Keith Kunz of Columbus is closing in on the all-time USAC National Midget wins list. The KKM team is only two wins away from tying the all-time wins mark of 133 victories.
Submitted photo
Keith Kunz is closing in on one of the sport’s all-time greatest records as the USAC NOS Energy DrinkMidget National Championship takes on Sun Prairie, Wisconsin’s Angell Park Speedway Sunday night. The Columbus car owner stands two wins away from tying and three wins from surpassing Steve Lewis for No. 1 on the all-time USAC National Midget entrant win list.
Kunz midgets have now won 131 series feature events since 1992, with nine more added this season alone between drivers Buddy Kofoid (eight) and Ryan Timms (one).
Lewis had stood atop the all-time USAC National Midget entrant wins list since 2002, when Dave Darland raced to victory at Salem Speedway. At the time, it was Lewis’ record 98th series win, surpassing the longstanding record of 97 held by Doug Caruthers.
Kunz’s first win in USAC National Midget competition came in August of 1992 with driver Page Jones, who scored a last-lap victory over Tony Elliott at Kokomo Speedway. Jones had spun twice earlier in the race before coming from the back of the pack both times to garner the eventual initial triumph. Kunz’s 11th series entrant title in 2021 broke Lewis’ former record of 10 with Kunz achieving USAC National Midget entrant championships in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021.
The Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports team has fielded 12 drivers with the series this year: Kaidon Brown, Kaylee Bryson, Brenham Crouch, Mariah Ede, Dominic Gorden, Buddy Kofoid, Cade Lewis, Gavin Miller, Taylor Reimer, Ben Rhodes, Ryan Timms and Bryant Wiedeman.
Sunday’s event can be watched live on FloRacing.
Hillman takes hornet special
At Brownstown Speedway on Aug. 27 was the Cain’s Tree Service Hornet divisions time to be in the spot light with the running of the $1,200-to-win Hornet Special. There were 34 hornets on hand for the event.
Chris Hillman Jr. led flag-to-flag, but Shawn Durbin made one last attempt to take the lead coming off Turn 4heading to the checkers. The two would race to the finish line door-to-door with Hillman just edging out Durbin for the win. Hillman recorded his second Brownstown win of the year ahead of Shawn Durbin, Jacob Owens, Kaleb Caudill, and Michael Brewer. Rounding out the top 10 wereCurtis Roccia, Davey Waggoner, Jeremy Shemwell, Keaton Durbin and Scott Smith.
Steve Peeden made it win No. 5 on the year in P3 Graphix Indiana Late Model Series Pro Late Models. Peeden cruised to the feature win over Marty O’Neal, Zack Burton, Tyler Neal and Tyler Collins.
For the second straight week, Tucker Chastain scored the win in Pewter Hall Super Stocks. Tucker Chastain recorded his fifth win of the year ahead of Greg Amick, Matt Boknecht, Derek Clegg and Zach Sasser.
D.J. Dunn led flag-to-flag and held back all challengers to win his first All in 1 Pools Pure Stock feature of the year. Paul Ortman, Dusten Carr, Josh Hayes, and Daniel Hupp rounded out the top five.
Brandon Cranmer captured his second win in-a-row in Flag 2 Flag Crown Vic feature action. Brandon Cranmer took the checkers in front of Michael Cranmer, Anthony Finley, Joel Smith and Kevin Rich.
Hornet Feature Results: Chris Hillman Jr., Shawn Durbin, Jacob Owens, Kaleb Caudill, Michael Brewer, Curtis Roccia, Davey Waggoner, Jeremy Shemwell, Keaton Durbin, Scott Smith, Matt Miller, Brian Pollitt, John Smith, Tad Canada, Jeremy Ogle, Landon Hayes, Don Boling Jr., Josh Hallett, Brian Mitchell, Paul Arthur.
Indiana Pro Late Model Feature Results: Steve Peeden, Marty O’Neal, Zack Burton, Tyler Neal, Tyler Collins, Rick Gumm, Tyler Cain, Chad Stapleton, Josh Dietz, Jug Wethington, Elliott Despain, Tory Collins, Keegan Cox, Britan Godsey, Justin Bowling, Alan Magner, Brian Wilhite, Patrick Shumaker, Jeramie England, Chris Stillwell.
