BURKS REPEATS AS USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2023
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Speedway, Indiana (October 11, 2023)………The most successful driver in the history of the USAC Wholesale Batteries Midwest Wingless Racing Association Sprint Car series did it again in 2023.
This year, Wyatt Burks (Topeka, Kan.) earned his third career USAC MWRA title in the four-year history of the series, backing up previous championships in 2020 and 2022 with a second consecutive crown this past season.
Burks was downright dominant in 2023, winning the series title by a record 375-point margin on the strength of six series victories on April 29 at I-70 Motorsports Park, May 26 at U.S. 36 Raceway and June 16 at Lakeside Speedway before running off a three-race winning streak on August 18 at Lakeside Speedway, September 1 at U.S. 36 Raceway and again on September 2 at I-35 Speedway, which cemented his championship hopes and dreams.
Taking control of the championship point lead by mid-June, Burks reeled off 17 consecutive top-ten finishes in 17 feature starts and finished the year with eight-straight top-five results in his Wyatt Burks Racing/Wholesale Batteries – Harris Fabrication – Weber Watowa/Triple X/BR Chevy.
Chris Parkinson Racing teammates took the “place” and “show” honors in the final standings. Chris Parkinson (Gladstone, Mo.) finished as the runner-up in the standings for the second year in a row, accumulating a best finish of fourth on three-straight nights in early September. Chad Winfrey (Gladstone, Mo.) collected a career-best third in series points by virtue of a best run of third at Electric City Speedway in July. Meanwhile, it was a second-straight fourth place points finish for Dakota Earls (Independence, Mo.), a runner-up at Lakeside in June.
Overall, a series record eight different drivers captured victories during the season. Kory Schudy (Battlefield, Mo.), the 2021 series champ, won four times on June 24 at Valley Speedway, July 21 at U.S. 36 Raceway, July 28 at Electric City Speedway and September 30 at U.S. 36 Raceway.
Wesley Smith (Nixa, Mo.) added two to the tally this year on July 29 at Nevada Speedway and on September 29 at U.S. 36 Raceway. In doing so, Smith became the second series driver to reach double-figures in terms of series feature victories.
Braydon Cromwell (Lone Jack, Mo.) won the season opening race at Electric City, his first with the series, and led the points throughout the first five events. However, by July, he took a hiatus from the series, citing burnout, but ultimately made his return to the cockpit for the final weekend of the year.
Chad Goff (Spring Hill, Kan.) returned to USAC MWRA victory lane for the first time in nearly three years with a score in May at Humboldt Speedway. Luke Howard (Overland Park, Kan.) was absent for the first four rounds of the season but came out swinging in his return as he picked up a Labor Day victory at Bethany Speedway.
Outside of Cromwell, two more drivers earned their first career trips to USAC MWRA victory lane in 2023 with Ty Hulsey (Owasso, Okla.) reigning at 81 Speedway in May while Ricky Lewis (Camarillo, Calif.), making his first career series start, charged to victory in September at Valley Speedway.
Jake Swanson (Anaheim, Calif.) tallied the lone non-points special event of the season, winning with a final lap pass of Brady Bacon in turn four at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway in June. The event was held in conjunction with the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship.
Schudy led all drivers with 121 laps led while Burks grabbed a series-high 14 top-fives and 17 top-tens. Burks and Schudy were knotted up at eight apiece in terms of heat race victories this season. Wyatt Burks, Justin Johnson, Chris Parkinson and Chad Winfrey were the lone four drivers to start all 17 feature events in 2023.
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS:
POS. PTS. DRIVER, HOMETOWN
1. 3030 Wyatt Burks, Topeka, Kan.
2. 2655 Chris Parkinson, Gladstone, Mo.
3. 2505 Chad Winfrey, Gladstone, Mo.
4. 2240 Dakota Earls, Independence, Mo.
5. 2145 Kory Schudy, Battlefield, Mo.
6. 2115 Justin Johnson, Parkville, Mo.
7. 2110 Junior Parkinson, Wichita Falls, Texas
8. 2110 Zach Clark, Olathe, Kan.
9. 2085 Luke Howard, Overland Park, Kan.
10. 2065 Brad Wyatt, Kearney, Mo.
11. 1725 Wesley Smith, Billings, Mo.
12. 1295 Braydon Cromwell, Lone Jack, Mo.
13. 1030 Lance Silvers, Ottumwa, Iowa
14. 865 Chad Goff, Spring Hill, Kan.
15. 840 Warren Johnson, Harrisonville, Mo.
