AFTER HOT START, THORSON BIDS FOR MORE AT PORT CITY
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Tulsa, Oklahoma (May 11, 2020)………They say “two out of three ain’t bad,” but it sure as heck isn’t as good as three out of four would be.
After winning two of the first three series races this season, that’s the task Tanner Thorson faces as he goes for a rare feat, by winning three of the first four USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature events to start a season in the May 22-23 Werco Manufacturing T-Town Midget Showdown presented by B & H Contractors at Port City Raceway in Tulsa, Okla.
Only one driver previously has won three of the first four in series history, that being Tyler Courtney just one year ago in 2019. Courtney, like Thorson in 2020, won the opener at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla. Courtney then won again at Ocala, then won the fourth race of the season at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway.
Thorson has followed suit thus far this year, winning the first at Ocala, then captured March’s Shamrock Classic at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin after starting 15th. The 2016 series champ out of Minden, Nev. could’ve very easily been three-for-three to begin this year’s campaign if not for a blown engine while leading and dominating the second night out at Ocala with only six laps remaining.
While three-for-three has never been achieved by a driver to start a USAC National Midget season, winning two of three has been witnessed no less than 20 times, amazingly, over the years by the likes of Parnelli Jones (1964), Lee Kunzman (1972), Gary Bettenhausen (1975 & 76), Rich Vogler (1984 & 85), Sam Isenhower (1988), Russ Gamester (1990), Jim Hettinger (1991), Kenneth Nichols (1996), Tracy Hines (1997), Dave Steele (2002), J.J. Yeley (2003 & 04), Bobby Santos (2006), Brad Sweet (2010), Bryan Clauson (2011), Rico Abreu (2014), Brady Bacon (2017) and Tyler Courtney (2019).
A good omen for Thorson is that three out of the last four in that group have gone on to win the USAC National Midget championship – Clauson, Abreu and Courtney. However, he resides fifth in the standings heading into Port City despite the two wins, that 13th place finish at Ocala after leading being the only aberration.
It’s not always about where you start, it’s where you finish. However, a good start certainly helps the case, and Thorson and Hayward Motorsports have launched off the blocks with high success in 2020.
Both nights at Port City will include full series points-paying events with a complete program each night that culminates with a feature event.
Seating capacity for the T-Town Midget Showdown will be limited to 400 spectators per night and tickets for each night can only be purchase in advance. Tickets are now on sale at https://usacracing.ticketspice.com/2020-t-town-midget-showdown.
Entries will also be limited and based on a combination of criteria that will cater to both National and Regional teams. A maximum of six pit passes will be available for purchase with each car entry. Pit passes obtained with entry are for pit entry and pit seating/viewing areas only. A general admission ticket will be required for grandstand seating. Teams that meet the listed criteria will be contacted by USAC and/or Port City Raceway and given a code which will enable them to register online.
Both nights of the T-Town Midget Showdown at Port City will be shown live on FloRacing.
MIDGETS
Top-25 in 2020 USAC National Midget Entrant Points
Participants in the 2019 Tuesday Night Thunder event at Red Dirt Raceway in Meeker, Okla.
Top-25 in 2019 USAC National Entrant Points
40 entries plus promotional invitations
OUTLAW NON-WING MICROS
Top-10 in 2019 Port City Raceway Outlaw Points
Top-10 in 2019 Port City Raceway Non-Wing Points
Top-10 in 2019 Port City Raceway A-Class Points
Promotional invitations up to 40 entries
WON 2 OF FIRST 3 USAC NATIONAL MIDGET RACES IN A SEASON
1964 – Parnelli Jones: Race #1 at Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif. & Race #3 at Tucson Motor Speedway in Tucson, Ariz.
1972 – Lee Kunzman: Race #1 & Race #2 at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
1975 – Gary Bettenhausen: Race #1 & Race #2 at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
1976 – Gary Bettenhausen: Race #2 at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind. & Race #3 at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis, Ind.
1984 – Rich Vogler: Race #1 & Race #2 at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
1985 – Rich Vogler: Race #1 & Race #2 at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
1988 – Sam Isenhower: Race #2 & Race #3 at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
1990 – Russ Gamester: Race #1 at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Ill. & Race #3 at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill.
1991 – Jim Hettinger: Race #1 at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. & Race #3 at Lanier Raceway in Gainesville, Ga.
1996 – Kenneth Nichols: Race #2 & Race #3 at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind.
1997 – Tracy Hines: Race #2 at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Ind. & Race #3 at Salem Speedway in Salem, Ind.
2002 – Dave Steele: Race #1 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. & Race #2 at Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Ind.
2003 – J.J. Yeley: Race #2 at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif. & Race #3 at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif.
2004 – J.J. Yeley: Race #1 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. & Race #3 at Raceway @ Powercom Park in Beaver Dam, Wisc.
2006 – Bobby Santos: Race #2 at Concord Motorsports Park in Concord, N.C. & Race #3 at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind.
2010 – Brad Sweet: Race #1 at USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. & Race #2 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nev.
2011 – Bryan Clauson: Race #1 & Race #2 at Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, Kans.
2014 – Rico Abreu: Race #1 & Race #2 at Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Ind.
2017 – Brady Bacon: Race #2 & Race #3 at Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Ind.
2019 – Tyler Courtney: Race #1 & Race #2 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla.
