Chris Windom finished second and Buddy Kofoid placed third as Toyota-powered drivers captured two of the three podium finishes in the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series’ season-opening Winter Dirt Games at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida, Friday night.
Fellow Toyota driver Jerry Coons Jr. started second and immediately went to the lead ahead of pole-sitter Tyler Courtney. The USAC Triple Crown winner held the top spot for the first 10 laps before the 18-year-old Kofoid would eventually take over the lead on lap 11. He would hold the point position for four laps before Tanner Thorson used a slider to pass him on lap 15, with Windom also moving past Kofoid for second as the race hit the midway point.
The top-three would stay intact for the remainder of the race, with Thorson winning followed by Tucker-Boat Motorsports’ Windom and Kofoid. Tyler Courtney placed fourth and Kofoid’s Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) teammate Cannon McIntosh rounded out the top-five in fifth.
The podium finish is the first for Kofoid in USAC competition and comes in just his seventh career start.
In addition to the three top-five finishers, Toyota-powered drivers also captured positions six through 10. KKM’s Zeb Wise climbed from 12th to sixth, earning the Hard Charger award. He was followed by fast qualifier Kevin Thomas, Jr. in seventh, Coons in eighth, 15-year-old Daison Pursley in ninth and Andrew Layser in tenth. With Pursley’s ninth-place finish, all four KKM teenagers finished in the top-10 tonight.
Tanner Carrick just narrowly missed a top-10 showing, coming home in 11th to round out the Toyota contingent.
The USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series wraps up its Winter Dirt Games Saturday night at Bubba Raceway Park.
Toyota USAC Friday A Main Results
Chris Windom – 2nd
Buddy Kofoid – 3rd
Cannon McIntosh – 5th
Zeb Wise – 6th
Kevin Thomas Jr. – 7th
Jerry Coons Jr. – 8th
Daison Pursley – 9th
Andrew Layser – 10th
Tanner Carrick – 11th
USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship Points: 1 – Tanner Thorson-82, 2-Chris Windom-75, 3-Buddy Kofoid-72, 4-Tyler Courtney-70,5-Kevin Thomas, Jr. – 66, 6-Cannon McIntosh-64, 7-Zeb Wise-61, 8-Jerry Coons, Jr.– 57, 9-Daison Pursley-53, 10-Tanner Carrick-48
*Toyota drivers in bold
Toyota racing PR
