USAC MIDGETS AIM FOR ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN LABOR DAY WEEKEND TRIO!
(Dave Olson Photo)
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Speedway, Indiana (September 2, 2026)………It’s a laborious Labor Day weekend for USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship racing!
As the rest of the nation enjoys an extended weekend off from work, USAC competitors go to work with three series races across a four night span in Illinois and Wisconsin.
First, the series returns to Wayne City, Illinois’ Wayne County Speedway on Friday night, September 4. It’s USAC’s first visit to the 1/8-mile dirt bullring in three years.
Next, on Sunday, September 6, it’s the 41st running of one of midget racing’s most prestigious events, the $10,000-to-win Firemen’s Nationals at the legendary 1/3-mile Angell Park Speedway dirt track in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
Labor Day Monday night, September 7, presents a re-do for USAC’s debut at Coles County Speedway. The Lake Land College King of Coles was rained out twice in August but will now take place for one night only at the Mattoon, Illinois 1/5-mile dirt oval.
Here’s some storylines to watch!
43 YEARS SINCE A 40-LAP WEEKEND
Three 40-lap USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget features are on tap this weekend, which marks the first time for three-straight 40-lappers on a USAC National Midget weekend since way back in 1983!
Forty-three years ago, Rich Vogler scored a 40-lap show at Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway, followed by a Kevin Olson score at Wisconsin’s Hales Corners Speedway, and capped by another Vogler triumph at Marshfield, Wisconsin’s Yellow River Speedway.
Forty lap USAC National Midget races have been won in 2026 by Gavin Miller (Sweet Springs) and Kale Drake (Jefferson County).
DENNEY THE CHAMPIONSHIP FRONT RUNNER
Jacob Denney is heating up as the season has gone on and has translated a 21-point deficit into a 68-point lead in the USAC National Midget championship race.
Over his past five series starts, he’s laid down five consecutive podium finishes with a 3rd-3rd-1st-1st-2nd stretch aboard his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports No. 67.
It’s the Ohioan’s third different stint as the series point leader during the 2026 season. Over his past five years in the series, he’s tallied points finishes of 40th in 2021, 8th in 2022, 7th in 2023, 5th in 2024, and 4th in 2025. Now, the next step of Jacob’s ladder is within his grasp, and he’s in the driver’s seat entering this weekend.
KALE HEATING UP
Likewise, Kale Drake is hitting his sweet spot. Over his past five USAC National Midget starts, Kale Drake has put together a stretch of 5th-4th-3rd-5th-1st in that time frame.
He’s the most recent USAC National Midget winner, taking July’s Midwest Midget Championship at Fairbury, Nebraska’s Jefferson County Speedway. That proved to be his first USAC win since joining RMS Racing at the start of the 2026 campaign.
This recent stretch has risen Drake from sixth to third in the season long standings, just seven points behind Kevin Thomas Jr. for second. Adding to it, he swept to victory on back-to-back nights with POWRi at Sweet Springs just one week ago.
MILLER’S TIME
Gavin Miller has come ultra close to winning his first USAC National Sprint Car race in recent months. He’s been a winner on the USAC National Midget trail this season at Sweet Springs, but another one or three this weekend would be mighty fine for him.
He enters this weekend as the defending Firemen’s Nationals winner at Angell Park, after charging past Brecken Reese on lap three to win the race. The last driver to win back-to-back Firemen’s Nationals events was Scott Hatton in 2004-2005.
The Allentown, Pennsylvania driver is averaging a 4th place result across his six past series starts.
GRANT OFF THE SMACKDOWN
Justin Grant is fresh off yet another Chili’s Sprint Car Smackdown score at Kokomo last weekend, his sixth at the event.
His USAC National Midget season thus far has him third in the standings with three victories, as he is embroiled in a tight race for the runner-up spot at the moment.
Not one to shy away from many USAC milestone in his career, Grant could very well match or exceed another one this weekend. He currently stands at 111 career USAC wins across all divisions, just one behind Bryan Clauson for sixth place all-time at 112.
RISING & EMERGING
Nine different drivers have already reached victory lane throughout the 2026 USAC National Midget season.
Jacob Denney and Justin Grant have each won three USAC National Midget main events apiece thus far this season.
Possessing one USAC National Midget score thus far in 2026 are Briggs Danner, Kale Drake, Hayden Reinbold, Karter Sarff, Logan Seavey, Kevin Thomas Jr., and Gavin Miller.
There are a myriad of other drivers waiting in the wings to pick off USAC win number one this weekend, namely Jakeb Boxell (6th in points), Brecken Reese (9th), and Colton Robinson (10th), all of whom reside inside the top 10 of the standings, along with series veterans Ethan Mitchell, Gunnar Setser, Kyle Jones, and Mack Leopard, just to name a few.
