Rackley W.A.R. president and COO Willie Allen confirmed the drivers that will participate in the 56th running of the Snowflake 100 and Snowball Derby week at Pensacola Florida’s 5 Flags Speedway this morning, headlined by Luke Fenhaus in the team’s No. 26 Super Late Model.

Fenhaus, 19, of Wausau, Wisconsin was most recently crowned 2023 champion of the Alive for 5 Super Late Model series at Dells Raceway Park. He won 4 of the 5 feature races which are recognized as some of the most notable and prestigious events in the Upper Midwest region. This was his second series championship, the first driver in history to ever repeat that performance.

He also competed in the ARCA Menards East Series this season, where he claimed victory in 2 of the 8 events, at Iowa and Nashville and was ultimately runner-up to the series championship.

2021 was a breakout year for Fenhaus, winning both the championship at Wisconsin’s Slinger Speedway and that of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. During that championship run, Fenhaus also picked up the win at the Slinger Nationals, securing him a spot in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) race for the Slinger event.

As far as the 2023 Snowball Derby, this will be Fenhaus’ third visit to the prestigious event, and he expressed much gratitude and excitement to team up with Rackley W.A.R. for this pinnacle late model spectacular.

“I’m very excited for the Snowball and to be with the Rackley W.A.R. team,” he said. “I’m excited to work with a team where their late model programs have really shined this year. They’ve gotten their cars to be fast about anywhere. It’s also about the people and I’m excited to go work with great people and have great equipment behind me. I’m hoping for a good outcome that leads to more opportunities.”

Allen also confirmed that the team’s Pro Late Model drivers Dawson Sutton and Gavan Boschele are entered for the Snowflake 100, the preliminary event to the Super Late Model Snowball Derby. Boschele won the Pro Late Model feature at New Smyrna Speedway’s Governor’s Cup weekend last Saturday. This will be the first Snowflake 100 for each driver. He said the team is confident in its driver lineup for this year’s race and is looking forward to a big week for the middle-Tennessee team.

“We’ve had a really great year this year. 2023 has really been good for us from both a growth and performance perspective all-around. Dawson and Gavan have had exceptional years in the Pro Late Models and to add Luke to our driver roster has everyone pumped. This and the All-American 400 are definitely our premier events of the season and we are going down with the mindset to get the job done as always.”

The 56th Snowball Derby kicks off on Wed., Nov. 29 and runs through Sun., Dec. 3.

Rackley W.A.R. PR

Several controversies have surrounded the year's final sprint at Interlagos for the United States Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen seeing off Lando Norris to Mercedes's baffling struggles and rules, there have been several talking points from this series. 

Verstappen winning this event after a surprise defeat to Oscar Piastri in Qatar is a major highlight. This win is the fourth one for this year after edging Lando Norris McLaren. The duo contested earlier at Interlagos, with Norris outshining the Dutchman in the initial stages. 

However, this was a short-lived victory as Verstappen rose to his dominant position, roaring to a 17th win, which doubled up with the fourth sprint success. 

Besides the Verstappen and Norris drama, Charles Leclerc was forced to pull through the Ferrari reliability misery. On the other hand, Fernando Alonso produced a masterclass defense to challenge Sergio Perez. 

As for Mercedes, there is more to reconsider after the races. With major highlights crowding the event, such as F1's future tires and a calendar contract, there is more to be concluded from the Brazilian Grand Prix Final.

Before we dive into a detailed look into the concluded Brazilian Grand Prix, do you love motorsports and can predict the outcome of different clashes? Check out the GGBet official site for upcoming races, predictions, and odds. Below are highlights of the F1's San Paulo visit.

Verstappen in Quest to Break the F1 Record

Verstappen's latest victory is a campaign of dominance that could see him break the 1952 hit rate by Ascari. He is a real threat and a veteran with the potential to set a new record. Vestappen's victory (the 17th of the 2023 campaign) increased his GP to 85%. 

The results imply the lowest he could score is 77.3% in the Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas championships. The ranks cannot compare to the 71-year-old record set by Alberto Ascari in 1952 with 75%. No one has broken this record, but Verstappen is the man to watch. 

