant (CB Industries #87)
May 17: Belleville Short Track – Belleville, KS
WINNER: Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
May 18: Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex – Sweet Springs, MO
WINNER: Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97K)
Jun 3: (I) Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis, IN
WINNER: Kale Drake (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97K)
Jun 4: (I) Paragon Speedway – Paragon, IN
WINNER: Jacob Denney (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67)
Jun 8: (I) Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, IN
WINNER: Jacob Denney (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #67)
Jul 1: The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Speedway, IN
WINNER: Justin Grant (CB Industries #87)
Jul 2: The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Speedway, IN
WINNER: Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
Jul 8: (M) Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex – Sweet Springs, MO
WINNER: Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
Jul 9: (M) Mitchell County Fairgrounds – Beloit, KS
WINNER: Drake Edwards (CB Industries #83)
Jul 11: (M) Jefferson County Speedway – Fairbury, NE
WINNER: Gavin Miller (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97)
Jul 12: (M) Jefferson County Speedway – Fairbury, NE
WINNER: Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
Aug 29: Bloomington Speedway – Bloomington, IN
WINNER: Gavin Miller Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97
Aug 31: Angell Park Speedway – Sun Prairie, WI
WINNER: Gavin Miller (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #97)
Sep 18: Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, OH
WINNER: Hayden Reinbold (Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports #19AZ)
Sep 20: Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, OH
WINNER: Daison Pursley (CB Industries #86)
Nov 15: (G) Placerville Speedway – Placerville, CA
WINNER: Daison Pursley (CB Industries #86)
Nov 21: (G) Merced Speedway – Merced, CA
WINNER: Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71K)
Nov 22: (G) Merced Speedway – Merced, CA
WINNER: Logan Seavey (Abacus Racing #57)
Nov 25: (G) Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway – Bakersfield, CA
WINNER: Buddy Kofoid (Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports #71)
Nov 29: (G) Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA
WINNER: Corey Day (Willie Kahne #4K)
———————— KEY DEFINITIONS ————————-
(I) represents an Indiana Midget Week event
(M) represents a Mid-America Midget Week event
(G) represents a Golden State Invasion event
2025 USAC MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER POINT STANDINGS:
POS. PTS. DRIVER, HOMETOWN
1 1432 Cannon McIntosh, Bixby, Oklahoma
2 1388 Justin Grant, Ione, California
3 1385 Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, Alabama
4 1383 Jacob Denney, Galloway, Ohio
5 1252 Kale Drake, Collinsville, Oklahoma
6 1233 Gavin Miller, Allentown, Pennsylvania
7 1212 Logan Seavey, Sutter, California
8 1192 Steven Snyder Jr. (R), Rising Sun, Maryland
9 1144 Drake Edwards, Peoria, Arizona
10 1003 Gunnar Setser (R), Columbus, Indiana
11 992 Hayden Reinbold, Gilbert, Arizona
12 842 Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, Oklahoma
13 766 Cale Coons (R), Greencastle, Indiana
14 605 Brecken Reese (R), Canyon, Texas