RACE DETAILS
On Friday, September 4, at Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, Illinois, the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship and Micro Sprints are on the card. Pits open at 4pm Central. Front gates open at 5pm. Drivers meeting at 6:15pm. Cars on track at 7pm followed by qualifying and racing. General admission tickets are $25. Children age 12 and under are free. Pit passes are $40. Pit passes for children age 10 and under are $25.
On Sunday, September 6, at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, the 41st Firemen’s Nationals presents the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship, plus the Badger Midget Racing Association, and a gigantic fireworks display. Pits open at 1:30pm Central. Stands open at 4pm. Drivers meeting at 4:15pm. Cars on track at 5pm followed by qualifying and racing. Advance tickets on sale now at https://angellpark.racing/. Advance ticket prices: $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, $10 for students age 12-17, $5 for kids age 6-11 & free for children age 5 and under. Race day ticket prices: $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, $10 for students age 12-17, $5 for kids age 6-11 & free for children age 5 and under. Pit passes are $25 for members & $30 for non-members.
On Monday, September 7, at Coles County Speedway in Mattoon, Illinois, the Lake Land College King of Coles features the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship, plus non-wing Junior Sprints, and Restricted Micros. Pits open at 3pm Central. Front gates open at 4pm. Drivers meeting at 5:15pm. Cars on track at 6pm, followed by qualifying & racing. Advance tickets on sale now at https://www.
Watch LIVE on FloRacing at https://flosports.link/
==================
USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Jacob Denney-842, 2-Kevin Thomas Jr.-774, 3-Kale Drake-767, 4-Justin Grant-762, 5-Gavin Miller-746, 6-Jakeb Boxell-726, 7-Cannon McIntosh-712, 8-Hayden Reinbold-585, 9-Brecken Reese-572, 10-Colton Robinson-522.
==================
WAYNE CITY USAC NATIONAL MIDGET FEATURE WINS:
2-Tanner Thorson
1-Brady Bacon, Bryan Clauson, Tyler Courtney, Mitchel Moles & Tyler Thomas
WAYNE CITY USAC NATIONAL MIDGET FEATURE WINNERS:
2015: Bryan Clauson (10/23)
2016: Brady Bacon (10/20)
2018: Tyler Thomas (10/21)
2019: Tyler Courtney (10/17)
2020: Tanner Thorson (10/9)
2022: Mitchel Moles (10/7)
2023: Tanner Thorson (8/18)
USAC NATIONAL MIDGET TRACK RECORDS AT WAYNE COUNTY SPEEDWAY (IL)
1 Lap – 8/18/2023 – Jade Avedisian – 10.072
10 Laps – 10/7/2022 – Justin Grant – 1:43.92
12 Laps – 10/21/2016 – Ryan Robinson – 2:19.19
==================
PAST FIREMEN’S NATIONALS WINNERS
1982: Billy Engelhart
1983: Kevin Olson
1984: Dan Boorse
1985: Rich Vogler
1986: Kevin Olson
1987: Kevin Olson
1988: Kevin Doty
1989: Kevin Doty
1990: Kevin Doty
1991: Stevie Reeves
1992: Marty Davis
1993: Page Jones
1994: Kevin Doty
1995: Kevin Doty
1996: Randy Koch
1997: Kevin Olson
1998: Kevin Olson
1999: Dan Boorse
2000: Jay Drake
2001: Tracy Hines
2002: Tracy Hines
2003: Davey Ray
2004: Scott Hatton
2005: Scott Hatton
2006: Rained Out
2007: Jerry Coons Jr.
2008: Brady Bacon
2009: Josh Wise
2010: Tracy Hines
2011: Rained Out
2012: Caleb Armstrong
2013: Zach Daum
2014: Christopher Bell
2015: Rico Abreu
2016: Carson Macedo
2017: Zach Daum
2018: Tanner Carrick
2019: Logan Seavey
2020: Not Held
2021: Tanner Thorson
2023: Ryan Timms & Logan Seavey
2024: Zach Wigal & Cannon McIntosh
2025: Gavin Miller
USAC NATIONAL MIDGET TRACK RECORDS AT ANGELL PARK SPEEDWAY
1 Lap – 8/31/2025 – Jacob Denney – 14.203
6 Laps – 8/26/2007 – Chris Windom – 1:34.07
8 Laps – 9/1/2024 – Jade Avedisian – 1:59.52
10 Laps – 8/19/2012 – Rico Abreu – 2:26.60
12 Laps – 7/6/2014 – Rico Abreu – 3:00.28
30 Laps – 8/30/1970 – Larry Rice – 9:11.56