The Masterclass Defense by Alonso

Alonso is known for incredible comebacks, and the Brazilian Grand Prix was no exception. His unconventional strategy against Perez earned him a worth-to-mention accolade. How he helped Esteban Ocon move to victory while holding Lewis Hamilton in 2021 is still remarkable. 

The concluded series featured another tactical defense that earned him a spot on the podium, summing up to an eighth title in 2023.

Engine Electrics behind Leclerc's Ferrari Reliability Distress

The F1 had another rarely seen sight: a top-line driver (Leclerc) crashing on the formation lap. According to Leclerc, he thought the hydraulics were faulty, and they cut power at the engine to inhibit steering. This impacted his defense in countering the unexpected rear locking and turn six.

It turned out later that the command system failed and switched off the engine and hydraulic, as cited by Fred Vasseur (Ferrari's team boss). Leclerc terms this an unlucky encounter – he had previously encountered engine problems at Bahrain's season opener, DNF. 

Both scenarios have cost him the much-coveted podium finish. This now sparks the reliability question about engine electrics even as he looks forward to having contract talks with Ferrari.

More Durable Tires Are a Possibility

With the conclusion of the Brazilian race, Pirelli is embarking on a new project with FIA and F1 teams. The idea is to come up with low-degradation tires by 2025.

Drivers have been grappling with overheating that makes tires vulnerable. This makes it difficult to race against other competitors, even with the rains causing several rear-sliding episodes that needed careful management. 

Pirelli is researching this and is bound to modify this by reducing degradation, according to Mario Isola. It is an option to work on if racers can be guaranteed durable and reliable tires. 

Impending Race Format Changes in 2024

The just-concluded event in Brazil featured the sixth F1 2023 final sprint. The conclusion brought about a discussion with FIA to tweak the format for the third year after its debut. Proposals include the return of the GP qualification system happening on Saturday and the sprint later the same day. This means that the sprint shootout will happen on Friday afternoon. A change in the format creates more for drivers, fans, and organizers.

“Though he never sat behind the wheel of a stock car, Ken Squier contributed to the growth of NASCAR as much as any competitor. Ken was a superb storyteller and his unmistakable voice is the soundtrack to many of NASCAR’s greatest moments. His calls on TV and radio brought fans closer to the sport, and for that he was a fan favorite. Ken knew no strangers, and he will be missed by all. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Ken Squier.” – Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO

Richmond Raceway unveiled new logos today that reflect the River City’s astral aspirations as the track prepares for two NASCAR Cup Series races that will finish beneath the stars next year.

“Here in the River City, it’s all about striving for excellence and reaching for the stars,” said Richmond Raceway President Lori Collier Waran, who unveiled the new marks during a special event on the frontstretch Wednesday afternoon. “Richmond is the cradle of American racing, where upstarts have dared to be legends and legends have driven to stardom. These new logos are a perfect representation of that bold Richmond spirit that defines our commonwealth and our sport.”

Indeed, Richmond Raceway’s rebranded look includes key visual cues that harken to elements of familiar Commonwealth imagery. The outline of the logo is Richmond Raceway’s D-shaped oval, filled by the James River and Richmond city skyline. The striping is borrowed from the City of Richmond’s flag, while the stars and star streaking are influenced by the city seal and motto that dates back 200 years – sic itur ad astra, Latin for “to the stars.”

Richmond Raceway and NASCAR announced earlier this year that both of its 2024 NASCAR Cup Series races will finish beneath the stars. The Toyota Owners 400 will be contested at 7 p.m. on Easter Sunday, March 31, continuing NASCAR’s three-year effort of taking ownership of the Easter holiday and garnering new interest with a coveted primetime slot. The race will be broadcast live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

And then at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, the Cook Out 400 returns to Richmond’s 0.75-mile oval live on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Richmond Raceway’s Easter weekend will also include the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 on Friday, March 29, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ ToyotaCare 250 on Saturday, March 30. The summer race weekend will include the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular-season finale on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets now at www.richmondraceway.com.

Richmond Raceway PR

Over the course of his career, longtime WBTV journalist David Whisenant has covered countless laps of racing, car shows and campers at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On Friday, the Salisbury native will trade in his mic flag for a green flag, serving as grand marshal for opening night of Speedway Christmas, presented by Atrium Health.

