5/11/2022
Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway Spotlight: POWRi Midget champ Wiedeman eager for Open Wheel Showdown
WHEATLAND, MO. (May 11, 2022) - Bryant Wiedeman is about to wrap up his sophomore year at Colby High School in western Kansas and that means his focus can shift full-on to his racing endeavors on dirt tracks across the country.
Being a race-car driver definitely is an attention-getter among friends and fellow students.
“I think they’re really proud and enjoy keeping up with my racing,” Wiedeman said. “It’s cool they care that much and want to watch and see how I grow in the sport."
The 16-year-old Wiedeman definitely is an up-and-comer in the world of open-wheel racing, as the reigning Lucas Oil POWRi National Midget Series champion. He will be at Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday for the 11th annual Impact Signs Awnings Wraps Open Wheel Showdown.
In addition to the POWRi Midgets, the tripleheader of action will include the ASCS Warrior Region Presented by Impact Signs Awnings Wraps and the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Presented by Smiley’s Racing Products, plus the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprints.
“I’m really excited to go back there,” Wiedeman said of Lucas Oil Speedway, where he finished third in this race a year ago, his first action on the Wheatland oval. “I recall it being a pretty technical track, opposite on both ends. One was top and the other bottom and it was very challenging, but definitely a fun track to race at.
“Last year was a learning curve for most places I went. This being my second year, I have a better chance at a lot of these tracks because I’ve been there and know how to get around them now. I think it’ll definitely help me out this weekend.”
Unlike many young drivers, Wiedeman did not grow up in a racing family. He’s a first-generation racer who started racing go-karts at the ago of six after he and dad Brent were invited to a go-kart race by friends.
“I think we both fell in love with it and it went from there,” Bryant said. “We bought a go-kart and really enjoyed that, moved up to the micros and (eventually) found myself racing a Keith Kunz Midget.”
For those not familiar with Midget cars, Keith Kunz Motorsports is one of the iconic teams in the sport. Kunz has been instrumental in the development of many of the sport's stars, including Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell.
Bryant Wiedeman said the knowledge that Kunz and other team members impart is priceless to a young driver.
“It’s a good thing to have on my side,” he said. “That’s a big deal and a leg up I have on the competition.”
Wiedeman won more than 100 races in seven years in go-karts and moved into the micro-sprints where he caught the attention of Kunz. In his first full season for KKM in 2021, Wiedeman said he exceeded expectations as a POWRi National Midget rookie, becoming the youngest national champion. He posted three wins, 18 top-five finishes and 28 top-10s in 30 events.
“I was just going into the year looking for Rookie of the Year championships,” Wiedeman said. “But winning POWRi was a huge deal to me and my team. We’re definitely looking to progress off that this year and looking forward to seeing how we can perform in USAC points as well.”
Joining Wiedeman at Wheatland will be fellow KKM drivers Brenham Crouch, Mariah Ede and Gavin Miller.
Early in the POWRi National Midget Series, Wiedeman holds a 10-point lead over Cannon McIntosh of Bixby, Oklahoma. Emerson Axsom won the Open Wheel Showdown race in 2021.
Pit and spectator gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday with hot laps at 6 and racing at 7:05.
Admission prices:
Adults (16 and up) - $25
Seniors (62 and up)/Military - $22
Youth (6-15) - $10
Kids (5 and under) - FREE
Family Pass - $60 (Click Here for more information)
Pit Pass - $40
To purchase tickets for any event on Lucas Oil Speedway's schedule, or get ticket information for the Show-Me 100 or any future event at Lucas Oil Speedway, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or via email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com.
Contact:
Danny Lorton
Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager
Office: (417) 282-5984
Dlorton@lucasoilspeedway.com
Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived race recaps, previews and driver features, along with ticket information and schedules can be found by visiting LucasOilSpeedway.com.
Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.
Click LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984. The Lucas Oil Speedway EZ Texting number is (417) 804-4141.