15 599 Kyle Jones, Kennedale, Texas
16 541 Jakeb Boxell (R), Zanesville, Indiana
17 445 Karter Sarff, Mason City, Illinois
18 416 Mack Leopard (R), Beavercreek, Ohio
19 374 Ethan Mitchell, Mooresville, North Carolina
20 373 Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, California
21 327 Zach Wigal, Belpre, Ohio
22 314 Colton Robinson (R), Titusville, Florida
23 222 Chelby Hinton (R), Dubberly, Louisiana
24 215 Zach Daum, Pocahontas, Illinois
25 198 Corbin Rueschenberg (R), Mesa, Arizona
26 189 Brandon Carr (R), Sheffield, United Kingdom
27 170 Kyle Cummins, Princeton, Indiana
28 137 Zack Merritt (R), Greeley, Colorado
29 112 Garrett Benson (R), Concordia, Missouri
30 107 Frankie Guerrini (R), San Rafael, California
31 105 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, Arizona
32 96 K.J. Snow (R), Kingsburg, California
33 82 Cord Kisthardt (R), Hershey, Pennsylvania
34 78 Bradley Cox (R), Burkburnett, Texas
35 61 Caiden Warren (R), Eaton, Colorado
36 59 Trey Zorn (R), Russell, Kansas
37 58 Chris Hartman (R), Boulder, Colorado
38 40 Blake Brannon (R), Morgan Hill, California
39 40 Tom Payet (R), Perth, Western Australia
40 40 Jake Robinson (R), Perth, Western Australia
41 40 Mathew Radisich (R), Auckland, New Zealand
42 30 Dylan Doyle (R), Brighton, Colorado
43 20 Adam Taylor (R), Wheatfield, Indiana
(R) represents a USAC National Midget Rookie
2025 USAC MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRANT POINT STANDINGS:
POS. PTS. ENTRANT, TEAM LOCATION
1 1432 Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Columbus, Indiana (#71K)
2 1388 CB Industries, Mooresville, North Carolina (#87)
3 1385 4 Kings Racing, Battle Creek, Michigan (#14)
4 1383 Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Columbus, Indiana (#67)
5 1252 Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Columbus, Indiana (#97K)
6 1233 Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Columbus, Indiana (#97)
7 1212 Abacus Racing, Indianapolis, Indiana (#57)
8 1192 RMS Racing, New Lenox, Illinois (#4)
9 1144 CB Industries, Mooresville, North Carolina (#83)
10 1091 CB Industries, Mooresville, North Carolina (#86)
11 1001 Kevin Arnold, Columbus, Indiana (#43)
12 992 Reinbold-Underwood Motorsports, Gilbert, Arizona (#19AZ)
13 696 Dooling Autosports/Curb-Agajanian, Freeport, Texas (#63)
14 599 Joyner Motorsports, Concordia, Kansas (#27x)
15 541 4 Kings Racing, Battle Creek, Michigan (#14JB)
16 426 Tim Engler, Princeton, Indiana (#7x)
17 355 Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Columbus, Indiana (#67K)
18 339 Bundy Built Motorsports, Mooresville, North Carolina (#19m)
19 297 Karter Sarff Racing, Mason City, Illinois (#21K)
20 246 Central Motorsports, Edmond, Oklahoma (#85)
21 232 Pat O’Dell, Rochester, Illinois (#97x)
22 222 Klatt Enterprises, Hastings, Nebraska (#4B)
23 199 Cornell Racing Stables, Monee, Illinois (#8)
24 198 Scott Rueschenberg, Mesa, Arizona (#26)
25 189 Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Columbus, Indiana (#98K)
26 179 Tim Engler, Princeton, Indiana (#7s)
27 170 Glenn Styres Racing, Ohsweken, Ontario (#3G)
28 137 Ryan Oerter, Ellicott, Colorado (#43m)
29 110 F & F Racing, Indianapolis, Indiana (#63G)
30 82 Cord Kisthardt, Hershey, Pennsylvania (#21K)
31 78 Lonnie Cox, Elbert, Colorado (#45)
32 40 Paul Brannon, Morgan Hill, California (#40)
33 40 Bennett Motorsport, Perth, Western Australia (#7AU)
