Being the driver of car number 67 for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports is one of the most coveted roles in all of dirt track racing.

When Ryan Timms was called upon to play the lead role as the fabled car’s newest pilot for the 2023 season, he was aware of the history, the gravitas the position holds, and was fully cognizant of the shoes he had to fill following his predecessor Buddy Kofoid’s consecutive USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championships in 2021-22.

Throughout Friday night’s season opener at the Belleville (Kan.) Short Track, the Oklahoma City, Okla. native demonstrated that he was prepared to sprint with the baton that had been bestowed upon him.

Timms felt he nearly ended his own race on multiple occasions with a couple of self-inflicted miscues during the second half of the 30-lap feature at the north central Kansas quarter-mile dirt oval, which the series was visiting for the first time ever.

Twice, Timms saw his lead slip away only to gain it back on the very next lap in his Keith Kunz-Curb-Agajanian Motorsports/JBL Audio – TRD – Mobil 1/Bullet By Spike/Speedway Toyota.  In total, Timms led 27 of the 30 laps, taking control with a slide job of Jake Andreotti 12 laps from the finish line to earn his third career series victory.

Winning Quote From Ryan Timms

“I about gave it away two times. I got over the lip in one and two and managed to come back out in second and get back by, and later, I about stalled it in (turns) three and four, but somehow I kept it going. I’m just super lucky, but we were really fast.”

Hear From Ryan Timms in Belleville Victory Lane

USAC Midgets At Belleville Short Track Friday Results

1. Ryan Timms

2. Jake Andreotti

 3. Zach Daum

4. Daison Pursley

5. Tanner Thorson

6. Logan Seavey

7. Bryant Wiedeman

 8. Jacob Denney

9. Cannon McIntosh

10. Jade Avedisian

11. Chance Crum

12. Kyle Jones

13. Mitchel Moles

14. Chase McDermand

 15. Hayden Reinbold

16. Kameron Key

17. Brady Bacon

18. Ethan Mitchell

19. Gavin Miller

20. Taylor Reimer

21. Thomas Meseraull

 22. Justin Grant

23. Jerry Coons Jr.

 24. Kevin Thomas Jr.

USAC National Midget Point Standings 

With his win on Friday night at Belleville, Ryan Timms jumps to the top of the USAC National Midget points standings by two points over Jake Andreotti who finished second. Daison Pursley and Tanner Thorson are tied for third, with both drivers 12 points back. 

Full USAC National Midgets Points Standings

Up Next: May 20 - Night Two Of USAC National Midgets At Belleville