16-year-old Wise nips Larson in USAC Midget thriller
Sometimes a highly-anticipated, eagerlyawaited, much-hyped event does not live up to expectations. But, on some occasions, the event actually exceeds those expectations. Ain’t it great when that happens?
It did happen on Wednesday, July 31, at Championship Energy Action Track USA on the Kutztown Fairgrounds. The long awaited debut of the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship series not only lived up to its advanced hype, but the main event proved that everyone’s belief and prognostication was correct: the mighty Midgets would put on one heckuva show at the Berks County oval. The largest crowd to ever attend an event at Action Track USA did not go home disappointed as the program sponsored by Belfor Property Restoration & Storm Chassis offered non-stop excitement from start to finish.
Sixteen-year-old Zeb Wise of Angola, Ind., fended off the challenges of nonother than NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series star Kyle Larson to win his second USAC National Midget feature ... and both have come in the state of Pennsylvania.
Third-quickest in time trials, Wise rolled off fourth when the 30-lap main event went green. Pole sitter Chad Boat lost the lead on lap one to defending National Midget Champ Logan Seavey with Wise battling Tanner Thorson and quick-timer Tyler Courtney for third. A trio of early caution periods slowed the pace, but laps four through 27 were clean and green and intensely competitive.
Boat wrestled the top spot away from Seavey on the eighth trip around the clay. Wise dashed into the runner-up spot a few tours later, then snatched the lead from Boat. As Wise set the pace and began lapping cars, all eyes were glued to the beautiful, Ken Brenn throwback paint scheme on the No. 24 of Larson. “Yung Money” was charging, grabbing third position and then sliding Boat for second at the halfway mark of the race. Larson reeled in the leader and a cat-and-mouse battle ensued between Wise and the 16-time National Midget series winner.
Larson tried high and low and, of course, attempted numerous slide jobs to try and rattle the driver of the Driven To Save Lives, Clauson-Marshall No. 39BC. Wise maintained his composure and the lead through lap 28, and then the real fireworks began.
Larson blasted to the bottom of turns three and four as they headed for the white flag, then slid up in front of Wise as they exited the corner. Wise was ready for him, though, and simply crossed over to the inside lane and zipped back past the No. 24. Everyone in the facility knew what was coming on the final revolution, and Larson didn’t let them down. Once again, he gassed his Keith Kunz, Curb/Agaganian, Ken Brenn Midget Masters No. 24 under Wise in turn three. He could not clear the No. 39BC, however, and drifted up to the inside of the leader. Wise bounced his right-rear tire off the wall and stood on the throttle, narrowly winning the drag race to the checkered flag and bringing the crowd to its feet.
“I told Kyle that I actually closed my eyes a few times there,” said an elated Wise afterward. “I knew what was coming; what he was gonna do. And I just kept my foot in it off that last turn; I was either gonna crash or win.”
Larson was an oh-soclose runner-up, with Tuesday’s winner at Grandview Speedway, Chris Windom, finishing third. Tanner Thorson recorded his second straight fourth-place finish and the current USAC National Midget point leader, Tyler Courtney, wound up fifth.
An amazing field of 78 entered the Hyper Racing 600 Speedweek portion of the program (presented by 600cc Performance). Six heats, three A-Qualifiers, and three B-Mains were necessary to pare down the large, star-studded field to the 24 drivers who started the A-Main sponsored by Rodota Trucking & Excavating. The entries included Kyle Larson, who drove a Ryan Greth, Driven Motorsports East Coast D-1 car in his first time back in a 600 Sprint in several years. Wednesday was also Larson’s 27th birthday, and he spent it his way, by pulling double-duty at a dirt track.
On a restart with five laps to go, Bright, in the Rodota Trucking & Excavating No. 20 roared off, leaving Eddie Strada to play defense against Buckwalter in their battle for runner-up money. At the finish, it was Alex Bright cashing in for the $1,000 victory over Strada, Buckwalter, Kunsman, and Brian Carber.