Whisenant, who will retire from WBTV next month, has worked locally for the CBS station for 32 years, dutifully covering his Rowan and Cabarrus County beat. Perhaps the only thing more longstanding in his life is his passion for Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“I’ve been either coming to races as a fan or coming as a reporter for more than 50 years,” Whisenant said. “It’s one of the most special places in my life and in my career. The first time I came here, I was 10 years old. My dad came to my elementary school and picked me up, as a surprise, and brought me here to watch qualifying on a Wednesday. I was the world’s biggest Richard Petty fan, and that was the first time I’d ever seen Richard Petty in person.”

As grand marshal, Whisenant will do something at Charlotte Motor Speedway that even his childhood racing hero has never done, leading a field of cars to the green flag to kick off the 14^th year of Speedway Christmas. And while passengers are prohibited from riding along during the Coca-Cola 600 or Bank of America ROVAL™ 400, Whisenant will have a few very special guests along for his ride Friday night.

“Coming back here with my granddaughters and my family and being able to be part of Speedway Christmas and turning on the lights will be one of the most special things of my entire career,” he said. “We have a tradition, my wife and I, of bringing our granddaughters here. We’ve been bringing them every year as long as they’ve been alive. They love it, and I love it. It’s the greatest thing in the world.”

“David Whisenant has been an exceptional storyteller who has served this community for more than 30 years,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “We’ve been fortunate that so many stories he’s told have been about the people and events at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s a true honor for us to recognize David and have him kick off Speedway Christmas for us with his family. We hope this will become yet another special memory he’ll have about Charlotte Motor Speedway.”

TICKETS:

Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health is open nightly from Nov. 17 to Jan. 7 (closed Christmas Eve), with tickets per vehicle starting at $35 Monday-Wednesday, when the Christmas Village is close, and $45 Thursday-Sunday, when the Christmas Village is open. Guests can skip the lines and beat traffic with the Fast Pass Lane, accessible off of Morehead Road at entrance P. The Fast Pass Lane ensures a smooth ride at $75 per vehicle on Thursday-Sunday.

Get your tickets online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or grab them at the gate.

FOLLOW ALONG:

Follow Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook or rev up the holiday spirit with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

CMS PR

The entire Lamborghini Super Trofeo gang is finally all back together again. For the first time since 2019, the three regional single-make series have gathered this week outside Rome for the final round of their respective series that’s then followed by the World Finals putting teams and drivers from North America, Europe and Asia on the track together for a pair of races to conclude the 2023 season.

The action takes place at the Autodromo Vallelunga road course some 20 miles north of Rome. Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America is represented by 27 entries in the four classes. Following testing and practice early this week, qualifying was scheduled for today, with the final races of the North American season set for Thursday and Friday.

The World Finals follow this weekend, with a race each day on Saturday and Sunday. With the event canceled in 2020 due to the global pandemic and the Asian series shut down the past two years, this season marks the first since 2019 that all three Super Trofeo series will race together again. And it will be a joyous occasion for all involved.

“When all three championships come together, it’s like a big family reunion,” said Brandon Huddleston, IMSA vice president of Partnership Marketing and Business Development who is in attendance at Vallelunga this year. “It will be especially so this year with teams from the Asia Pacific region that we haven’t seen for a number of years. It will be great for us all to be able to get together. We’re competitors on track but it’s all family off track.”

There’s little drama left in the Super Trofeo North America season, with three of the four class champions already decided heading into the week. Anthony McIntosh and Glenn McGee, co-drivers of the No. 169 Precision Performance Motorsports, Lamborghini Palm Beach Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2, will lock up the Am class title by starting Thursday’s 50-minute race.

The class champions already determined are: Danny Formal and Kyle Marcelli (No. 101 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport, Lamborghini Palm Beach Huracán), who’ve won back-to-back Pro class titles and will advance together to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next season in a WTR Andretti Lamborghini; Keawn Tandon for NTE Sport, Lamborghini Broward in ProAm, who isn’t entered this week; and Mark Wilgus (No. 150 Forte Racing Powered by US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills Huracán) in LB Cup. Precision Performance Motorsports holds a slim seven-point lead on WTR Andretti in the team championship, while Lamborghini Palm Beach has easily clinched the dealer crown.

With their North American Pro class title secured, Marcelli said he and Formal are focusing on bringing a World Finals championship home as well.

