DRIVER SPOTLIGHT: JADE AVEDISIAN
Toyota Dirt Driver Spotlight
Jade Avedisian
Keith Kunz-Curb-Agajanian Motorsports/Mobil 1 – TRD – JBL Audio/Bullet By Spike/Speedway Toyota #71
Age: 16
Hometown: Clovis, California
This week, Jade Avedisian will be shooting for her first USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship win during the four-race Mid-America Midget Week: Tuesday, July 11 at Meeker, Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Raceway; Wednesday, July 12, at Beloit, Kansas’ Mitchell County Fairgrounds; and on Friday-Saturday, July 14-15, at Fairbury, Nebraska’s Jefferson County Speedway.
The Toyota development driver already owns three victories split between the Xtreme Outlaw and POWRi ranks.
Currently sitting fifth in the USAC championship race, she’s earned eight top-10 finishes in nine USAC races this season, including a third in the most recent event at Lawrenceburg and a runner-up showing at Belleville.
Jade, how has the transition over to Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports been for you?
JA: It’s been great. Things have gone pretty well this year so far. We won one time in Xtreme. We started the USAC season off strong with a second at Belleville on the opening weekend. For them to get me comfortable in our Mobil 1 Toyota so fast really tells you something. Hats off to everyone at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports. We learn every race and we gain something each time out.
Last year, you made headlines with your first career midget victories. How are things different for you this year?
JA: It’s crazy to think it’s already been a year since winning my first midget feature race. Last year, it was a big deal being a girl and winning a (major) feature. The goals have definitely changed. Last year, it was wanting to win ‘a’ race. Now we’re in contention to win every night and my goal is to win every race. I think that comes down to Keith Kunz, Pete Willoughby and (crew chief) Jarrett Martin. They put consistent cars out every time. It’s just up to me to perform. That’s pretty cool.
What is your outlook heading into Mid-America Midget Week?
JA: We had a decent run at USAC Indiana Midget Week and closed out the week with a third at Lawrenceburg, so we are looking to build on that. We had a fourth-place finish at Jefferson County Speedway last year, and hopefully, we’ll get some more strong runs this week. The big thing is we just need to keep learning and getting better every time out.
In addition to the on-track move, you’ve also moved from California to North Carolina to train at the Toyota Performance Center. How has that gone for you?
JA: The move has been really good. Everyone at Toyota and the Toyota Performance Center has been great. You get so much more out of it living in North Carolina with the workouts and conditioning and the nutritionists. There’s just so many great people there. I’ve been getting on the simulator, which obviously, is going to help me out if I do, hopefully, get to asphalt.
Has it been hard to move across the country at just 16 years old?
JA: It’s tough with my family and friends being back in California, but you just have to look at it as this is definitely what I want to do with my life. I think I really need to be in North Carolina to succeed. It’s definitely tough, but in the end, I think this has been the right move for me to make.
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