By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Indianapolis, Indiana (December 10, 2021).........USAC National driving champions Kody Swanson, Brady Bacon and Buddy Kofoid shared the spotlight along with other 2021 USAC champions and special award recipients at Friday night’s 66th USAC Night of Champions celebration at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis, Ind.
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NATIONAL CHAMPIONS:
Ninety-three total events took place throughout the 2021 USAC National season, beginning with high hopes, dreams and pristine machinery back in February in Ocala, Fla. for Winter Dirt Games, and closing out with a wheelstand at the conclusion of a historic Turkey Night Grand Prix in Ventura, Calif. It was a hectic and busy season, the busiest since 1977 in fact. This one, like all seasons, is one we’ll forever treasure. And, for those of whom earned their way onto this stage Friday night, that was especially true.
SILVER CROWN 1ST PLACE DRIVER: Kody Swanson, Kingsburg, California
Initially announcing his intentions to only compete with the USAC Silver Crown series part-time in 2021, this was a championship that, admittedly, wasn’t in the plans for Kody Swanson. Without a full-time ride on both dirt and pavement, he utilized a full assortment of resources to become the first driver to win the Silver Crown while driving for three different teams in a season – for Doran Racing, Chris Dyson Racing and the Mark Swanson Encore Team.
Totaling a series-high 4 wins, he was just the fifth driver to win races for multiple teams in a single season. Additionally, he became the first driver since Jimmy Sills in 1994 to win the Silver Crown championship while missing a race. With 5 poles, 304 laps led, 7 top-fives and 8 top-tens in 9 starts, he prevailed to score an unprecedented 6th USAC Silver Crown title.
SILVER CROWN 1ST PLACE ENTRANT: Rice Motorsports, Brownsburg, Indiana
Like father, like son. Robbie Rice had a dream to become a USAC Silver Crown champion and, this season, that dream was fully realized as a USAC Silver Crown entrant champion. In turn, it made him the first ever second-generation Silver Crown champ of any sort, following his father, Larry Rice, who won titles as a driver in 1977 and 1981. Their initial plans for 2021 were to compete solely on the dirt. However, mere weeks before the season opener, a pavement car was added to the team’s arsenal, setting the course for an assault on the series championship. In their first full year of competition with driver Logan Seavey, the team won twice, at Selinsgrove and Eldora, to lock up the series’ entrant title.
AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR 1ST PLACE DRIVER: Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
RICHARD HOFFMAN AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR 1ST PLACE ENTRANT: Dynamics, Inc., Loveland, Ohio
In 2021, Brady Bacon became just the third-ever driver to win at least four USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championships, joining Levi Jones and Steve Butler. His 36 top-five results and 41 top-tens throughout the 43-race season are the most in series history, breaking two records that Sheldon Kinser had held since 1977. He won five times in 2021 and his 40 career victories now stand 8th all-time alongside Gary Bettenhausen.
He’s one of the best in the business, and his team is the all-time greatest, as Dynamics, Inc. / Hoffman Auto Racing collected the most all-time feature wins in series history and is now a 13-time entrant champ.
NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET 1ST PLACE DRIVER: Buddy Kofoid, Penngrove, California
NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET 1ST PLACE ENTRANT: Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Columbus, Indiana
Buddy Kofoid set a new record in USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget racing in 2021. His 37 top-ten finishes were the most since Danny Caruthers in 1971 and his 28 top-fives were the most since Mel Kenyon in 1977. Along the way, there were six victories between he and Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, including the biggest charge of the season from 16th to 1st at Port City.
Together, they captured the Indiana Midget Week title and Kofoid also overcame a broken wrist and foot in late summer. This driver acclimated himself just fine, winning twice in his home state of California and finishing on the podium in each of the final three races to become the sixth teenager to win the series title, his first and the team’s all-time record 11th.
NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET 2ND PLACE DRIVER: Chris Windom, Canton, Illinois
NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET 2ND PLACE ENTRANT: CB Industries, Mooresville, North Carolina
Over the past three-straight years, driver Chris Windom has slotted into all three positions on the podium in the final standings for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship. A 3rd in 2019 was followed by a title in 2020 and, in 2021, it went down to the wire once again where he ultimately finished 2nd. He and his CB Industries team tied for a series-high seven wins in 2021, including the 4-Crown Nationals, the Western World Championships and a $20,000 grand prize at Huset’s Speedway. Driver Chris Windom and entrant CB Industries wound up as runner-up in points.
AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR 2ND PLACE DRIVER: Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, Alabama
AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR 2ND PLACE ENTRANT: KT Motorsports, Whitestown, Indiana
No driver had more USAC National Sprint Car victories than Kevin Thomas Jr. with 9 this year, including the season opening Winter Dirt Games, plus the Haubstadt Hustler, the Fall Nationals and the Oval Nationals. He also scored his second career Indiana Sprint Week crown in July. It was his best overall season in several categories with 210 laps led, 29 top-fives, 37 top-tens and 6 fast qualifying times while making 43 starts. Kevin Thomas Jr. was your 2nd place USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car driver, and his own KT Motorsports team finished as the 2nd place entrant.
