WHO’S THE MIDGET MASTER OF THE BULLRING ENTERING PORT CITY?
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Tulsa, Oklahoma (May 12, 2020)………There are bullrings and then there are the extreme bullrings, small of stature but big on action, such of the 1/8-mile variety where space is at a premium and the racing is at its most intense.
Over the past five seasons, the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship has taken on the challenge of the 1/8-mile dirt tracks on seven occasions, with numbers eight and nine coming May 22-23 to Port City Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. for the Werco Manufacturing T-Town Midget Showdown presented by B & H Contractors.
The tracks of Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, Ill. and Pennsylvania’s Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway have served as the lone 1/8-mile tracks on the series schedule over the past half-decade, the smallest venues on the trail.
A number of drivers expected to take part in the event have experienced a myriad of success on the bullrings, namely Tanner Thorson, a 2016 and 2017 winner at Lanco and 2nd place finisher at Wayne City for good measure, and winner of two of the first three during the 2020 USAC National Midget season, and has an average finish of 5th on the 1/8-milers.
However, he doesn’t own the best average on these tracks. In four 1/8-mile starts, Logan Seavey has only finished outside the top-four once, adding a 2019 series win at Lanco during his championship season, plus another third and a fourth for an average result of 4.25, tops in the series on tracks of this size.
Chris Windom, winner of the second night of this past February’s Winter Dirt Games Midget weekend at Bubba Raceway Park in Florida, has results of 4th, 6th and 6th in his three outings on 1/8-mile tracks while T-Town Midget Showdown promoter Brady Bacon has started all seven previous events and has a 6.95 average finish.
Oklahoma’s own Tyler Thomas will be a threat to win at Port City, coming in with an average feature result of 6.5, with a win at Wayne City, plus another 2nd there and a 3rd at Lanco in his portfolio.
Both nights at Port City will include full series points-paying events with a complete program each night that culminates with a feature event.
Seating capacity for the T-Town Midget Showdown will be limited to 400 spectators per night and tickets for each night can only be purchase in advance. Tickets are now on sale at https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2020-t-town-midget-showdown.
Entries will also be limited and based on a combination of criteria that will cater to both National and Regional teams. A maximum of six pit passes will be available for purchase with each car entry. Pit passes obtained with entry are for pit entry and pit seating/viewing areas only. A general admission ticket will be required for grandstand seating. Teams that meet the listed criteria will be contacted by USAC and/or Port City Raceway and given a code which will enable them to register online.
Both nights of the T-Town Midget Showdown at Port City will be shown live on FloRacing.
AVG. USAC NATIONAL MIDGET FINISH ON 1/8-MILE TRACKS SINCE 2015
(Minimum 2 starts)
(4.25) Logan Seavey
(5) Tanner Thorson
(5.33) Chris Windom
(6) Daryn Pittman
(6.5) Carson Macedo & Tyler Thomas
(6.95) Brady Bacon
(7.5) Tyler Courtney
(8) Andrew Felker
(8.33) Chad Boat
(8.67) Jonathan Beason
(9) Spencer Bayston
(9.25) Zeb Wise
(9.5) Justin Grant
(10) Adam Pierson
(10.5) Andrew Layser & Tony DiMattia
(11) Alex Bright & Sam Johnson
(11.4) Tanner Carrick
(11.5) Kenny Miller
(12) Dave Darland & Ryan Robinson
(12.5) Brenden Bright
(13) Timmy Buckwalter, Zach Daum & Kevin Thomas Jr.
(13.25) Jerry Coons Jr.
(13.5) Jason McDougal
(14) Andrew Layser, Tommy Kunsman & Daniel Robinson
(14.5) Rico Abreu
(15.8) Tucker Klaasmeyer
(17) Eric Heydenreich
(17.25) Holly Shelton
(17.33) Brayton Lynch
(18) Shawn Jackson
(18.5) Justin Peck
(19.33) Jake Neuman
(23) Gage Walker