I can tell you from experience now that USAC really made our quarter midget experience a more memorable one. We started in QM racing at Toledo 4 years ago when Austin was 11...much later then I wish we had started. We did a few regionals in our QMA years, but really did not enjoy it all that much. Shows lasted WAY too long, too much bickering and people getting pissy about the judging, lots of political stuff. We enjoyed the Tri-City and club stuff...but just did not enjoy the Regional stuff.
When Toledo voted to between USAC and QMA...I really did not care too much which way we went. We just wanted to race club stuff anyway so it really did not matter. Having raced big cars for years and racing under track rules and UMP rules, I don't race because of a sanctioning body, I race to race and have fun. However, the first GenNext race (Midwest qualifier) we went to was at Toledo and WOW...what a blast! USAC had the big USAC truck and ran a very smooth, fun, professional event! The kids truly felt like they were the stars of a USAC show. The politics were gone, the bickering was gone...just a bunch of people focusing on racing and having fun. So we decided to run a few more of the GenNext and MW Thunder shows. We ran at Nationals, Kokomo and Columbus. We then ran the final Bellevue dirt show and did very well. We were hooked...these USAC deals are a blast! Unfortunately we did not run enough of the GenNext shows to get called up on stage at the AWESOME USAC banquet.
This year, 2010, will be Austin's last in QM Racing because he will be 15 in March. So long as finances allow it (this economy has taken it's toll on my racing budget!) we will run all the GenNext stuff, or at least the shows in the midwest. Not sure we can make Florida or Vegas...but maybe! And we will run as many of the Midwest Thunder shows as we can...the dirt shows for sure! With it being his last year in QM, I want him to enjoy making that stage appearance at the USAC banquets next year. It was one awesome banquet in 2009 and the kids were the stars of a very big deal!
So...if anyone is questioning if their club should go USAC or not, my vote would be yes. Again, I had no real preference when our club went...I would have been OK either way as long as we raced! But I am glad now that our club went this way and we started going to the bigger shows. I am really looking forward to our final season in 2010 and all the great USAC shows!
Brad Kendall
www.kendallmotorsports.com