34 40 Paul Robinson, Perth, Western Australia (#8AU)
35 40 Out & About Racing, Safety Beach, Victoria (#17NZ)
36 30 Nick Poe, Centerville, Ohio (#2B)
37 20 Adam Taylor Racing, Wheatfield, Indiana (#7T)
2025 USAC MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROOKIE DRIVER POINT STANDINGS:
POS. PTS. DRIVER, HOMETOWN
1 1192 Steven Snyder Jr., Rising Sun, Maryland
2 1003 Gunnar Setser, Columbus, Indiana
3 766 Cale Coons, Greencastle, Indiana
4 605 Brecken Reese, Canyon, Texas
5 541 Jakeb Boxell, Zanesville, Indiana
6 416 Mack Leopard, Beavercreek, Ohio
7 314 Colton Robinson, Titusville, Florida
8 222 Chelby Hinton, Dubberly, Louisiana
9 198 Corbin Rueschenberg, Mesa, Arizona
10 189 Brandon Carr, Sheffield, United Kingdom
11 137 Zack Merritt, Greeley, Colorado
12 112 Garrett Benson, Concordia, Missouri
13 107 Frankie Guerrini, San Rafael, California
14 96 K.J. Snow, Kingsburg, California
15 82 Cord Kisthardt, Hershey, Pennsylvania
16 78 Bradley Cox, Burkburnett, Texas
17 61 Caiden Warren, Eaton, Colorado
18 59 Trey Zorn, Russell, Kansas
19 58 Chris Hartman, Boulder, Colorado
20 40 Blake Brannon, Morgan Hill, California
21 40 Tom Payet, Perth, Western Australia
22 40 Jake Robinson, Perth, Western Australia
23 40 Mathew Radisich, Auckland, New Zealand
24 30 Dylan Doyle, Brighton, Colorado
25 20 Adam Taylor, Wheatfield, Indiana
2025 USAC MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
FEATURE WINS
5-Cannon McIntosh (May 17 at the Belleville Short Track, Jul 2 at The Dirt Track at IMS, Jul 8 at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex, Jul 12 at Jefferson County Speedway & Nov 21 at Merced Speedway)
3-Jacob Denney (Apr 26 at Kokomo Speedway, Jun 4 at Paragon Speedway & Jun 8 at Kokomo Speedway)
3-Justin Grant (Apr 27 at Kokomo Speedway, May 16 at the Belleville Short Track & Jul 1 at The Dirt Track at IMS)
3-Gavin Miller (Jul 11 at Jefferson County Speedway, Aug 29 at Bloomington Speedway & Aug 31 at Angell Park Speedway)
2-Kale Drake (May 18 at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex & Jun 3 at Circle City Raceway)
2-Daison Pursley (Sep 20 at Eldora Speedway & Nov 15 at Placerville Speedway)
1-Corey Day (Nov 29 at Ventura Raceway)
1-Drake Edwards (Jul 9 at the Mitchell County Fairgrounds)
1-Buddy Kofoid (Nov 25 at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway)
1-Hayden Reinbold (Sep 18 at Eldora Speedway)
1-Logan Seavey (Nov 22 at Merced Speedway)
FEATURE LAPS LED
115-Logan Seavey
111-Jacob Denney
110-Justin Grant
99-Corey Day
92-Gavin Miller
76-Cannon McIntosh
52-Kyle Larson
45-Buddy Kofoid
42-Drake Edwards & Kevin Thomas Jr.
26-Kale Drake
21-Riley Kreisel & Daison Pursley
18-Hayden Reinbold
6-Steven Snyder Jr.
2-Brecken Reese
TOP-5 FEATURE FINISHES
14-Cannon McIntosh
12-Jacob Denney & Justin Grant
10-Kevin Thomas Jr.
8-Kale Drake & Logan Seavey
7-Gavin Miller
6-Drake Edwards & Steven Snyder Jr.
5-Daison Pursley
3-Buddy Kofoid
2-Jakeb Boxell, Corey Day & Hayden Reinbold
1-Jake Andreotti, Landon Brooks, Tanner Carrick, Jerry Coons Jr., Kyle Cummins, Zach Daum, Shane Golobic, Kyle Jones, Riley Kreisel, Kyle Larson, Carson Macedo, Thomas Meseraull, Justin Peck, Brecken Reese, Karter Sarff, Gunnar Setser, K.J. Snow & Zach Wigal
TOP-10 FEATURE FINISHES
19-Cannon McIntosh & Kevin Thomas Jr.
17-Jacob Denney & Justin Grant
16-Kale Drake, Gavin Miller & Logan Seavey
13-Drake Edwards
12-Steven Snyder Jr.