Super Stock Feature Results: Tucker Chastain, Greg Amick, Matt Boknecht, Derek Clegg, Zach Sasser, Steve Hollars, Austin Perry, Broc Burton, Troy Knorr, Colton Sullivan, Isaiah Sasser, Grant Simpson, Terrence Johnson, Blake Hull, Webb Lee, Danny Hupp, Tanner Chastain, Brad Cummings, Mark Hines, Dalton Fleenor.
Pure Stocks Feature Results: D.J. Dunn, Paul Ortman, Dusten Carr, Josh Hayes, Daniel Hupp, Josh Johnson, Tommy Fleenor, Mickey Hines, Josh Turner, Preston Carr, Kevin Streeval, Donnie Wilson, Terry Turner, Robert White, Eric Lewis, Eric Lynn, Keaton Streeval, David Bloom, Alex Shipman, Vern Albertson, Hunter Perry-DNS.
Crown Vics Feature Results: Brandon Cranmer, Michael Cranmer, Anthony Finley, Joel Smith, Kevin Rich, Jim Walter Jr., Holly Heil, Chad Reed, Chris Hawn, Brayden Reed, Stacie Fitzgerald, Kilie Reynolds, Ray Weston, Ryan Woods, Trey Chastain, Wayne Shoff, Billy Heil, Jon Ortman, Amos Calloway
Tonight, Brownstown will host the3 buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (BOSS) non-wing sprint cars along with the pro late models, modifieds, pure stocks, and hornets. For more info brownstownspeedway.com.
Lawrenceburg racing tonight
Lawrenceburg Speedway will host the once-postponed Dick Gaines Memorial for sprint cars tonight.
Also competing will be modifieds, pure stocks and hornets. For further info, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com
On Aug. 27 at Lawrenceburg, Cordell Moore won the $1,500-to-win hornet feature. Other winners included Matt Hamilton (modifieds) and Joel Andrews (pure stocks).
This week in racing history
From 50 years ago this weekend in 1972 at Brownstown, Ira Bastin won the late model feature over Jim Curry and Paul Crockett.
Also from Labor Day weekend in 1972 at Twin Cities, Ray Godsey won the Friday night feature over Charlie Mounce, Leo Boner, Carl Collins, and Harold Lucas. On Saturday night Johnny Robbins won the feature over Bill Cummings, Mike Stewart, Dee Kramer and Chuck Gilpin.
From 40 years ago in 1982 at Brownstown Steve Barnett won the late model feature over Roger Absher, Don Hobbs, Kenny Simpson, and Doug Ault. Troy Burton won the street stock feature over Darrell Hunter, Danny Blackwell, Dan Londeree and Joe Glass.
From 1982, the Columbus Kart Club winners were Wayne Chapman, Teresa James, Ottis Martin, Butch Jerrell, Gene Wilber, Dennis O’Neal and Mike Tobias.
Also from 1982 at Bloomington, Mike Johnson won the sprint car feature.
From 30 years ago in 1992 at Brownstown, Lee Fleetwood won the late model feature over Ray Godsey, Doug Ault, Dan Sturgeon and Paul Shafer. Keith Deppe took the street stock main event over Mark Barber, Jeff Terry, Scott McKeand and Scott Patman. Bobby Davis won the bomber feature over Jerry Adams, Ray Hughes, Darin George and George Berry.
Also from 1992 at Haubstadt, Kelly Kinser won the sprint car feature over Gary Hayhurst Jr. and Bob Kinser. Doug McCammon won the late model feature over Roger Long and Eddie Pace.
From 1992 at Bloomington Todd Shields won the sprint car feature over Kerry Norris, Kelly Kinser and Tray House. Cale Kern won the street stock main event over Gerald Todd, Greg Kendall and Wally Moses.
From 20 years ago in 2002 at Brownstown, Steve Barnett won the late model feature over Jason Setser, Brad Barrow, Frankie Coomer and Mike Jewell. It was Mike Fields winning the super stock feature over Chris Deweese, Mike Cawood, Jay Deckard and Keith Deppe. Jason Combs won the bomber feature over Clifton Barron, Matt Cummings, Jim Ruddick and Ray Godsey Sr.
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to sports@therepublic.com
