Todd and Vincent Midas are a father-son duo who moved from Florida to what the pair calls “NASCAR Heaven” seven years ago. It took the Midas family only a year of living in North Carolina to catch the racing bug. It began when Todd Midas took his son to the U.S. Legend Cars International driving school, where Vincent realized his passion for speed. Todd Midas took up the same hobby, which led the pair to take on the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Vincent Midas has blossomed into a fierce competitor in the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout’s VP Racing Fuels Semi-Pro division. His goal is to eventually move up to stock cars and ultimately progress to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He’s already on the right track. The younger Midas captured his first late model win last week at Hickory Motor Speedway. On the strength of one top-five and three top-10 finishes in the Shootout’s first four races, Vincent Midas is 10th in points.
Todd Midas isn’t trying to make it to NASCAR’s highest level. His focus is on succeeding in the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout’s Cabarrus Brewing Company Masters division. Midas is the defending Masters champion. He enters Tuesday’s fifth round with plenty of optimism regarding another title, but watching his son progress from race fan to race driver has been even more satisfying.
“When Vince got in the car I said, ‘This ain’t fair,’ so I got in the car, too,” Todd Midas said. “It is pretty important (to share the experience). I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for him.”
Vincent Midas credits his father on his list of heroes, which also includes a former NASCAR champion.
“I started watching Tony Stewart win a bunch of races and championships (when I was a kid) and I wanted to follow his footsteps,” Vincent Midas said. “I love the competition in the Shootout. It’s a lot of fun and all the adrenaline that goes through you (when you win) is awesome.”
In addition to a spectacular fireworks show presented by NGK Spark Plugs, the Ignition Specialists, on Tuesday evening, America’s Home for Racing will host a Bojangles’ Summer Shootout driver autograph session supplementing feature races in seven divisions: Cabarrus Brewing Company Masters; Legend Car Pro; K1 Speed Young Lions; VP Racing Fuels Semi-Pro; Charter Schools USA Bandolero Outlaw; Bandolero Bandits and Bandolero Beginner Bandits. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.
TICKETS:
Tickets, which cost only $8 for adults and are FREE for kids 13 and under, can be purchased at the gate, by calling 800-455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.
CMS PR (CMS/John Davison photo)