SILVER CROWN 2ND PLACE ENTRANT: BCR Group, Springfield, Ohio
Utilizing multiple drivers during the 2021 USAC Silver Crown season, Springfield, Ohio’s BCR Group raced to a stirring victory on the Magic Mile of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend with driver Brian Tyler. For the veteran driver and team, it was their first ever race together after teaming up just one week before. Tyler, by the way, became the oldest driver to ever win a series race that afternoon in the BCR Group number 81 and also closed out the season with a third on the pavement at Toledo. The 2021 season was the team’s best ever finals result in the USAC Silver Crown standings, finishing 2nd.
SILVER CROWN 2ND PLACE DRIVER: Logan Seavey, Sutter, California
SILVER CROWN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Logan Seavey, Sutter, California
An exceptional first full-time season resulted in Logan Seavey’s first two career USAC Silver Crown victories in August at Selinsgrove Speedway as well as the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora, which put him just 34-points behind Swanson in the final standings. The Sutter, California driver’s runner-up finish in the points is the best in the series for a Rookie since Chris Windom was 2nd in 2013. He was the best Rookie finisher in 6 of the 10 events, also finishing as the runner-up at both Illinois dirt miles in Springfield and Du Quoin. Seavey was the 2nd place finishing driver in the USAC Silver Crown standings and he’s also the series Rookie of the Year.
NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET 3RD PLACE DRIVER: Justin Grant, Ione, California
NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET 3RD PLACE ENTRANT: RMS Racing, Western Springs, Illinois
The pairing of Justin Grant and RMS Racing made its debut in 2021, and once they hit their stride, they were one to contend with night-in, night-out. Picking up four scores this season at Lanco, Arizona, Merced and a $20,000 top prize in the Hangtown 100 at Placerville, together they led 77 laps and accrued 22 top-fives and 32 top-tens while starting all 40 events. It’s the best career points finish with the series for both this driver and team. The 2021 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget 3rd place driver is Ione, California’s Justin Grant while the your 3rd place entrant is RMS Racing.
AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR 3RD PLACE DRIVER: Justin Grant, Ione, California
AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR 3RD PLACE ENTRANT: TOPP Motorsports, Rochester, Indiana
In 2021, Ione, California’s Justin Grant became just the sixth driver ever to finish inside the top-three in points for the USAC Silver Crown, USAC National Sprint Car and USAC National Midget standings all in the same season. He’s now the only one to finish exactly in the third spot in all three in a single year! In each of the past three seasons, he’s edged closer to the top with a 5th in 2019, a 4th in 2020 and a 3rd in 2021. Meanwhile, his TOPP Motorsports team performed phenomenally with its third-straight top-five finish in points. They won seven times this season, highlighted by a Smackdown score at Kokomo in August, leading them to a 3rd place finish in driver and entrant points.
SILVER CROWN 3RD PLACE DRIVER: Justin Grant, Ione, California
SILVER CROWN 3RD PLACE ENTRANT: Hemelgarn Racing, LaSalle, Michigan
For the fourth consecutive year, Justin Grant and Hemelgarn Racing finished inside the top-three of the USAC Silver Crown standings, ranking third overall in points in 2021 which was highlighted by an impressive win on the high banks of Winchester (Ind.) Speedway, Grant’s first USAC National pavement feature win. Together, they led 67 laps, finished in the top-five three times at Winchester, Lucas Oil Raceway and Selinsgrove. The 3rd place USAC Silver Crown driver is Justin Grant and the 3rd ranking entrant is Hemelgarn Racing.
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INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
Friday night’s special awards segment celebrates those individuals who represent two segments of the racing world in both the future and present tense. Some who’ve burst into a new discipline with extraordinary efforts. Some who are just at the beginning of their big-time auto racing journey. And each of whom have put in the long hours and sacrifice to receive their well-deserved moment in the spotlight.
USAC CHIEF MECHANIC OF THE YEAR: Jarrett Martin of Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports
Alongside Buddy Kofoid on his journey to the championship was the one who turned the wrenches on the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports number 67 – Jarrett Martin. Martin, who was named USAC’s 2021 Chief Mechanic of the Year on Friday night. It was just three years ago the two were competing on track in sprint cars against each other. Over the last two years, they’ve become a dynamic force on the tour, picking up wins in two of the first three races in Ocala and Port City, plus two during Indiana Midget Week at Bloomington and Gas City, then down the stretch at Bakersfield and Merced all while leading a series-high 217 laps.
NATIONAL SPRINT CAR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Tanner Thorson, Minden, Nevada
Tanner Thorson’s first season in USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car competition was downright historic. His five wins are the most ever by a Rookie with the series. His fourth-place finish in the final standings was the best for any driver in the past 31 years. His seven fast qualifying times were also the most for a series Rookie ever. Starting all 43 events, he accumulated 22 top-fives and 32 top-tens. He’s a past USAC National Midget champion in 2016. Now, the Minden, Nevada driver is the 2021 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year.