9-Daison Pursley
8-Gunnar Setser
7-Hayden Reinbold
6-Karter Sarff
4-Jakeb Boxell & Kyle Jones
3-Landon Brooks, Cale Coons, Buddy Kofoid, Brecken Reese & Zach Wigal
2-Tanner Carrick, Kyle Cummins, Zach Daum, Corey Day, Carson Macedo, Thomas Meseraull, Justin Peck & Colton Robinson
1-Jake Andreotti, Jerry Coons Jr., Colby Copeland, Briggs Danner, Andrew Felker, Shane Golobic, Rylan Gray, Chelby Hinton, Riley Kreisel, Kyle Larson, Mack Leopard, Ethan Mitchell, K.J. Snow, Ricky Thornton Jr., Austin Wood & Jett Yantis
HONEST ABE ROOFING FAST QUALIFYING TIMES
3-Justin Grant
2-Jacob Denney, Karter Sarff & Logan Seavey
1-Tanner Carrick, Drake Edwards, Kyle Larson, Mack Leopard, Carson Macedo, Cannon McIntosh, Daison Pursley, Hayden Reinbold, Steven Snyder Jr. & Kevin Thomas Jr.
USAC PR
Motorsports
Ten Tenths Motor Club Names Veteran Automotive Executive Andy Thomas as Vice President of Manufacturer Relations – Speedway Digest
Ten Tenths Motor Club has named longtime automotive executive Andy Thomas as its new Vice President of Manufacturer Relations, bringing more than three decades of global experience in luxury automotive sales, marketing and brand management to the newly opened motorsports and lifestyle destination.
In his new role, Thomas will develop and maintain relationships with OEM partners to understand their needs, perspectives and objectives, while working to identify opportunities for growth by leveraging new and existing partnerships to increase facility usage.
Thomas joins Ten Tenths Motor Club after serving as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for McLaren Automotive North America since 2015, where he led strategic marketing, communications and global strategy that helped drive record sales growth. During his decade with McLaren, Thomas oversaw experiential events in over 30 major metro markets and developed retail programs that significantly increased sales conversions and owner engagement.
“Andy’s reputation and relationships within the global automotive community are unmatched,” said Rick Hendrick, who founded Ten Tenths Motor Club in partnership with Speedway Motorsports. “His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our partnerships with manufacturers and luxury brands as we continue to establish Ten Tenths as a world-class venue for automotive experiences.”
Prior to McLaren, Thomas served in leadership roles with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in both Goodwood, U.K. and North America, where he guided global brand alignment and oversaw international marketing strategy across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Earlier in his career, he held key marketing and sales roles with BMW of North America, Ferrari North America and Land Rover North America, gaining experience in dealer relations, product marketing and luxury customer engagement.
“Our vision for Ten Tenths Motor Club is to establish the facility as not only a premier experience for passionate automotive enthusiasts, but also to create a destination for corporate events that is unmatched in the automotive industry,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “We look forward to Andy joining our efforts to invite manufacturers from around the world to Ten Tenths Motor Club and the greater Charlotte region.”
A Clemson University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Thomas also serves on the Board of the Erwin Center for Brand Communication at his alma mater. In that role, he mentors students, sponsors real-world marketing projects and connects students with opportunities across the automotive and luxury brand landscape.
A native of Salisbury, Maryland, Thomas began his career in dealer operations at Fox Chevrolet in Baltimore before joining the OEM side of the industry. His work has taken him across the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, building a broad network and a deep understanding of international brand collaboration.
“I’m thrilled to join Ten Tenths at such an exciting time,” Thomas said. “The club’s vision represents the next evolution of automotive lifestyle and performance culture. I look forward to connecting global manufacturers with this extraordinary facility and to becoming part of the Charlotte community.”
Located adjacent to the iconic Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ten Tenths Motor Club combines exclusive track access, curated events and premium hospitality to create an unparalleled environment for members and partners. The facility has quickly become a premier destination in the Charlotte metropolitan area for automotive launches, luxury brand activations, enthusiast experiences and special events. Tickets are now on sale for Ten Tenths Motor Club signature public event, Heritage Invitational, April 9-11, 2026.