“There’s something special about international competition,” Marcelli said. “A race where you not only represent your team and sponsors, but also your country. … This will be our third (World) Finals together. We know exactly what we have to do, and our focus is clear. Coming off back-to-back North American championships, our goal is to take the No. 101 back to victory lane at the (World) Finals.”

The Super Trofeo North America races start at 8 a.m. ET Thursday and 7:25 a.m. Friday. The World Finals races are split with the Am and LB Cup classes racing together at 8:35 a.m. Saturday and 5:55 a.m. Sunday, with the Pro and ProAm classes at 9:55 a.m. Saturday and 8:50 a.m. Sunday. All of the races stream live on the Lamborghini Squadra Corse YouTube page.

IMSA PR

Winning a track championship at South Boston Speedway is a special accomplishment. For Jason Myers, winning the 2023 South Boston Speedway Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division title has its own special meaning.

In winning the division championship Myers joins his father, Billy Myers, a three-time division champion, on the list of South Boston Speedway’s Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division champions.

“Winning the championship means the world to me,” Myers remarked. “It’s awesome. I don’t see him (Billy Myers) get emotional often, but he did the last race. It’s really special to have both of our names there as champions. I never thought I would be a racecar driver when I was younger. To be able to do it and have success is really special.”

Winning the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division title gave Myers a sense of relief. He had been the division runner-up each of the two previous seasons, losing the championship by narrow margins. He lost the championship by a mere two points in 2021 and was 29 points shy of the title in 2022.

“We’ve been so close here the last couple of years, and things just didn’t go our way,” Myers pointed out. “To finally be able to get it done is just a major relief. You start putting pressure on yourself and questioning whether you can do this or not. We finally got it done, and it’s a huge monkey off my back.”

The Hurt, Virginia resident had an outstanding season at South Boston Speedway in 2023. He won three races, tying him for the most wins in the division, posted a division-high 11 Top-5 finishes in his 13 starts, tallied 12 Top-10 finishes, won a division-high six poles, and led a division-high 145 laps.

Also noteworthy is that Myers secured seven Top-3 finishes that included a pair of wins and four runner-up finishes over the course of the season’s final eight races to clinch the championship. His margin over division runner-up Carter Russo was 23 points.

“You have to be consistent,” Myers explained. “The big thing is that when we didn’t win, we usually finished second. That’s what it takes to be able to be there at the end for a championship.
“We were really focused coming into this year. This year we came into the season with a different mentality, knowing we had to stay up front every race and finish races. We had all the pieces to do it. A lot of times you have to have luck, and luck just went our way this year. We also brought good cars every week. It really showed the last few races. We knew we had to do well to stretch the points lead out so that we could have a stress-free last race and we were able to do that.”

Myers pointed out the level of competition in the division was very high in 2023. That is noted in that seven different drivers won races and 14 different drivers led laps in the division during the season.
“It was very competitive,” he said.

“We had seven different winners. You can’t get much more competitive than that. We were fortunate to come out with three wins. We always had a fast car. We won a bunch of poles, but that doesn’t always convert into wins. You have to be consistent, and that’s what we were.”

Myers pointed out the high level of the competition in the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division at South Boston Speedway prepares drivers for success in the Late Model Stock Car Division.

“A lot of these great drivers you see in Late Model came through the same Limited Sportsman Division,” Myers explained.

“It was tough when they were here, and it’s still tough. Anybody in this field can win. The talent that is going through the Limited Sportsman Division now is just unreal. That is across the whole southeast region.

“A lot of people struggle when they come here,” he continued. “Not only is the track tough, but the competitors are tough. People that come here usually travel very well, too. They go to other tracks and the competition just isn’t the same as it is here. It (the high level of competition) is good for the sport. It’s good for the division. I hope it stays strong.”

SBS PR

ThorSport Racing announces Jake Garcia to its 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver lineup, with Quanta Services onboard his Ford F-150.

Garcia is coming off his rookie season in the Truck Series where he tallied three top-five, and nine top-10 finishes in 22 races. 

“To have the chance to race for a championship organization like ThorSport Racing is huge for me,” said Garcia. “I’m extremely excited for this opportunity and cannot wait to get the 2024 season started.”

The Georgia native’s racing career started in quarter midgets at the age of five where he moved up the ranks competing in Allison Legacy, USAC Eastern Midget Series, Pro Late Model and Super Late Model Series.

