At present there appears to be no motorsports discipline as polarizing as midget racing. On the one hand there are moments where the action is as thrilling as it has been at any point during the last 90 years. Yet, it is hard to deny that on other nights events can only be described as cringeworthy.
In every phase of life when complex issues are at hand, overly simplistic explanations and solutions abound. It is also true that on occasion some rush to address a problem that really may not exist at all.
So, when it comes to the constant lamentations on the state of midget racing many want to point a boney finger in one direction — those damn kids. Here are the rudiments of this dialogue:
■ These kids have no business behind the wheel of a midget.
■ We have too many rich dads who have bought their way into the sport.
■ We have too many drivers who buy their rides and too many owners ready to cash the check.
■ Because these kids are rich, when they crash a car there are no consequences.
■ These kids race with no respect.
■ These kids have learned bad habits in outlaw karts and micros.
■ Somebody needs to take these kids to the woodshed.
■ In my day some of these punks would have received a black eye or a broken nose and that would have taken care of all of this.
Let’s start with one basic issue. First, some of the very best we have seen, including current or future Hall of Fame drivers, started as teenagers.
Jerry Coons Jr. slid into a midget as an underage driver decades ago and when officials recognized his talent, they agreed to look the other way. Kyle Larson didn’t get stuck with the nickname Yung Money at 25 years old.
In the face of increasing numbers of youngsters trying to gain permission to race midgets and sprint cars, some tracks and sanctioning bodies tried to hold firm. Then, countermoves further complicated matters.
For example, when many families resorted to the process of legal emancipation to expedite their child’s entry into the professional ranks the floodgates opened.
There was a time when a young person began in quarter midgets and raced until they aged out. Then they did nothing, or helped at the track all the while hoping that someday they would get a chance. Now, there are any number of levels an aspiring driver can pass through before they can legally obtain a standard driver’s license.
It means that many 16-year-old midget racers have been continually in the game for a dozen years. In short, no matter how loudly some decry the state of affairs, this ship has sailed and is not going to turn back.
Then, there is the matter of the so-called rich dads. If some of the wealthiest parents want to buy a midget and hire the best help, they are free to do so. Others decide it is a wise decision to sign with a team that has the needed resources in place to shepherd their child’s racing career.
Is this egregious behavior? Most of us do everything within our power and the bounds of propriety to give our children the best chance to succeed. Also, to be clear, not all young drivers come from families with means. In the end, no matter how one arrives on the scene there is an ultimate bottom line. Any racer who desires to move forward must perform.
Putting contextual matters to the side, the one question that begs to be asked is exactly what do owners think about the state of midget racing. Are young drivers truly a problem? It seems a reasonable line of inquiry given that these are the people who have to prepare and repair cars.
When it comes to a conversation about the state of midget racing, it is inevitable that some turn their attention to Keith Kunz Motorsports. KKM is revered by some and vilified by others. It is sometimes forgotten that Kunz once spent time behind the wheel, although he is best known as one of the most successful owners in the industry.