Meanwhile, former Rookie of the Year Kyle Robbins is one of the most popular drivers on the tour. K-Rob and his family team took another step forward and finished one spot behind Goodnight.
As new for combinations Logan Seavey is fast at all times, and the former midget champion has excelled in ARCA stock cars on the mile dirt tracks. Those traits certainly caught the eye of Prestige Worldwide Motorsports and crew chief Joe Devin, and they secured his services. While it is unclear if he can make every date, the plan is to be very active.
Shane Cockrum is a three-time winner in the series and will anchor a new entry he will co-own with Ben Clements under the name BLS Motorsports. Finally, not only will Buddy Kofoid join Chris Dyson for early sprint car action, but the Penngrove, California native is set to make a run at the 2021 Silver Crown Rookie of the Year honors.
The great news is that the health of this series is no longer in doubt. The one-mile dirt ovals are featuring car counts that hover around 40, with the pavement census growing again as well. The resurgence of interest at Lucas Oil Raceway on the part of officials and fans is a true plus.
This racing discipline requires one to manage tires and adjust as the car changes over the course of a long event. There is little surprise that those who have been successful here have also enjoyed success in places like NASCAR. When these drivers have a chance to compete in front of movers and shakers in the industry, as they will again, everyone elevates their game.
As for the upcoming title tussle, one key fact remains. It is hard for some Silver Crown teams to commit to both the dirt and pavement events, but that is what is necessary to win a championship. It is not the kind of title one backs into. Justin Grant starts 2021 as the odds-on favorite to repeat as champion, but we should see some first-time winners over the course of the year.
It should be a big year for USAC. Overall, purses are up and, as noted previously, several new events offer a tempting top prize. This represents a concerted effort to attract more marquee events and to elevate the purse structure for all events. For the driver who competes in all three National tours, there will be more travel. But, after spending much of the last spring on the sidelines, it is doubtful that too many will complain.