6/15/2023
Lincoln Park Speedway
Buddy Kofoid And Jadon Rogers Pick Up The Big Wins Thursday At LPS
The Usac Midgets had 29 entries for the evening. The top 5 in qualifying were Logan Seavey 12.834, Daison Pursley 13.044, Taylor Reimer 13.086, Bryant Weideman 13.103 and Kevin Thomas Jr. 13.104. The heat race winners were Buddy Kofoid, Ethan Mitchell and Tmez Thomas Meseraull. The B main was won by Kevin Thomas Jr. to to setup the 30 lap A main. Emerson Axsom had a nice lead during the feature but the top groove was coming in with a big curb of course at LPS almost taller than the right rear tires of the midgets. Seavey and Kofoid were starting to look really fast on the top groove at the halfway point and Axsom's lead was starting to get less and less at the front. Seavey took the lead on lap 16 on the top but here came Buddy Kofoid. With just 9 laps to go Buddy made his move on the famous cushion and took over the top spot and would lead the final laps to take the big midget week win and build his points lead. It was though going to be his final night for Midget week because he took a full time ride in a wing sprint and Ohio Sprint Week started the next night. Following Buddy at the checkers it was Emerson Axsom, Logan Seavey, Justin Grant and Tmez. Make sure you go to usacracing.com or Usac on the facebook page to always read a great story each night that is written by Richie Murray who does a great job covering the Usac stars that we follow each night. Thanks to all the Usac Midge teams who put on a great show at LPS.
The 410 non wing sprints had 28 entries and it was a loaded field. Qualifying started with the 4 fast times in their groups going to Geoff Ensign 14.495, Jake Swanson 13.503, Charles Davis Jr. 13.279 and Matt Mitchell 13.138. This setup a 4 heat format with the top 4 going to the A and the top 2 going to the respin for the A main. The wheel spin for the heat invert was a 2. Heat race 1 had a good battle with Mitchell Moles and Geoff Ensign. Mitchell Moles the Usac regular who was getting ready for the Eastern Storm coming up looked strong and would win heat 1 over Geoff Ensign, Mario Clouser and Brandon Mattox. Heat race 2 had another Usac regular Jake Swanson winning it over Seth Parker, Brian Hayden and Hunter Maddox. Heat race 3 off of his win the night before at Gas City had Charles Davis Jr. winning it over Jadon Rogers, Tye Mihocko and Jack Hoyer. The final heat went to California native Matt Mitchell over Brandon Spencer, Brayden Fox and Ivan Glotzbach. The B main was the final shot to get in the A and Zack Pretorius won it over Harley Burns, Nate Mcmillin and Austin Nigh transferring also. This setup the A main and the wheel spin for the invert was a 2 which put the Usac regulars Mitchell Moles and Jake Swanson on the front row. The Usac Midget feature right before the sprints was a really good one but I think the fans that stayed after were about to see a fantastic ending to the night. Both lanes were really good during the Usac Midget feature before so the sprint A was full of guys that like the LPS curb so it definitely was going to be exciting. The 2 on the front row would battle early and Mitchell Moles and Jake Swanson looked as if they were going to build a nice lead but an early red came out for Ivan Glotzbach flipping in turn 1. Thankfully Ivan was okay but it ended his night as the front axle was damaged. On the restart all the drivers had time to readjust or mess with their setups while waiting during the red. The 14 of Jadon Rogers looked really fast on the restart as he had came from 7th to 4th. Another driver looking really good was Brandon Mattox as he had already by lap 10 had made it from 13th to 7th. The slide jobs throughout the field was starting to pick up and the cushion was really good on speed to get momentum to the front. We do get lucky to see 3 wide on some nights that is really exciting but the move Jadon Rogers was about to make we really don't see it a lot. Jadon running 4th had a big momentum move on the backstretch and did what I call a bonzai move from 4th to 1st passing 3 of the best Moles, Swanson and Davis Jr. It was a type of move that you had to hold your breath almost because you were thinking is this going to end up bad with all 4 calling for a wrecker. Sure enough he pulled it off in an amazing move to get the top spot and after he cleared those 3 the number 14 pilot was a rocket to build a lead and take the big win in front of a great Usac Midget Crowd. Following Jadon at the finish it was Mitchell Moles, Charles Davis Jr, Jake Swanson and Brandon Mattox who all 4 were probably saying inside their helmets how did Jadon pull that off. All I can say is WOW that was a cool deal on a Thursday where we had people watching nationally on Flo so they all saw a dandy and maybe some of them who have never been to LPS will come and see us and how good our local stars are that provide us with such great entertainment Thanks goes to all the teams that came to LPS and all the great fans also that made it a great evening at LPS.
Article Credit: Kenny Clark
Submitted By: Jill Spiker
Article Media