Garcia’s accomplishments include the 2021 Southern Super Series Champion becoming the youngest driver to do so. Five Flags Speedway Super Late Model track champion in 2021, the 2020 Southern Super Series Rookie of the Year, and the 2019 Five Flags Super Pro Late Model track champion.

Quanta Services has built the largest skilled-labor force in North America by uniting over 200 operating companies to tackle the most complex infrastructure challenges in the world. The company operates in a regional structure to marshal its global resources seamlessly and efficiently in the local interest of its customers.

ThorSport PR

With the support of his Setzer Racing and Development team, Phillips stormed to half the victories on the schedule, winning six times in all at various venues across the East Coast.

Phillip's accomplishments tie him with recently crowned 2023 CARS Tour champion Carson Kvapil, who also captured six triumphs in a single season.

Phillips steered his No. 6 Chevrolet to wins at New River (N.C.) All American Speedway, Carteret County (N.C.) Speedway, Franklin County (Va.) Speedway, Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Anderson (S.C.) Motor Speedway and Orange County (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

On top of his six victories this season, Phillips claimed the pole position seven times and launched his successful championship season in the Carolina Pro Late Model division with a podium finish at Hickory Motor Speedway in his very first start in a full-size race car.

Focused on his responsibilities during the day, Phillips would turn his attention to race cars in the afternoon, juggling the duties of racing in both a Legends Car at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway during the week and a Late Model during the summer weekends.

Strengthening his craft throughout an impressive year, Phillips believes competing in both divisions throughout the year allowed him to capitalize on opportunities that propelled him to his championships.

"First, all the Glory to God," said Phillips. "I am incredibly blessed to have had such a successful season, especially in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series with Setzer Racing and Development," said Phillips.

"I will be honest, I was not sure what to expect in my rookie season, but I think I could remain focused on my goals, and with the guidance of my team and good people around me, I believe I stepped up to the plate and delivered.

"One championship is amazing in itself, but to claim two in one year is just unbelievable. None of this would have been possible without my partners, family, friends and fans' support."

Phillips said the tutelage of Setzer Racing and Development, led by Brandon and former NASCAR driver Dennis Setzer, has been instrumental in helping make the season memorable.

"Without a doubt, everyone at Setzer Racing and Development has helped me become a better race car driver," explained Phillips. "For that, I am grateful. I realize I still have a lot to learn, but when you have good people who care about your career and want you to succeed, they are not afraid to offer constructive criticism to help you achieve your dream.

"They have taught me everything I know about racing a Late Model, and I love this team. I am excited to see what we can do together next year."

His team was equally excited about their results this year. 

"2023 has been a great year working with George Phillips," said Brandon Setzer. "George showed great speed right from the first race of the year and has gotten more comfortable every race since then. About halfway through the year, everything came together, and he started knocking off wins in the Carolina Pro Series and running up front in the Cars Tour as well.

"He takes instruction very well and puts in a ton of effort throughout the week in his fitness, reviewing notes from the previous week and using iRacing as a tool to get better. We are looking forward to an even better 2024."

CitruSafe®, The Racing Warehouse, Ross & Witmer Inc. and Simpson Race Products all served in partnership roles this season.

"I cannot continue to thank my partners, CitruSafe®, The Racing Warehouse, Ross & Witmer Inc. and Simpson Race Products, for all of their support this season," sounded Phillips. "Without them, I know being able to get to the track would have been incredibly difficult. I was honored to represent them and deliver two championships this season. I am eager to continue our relationships in 2024 and continue to win races."

Details on Phillips 2024 racing schedule will be released in due course. 

Find out more on George Phillips, please visit his website GeorgePhillipsRacing.com, or follow him on Instagram @GeorgePhillipsRacing and X | Twitter @GeorgePRacing.

George Phillips PR

Logan Seavey remembers it well.

The last time the Sutter, Calif. native won the November Classic at California’s Bakersfield Speedway in 2018, it cemented his USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship hopes and aspirations.

Five years later, at the very same 1/3-mile clay oval, the current series point leader’s second victory at Bakersfield on Tuesday night brought him one step and one race closer to wrapping up a second career series title.

