Between the World of Outlaws and USAC Midget national tours, it was a hell of a night for NOS Energy Drink.
After a thrilling finish to Friday’s sprint car race at Volusia, Justin Grant brought home the USAC season opener at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla.
“I think (we can compete for a championship),” Grant said in victory lane on FloRacing. “We’ve got the team. We’ve got the car. We’ve got all of our partners involved. It goes a long way and we’ve got a really good group around us.”
Grant beat out the 2022 Chili Bowl Nationals winner in Tanner Thorson to capture the victory in the 23-car field.
He didn’t win last season prior to USAC’s Eastern Midget Week in the 23rd race of the season. Although, he finished the year with a career-high four wins.
“It took us a long time for us, and really me, to get my feet under me last year,” Grant said on the broadcast. “It was frustrating for a long time and we were able to get there towards the end of the year. It felt good to unload at (Tulsa) and be fast and unload here and be fast.”
Thorson was held out by lapped traffic but brought the car home on the podium along with Thomas Meseraull.
Emerson Axsom flipped his No. 39BC while the field was coming to the checkered, but still managed a P12 finish.
The USAC Midget tour will continue its season on Saturday night, for Night 2 of the Winter Dirt Games at Bubba Raceway Park. FloRacing will have the broadcast.
USAC Midget Season Opener Results
Bubba Raceway Park
1. Justin Grant
2. Tanner Thorson
3. Brenham Crouch
4. Thomas Meseraull
5. Buddy Kofoid
6. Cannon McIntosh
7. Logan Seavey
8. Bryant Wiedeman
9. Ethan Mitchell
10. Mitchel Moles
11. Kaylee Bryson
12. Emerson Axsom
13. Taylor Reimer
14. Jade Avedisian
15. Jace Park
16. Steve Buckwalter
17. Hayden Reinbold
18. Dominic Gorden
19. Kevin Thomas Jr.
20. Mariah Ede
21. Frank Beck
22. Corey Joyner
23. Oliver Akard
