Cannon McIntosh took a giant leap toward his first career USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship with his decisive victory during the Golden State Invasion’s Midget Madness on Friday night at California’s Merced Speedway.

Simultaneously, the Bixby, Oklahoma racer delivered a milestone victory for his car owner, Keith Kunz. Kunz’s triumph was the 200th of his career across USAC’s three national divisions: Midget (163), Sprint (35) and Silver Crown (2).

Kunz is the second entrant to reach the 200 USAC national win mark, joining his longtime team partner, Mike Curb (221).

There couldn’t have possibly been a better way for the team to meet the magnitude of the moment as Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports machines crossed the finish line in the first four positions with McIntosh followed by Buddy Kofoid, Tanner Carrick and Jacob Denney.

In a non-stop 30-lap feature that was completed in just 6:26.03, third place starting McIntosh tracked down racelong leader Kofoid in traffic on the 14th lap and raced away to victory for the fifth time this season with the series in his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports/Mobil 1 – Toyota – Curb Records/LynK/Speedway Toyota.

McIntosh, whose best previous Merced result was a third in 2020, became a first time victor at the high banked 1/4-mile dirt oval. McIntosh’s 14th career USAC National Midget victory moved him to 54th on the all-time series win list alongside Chuck Arnold, Jack Turner and Leroy Warriner, all of whom were stalwarts in the early years of USAC during the 1950s-60s.

Of utmost importance is the USAC National Midget title race as McIntosh entered the Merced event with a three-point edge over Justin Grant. By night’s end, McIntosh had ballooned his lead to 39 points with three events remaining.

“Obviously, it’s always in the back of your head,” McIntosh remarked regarding the points situation. “The only thing I can do is to go out and be my best. We knew we had to put all the pieces together tonight by qualifying well, heat race good and just make it happen in the feature.”

USAC National Midgets Results - Friday At Merced Speedway

1. Cannon McIntosh (3)

2. Buddy Kofoid (2)

 3. Tanner Carrick (6)

4. Jacob Denney (5)

5. Kevin Thomas Jr. (4)

 6. Logan Seavey (7)

7. Drake Edwards (1)

8. Gavin Miller (15)

9. Colton Robinson (8)

10. Landon Brooks (12)

11. Kale Drake (14)

12. Daison Pursley (18)

 13. Justin Grant (23)

14. Steven Snyder Jr. (13)

15. Austin Wood (16)

16. Caden Sarale (11)

17. Michael Pickens (9)

18. Hayden Reinbold (19)

19. Jakeb Boxell (10)

20. Jake Andreotti (17)

21. Gunnar Setser (25-P)

22. Connor Speir (21)

23. Brandon Carr (22)

24. Brecken Reese (24)

25. Jett Yantis (20). 6:26.703