NORTH SALEM, Ind. — J&J Racing is launching a focused indoor midget program built around professionalism, preparation, and high-visibility events.
The rollout begins with the Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis, Dec. 10-12, followed by its competition debut at the Knepper 55 at Du Quoin on Dec. 19, and continues with the 2027 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jan. 11-16.
The newly formed team brings together Joey Saldana and Jeff Peck, combining Saldana’s Hall of Fame racing background with Peck’s organizational leadership and passion for dirt track racing. Saldana, a 2023 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee, World of Outlaws sprint car veteran, and midget racing veteran, brings credibility, racing knowledge, and industry relationships. Peck, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, brings planning, structure, discipline, and operational experience.
Together, Saldana and Peck are building J&J Racing with a clear purpose: to create a professional, selective, and highly visible midget racing program attractive to race fans, industry partners, and companies looking for meaningful exposure in open-wheel racing.
“This program was not built to simply put a car on the track,” said team co-owner Jeff Peck. “It was built to represent people and partners the right way. Joey brings racing credibility, and I bring organization, planning, and a commitment to making sure the program is professional from the trailer to the race track.”
J&J Racing will field a Spike Chassis powered by the Tim Engler AE Stealth Ford power plant, pairing a proven chassis platform with a respected engine package for the demanding indoor midget environment.
The team will concentrate first on select indoor events rather than chasing a full-time schedule. With both Saldana and Peck managing other professional commitments, J&J Racing is built around quality over quantity — choosing high-impact events where preparation, presentation, and partner visibility matter most, while evaluating future opportunities for a limited number of summer outdoor races.
Longtime racing supporter Doug Harris of HE&M Saw is a key part of the program’s foundation. Harris and HE&M Saw represent committed, relationship-driven support that helps professional programs launch and reflects J&J Racing’s goal of aligning with partners who value craftsmanship, professionalism, and high standards.
Also joining the effort is Saldana Racing Oil Tanks, bringing trusted open-wheel experience, craftsmanship, product knowledge, and direct connection to the program.
“PRI gives this program another level of visibility,” Peck added. “It puts the car, the partners, and the people behind the effort in front of the racing industry and helps partners be seen and respected.”
For the Knepper 55 at Du Quoin on Dec. 19, J&J Racing will have NOS Energy Drink driver Ryan Bernal of Hollister, California, behind the wheel. A proven open-wheel racer with more than 60 wins across multiple divisions, Bernal brings the speed, experience, and race craft needed for one of the toughest indoor midget stages in the country.
“Ryan is exactly the kind of driver we wanted for this first step,” said Joey Saldana. “He understands midget racing, has speed, and knows how to compete in these events. This program is about putting the right people, equipment, and partners together.”
Following Du Quoin, the team will turn its attention to the 2027 Chili Bowl Nationals, Jan. 11-16, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A driver for the Chili Bowl has not yet been determined and will be announced at a later date.
“This is more than one race,” Saldana added. “It is about building the right program, surrounding it with the right people, and competing at events that matter. We are choosing the right events, doing them the right way, and building something with long-term potential.”