CMS PR
Motorsports
Short Track Racing Gets Major Boost With $6.7 Billion Backed Chili Bowl Nationals Coverage
Short-track racing is set for a significant commercial and visibility boost, one that points to growing confidence from corporate players in the grassroots motorsport ecosystem.
As the Chili Bowl Nationals approaches next January, developments off the track suggest the event is entering a new commercial phase. The move will inject major corporate backing into one of grassroots motorsport’s most prestigious events.
Chili Bowl Nationals Gain Momentum As Major Brands Look Beyond Top-Tier Series
In a new announcement, it has emerged that Chili’s will sponsor FloRacing’s streaming coverage of the Chili Bowl Nationals in January 2026.
A motorsports journalist first reported the development on X, revealing, “@Chilis will sponsor @FloRacing’s streaming coverage of the Chili Bowl Nationals in January as part of a new deal, with assets including ad integration during pre- and post-race and shoulder programming, along with on-site signage, jumbotron commercials and a hospitality area.”
The deal includes extensive ad integration across FloRacing’s Chili Bowl coverage. The partnership will also feature branded elements during pre- and post-race shows, shoulder programming, on-site signage, jumbotron commercials, and a dedicated hospitality area at the venue.
Chili’s is owned by Brinker International, a publicly listed restaurant company valued at approximately $6.6 billion, underlining the scale of investment now flowing into short track and dirt racing.
While the Chili Bowl has long been a fan favorite on the racing calendar, the association of a corporate company of this size with the Chili Bowl further elevates the event’s commercial credibility and fan appeal.
The Chili Bowl Nationals, held annually in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is widely regarded as the crown jewel of midget racing, drawing elite drivers from dirt racing, IndyCar, and even NASCAR disciplines. While the event has long enjoyed strong grassroots support, this sponsorship shows how close the gap between short-track racing and central corporate America is getting.
For FloRacing, the deal reinforces its strategy of pairing grassroots motorsport with blue-chip advertisers. As streaming continues to transform how fans consume motorsport, securing a nationally recognized brand like Chili’s adds credibility to FloRacing’s model and demonstrates the platform’s ability to deliver measurable value to sponsors.
At a broader level, the partnership reflects a shifting landscape within American motorsport. Short track racing, once viewed primarily as a regional niche, is increasingly attracting major corporate interest due to its authenticity and strong fan engagement.
The move could also have a ripple effect across the short track ecosystem, encouraging other major sponsors to explore similar partnerships. This will further narrow the gap between grassroots racing and top-tier motorsport in terms of commercial and media appeal.
Motorsports
F1 Aero Tricks for Enhanced Car Performance
Every new F1 season reshapes the grid, and the 2025 cars push aerodynamic complexity even further with intricate sidepods, sculpted floors, and finely tuned wings. While these features exist to win races under strict regulations, the principles behind them are already transforming how high-performance road cars cut through the air and stay planted at speed.
Just as enthusiasts compare online casinos that pay out the most to maximize return on risk, performance drivers now compare brands that deliver the greatest transfer of F1 aerodynamic knowledge into cars that occupy real garages. The models that benefit from this pipeline feel calmer at 250 km/h, corner harder on track days, and waste less fuel or battery charge at highway speeds.
From Wind Tunnels to Showrooms
F1 teams and manufacturers now work inside shared technical ecosystems, where aerodynamic research rarely remains confined to the race shop. Computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel data feed common databases that road-car engineers interrogate when they design a new supercar or performance sedan.
Key channels that transfer F1 aero learning into road cars include:
- Shared CFD platforms that simulate similar flow conditions for race and road projects.
- Common wind tunnel facilities with interchangeable models and measuring systems.
- Track data that validates how cars behave in crosswinds and turbulent air.
- Joint technical groups that translate race concepts into street-legal solutions.
Through these mechanisms, investment in F1 development produces measurable benefits in the road division instead of existing as a pure marketing exercise.
