KUNZ CLOSING IN ON WINNINGEST USAC MIDGET ENTRANT RECORD
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Speedway, Indiana (December 15, 2020)………Seven different teams were victorious in USAC’s NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship during the 2020 season, and one of those team owners has elevated himself to within earshot of the all-time lead in the category of most all-time victories as an entrant.
Keith Kunz’s team won five times during the past season with Buddy Kofoid thrice and Cannon McIntosh twice, all of which came in a nine-race stretch late in the year.
Kunz, who earned his first series entrant victory with Page Jones as his driver at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway in 1992, raised his overall total to 114 feature triumphs, which now stands just 19 behind Steve Lewis/Nine Racing’s record of 133 from 1979-2008. Both the Kunz and Lewis operations have won 10 USAC National Midget entrant championships, tied for the most all-time.
Kunz’s counterparts, Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, have, thus, risen up the all-time rankings to third and fourth in USAC National Midget entrant wins all-time. Mike Curb stands at 113 while Cary Agajanian possesses 99 victories himself. Curb earned his first 14 teamed up with Kasey Kahne Racing between 2006-10.
Corey Tucker entered the top-10 in all-time USAC National Midget entrant victories with a season-leading eight in 2020, forming one half of the series’ entrant champion, Tucker-Boat Motorsports, whose cars were driven to the championship by Chris Windom and to race wins by both Windom and Kyle Larson.
Boat, meanwhile, has elevated himself into the top-30 all-time in owner wins, with 18. Clauson-Marshall Racing, who won the series championship in 2019 with driver Tyler Courtney, ranks inside the top-20 in wins, 19th overall, with 27 scores.
Prior to the 2020 season, Brodie Hayward last reached USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget victory lane with Bryan Clauson as his driver in 2016, where they earned a pair of victories. This past year, Hayward tripled his tallies in the owner win column to six with four wins via driver Tanner Thorson.
RAMS Racing delivered yet another winning performance, their second all-time with the series, both of which came with driver Justin Grant.
Tom Malloy entered the winners’ ranks for the first time in his career with the series in 2020, three times in fact, after hiring on Thorson to wheel his ride for the final stretch of the campaign. RMS Racing joined the tide as well this past year, winning its first two series races with driver Thomas Meseraull.
In a comparison between the Kunz and Lewis teams in USAC National Midget competition, Christopher Bell has won more times (23) for Kunz than any other individual while Dave Darland owns the most victories for Lewis with 25. Darland, along with Page Jones, are also the only drivers to win USAC National Midget feature races for both Kunz and Lewis in his career.
Nineteen different drivers have won USAC National Midget feature events for Kunz: Bell (23), Rico Abreu (16), Kyle Larson (15), Tanner Thorson (13), Bryan Clauson (12), Jay Drake (7), Logan Seavey (6), Spencer Bayston (5), Buddy Kofoid (3), Cannon McIntosh (2), Cole Whitt (2), Darren Hagen (2), Kevin Thomas Jr. (2), Darland (1), Davey Ray (1), Jerry Coons Jr. (1), Kevin Swindell (1), Page Jones (1) and Tanner Carrick (1).
Sixteen pilots have won for Lewis with the series: Darland (25), Tony Stewart (18), Stan Fox (18), J.J. Yeley (14), Kasey Kahne (11), Jason Leffler (11), Stevie Reeves (8), Bobby East (8), Dave Steele (6), Tracy Hines (4), Mike Bliss (4), Kenny Irwin Jr. (2), Chuck Gurney (1), Page Jones (1), Mike Fedorcak (1) and Kody Swanson (1).
USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET FEATURE ENTRANT WINS:
Bold & underlined represent an entrant that won a feature during the 2020 season.