16. 800 Tom Curran, Kansas City, Mo.
17. 725 Cody Baker, Lone Jack, Mo.
18. 680 Jack Wagner, Lone Jack, Mo.
19. 550 Kobe Simpson, Bonham, Texas
20. 550 Riley Kreisel, Warsaw, Mo.
21. 535 Samuel Wagner, Lone Jack, Mo.
22. 485 Xavier Doney, Odessa, Mo.
23. 450 Quinton Benson, Sweet Springs, Mo.
24. 405 Bryson Smith, Springfield, Mo.
25. 400 A.J. Gilbert, Tonganoxie, Kan.
26. 225 Kyle Lewis, Spring Hill, Kan.
27. 200 Ricky Lewis, Camarillo, Calif.
28. 145 Jason Billups, Holt, Mo.
29. 105 Jonathan Hughes, Knoxville, Iowa
30. 75 Eddie Tafoya Jr., Chino Hills, Calif.
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINNERS:
Apr 21: Electric City Speedway - Butler, MO
WINNER: Braydon Cromwell (Mike Cromwell #4)
Apr 29: I-70 Motorsports Park - Odessa, MO
WINNER: Wyatt Burks (Wyatt Burks Racing #11w)
May 5: Humboldt Speedway - Humboldt, KS
WINNER: Chad Goff (Chad Goff Motorsports #9x)
May 6: 81 Speedway - Park City, KS
WINNER: Ty Hulsey (Ty Hulsey Racing #24H)
May 26: U.S. 36 Raceway - Osborn, MO
WINNER: Wyatt Burks (Wyatt Burks Racing #11w)
Jun 3: (SE) Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, IA
WINNER: Jake Swanson (Team AZ Racing #21AZ)
Jun 16: Lakeside Speedway - Kansas City, KS
WINNER: Wyatt Burks (Wyatt Burks Racing #11w)
Jun 24: Valley Speedway - Grain Valley, MO
WINNER: Kory Schudy (Jon Sawyer Racing #28)
Jul 21: U.S. 36 Raceway - Osborn, MO
WINNER: Kory Schudy (Jon Sawyer Racing #28)
Jul 28: Electric City Speedway - Butler, MO
WINNER: Kory Schudy (Jon Sawyer Racing #28)
Jul 29: Nevada Speedway - Nevada, MO
WINNER: Wesley Smith (John Helm Racing #12)
Aug 18: Lakeside Speedway - Kansas City, KS
WINNER: Wyatt Burks (Wyatt Burks Racing #11w)
Sep 1: U.S. 36 Raceway - Osborn, MO
WINNER: Wyatt Burks (Wyatt Burks Racing #11w)
Sep 2: I-35 Speedway - Winston, MO
WINNER: Wyatt Burks (Wyatt Burks Racing #11w)
Sep 3: Bethany Speedway - Bethany, MO
WINNER: Luke Howard (Luke Howard Racing #2H)
Sep 9: Valley Speedway - Grain Valley, MO
WINNER: Ricky Lewis (Dave Brown #41)
Sep 29: U.S. 36 Raceway - Osborn, MO
WINNER: Wesley Smith (Bryson Smith #33)
Sep 30: U.S. 36 Raceway - Osborn, MO
WINNER: Kory Schudy (Jon Sawyer Racing #28)
(SE) represents a non-point, special event
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS: (FULL POINTS)
6-Wyatt Burks (Apr 29 at I-70 Motorsports Park, May 26 at U.S. 36 Raceway, Jun 16 at Lakeside Speedway, Aug 18 at Lakeside Speedway, Sep 1 at U.S. 36 Raceway & Sep 2 at I-35 Speedway)
4-Kory Schudy (Jun 24 at Valley Speedway, Jul 21 at U.S. 36 Raceway, Jul 28 at Electric City Speedway & Sep 30 at U.S. 36 Raceway)
2-Wesley Smith (Jul 29 at Nevada Speedway & Sep 29 at U.S. 36 Raceway)
1-Braydon Cromwell (Apr 21 at Electric City Speedway)
1-Chad Goff (May 5 at Humboldt Speedway)
1-Luke Howard (Sep 3 at Bethany Speedway)
1-Ty Hulsey (May 6 at 81 Speedway)
1-Ricky Lewis (Sep 9 at Valley Speedway)
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS: (NON-POINTS SPECIAL EVENTS)
1-Jake Swanson (Jun 3 at Knoxville Raceway)
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR FEATURE LAPS LED:
121-Kory Schudy
111-Wyatt Burks
27-Luke Howard
26-Ty Hulsey
23-Ricky Lewis
20-Chad Goff
19-Cody Baker & Wesley Smith
15-Braydon Cromwell
14-Chad Winfrey
10-Jack Wagner
5-Brad Wyatt
4-Quinton Benson & Dakota Earls
