BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — In the early years of his racing career, Buddy Kofoid idolized Kyle Larson.
In the 2020 November Classic for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets Series at Bakersfield Speedway, the two competed as teammates for the first time on the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports team. Not only did Kofoid team up with him, he went toe-to-toe and prevailed.
“I can’t believe we just beat Kyle,” Kofoid exclaimed at the time. “As a young kid coming out of California and racing Outlaw Karts, I always looked up to him. Everyone already knows how good he is and racing with the best helps you become better.”
While Larson is competing this year, Kofoid will be front and center. He enters tonight’s November Classic in an even better spot in t his second full season on the trail, winning four times and in the hunt for the championship.
Kofoid has 13-point deficit behind leader and defending champion, Chris Windom, Windom is the series’ most recent winner on Saturday during the Western World Championships at Arizona Speedway.
Windom’s most memorable Bakersfield moment came in 2020 where he raced from 20th to sixth to clinch the championship by one point. He’ll be joined on the CB Industries team by series Rookies Jade Avedisian (and Ryan Timms.
Logan Seavey, Tanner Thorson, Thomas Meseraull, Justin Grant, Cannon McIntosh and Jason McDougal will be among those vying for top honors during the November Classic.
USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets and California’s Bakersfield Speedway have a history that dates back six decades. Davey Moses won the first trip by the USAC National Midgets in the summer of 1959. Over that period, 22 series races have been held at the lightning-quick 1/3-mile that has been both paved and dirt throughout its history. Jay Drake and Billy Vukovich are the winningest drivers with the series at Bakersfield with three victories apiece.