BOB STROUD NATIONAL MIDGET ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Chase Randall, Waco, Texas
Finishing 11th overall in the standings, Waco, Texas’ Chase Randall driver turned in impressive performances throughout 35 feature starts with the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets in 2021, best among all first-year drivers. He led 6 laps and finished a season-best 3rd at Grandview Speedway, then nearly won the 100-lapper at Huset’s Speedway before suffering a flat tire. With 12 top-ten finishes and 55 total laps led, he also set quick time during the Indiana Midget Week finale at Kokomo Speedway. Hailing from Waco, Texas, he’s another who rose through the ranks as a USAC quarter midget champ and now he’s the first Texan to capture Bob Stroud USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year honors since James McElreath in 1976.
NATIONAL MOST IMPROVED USAC DRIVER: Jake Swanson, Anaheim, California
At this time last year, this driver was in the process of migrating from California to the Midwest to chase his dream – to compete for a USAC National Sprint Car title. We’ve seen him grow by leaps and bounds over the past decade, capturing the 2017 USAC West Coast Sprint Car championship and winning with CRA. He’s been consistently quick on the National trail, and after four runner-up finishes, finally became a USAC National winner late this season at Perris Auto Speedway, winning the closest finish of the entire USAC National slate. He started all 43 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car events, finishing in the top-five 13 times, and he was USAC’s 2021 National Most Improved Driver.
DICK JORDAN AWARD: Pat Sullivan
For his dedication to USAC racing as announcer, writer, author and historian of USAC racing, Pat Sullivan was named the recipient of the Dick Jordan Award. Sullivan has announced more USAC events than any other individual. His boundless enthusiasm for the sport is contagious and Sullivan has long embodied the same devotion to the sport as his personal friend and colleague, the late USAC media guru Dick Jordan.
ROGER MCCLUSKEY AWARD: Ron Hemelgarn
Presented annually by the President of USAC in memory of USAC Executive Vice President and former champion driver Roger McCluskey, recognizing the standards of excellence in the sport of auto racing so astutely represented by McCluskey during his career as a USAC driver and official. Ron Hemelgarn has a deep-rooted love for auto racing, and as a longtime USAC Silver Crown team owner, sponsor and ambassador, the LaSalle, Mich. native was named the recipient of the Roger McCluskey award.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Levi Jones
Though he is moving into new territory with a new role at IndyCar, Jones’ presence and influence in USAC racing as a driver and official will never be forgotten. A champion on and off the racetrack, Jones was recognized for his countless contributions to the club by USAC president and CEO Kevin Miller during a special ceremony early in Friday night’s program.
MIKE CURB SUPER LICENSE NATIONAL CHAMPION: Justin Grant, Ione, California
But wait there’s more! Justin Grant was the only driver to start all 93 USAC National features in 2021. As the 3rd place finisher in all three USAC National series this season, he accumulated the most total points among all drivers, and was the first driver this season to win in all three series. After previously earning the award in 2017, for the second time in his career, he is the Mike Curb Super License champion.
PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER: Justin Grant, Ione, California
Justin Grant took the lead of the ProSource Passing Master standings with three races remaining and kept a tight grip down the stretch of the 2021 season, advancing a combined 230 positions throughout the 93 USAC National features run during his campaign in the Silver Crown, Sprint Car and Midget. That was the most among all drivers this year, which earned him a $2,500 reward from ProSource, a longtime, great ambassador for USAC racing.
RACE ORGANIZER OF THE YEAR: Cody Brewer
A racer turned promoter, Cody Brewer, has done Yeoman’s work into turning USAC’s Mid-America Midget Week into a successful week of racing in the Great Plains states of Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska over the last several seasons, turning races into major events at venues such as Red Dirt Raceway, Solomon Valley Raceway and Jefferson County Speedway. It’s a job that hasn’t gone unrecognized by racers, teams and fans, which has earned him and his crew high praise and acknowledgement as the Race Organizer of the Year.
USAC SPECIAL APPRECIATION (INDIVIDUAL): Dave Thompson
High school guidance counselor and wrestling coach by day, USAC official by night. Dave Thompson does it all. A tireless worker who’ll go the extra yard to make sure to lend a helping hand on the racetrack as an infield worker and is there to lend a word of advice and wisdom when queried by his peers. Thompson has been a longtime mainstay as a USAC official, and his highly deserved special appreciation award was presented to him by Levi Jones.
JASON LEFFLER AWARD: Gary Stanton
The Jason Leffler award goes to recognize an individual whose intense appreciation of the sport’s history is reflected in his professionalism and outstanding representation as an ambassador of the United States Auto Club and exhibiting the same standard of ideals upheld by the late Jason Leffler during his USAC racing career. Over the past half-century, Gary Stanton has exhibited those qualities ten-fold as a car owner, constructor, mechanic and champion. More than a half century later, those qualities have remained as strong as ever with his dedication to USAC and dirt track racing.
USAC .25 MIDGET SPIRIT OF YOUTH AWARD: Jeremy Reaves