Ground Effects and Venturi Floors in Road Cars
The 2025 F1 floors generate huge downforce through Venturi tunnels and powerful diffusers, and road-car departments have revived the same philosophy in a moderated form. Underbody tunnels, extended diffusers, and subtle vortex generators create suction without resorting to oversized wings that would look out of place in city traffic.
Examples of ground-effect DNA in current road cars include:
- Mid-engine supercars with flat floors and deep rear diffusers
- Hypercars that channel air through underbody tunnels to generate downforce
- Performance sedans that reduce high-speed lift with tuned diffusers
- Track-focused editions with removable front splitters and underbody strakes.
These solutions respect everyday ride-height constraints while retaining the stability advantages that F1 teams exploit.
Active Aero and Smart Surfaces
While F1 cars use limited movable devices, the control logic behind ride height, temperatures, and hybrid deployment inspires sophisticated active systems on road cars. High-performance models now coordinate adjustable rear wings, deployable spoilers, and intelligent grille shutters through central controllers that read speed, steering angle, and thermal load.
Common active aerodynamic components in modern performance cars include:
- Multi-position rear wings that alter angle during braking and acceleration
- Front lips that extend at higher speeds to increase front axle grip
- Adaptive grille shutters that open for cooling and close to cut drag
- Underbody flaps that direct airflow toward diffusers or brake ducts.
In practice, the car behaves as a dynamic object that reshapes itself for each phase of a drive, echoing the adaptive philosophy of race setup work.
Aero Efficiency for Everyday Driving
Although F1 teams chase maximum downforce within tight drag limits, road cars often prioritize efficiency because emissions regulations and electric range targets are strict. Designers therefore apply F1-style flow management around mirrors, wheels, and rooflines to preserve stability while minimizing wake turbulence.
Typical efficiency tricks derived from F1 thinking include:
- Air curtains that guide flow cleanly around the front wheels.
- Sculpted side sills that feed air toward the rear diffuser.
- Tapered roof and tail profiles that shrink the turbulent wake.
- Subtle rear lips that reduce lift without large wings.
Each detail may seem minor when viewed alone, yet in combination they deliver measurable improvements in drag coefficient and high-speed composure.
What This Means for Drivers and Engineers

For drivers, the influence of 2025 F1 aerodynamics appears as calmer behavior at velocities that once felt nervous. Steering remains more precise under heavy braking, crosswinds disturb the car less, and lap times on track days improve as tires operate within more consistent load windows.
For engineers, the convergence of race and road programs enforces disciplined development processes. Shared wind tunnel hours, CFD runs, and correlation tests reduce the temptation to add ineffective vents or decorative wings, because every visible feature must justify itself through quantifiable aerodynamic benefit.
The Next Aero Generation
The trajectory from 2025 indicates that future performance cars will deepen the integration between sensors, software, and active surfaces. Vehicles may adapt their aero profiles in response to real-time traffic, weather, and road-surface data, rather than relying solely on speed-based maps.
For enthusiasts who watch F1 qualifying and then drive home in high-performance coupes or sedans, the connection between what happens on Saturday and what they feel on Monday morning will continue to tighten. Each new F1 regulation cycle forces teams to reinvent the language of airflow, and that vocabulary keeps migrating into cars parked in ordinary driveways, quietly transforming everyday journeys with technology proven at racing speed.

Motorsports
Dr. Patrick Staropoli Lands Full-Time O’Reilly Ride with Big Machine Racing
Ladies and Gentlemen, the doctor is in!
Dr. Patrick Staropoli, a board-certified medical and surgical retina specialist, has been tapped by NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series operation Big Machine Racing to compete full-time in the second-tier division in 2026.
Staropoli will get behind the wheel of the No. 48 SYFOVRE (pegcetacoplan injection) Chevrolet, beginning with the February 14 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.
“From the moment I buckled into a pure stock at Hialeah Speedway in 2023, my life’s goal has been to compete at the top levels of this sport,” said Staropoli. “The path has taken many unexpected turns, but after working every day for 23 years in pursuit of this dream, I now have the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to Scott Borchetta, Patrick Donahue, and Chevrolet. I am ready to do whatever it takes to put this SYFOVRE Chevy up front and raise awareness for Geographic Atrophy secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration by combining my passion for motorsports and medicine.”
