Zach Daum Strikes At Belleville For First USAC Midget Win Since 2014
Zach Daum Strikes At Belleville For First USAC Midget Win Since 2014
Zach Daum won at the Belleville Highbanks Short Track Saturday with the USAC National Midgets, securing his first win with the series since 2014.
For Zach Daum, Saturday night in Belleville, Kansas was a homecoming.
In the summer of 2014, the Pocahontas, Ill. native captured a USAC National Midget feature victory on the Belleville High Banks half-mile dirt oval during a Belleville Nationals prelim night.
Exactly eight years, nine months and 20 days later, Daum was back in victory lane for the first time since that very night with the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship, and it just so happened to take place in the same locale, albeit at a slightly smaller version of it.
One night after becoming the first driver to finish on the podium of a USAC National Midget feature at both the Belleville half-mile and quarter mile, on Saturday, Daum became the first driver to win at both venues in his career.
In fact, Daum’s winless drought with the USAC National Midgets is the fourth longest span of all-time between series wins, ranking behind only Arnie Knepper (1970-1983), Chuck Gurney (1974-1986) and Larry Rice (1975-1987).
Furthermore, Daum ran his record of consecutive top-four finishes with the USAC National Midgets to six dating back to the 2022 season aboard his Ramco Speed Group/The BLRH Group – American Fire Extinguishers – Jambo’s BBQ/Spike/Toyota.
It was quite a debut for Daum and the Ramco team who reached out to Daum in the week leading up to Belleville and tabbed him as their wheelman. It turns out it was a perfect match as it was the fourth USAC win as a driver for Daum and the first for the Texas-based Ramco team.
Winning Quote From Zach Daum
“We won a prelim night on the half-mile, and I was second to Rico (Abreu) in the finale, now we’ve won a USAC race at each track now, which is pretty cool. These guys called me last week to come out here and run this, I mean, I can’t say no, even though I’ve got other (things) I could be doing at home, working and other stuff, but this is hell of a lot more fun.”
Hear From Zach Daum in Belleville Victory Lane
USAC Midgets At Belleville Short Track Saturday Results
1. Zach Daum
2. Jade Avedisian
3. Thomas Meseraull
4. Jacob Denney
5. Justin Grant
6. Ethan Mitchell
7. Daison Pursley
8. Tanner Thorson
9. Gavin Miller
10. Brady Bacon
11. Kevin Thomas Jr.
12. Bryant Wiedeman
13. Chance Crum
14. Ryan Timms
15. Kyle Jones
16. Logan Seavey
17. Jerry Coons Jr.
18. Mitchel Moles
19. Mariah Ede
20. Jake Andreotti
21. Hayden Reinbold
22. Taylor Reimer
23. Cannon McIntosh
24. Chase McDermand
USAC National Midget Point Standings
With her fifth to second run on Saturday, Jade Avedisian took the USAC National Midget Series points standings lead outright over Jacob Denney who is three points back. Tanner Thorson is four points back while Ryan Timms is in fourth seven points back and Daison Pursley is in fifth, eight points back.
Full USAC National Midgets Points Standings
Last Race: May 19, 2023 - Belleville Short Track