The ninth place starting Seavey tracked down racelong leader Emerson Axsom with nine circuits remaining in the 30-lapper to earn the seventh victory of his magical USAC National Midget season in his Abacus Racing/Honest Abe Roofing - Indy Custom Stone - Laura Kopetsky Tri-Ax/Spike/Stanton SR-11x.

Seavey’s 15th career USAC National Midget victory moved him inside the top-50 all-time on the series win list alongside Don Branson, Larry Rice and Chris Windom.

The occasion was made doubly special with the sky-blue No. 57 paint scheme Seavey was sporting in tribute to Abacus Racing crewman Johnny Cofer who had the car revealed to him in surprising fashion at the team’s Noblesville, Ind. shop last Wednesday.

Cofer himself drove a sky-blue No. 57 to a USAC Western States Midget victory at Bakersfield Speedway back in 1994 en route to that year’s season title. Seavey is keen on keeping the trend going as his only Bakersfield win resulted in a championship and his latest on Tuesday moved him even closer to clinching.

In a hole early after a 21st place qualifying run, Seavey dug in and shoveled his way out with a heat race victory, which positioned him on the inside of row five for the feature. Earlier in the evening, Cofer was a tad unnerved, but Seavey would soon lead Cofer out of any sense of uneasiness.

“Even when we get a little behind, we figure it out really quickly and get it right back,” Seavey explained. “Johnny was a little nervous. He said, ‘man, are we buried yet?’ I said, ‘no worries; we’ll take care of it.’ And we did and we’re here. It speaks to how good this car is. We were a little off there early in the night, but we got it all squared away and sorted out. We were good in the heat race and really good in the feature.”

For Cofer, it was like old times with his Dwaine Esslinger owned ride he wheeled nearly three decades ago. Now with his retro tribute paint scheme back on the track, it’s led to the competition further suggesting that they bring back their own versions of retro schemes. 

Among them was team owner Keith Kunz pondering the thought of bringing out a car resembling the machine Billy Boat drove to three-straight Turkey Night Grand Prix wins in 1995-96-97 and a USAC record 11 straight feature victories with the Western States Midgets in 1995 and was routinely a thorn in the side of Cofer “back in the day.”

“It’s just perfect,” Cofer exclaimed. “I couldn’t be prouder of the whole team and what (Abacus Racing team owner) Brent Cox has done to develop this team so quickly and it’s just phenomenal to watch Logan race. Keith (Kunz) just had a good idea. He said if these guys went ahead and did the blue 57, he’s going to bring the black 15 out with Boat’s deal and that could be trouble because he whooped me all the time.”

Nonetheless, holding the upper hand early was Axsom who jetted out to the initial lead on the low side as outside front row starter Justin Grant worked the top groove a couple car lengths back in second.

Two-time November Classic winner Buddy Kofoid (2020 & 2021) soon made his way into third on lap two and began hustling toward the leaders who were involved in their own tussle with Grant making a charge at Axsom in turns one and turn three, sliding past each time as Axsom retained control by scooting back under Grant off the exit.

Grant’s turn three maneuver proved detrimental as he pushed wide over the cushion, opening the door for Kofoid to slot into second on lap eight. The same two remained relentless, scrubbing tires off each other in turns three and four as the two fought to stay within earshot of Axsom who began to dice his way through lapped traffic a near full second ahead.

At the midway point entering turn three, Kofoid got caught up behind the lapped car of his teammate, Mariah Ede. Through the turns, the two glanced wheels, once more stifling Kofoid’s momentum, thus allowing Grant to capitalize by flashing across the nose of Kofoid to grab the spot back.

However, while that particular kerfuffle was transpiring, Seavey calmly cruised underneath both drivers to elevate himself from fourth to second on the leaderboard.

“I say it a lot, but when your car is this good, you can be patient and wait for the right move to come open and then take them when you get a chance and not mess it up when you do get the chance,” Seavey reasoned. “You don’t get a chance to go by two guys fairly easily like that, especially Buddy and Justin. They were just racing so hard with each other that I was able to sneak by down there on the bottom and then get right back up and get my speed back going.”

As Axsom sought a lane lower than Chance Crum while putting him a lap down in turn one on lap 22, Axsom’s momentum was suddenly hindered, and Seavey was on hand to capitalize. Seavey never broke stride going even lower than Axsom as he blasted by into the lead in turn one.