1-Zach Clark & Xavier Doney
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR TOP-5 FEATURE FINISHES:
14-Wyatt Burks
10-Kory Schudy & Wesley Smith
7-Luke Howard & Chris Parkinson
4-Braydon Cromwell & Brad Wyatt
3-Ty Hulsey, Riley Kreisel & Chad Winfrey
2-Quinton Benson, Zach Clark, Xavier Doney, Dakota Earls, Josh Most, Kobe Simpson & Jack Wagner
1-Jeremy Campbell, Craig Carroll, Chad Goff, Ricky Lewis, Samuel Wagner & Ben Woods
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR TOP-10 FEATURE FINISHES:
17-Wyatt Burks
15-Chris Parkinson
13-Chad Winfrey
11-Kory Schudy
10-Dakota Earls, Luke Howard, Wesley Smith & Brad Wyatt
8-Zach Clark
7-Braydon Cromwell
6-Junior Parkinson
4-Ty Hulsey & Jack Wagner
3-Craig Carroll, Xavier Doney, Chad Goff, Warren Johnson, Riley Kreisel, Kobe Simpson & Samuel Wagner
2-Quinton Benson, Kyle Lewis, Josh Most, Bryson Smith & Ben Woods
1-Cody Baker, Jason Billups, Jeremy Campbell, Tom Curran, Zach Daum, Broc Elliott, Chad Frewaldt, A.J. Gilbert, Garrett Hulsey, Justin Johnson, Ricky Lewis, Doug Sylvester, Eddie Tafoya Jr. & Chad Tye
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR HEAT RACE WINS:
8-Wyatt Burks & Kory Schudy
3-Wesley Smith
2-Cody Baker, Riley Kreisel, Samuel Wagner & Brad Wyatt
1-Quinton Benson, Braydon Cromwell, Zach Daum, Dakota Earls, Chad Goff, Luke Howard, Ty Hulsey, A.J. Johnson, Chris Parkinson, Cam Schafer & Jack Wagner
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR SEMI-FEATURE WINS:
1-Chris Desselle
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2023 USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR FEATURE STARTS:
17-Wyatt Burks, Justin Johnson, Chris Parkinson & Chad Winfrey
16-Junior Parkinson
14-Zach Clark, Dakota Earls & Brad Wyatt
13-Luke Howard
12-Kory Schudy
11-Chad Tye
10-Wesley Smith
8-Braydon Cromwell & Lance Silvers
6-Tom Curran, Chad Goff & Warren Johnson
5-Cody Baker, Ty Hulsey, Michael Moore & Jack Wagner
4-Craig Carroll, Xavier Doney, Garrett Hulsey, Riley Kreisel, Samuel Wagner & Ben Woods
3-Quinton Benson, Chad Frewaldt, A.J. Gilbert, Kobe Simpson & Bryson Smith
2-Chris Desselle, Kevin Frisbie, Kyle Lewis & Josh Most
1-Jesse Bebee, Brian Beebe, Jason Billups, J.D. Black, Clinton Bruns, Tyler Burton, Jeremy Campbell, Zach Daum, Broc Elliott, Taylor Forbes, Max Grogan, Jonathan Hughes, A.J. Johnson, Jake Kouba, Ricky Lewis, Jeff Pellersels, Zach Sanders, Cam Schafer, Doug Sylvester & Eddie Tafoya Jr.
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ALL-TIME USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS: (FULL POINTS EVENTS)
16-Wyatt Burks
10-Wesley Smith
8-Kory Schudy
4-Luke Howard
2-Cody Baker, Xavier Doney, Don Droud Jr., Chad Goff & Jack Wagner
1-Braydon Cromwell, Ty Hulsey & Ricky Lewis
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ALL-TIME USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS: (NON-POINTS SPECIAL EVENTS)
2-Cody Baker
1-Brady Bacon, Robert Ballou, Tim Kent, Riley Kreisel, Wesley Smith, Jake Swanson & Brett Wilson
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USAC MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR DRIVER CHAMPIONS:
2020: Wyatt Burks, Topeka, Kan.
2021: Kory Schudy, Battlefield, Mo.
2022: Wyatt Burks, Topeka, Kan.
2023: Wyatt Burks, Topeka, Kan.