DAVENPORT, Iowa — After a short two-week break, the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota returns to racing this weekend with another new track in another new state.
Davenport Speedway welcomes the mighty midgets, in conjunction with POWRi, to town on Aug. 26-27 as part of the Quad Cities 150 presented by Hoker Trucking. The doubleheader creates an exciting pairing for race fans with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models on the docket at the quarter-mile venue.
Going Five-For-Five
The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series will again put its incredible parity streak on the line this weekend with the hopes of a sixth and possibly seventh different winner through the inaugural campaign.
The most impressive part is arguably how historic each of the five individual wins have been.
Gavan Boschele, 15, will forever be the first winner in Xtreme Outlaw history, due to his May 24 win at Millbridge Speedway. Taylor Reimer, 22, followed suit the next night by becoming the first female to win a National Midget race.
She was quickly backed up by Jade Avedisian, 15, who dominated Jacksonville Speedway, making them the first back-to-back female dirt winners in a national dirt racing series. Chance Crum, 25, finally earned his first-career National Midget win earlier this month at I-55.
Michael Pickens, 39, used a thrilling last-lap pass to become the first driver to win with USAC, POWRi and Xtreme Outlaw.
Return To Racing For Daison Pursley
If all goes according to plan, fans in attendance at Davenport Speedway this weekend will witness an emotional return to racing for 17-year-old Daison Pursley, his family and Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports.
The Locust Grove, Oka., native has been sidelined for more than nine months since he sustained a potentially life-altering injury last November while racing in Arizona.
It’s been a long road to recovery with rehab, doctors and specialists all across the country, but the light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to show. Pursley recently dabbled in micro sprint racing and quickly found his way back to victory lane, and now he’s ready to climb back into the National Midget ranks.
If approved, he will be back in his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports No. 9 for his debut with the series.
Zach Daum Leads The Way
Through the opening five races, nobody has shown as much consistency as Zach Daum in the Bundy Built Motorsports No. 9M. Daum remains winless with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series, but he still owns a 60-point advantage with another five nights remaining in the $10,000 championship chase.
Daum is a three-time champion in the POWRi National Midget League. He has finished no worse than sixth this season with Xtreme Outlaw. He’s the only driver with three podium finishes, four top-five results, and five top-10 showings — all coming in his first full season with the Mooresville, N.C., based operation.
Like many, this weekend will be his debut at Iowa’s Davenport Speedway as he looks to finally add a win to his resume.
Xtreme Outlaw Point Standings
Currently behind Daum in the point standings is Brenham Crouch, Bryant Wiedeman and Kyle Jones.
Crouch (-60 points) is up to a 7.4 average finish highlighted by a runner-up at Jacksonville aboard his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports No. 97. Wiedeman (-78 points) has rattled off four straight top-10 finishes in the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports No. 01, peaking in fourth after leading laps at Millbridge.
Jones (-136 points) has found more and more speed in the Trifecta Motorsports No. 7U, scoring a season-best sixth at I-55 after contending for the win.
Mounce Motorsports Shines Through
After missing the Xtreme Outlaw debut at Millbridge in May, Mounce/Stout Motorsports has shined since, following the series through Jacksonville and I-55 with youngsters Jacob Denney and Chase McDermand behind the wheel.
Both drivers have topped qualifying groups, won heat races, and led feature laps in limited action, proving they’re on the cusp of finding victory lane.
Denney has finished no worse than eighth through his three starts, including podium efforts of third at Jacksonville and second at I-55 highlighting his short tenure. He already earned his first-career USAC win earlier this summer at Lincoln Park and now looks to add an Xtreme Outlaw score to his list.
McDermand has fought his share of bad luck and peaked with a sixth-place finish in his last outing at I-55.
The two-time POWRi National Midget League winner will try to beat his teammate to the punch as each chase their first Xtreme Outlaw win this weekend.
Cannon McIntosh Is Back From Suspension
With his two-race suspension — DQ from May 25 win at Millbridge — in the rearview mirror, Cannon McIntosh returns to action with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series this weekend. McIntosh is currently one of the hottest midget drivers in the world, enjoying a career year with 11 victories to his credit.
The 19-year-old pilot of the Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports, Crescent Gearwrench, Spike/Toyota No. 08 has thrived in POWRi National Midget League competition, scoring nine wins and 16 top-10 finishes through his 17 starts.
With Davenport’s doubleheader being held in conjunction between Xtreme Outlaw and POWRi, McIntosh will certainly be a threat for the $4,000 paydays both nights.