133-Steve Lewis/Nine Racing
114-Keith Kunz Motorsports
113-Mike Curb
99-Cary Agajanian
97-Doug Caruthers
93-Don & Mel Kenyon / 3-K Racing
84-Wilke Racers
69-Howard Linne
45-Shannon Brothers
38-Corey Tucker
34-Sleepy Tripp & Walter Knepper
33-Ed Loniewski
30-Bob Nowicke
28-Harry Turner, Jimmy Davies, Lloyd Rahn & RFMS Racing
27-Clauson-Marshall Racing
26-Jack Stroud & Lloyd Hamm
25-Jack London & Streicher Racing
24-Bob Lockard
22-Bob Higman
20-Gamester Racing & L.T. Caruthers
19-Jonathan Byrd & Math Schneider
18-Chad Boat
17-Klatt Enterprises, Pete Willoughby & Ray Bolander
16-Ashley & Kathryn Wright, Bryan Clauson Inc., Ralph Potter & Tony Stewart Racing
15-Dick Kincaid, John Lawson, Marv Edwards & Rollie Helmling
14-Bob Wente, Kasey Kahne Racing & Myron Caves
13-Bob Parker, C.E. Lewis, Drino Miller, Jim Rieder & JS Distributing
12-Bob Lowe, Coxie Bowman, David Birmingham, Kalitta Flying Services, Nick Gojmeric, Owen Kincaid & Vel Miletich
11-Dan Pool, George Hopkins, Jimmy Knight, L. Gene Hamilton & Zarounian Motorsports
10-Dino Tomassi & Stan Lee
9-Bob Shadday, Carl Forberg, Cliff Cornell, Clyde Lynch, Don Welch, Ed Pearson, Elbert Willey, Lee Elkins, Leonard Faas, Mike Nowicke, Oliver Johnson, RW Motorsports & Sandy Racing
8-Dave Tyler, Don Horvath, Gary Bettenhausen, Hank Green, Harry Lotshaw, Jerry Zeelo, Joe Dooling, Larry Howard/Sports VIPs, Sherman Armstrong & FMR Racing
7-Bill Lloyd, Bud Doty, Carl Evans, Dan Drinan, Gene Willman, Richard Heerboth, Roger Mauro, Vance Moore & Willard Coil
6-6R Racing, Al Jackson, Bill Logan, Gus Sohm, Jack Turner, Lou Cicconi, Martz Racing, Rusty Kunz & Brodie Hayward
5-Bob Willey, Don Harman, Fred Gerhardt, Harry Loniewski, John Nuckles, Justin King, Ken Brenn, Kenny Irwin, Sr., Paul Bozard, Richard Polnau, Santos Motorsports, Shane Hmiel & Western Speed Racing
4-Beach Boys Motorsports, Bill Krech, Bob Bilby, Bob Radebaugh, Bob Steffes, C & A Motorsports, Chuck Benda, Eddie Meyer, Gary Runyon, Gay Van Berkelaer, Gene Hartley, Glen Dennee, Harold Guidi, Howard Lehmann, John Noutary, Ken & Dorothy Walder, Lou Cooper, Nicholas Motorsports, P.J. Jones, Phil Reed, R.T. Marley, Ray Tomaseki, Roy Koehler, Sim Clark & Venture Racing
3-Bill Butters, Bob Lithgow, Bob Sowle, Bruce Homeyer, CED Motorsports, Claude Lowther, Dan Daum, Don Pearson, Don Schilling, East Enterprises, Ed Hitze, Ed Lark, Fast Auto Racing Tech., Gene Angelillo, Gene Gennetten, George Middleton, George Newnam, Harry Conklin, Henry Hersh, Jack Fitzpatrick, Jack Sims, Jack Whelan, Jim Gary, John Hajduk, John Zink, Johnny Pawl, Kenny Brown, Les Scott, Mabel Cummings, Marc DeBeaumont, Milan Bursac, Pat Bartils, Rich & Carol Hart, Ron Weeks, Steve Beneto, Ted Bolander, Kyle Larson Open Wheel & Tom Malloy
