LEFFEL, BEAN EARN SPEED2 MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIPS
USAC’s Speed2 Midget series have either wrapped up their 2017 campaigns or are “off” this week. The IMRA competitors will resume action October 15 in a “special” non-points finale at Quincy (Ill.) Raceways.
Aaron Leffel and Jessica Bean landed series championships in last week’s action. Leffel, of Springfield, Ohio, is the 2017 USAC Speed2 Midwest Thunder Midget king, while Bean, of Farmland, Ind. is the 2017 USAC Speed2 Eastern Midget queen. Leffel finished third in Saturday night Midwest finale at Montpelier (Ind.) Motor Speedway and Bean was fourth in Saturday’s Eastern finale at Shenandoah (Va.) Speedway. It’s the first USAC title for both and Bean becomes the eighth female driver to capture a USAC professional title.
Toni Breidinger of Hillsborough, Calif., Nolan Allison of Greensboro, N.C., Stratton Briggs of Anna, Ohio and Andy Baugh of Mason City, Ill. all recorded Speed2 victories last week.
Breidinger earned her record 13th USAC feature victory at Madera Speedway. She is the all-time leading USAC female feature winner. Adam Lemke took second after leading 15 laps. Jesse Love IV, Annie Breidinger and Tyler Slay rounded out the “top-five.”
Allison led all but the first lap to win Saturday night’s 35-lap USAC Speed2 Eastern Midget race at Shenandoah (Va.) Speedway. Jake Trainor, who led the first lap, finished second ahead of Neal Allison, Jessica Bean and Jake Garcia.
Stratton Briggs closed out the 2017 USAC Speed2 Midwest Thunder Midget Series with a victory at Montpelier (Ind.) Motor Speedway Saturday night. He led all 20 laps to beat Cory Guingrich, Aaron Leffel, Tayte Williamson and Alex Watson.
Baugh won Sunday night’s 20-lap USAC Speed2 IMRA Midget “Special event” at Quincy (Ill.) Raceways. Mitchell Davis was second ahead of Chase McDermand, Broc Hunnell and Ryan Johnson.
Final 2017 USAC Speed2 DMA Midget Series Standings: 1-Dean Christensen-1,082, 2-Joe Krawiec-1,067, 3-Derek O’Hearn-1,040, 4-Adam Whitney-1,034, 5-Jeff Horn-938, 6-Seth Carlson-911, 7-Manny Dias-890, 8-Jeff Champagne-709, 9-Will Hull-512, 10-Mark Cole-436.
Final 2017 USAC Speed2 Eastern Midget Series Standings: 1-Jessica Bean-1,111, 2-Nolan Allison-1,048, 3-George Kurtz-905, 4-Neal Allison-868, 5-Jake Trainor-863, 6-Jagger Parker-652, 7-Sam Hatfield-620, 8-Chris Lamb-560, 9-Jake Garcia-514, 10-Eric Lewis-282.
Final 2017 USAC Speed2 Midwest Thunder Midget Series Standings: 1-Aaron Leffel-792, 2-Stratton Briggs-736, 3-Corey Bedwell-638, 4-Alex Watson-462, 5-Korbyn Hayslett-421, 6-Cory Guingrich-378, 7-Jim Jones-361, 8-Tommy Bigelow-352, 9-Chuck Taylor-318, 10-Bill Dunham-291.
2017 USAC Speed2 Western Overall Midget Series Standings: 1-Jesse Love IV-1,282, 2-Adam Lemke-1,188, 3-Tom Paterson-1,148, 4-Annie Breidinger-1,113, 5-Blake Brannon-739, 6-Joey Iest-476, 7-Toni Breidinger-474, 8-Johnny Nichols-461, 9-Cody Jessop-293, 10-Antonia Boscacci-288.
2017 USAC Speed2 Western Pavement Midget Series Standings: 1-Jesse Love IV-688, 2-Annie Breidinger-645, 3-Adam Lemke-598, 4-Tom Paterson-558, 5-Joey Iest-476, 6-Toni Breidinger-474, 7-Johnny Nichols-461, 8-Blake Brannon-446, 9-Antonia Boscacci-206, 10-Cody Jessop-174.