Sprint Cars
With Kevin Thomas Jr., Chris Windom and Tanner Thorson spending more time with wings over their heads, new faces should step forward in the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship.
That said, don‘t look for a change at the top of the chart at year‘s end. The sprint cars will tee it up 51 times with popular events such as Indiana Sprint Week, Eastern Storm, Kokomo Smackdown, the USAC Nationals at Huset‘s and the Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway included.
Brady Bacon will be gunning for his record-tying fifth title and because of his consistency it would be difficult to find anyone willing to bet against him. This is a team at the top of their game. Matt Hummel and D. J “Elbow” Lebow have been with Bacon for years and are unflappable in high-stress situations. Bacon has extended the Hoffman Dynamics record to 13 entrant‘s championships.
Single-car teams are the norm on the sprint car tour and some familiar faces will provide the stiffest test for Bacon. Leading the list is Grant and TOPP motorsports. Last year, that combination bagged seven victories, including the finale of Kokomo Smackdown and two Indiana Sprint Week victories. Grant started every USAC national event last year and has become one of the club‘s biggest stars. This could be his year.
A pair of former National champions are also back. C. J. Leary, the 2019 series champion, scored the first victory for a Ford-powered car in USAC competition in a decade and topped off an impressive year with a victory during the USAC Nationals at Huset‘s Speedway. Back with owner Bill Michael, there is every reason to believe this year
will be stronger.
Robert Ballou is always a fan favorite and always makes noise. Last year, The Mad Man scored his first USAC victory in three seasons at Eldora Speedway and took the checkered flag at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway on the way to his second Eastern Storm title.
Logan Seavey is a legitimate contender albeit one that flies slightly under the radar. Seavey won three-straight races during Indiana Sprint Week and closed the year winning the Western World Championship at Arizona Speedway. He will be back with Baldwin-Fox Racing with his Silver Crown Series crew chief, Ronnie Gardner, alongside.
New to the tour will be DCT racing with Lynn Crow and Kevin Bodine steering the ship. Cole Bodine will be the primary driver. Also, a new combination will be talented Emerson Axsom and Clauson Marshall Racing. Axsom has looked as fearless in sprint cars and won two of the first three races of the season at Florida‘s Bubba Raceway Park.
In 2020, Jadon Rogers was the rookie of the year and this season he will race for Kyle Rogers and Tim Engler, while 2020 Most Improved Driver Brandon Mattox hit the road once more.
Jake Swanson will certainly be a factor when on hand, but at present his ability to run the entire tour remains in doubt. Chase Stockon, the 2021 Midwest Sprint Car Series champion, will run a mixed schedule as well. In early February a true bombshell was dropped when Keith Kunz Motorsports signaled a return to the sprint car tour with Kofoid handling at least some of the driving duties.