The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
Less than 3 weeks until Attica Raceway Park opens their 2026 season. Opening night is Friday, March 13th featuring the 410 Winged Outlaw Sprints, UMP Dirt Late Models and the 305 Winged Sprints. Just like in 2025 the rules have been updated for the 2026 season. The track and 410 Sprints will be following the All Star Circuit of Champion rules.
Many area racing fans that follow the USAC Midwest D2 Thunder Midgets will be happy to know two of the top drivers have acquired rides for the 2026 USAC NOS Midget National Championship Tour. For the past several years we have watched these two young guns battle it out at Limaland, Millstream, Fremont, Waynesfield and other tri-state tracks.
Jakeb Boxell, known as JB, has spent the past 2 seasons on the road with 4 Kings Racing as a mechanic and part-time driver on the team.
This year the Indiana native will get the opportunity to race for 4 Kings full-time in USAC NOS Midget National Championship competition in a two-car operation alongside teammate, Kevin Thomas Jr. Jakeb has 15 USAC National Midget starts dating back to his 2022 debut, and for the last couple of seasons, has been in the 4 Kings Racing stable. In 2025, he got the chance to make 12 feature starts and rewarded the team with a pair of top five finishes at Indiana’s Bloomington Speedway (5th) and a career-best result at Ohio’s famed Eldora Speedway (3rd). It’s a testament that hard work and perseverance pays off, and now, he gets his opportunity on the 29-race tour this season. Jakeb began his racing career in karts before moving on to micro sprints and USAC’s Midwest Thunder Midgets.
Zach Wigal (The Flying Ohioan) will race the bulk of the 2026 USAC National Midget season for O’Dell Motorsports. Zach is the 2024 USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year and begins this season at the legendary Kokomo Speedweay April 24-25.
Wigal has built a good resume early in his career. He captured the 2024 Series Championship and owns 1 career USAC National Midget win at Angell Park Speedway in 2024. Along with the National USAC Series, he will compete in select POWRi National Midget Events. He’s looking forward to Indiana Midget week and BC39 at the dirt track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Zach’s schedule is subject to change, but area fans will be happy to know he will have a lot of Indiana races in June before the National Series goes to Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Illinois and Wisconsin. The closest he will be to us will be July 18th Montpelier Speedway Indiana; August 1st Fremont Speedway Ohio and he will make two stops at his home track in southern Ohio at Moler Raceway.
Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out! (Ohio Sports Blitz)