A third-generation driver from Plantation, Florida, Staropoli first gained national attention after winning the 2013 PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge to become a Michael Waltrip Racing development driver, emerging ahead of top talents like NASCAR Cup Series race-winner Chase Briscoe. The 36-year-old earned himself a seat with Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West, where he captured a victory at Irwindale in 2014.
“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Staropoli to the No. 48 Big Machine Racing team for the 2026 season,” said Patrick Donahue, Crew Chief and Team Manager. “He brings a rare blend of professionalism, focus, and drive that will continue to strengthen our organization. This partnership reflects our commitment to surrounding the team with individuals who share our values and vision for building long-term success.”
After nearly a decade on the sidelines, Staropoli returned to the ranks of NASCAR’s National Series in 2025, competing in four NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Xfinity Series) events for Sam Hunt Racing and four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events for Cook Racing Technologies — earning two top-20s in both the O’Reilly Series and Truck Series.
The hiring of Dr. Patrick Staropoli comes after the surprising news earlier this month that Nick Sanchez, who earned the team’s second victory last Summer at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta), had been released from the organization ahead of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign. Sanchez said in an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that the move was “strictly business” on the part of Big Machine Racing.
Staropoli will take on the 33-race NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign in 2026 with Big Machine Racing, starting with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on February 14. Coverage will be at 5:30 PM ET on The CW, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Motorsports
NASCAR champion Kyle Larson open to Rolex 24 return
Kyle Larson is ready to go back to Daytona for the Rolex 24 Hours.
The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has three starts in IMSA’s season-opening crown jewel event, but none since 2016. He took overall victory with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2015, co-driving with Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Jamie McMurray.
On a recently-released episode of Dinner with Racers, a podcast co-hosted by Ryan Eversley and Sean Heckman, Larson was asked about his interest in returning for the endurance classic if Chrevolet came calling.
“I think at this stage in my career, yeah, I’d do it again,” said Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in NASCAR. “I had fun those three years I did it. I didn’t want to keep doing it every year.”
#02 Chip Ganassi Racing Riley DP Ford: Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Few are as well-equipped as Larson to handle a busy racing schedule. Beyond his Cup commitments, he also competes in High Limit Racing, a Sprint Car Series he co-owns with five-time World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet. There’s also the random Midget races, and offseason racing trips to the other side of the globe.
“The offseasons have only gotten busier,” Larson said. “There’s more races and stuff. I go to Australia now, Chili Bowl, and West Coast Midget races. It’s just a lot and I, kind of, want time off. But it’s been so long since I ran it that you almost get to the point where you forget a little bit about it, right? And I just remember having a blast doing that race, so I just want to go there and relive it.”
The 33-year-old California native would also relish the opportunity to share the experience with his family, noting his oldest of three children, Owen, is 11 but was a newborn when Larson won the event.
“To have my kids be a part of it would be cool,” said Larson, who also has two starts in the Indianapolis 500 each of the last two years.
It also helps bolster a family vacation when Disney World is roughly an hour away, too.
“Yeah, that, too,” he said. “So yeah, I would probably do it again.”
However, Larson, who attempted to express not knowing anyone in IMSA to move the idea forward, does have one requirement: “I want to be in the best car.”
As the subject started to fade off, Larson pressed his level of interest into more of a declaration.
“I definitely want to do it again in the future.”
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Motorsports
Wisconsin racing in 2026 at Road America, Mile, Slinger, Outaws, more
Dec. 23, 2025, 5:08 a.m. CT
Here is a list of major auto racing events to be held around Wisconsin in 2026, weighted toward the Milwaukee area, as well as photo galleries and links to 2025 coverage. (The farther away an event is, the bigger it has to be to crack the list.) Factors considered include history, prestige, scope and purse.
Follow track and series links for additional information.