“That’s just racing,” Seavey explained. “You’ve got two guys racing in front of you and the easiest way to go by two good guys is to catch them when they are racing each other, and I was able to do that. The bottom was so narrow and so slick. To go down there for the first time in a long time and to nail the bottom and go by two of the best cars in the field is cool.”

A lap and a half later, disaster struck KKM teammates Gavin Miller and Kofoid. Miller, running fifth, ramped over the right rear tire of fourth place Kofoid in between turns three and four, sending Miller into the wall, which he ramped up and flipped over 1.5 times before coming to a rest upside down. Miller was able to walk away. During the ensuing stoppage, Kofoid pulled off to the Indy Metal Finishing Work Area, but soon returned to the tail of the field and raced back to a 14th place result.

On the final restart with seven laps remaining, Seavey said “sayonara” and quickly established a half straightway advantage before finishing up and crossing the line as the victor 1.705 seconds ahead of Emerson Axsom, Justin Grant, Cannon McIntosh and Carson Macedo.

For Emerson Axsom (Franklin, Ind.), it was so close yet again at Bakersfield in his Keith Kunz-Curb-Agajanian Motorsports/Curb Records - TRD/Lynk/Speedway Toyota. For the fifth time this season, Axsom finished as the runner-up in a USAC National Midget feature without a win. This time at Bakersfield, he led a race high 21 of 30 laps before slotting into second in the final tally. It also marked Axsom’s second runner-up performance at Bakersfield following a similar performance in 2021 in which he led the first 17 laps and finished second.

In Justin Grant’s first 19 feature starts to begin the 2023 USAC National Midget season, he had earned just two top-three finishes. Now, in his last three starts, he's finished inside the top-three on three consecutive occasions, with a third at Bakersfield serving as the latest gold star on his recent late season run with RMS Racing/NOS Energy Drink – EnviroFab – Response Management Services/Spike/Speedway Toyota.

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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: November 14, 2023 – Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, California – 1/3-Mile Dirt Track – November Classic

HONEST ABE ROOFING QUALIFYING: 1. Taylor Reimer, 25K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.687; 2. Cannon McIntosh, 86, CBI-12.719; 3. Buddy Kofoid, 67K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.757; 4. Gavin Miller, 97, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.781; 5. Jake Andreotti, 00, Davis-12.809; 6. Justin Grant, 2, RMS-12.844; 7. Emerson Axsom, 68, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.862; 8. Michael Faccinto, 14T, Graunstadt/Streeter-12.881; 9. Cade Lewis, 5K, Alexander-12.887; 10. Jacob Denney, 25, Malloy-12.896; 11. Braden Chiaramonte, 14J, Graunstadt/Streeter-12.900; 12. Jade Avedisian, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.900; 13. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen-12.905; 14. Bryant Wiedeman, 81, CBI-12.914; 15. Hayden Reinbold, 19AZ, Reinbold/Underwood-12.947; 16. Carson Macedo, 99AU, Dyson-12.995; 17. Ryan Timms, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.001; 18. Daniel Whitley, 58, Abacus-13.031; 19. Daison Pursley, 19, Reinbold/Underwood-13.052; 20. Mariah Ede, 71E, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.061; 21. Logan Seavey, 57, Abacus-13.069; 22. Chance Crum, 68w, Six8-13.075; 23. Mitchel Moles, 19T, Reinbold/Underwood-13.090; 24. Thomas Meseraull, 7x, Engler-13.093; 25. Peter Hunnibell, 65NZ, Covich-13.100; 26. Spencer Bayston, 9AU, Dyson-13.136; 27. Brandt Twitty, 4B, Twitty-13.140; 28. Brody Fuson, 51, Carlile-13.208; 29. Jesse Love, 84, CBI-13.218; 30. David Gasper, 73, Ford-13.271; 31. Blake Bower, 9, Boscacci-13.306; 32. Chase Johnson, 31B, Beilman-13.580; 33. Terry Nichols, 1p, Nichols/Peckfelder-13.839; 34. Ron Hazelton, 15ws, Hazelton-14.305; 35. Marvin Mitchell, 78, Mitchell-NT; 36. Garrett Twitty, 4, Twitty-NT.

SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (10 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Logan Seavey, 2. Ryan Timms, 3. Taylor Reimer, 4. Shannon McQueen, 5. Jake Andreotti, 6. Cade Lewis, 7. Jesse Love, 8. Peter Hunnibell, 9. Terry Nichols. 2:12.37

ROD END SUPPLY SECOND HEAT: (10 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Justin Grant, 2. Cannon McIntosh, 3. Jacob Denney, 4. Bryant Wiedeman, 5. Chance Crum, 6. Spencer Bayston, 7. David Gasper, 8. Ron Hazelton, 9. Daniel Whitley. NT

T.J. FORGED THIRD HEAT: (10 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Daison Pursley, 2. Buddy Kofoid, 3. Emerson Axsom, 4. Mitchel Moles, 5. Hayden Reinbold, 6. Brandt Twitty, 7. Blake Bower, 8. Braden Chiaramonte, 9. Marvin Mitchell. NT

CAR IQ FOURTH HEAT: (10 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Carson Macedo, 2. Gavin Miller, 3. Brody Fuson, 4. Mariah Ede, 5. Jade Avedisian, 6. Michael Faccinto, 7. Chase Johnson, 8. Thomas Meseraull. NT

ELLIOTT’S CUSTOM TRAILERS & CARTS SEMI: (12 laps, top-6 transfer to the feature) 1. Jake Andreotti, 2. Jade Avedisian, 3. Chance Crum, 4. Michael Faccinto, 5. Cade Lewis, 6. Hayden Reinbold, 7. Braden Chiaramonte, 8. Chase Johnson, 9. David Gasper, 10. Blake Bower, 11. Brandt Twitty, 12. Jesse Love, 13. Spencer Bayston, 14. Ron Hazelton, 15. Peter Hunnibell, 16. Terry Nichols, 17. Daniel Whitley, 18. Thomas Meseraull, 19. Marvin Mitchell. NT

FEATURE: (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Logan Seavey (9), 2. Emerson Axsom (1), 3. Justin Grant (2), 4. Cannon McIntosh (5), 5. Carson Macedo (7), 6. Daison Pursley (8), 7. Taylor Reimer (6), 8. Jade Avedisian (14), 9. Jacob Denney (13), 10. Hayden Reinbold (17), 11. Jake Andreotti (10), 12. Bryant Wiedeman (16), 13. Ryan Timms (18), 14. Buddy Kofoid (4), 15. Mitchel Moles (21), 16. Cade Lewis (12), 17. Brody Fuson (22), 18. Chance Crum (20), 19. Shannon McQueen (15), 20. Mariah Ede (19), 21. Gavin Miller (3), 22. Michael Faccinto (11). NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-21 Emerson Axsom, Laps 22-30 Logan Seavey.

**Daniel Whitley & Thomas Meseraull flipped during the semi. Gavin Miller flipped on lap 23 of the feature.

USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Logan Seavey-1489, 2-Justin Grant-1259, 3-Bryant Wiedeman-1205, 4-Daison Pursley-1185, 5-Ryan Timms-1178, 6-Jade Avedisian-1162, 7-Jacob Denney-1113, 8-Gavin Miller-1051, 9-Cannon McIntosh-1022, 10-Taylor Reimer-981.

OVERALL USAC NATIONAL PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Daison Pursley-188, 2-Logan Seavey-152, 3-Justin Grant-120, 4-Emerson Axsom-117, 5-Shane Cottle-106, 6-Matt Westfall-105, 7-Robert Ballou-100, 8-Chase Stockon-95, 9-Brady Bacon-92, 10-Mitchel Moles-91.

NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACES: November 17-18, 2023 – Placerville Speedway – Placerville, California – 1/4-Mile Dirt Track – Hangtown 100

CONTINGENCY AWARD WINNERS

Dirt Draft Hot Laps Fastest Driver: Justin Grant (12.953)

Honest Abe Roofing Fast Qualifier: Taylor Reimer (12.687)

Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner: Logan Seavey

Rod End Supply Second Heat Winner: Justin Grant

T.J. Forged Third Heat Winner: Daison Pursley

Car IQ Fourth Heat Winner: Carson Macedo

Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts Semi Winner: Jake Andreotti

Green APU Green Flag Challenge First Lap Leader: Emerson Axsom

Hard Charger: Logan Seavey (9th to 1st)

USAC PR