2-Al Alpern, Arnie Knepper, Art Shanoian, Avis Fischer, Barry Reed, Bill Gerster, Bob Consani, Bob Hare, Chuck Gurney Jr., Chuck Leary, Chuck Rencurrel, Claude Kirchner, Corky Wheeler, Critter Malone, Dale Swaim, Dallas Garman, Daniel & Lore McAlister, Danny Lockard, Danny Montini, Danny Quella, Jr., Daryl Saucier, Dave Calderwood, Don Kischell, Don Persons, Don Vogler, Ed Mockler, Ed Shefchik, Ernie Casale, Fitchburg Racing, Frank Bardazon, Gary Howard/HotShooz Motorsports, Gordon Reelie, Greg Flatow, Hamilton Racing, Hans Lein, Harry Stryker, Hugh McCullough, J.C. Agajanian, Jack Schroeder, Jim Dour, Joe Lynch, John Batts, John Saeman, K.V. Weiland, Katy Brown McKinnie, Lawrence Schuck, Leon Mensing, Lew Bruns, Louis Seymour, Mack McClellan, Mason Cook, Michael Quin, Mid-Northern Transfer, Mike Scrivani, National Mfg. Company, Paul Baines, Pollock Motorsports, Porter Goff, Rasmussen Auto Repair, Richard Wells, Robert Burns, Robert Morrison, Robert White, Rose Calabrase, Sam Hucke, Scott Hunter, Seamount Racing, Shirley & Sam Isenhower, Spencer Riggs, Tanya Mentgen, Tarpco, Inc., Terry Farrar, Tom Piascik, Tom Sellberg, Vern Shaver, Walt Schweitzer, Petry Motorsports, RAMS Racing & RMS Racing
1-A.J. Foyt, A.J. Murphy, American Eagle, Barney Flynn, Barry Butterworth, Bernie Meyer, Bill Kollman, Bill Raney, Bill Wease, Blake Hollingsworth, Bob McLean, Bob Olds, Bob Richards, Bob Schwerter, Bob Sorensen, Bob Weaver, Brett Jackson, Brey Racing, Brian Buckwalter, Brian Olson, Brian Thomas, Burt Foland, Carl Gehlhausen, Carl Horton, Carter Racing, Chapman Motorsports, Chuck Weyant, Clarence Fischer, Cliff Jacobs, Danny O'Neill, Danny Pens, David Gough, David Williams, Dean Duncan, Denise Meyers, Dick Herath, Dick Irwin, Dick Northam, Don Boorse, Don Murphy, Don Weaver, Dutch Schaefer, Dwaine Esslinger, Dwight Huston, Earl Isenhower, Ed Lowther, Ed Silk, Ed Stone, Eddie Griffith, Eddie Russo, Edwin Walker, Eleanor Vogler, Ernie Ruiz, Forrest Parker, Francis Brown, Frank Cullick, Frank Magarian, Fred James Motorsports, Galedrige Brothers Racing, Gary Hansen, Gary Lynch, Gene Smith, George McBeath, George McClellan, George Turner, Grabow, Gus Hoffman, Gus Linhares, Harlan Kittleson, Harry Steinfatt, Harv Guttry, Howard Lane, Irvin Motorsports, J.R. Miller, Jack Berry, Jack Cunningham, Jack Ziegler, Jan Whittemore, Jerry Hatton, Jesse Denome, Jim Fiscus, Jim Hines, Jim McClain, Jim Powell, Jim Williams, Jimmy White Engineering, Joe Binter, Joe Kleinbauer, Joe Martinez, John Marshall, John Pestana & Bobby Lang, Johnny Cofer, Johnny Rodriguez, Jordan Hermansader, Kaelin Racing, Karl Warnke, Keith Ford, Koch Racing Team, Lamers Motor Racing, Larry Brown, Larry DeLeeuw, Lee Smith, Lefturn Racing, Len Tetrault, Lennie Gonsel, Lewis Brothers Tool Rental, Louis Feldhaber, Louis Snook, M.J. & H.E. Holton, Margaret Owen, Mari George, Mark Ray, Martin Hagopian, Matt Wood, Mauri Wilson, Maurice Goff, Max Willis, Mel McGaughy, Michael Appio, Michael Burkhart, Michael Doyle, Michael Lang, Mike Hess, Norbert Goldman, O.M. Burns, Pace Brothers Racing, Page Jones, Paul Bates, Petauro Racing, Phillip Cole, Ralph Baiza, Ralph Ray, Ralph Young, Ray Ridenour, Richard Alexander, Richard Myhre, Ron McMahon, Ryno Racing, Saligoe Racing Team, Scott Hatton, Steve Grace, Steve Koster, Stevie Reeves, Tel-Star Communications, Terry Wente, TG Racing, Therrel Keith, Todd Braun, Todd Forbes, Todd Holderfield, Tony Finley, Vito Calia, Walter Hucke, Walter Schmidhorst, Warren Wilhelm, William Guenther, Willie Boles & Dave Mac Motorsports