If you have ideas for events that should be considered for addition, email dkallmann@journalsentinel.com.
Jan. 15-18: 63rd World Championship Snowmobile Derby, Eagle River (2025 winner: Zach Dewald)
April 26: ASA Midwest Tour and Slinger Speedway season opener
April 30-May 2: World of Outlaws Late Model Series Dairyland Showdown, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City. $40,000 to win Saturday (2025 winners: Friday – Tyler Erb; Saturday – Nick Hoffman)
May 3: ASA Midwest Tour Joe Shear Classic, Madison International Speedway, Town of Rutland (2025 winner: Casey Johnson)
May 15-17: Spring Vintage Festival, Road America, Elkhart Lake
May 29-31: MotoAmerica Superbike Series, Road America, Elkhart Lake (Superbike winner: Josh Herrin both Saturday and Sunday)
June 3: High Limit Racing sprint cars, Red Cedar Speedway, Menomonie (2025 winner: Rico Abreu)
June 4: High Limit Racing sprint cars, Gondik Law Speedway, Superior
June 5-7: SCCA June Sprints club sports-car racing, Road America, Elkhart Lake
June 6: World of Outlaws sprint cars Cheese Town Showdown, Plymouth Dirt Track (2025 winner: Rico Abreu)
June 7: World of Outlaws sprint cars Badger State Brawl, Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, (2025 winner: Sheldon Haudenschild)
June 19-20: IMCA modifieds, Clash at the Creek XVIII, $10,000 to win, 141 Speedway, Maribel
June 19-20: World of Outlaws late models Maribel Late Model Showdown, $12,000 to win Friday, $25,000 to win Saturday, 141 Speedway, Maribel
June 19-21: NTT IndyCar Series XPEL Grand Prix, Road America, Elkhart Lake. (2025 winner: Alex Palou)
June 21: ASA STARS National Tour, Slinger Speedway (2025 winner: Cole Butcher)
June 23: ASA STARS National Tour, Madison International Speedway, Town of Rutland (2025 winner: Carson Brown)
June 26-27: World of Outlaws sprint cars Independence Spectacular, Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond (2025 inners: Friday, David Gravel; Saturday, Carson Macedo)
June 26-28: Trans Am Speed Tour Cheese Capital Cup, Road America (2025 winner: Chris Dyson)
July 10-11: World of Outlaws sprint cars Larry Hillerud Memorial, Wilmot Raceway, Kenosha County Fairgrounds (2025 winner: Buddy Kofoid).
July 14: Slinger Nationals, Slinger Speedway (Winner: Ty Majeski)
July 16-19: WeatherTech Vintage Weekend, Road America, Elkhart Lake
July 30-Aug. 1: World of Outlaws late models, Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, with $100,000-to-win USA Nationals feature Saturday (2025 winner: Ryan Gustin)
July 30-Aug. 2: IMSA sports cars, Road America (2025 winner: BMW M Team RLL, Dries Vanthoor and Phillipp Eng)
Aug. 4: ASA MidwestTour, Gandrud Auto Group 250, Wisconsin International Raceway, Kaukauna (Winner: Luke Fenhaus)
Aug. 28-30: Fanatec GT World Challenge, Road America, Elkhart Lake
Aug. 28: ARCA Menards Series, Madison International Speedway, Town of Rutland (2025 winner: Max Reaves)
Aug. 28-30: IndyCar Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250, Milwaukee Mile (2025 single race winner: Christian Rasmussen)
Sept. 3-6: Crandon World Championship Off-Road Races and Crandon World Cup, Crandon International Raceway
Aug. 31: USAC Midgets, Firemen’s Nationals, Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie (2025 winner: Gavin Miller)
Sept. 18-20: VSCDA fall vintage weekend, Road America, Elkhart Lake
Oct. 3-5: SCCA National Championship Runoffs, Road America, Elkhart Lake
Oct. 8-11: Oktoberfest races, culmiating with ASA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest 200 season finale, La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, West Salem (2025 winner: Ty Majeski)
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