Justin Grant Repeats As USAC Sprint Car Smackdown Prelim Winner
Justin Grant Repeats As USAC Sprint Car Smackdown Prelim Winner
Justin Grant won his second straight USAC National Sprint Car feature at Kokomo Speedway during Sprint Car Smackdown preliminary events.
Justin Grant. Justin Grant.
No, you’re not seeing double. In fact, what you’re actually seeing is a repeat.
The recurring theme thus far throughout Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts Smackdown XII has been the success of the Ione, Calif. native who captured his second USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship feature victory in as many nights on Friday at Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway.
Grant advanced from his fourth starting position to take over the lead from racelong leader Jadon Rogers just before the midway point following an exchange of slide jobs at each end of the 1/4-mile dirt oval between the pair. Grant then led the final 17 circuits to pick up yet another monumental triumph behind the wheel of his TOPP Motorsports/NOS Energy Drink – MPV Express – TOPP Industries/Maxim/Kistler Chevy.
The sixth career Smackdown win (prelims & final nights combined) of Grant’s career made him the winningest driver in the event’s 12-year history. Additionally, the win was Grant’s eighth overall in USAC National Sprint Car competition at Kokomo, tying him for second all-time with Tony Elliott and now trails only Dave Darland (9) for the most ever.
In becoming only the second driver to score wins on the opening two nights of Smackdown (Kyle Cummins in 2020), Grant also set a new career high in terms of single-season USAC National Sprint Car victories with eight, surpassing his former highwater mark of seven in 2021.
Grant’s 42nd career USAC National Sprint Car main event win moved him up another notch on the all-time series win list to seventh all-time. In doing so, he moved past Bryan Clauson (41) and into a tie with 1974 and 1976 series champion Pancho Carter. Grant now stands just three victories behind 1968-70-75 series titlist Larry Dickson’s mark of 45, which currently ranks sixth all-time.
Since teaming up with car chief Jeff Walker in early July, Grant has won five of 11 USAC National Sprint Car starts this season. Confidence in himself and with his ride is at an all-time high for Grant who feels as if he can go anywhere at any time in any place on the track in order to complete the task despite the physical nature of the 30-lap journey.
USAC Sprint Car Smackdown Friday Highlights From Kokomo Speedway
Winning Quote From Justin Grant
“This car has been a rocket, no matter where I go, it’s just really, really good. Jeff Walker and I are working really well together. But I’m going to have to get some AC and maybe some more food tomorrow if we’re going to do 40 laps. I’m in pretty good shape, but I was starting to fall out of the seat at the end there. It was pretty physical tonight, and it was hot.”
USAC Sprint Car Smackdown Results From Kokomo Speedway
1. Justin Grant (4)
2. Brady Bacon (7)
3. Shane Cottle (21)
4. Jadon Rogers (2)
5. Kyle Cummins (5)
6. Logan Seavey (10)
7. C.J. Leary (1)
8. Jake Swanson (9)
9. Briggs Danner (3)
10. Ricky Lewis (6)
11. Robert Ballou (14)
12. Chase Stockon (12)
13. Matt Westfall (16)
14. Emerson Axsom (19)
15. Daison Pursley (15)
16. Sterling Cling (11)
17. Cole Bodine (20)
18. Dave Darland (13)
19. Carson Garrett (23-P)
20. Stevie Sussex (22)
21. Kevin Thomas Jr. (17)
22. Korbyn Hayslett (18)
23. Trey Osborne (8). NT
USAC National Sprint Car Point Standings
Brady Bacon leads Just Grant in the overall points standings by 18 points. Emerson Axsom, Kyle Cummins and Jake Swanson are the rest of the top five in the standings.
Full USAC Sprints Points Standings
Previous Race: Night One of Kokomo Sprint Car Smackdown - Thursday, August 24
Up Next: Kokomo Sprint Car Smackdown Finale - Saturday,, August 26