Pit Stop Radio News

Logan Seavey led all 50 laps on the way to winning the Shamrock Classic, the series-opener for the 2018 USAC P1 Insurance National Midget Series at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Illinois, Saturday night. The victory is the seventh national Midget car feature win this year for a Toyota-powered car.

It marks the first triumph for Seavey in USAC competition and his first since joining Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) this past off-season.

Starting from the pole position, the 2017 POWRi champion quickly moved to the front with KKM teammate Ryan Robinson jumping up from fourth into the second spot behind Seavey.

Seavey started to pull away from the field on a number of occasions, only to see the caution flag wave as he and Robinson ran one-two for the first 25 laps.  Robinson’s shot at victory slipped away when he tried to move to the high side, but the indoor track proved to be largely a one-lane groove throughout the 50-lap feature and he dropped to fourth.

After Robinson fell back, it appeared Seavey would distance himself from the field only to see another caution flag slow the field on lap 30.

Fellow Toyota driver Kevin Thomas Jr. had moved up into the top five before he would spin on Lap 34. After the restart, Seavey extended his lead and was catching lapped traffic before yet another yellow flag with 10 laps remaining. It would set up a late-race duel between Seavey, Brent Beauchamp and Zeb Wise as they ran nose-to-tail as the laps began to wind down before a final caution with three laps remaining.  Seavey would take advantage of the yellow and pull away to the victory, with Robinson placing fourth.

“This feels so great,” said Seavey. “USAC wins are big and to do it in our first try together is pretty cool. Working with Keith Kunz Motorsports is a dream come true. Keith always brings the best cars and engines to the race track and I’m in a position right now that many would kill to be in. I couldn’t be more grateful. The Toyota engine never missed a beat all night and that’s what it takes to win these races.”

Chad Boat made it three Toyota-powered entries in the top 10 with a seventh-place showing.  He was followed by Tanner Carrick in 11th, Brady Bacon in 14th, Thomas in 15th, 2017 USAC champion Spencer Bayston in 16th and Jerry Coons Jr. finished 17th. Harli White, Tucker Klaasmeyer, Mark Chisholm and Sam Johnson were each eliminated in the B Mains.

The USAC P1 Insurance National Midget series returns to action with a double-header at the Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway, April 13-14.