To win at Haubstadt, Indiana’s Tri-State Speedway, one must execute nearly perfectly.

Every lap, every turn, every movement of the steering wheel. Every little bit makes a difference.

Add into the mix a two-time and defending USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Champion on your rear bumper for the final restart and you have a true brew of one of the most challenging feats to overcome.

Turns out, Jacob Denney was game for all of it.

The Galloway, Ohio native, who just graduated from high school a week ago, stood tall when posed with the final exam. Denney answered not one, but two slide jobs levied by Buddy Kofoid during the final six laps en route to capturing the opening round of the 19th annual USAC Indiana Midget Week series on Sunday night at the 1/4-mile dirt oval.

It was Denney’s second consecutive USAC National Midget feature victory after clicking off a win in the most recent series outing on May 21 at Missouri’s Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex in his Tom Malloy/Trench Shoring – Rodela Specialty Fabrication/King/Ed Pink Toyota.

Overall, it was Denney’s third career USAC National Midget feature triumph, the first of which occurred this week one year ago when he turned himself into a known commodity on the national scene during the USAC Indiana Midget Week event at Lincoln Park Speedway.

Now, during this same week one year later, he’s both the USAC National Midget and USAC Indiana Midget Week point leader following his Tri-State win which, believe or not, came after a pair of finishes outside the top-20 in his first two series appearances at the track in 2022.

USAC Midget Week Highlights From Tri-State Speedway

VIDEO: Watch highlights from the opening round of USAC Indian Midget Week at Tri-State Speedway. 

Winning Quote From Jacob Denney

“I was just trying to find where I fit in line, I slid Ryan (Timms) one time, and it was from way back. So, I knew if I got a good run on Justin, I could slide him from just about anywhere. When we got that caution, I was dreading every minute of it and trying not to overthink my life there. I know Buddy’s one of the best, and he’s won the national title two years in a row. Even though he’s been out of the car for a while, he’s still no joke.”

USAC National Midgets At Tri-State Results

1. Jacob Denney (6)

2. Buddy Kofoid (3)

3. Kyle Cummins (8)

4. Chase McDermand (10)

5. Logan Seavey (4)

6. Jake Andreotti (13)

7. Cannon McIntosh (23-P)

8. Jade Avedisian (9), 9. Zach Daum (17)

10. Gavin Miller (21)

11. Daison Pursley (7)

12. Ryan Timms (1)

13. Hayden Reinbold (15)

14. Kevin Thomas Jr. (5)

15. Emerson Axsom (19)

16. Justin Grant (2)

17. Taylor Reimer (12)

18. Chance Crum (18)

19. Jesse Love (14)

20. Bryant Wiedeman (11)

21. Bryan Stanfill (22)

22. Thomas Meseraull (16)

23. Chelby Hinton (20)

USAC National Midget Point Standings 

With his second win of the 2023 season, Jacob Denney extends his point lead in the USAC National Midget Series point standings. He leads Daison Pursley by 42 points in the overall standings. Jade Avedisian is 47 points back in third. Logan Seavey is fourth in points and Jake Andreotti completes the current top five.

Full USAC National Midgets Points Standings

Last Race: May 21 - USAC Midgets at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex

Up Next: June 5 – USAC Indiana Midget Week at Circle City Raceway