Daison Pursley will take the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series point lead into this week’s four-race Mid-America Midget Week. In his first season with Chad Boat and CB Industries, the Oklahoma native has already captured three wins and seven top-three podium finishes in the season’s first eight events.
In addition to his midget racing success, the 19-year-old Pursley has also scored victories in both the USAC Silver Crown and Sprint Car national championships this season. With a win in all three USAC National series, Pursley became the first driver this year to achieve that mark.
“It’s very cool to win in all three premier USAC divisions,” Pursley said.
“Just thinking of all the people that get a chance to do it. And then thinking of me growing up and when I first got into the midget series at the end of 2019 and just watching Chris Windom, Tyler Courtney, Justin Grant and all those guys jumping back in forth between the different disciplines in three classes – especially at a place like 4-Crown Nationals where all three series run during the weekend. It’s pretty special.”
With his primary focus on midget racing, Pursley has tore up the series as he holds a 67-point lead over Cannon McIntosh entering this weekend’s Mid-America Midget Week.
“The midget season has been absolutely unbelievable,” Pursley said. “To win three times in the first eight races is really cool and the consistency has been awesome as well. I didn’t really expect that Chad and I would click that fast. It just goes to show the preparation, hard work and dedication the whole CB Industries team puts into their midgets to perform to the best of their abilities.
“As long as I do my job in driving them, I think everyone will work out. We just need to keep our nose clean. I’m really looking forward to getting going again after this break.”
What perhaps kickstarted Pursley’s season came back in January when Pursley vaulted from 20th on the grid to fourth in the Chili Bowl Nationals main event after starting off the day in the D-main.
“The Chili Bowl run was really special being an Oklahoma kid,” Pursley said. “I think growing up there you just want to run well at the Chili Bowl. It’s every kid’s dream to race on Saturday night in the A Main in that building and that’s what we were able to do.
“We had a really strong run and Chad, the entire CBI team and I have been clicking since then.”