In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway
About Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Missouri, approximately an hour from Springfield, Missouri, and just an hour and a half from the Kansas City metro area, the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" lives up to its title.
Twenty-One VIP Luxury Suites, HD Jumbo-Tron Screen, Stadium Style Musco Sports Lighting, a Bose Sound System, Go-Kart Slick Track, The Diamond Bar, Track Treasures Gift Shop, the best track food in the country and paved pits are a few of the spectacular amenities setting the Diamond of Dirt apart. This year marks the 12th season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring a host of regional events.
Lucas Oil Speedway's dirt oval track plays host to some of the largest and most-popular events in the Midwest with national and regional touring series appearing frequently including: The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, POWRi Midget National Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, United States Modified Touring Series, ASCS Sprint Cars and the Lucas Oil MLRA.
In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Weekly Racing Series features the Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods.
2022 Official Lucas Oil Speedway Marketing Partners
Arizona Sport Shirts
"The Official Merchandise Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick
"The Official Truck" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Dixie Chopper
"The Official Mowers of Lucas Oil Speedway"
General Tire
"The Official Tire" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Products
"The Official Oil" of Lucas Oil Speedway
MAVTV
"The Official Television Network" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Optima Batteries
"The Official Battery" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper
"The Official Soft Drink" of Lucas Oil Speedway
RacingJunk.com
"The Official Classifieds" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Rugged Radios
"The Official 2-Way Communications Provider" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Sunoco Race Fuels
"The Official Fuel" of Lucas Oil Speedway
Super Clean
"The Official Sponsor" of Lucas Oil Speedway
2022 Lucas Oil Speedway Supporters Include:
AM Pyrotechnics, Arizona Sport Shirts, Ash Grove Aggregates, Berry Tractor and Equipment Co., Big Adventure RV, Bill Roberts Chevrolet-Buick, Bolivar Auto Sales & Detailing, Bolivar Farmers Exchange-MFA, Boone's BBQ Barn, Boubin Tire/American Racer, Branstetter & Lightfoot LLC, Bridal Cave, BWI Sanitation, Camden on the Lake Resort, Candlelight Creations-Dick's Wild Root Horseradish, Casey's, Cedar Creek Beef Jerky, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, City Magnet, Clearlight Inn, Comfort Inn-Bolivar,DirtonDirt.com, Dixie Chopper, eBay Motors, Eibach Springs, Evans Pipe & Steel Co., Farmers Insurance Agent Kristy Reynolds, Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange, Foley Equipment-Cat Rental Store, Frog Signs, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Hermitage Lumber, HICKAMO Country Store, Highway 54 RV Park, Hobbytime Motorsports, Hoosier Race Tires, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps, In the Garden of Eden, Kettle Treats, Keyser Manufacturing, Kluhsman Racing Components, Kona Ice, Lucas Cattle Company, Margaritaville Lake Resort, Midwest Sheet Metal, Miller Welding, Missouri Department of Tourism, Missouri Division of Tourism, MyRacePass, Nutrien Ag Solutions, OakStar Bank, O'Bannon Bank, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Ozark Golf Cars, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper, Ozarks Community Health Center, PEM, Pitts Homes, Pitts Realty, Pitts Cattle, ProThings Apparel, RACEceiver, Racinboys.com, RacinDirt.com, RacingJunk.com, Rains Ice Company, Real Racing Wheels, Rod End Supply, Ron Jenkins Accounting & Tax Service, Rugged Radios, Ryan E. Murphy Law Firm LLC, SBU Athletics, Safety Kleen, Scott Furniture, Simpson Racing Products, Southwest Electric Cooperative, Stillwater Resort, Sunoco Race Fuels, Sunflower Resort, TA/PETRO, US Army Corps of Engineers-Pomme de Terre, Vietti Marketing Group, Wheatland Motel, White's Marine Center, Wild Animal Safari, Woods Supermarkets, Wrisco Industries.
Article Credit: By Lyndal Scranton, Lucas Oil Speedway
