In 2021, Gunnar Pio clinched 8 National Championships, a new record for the United States Auto Club since Tyler Ankrum gaining 5 National Championships in a single year. Across the Dirt and Pavement USAC series, a driver can earn a maximum of 10 National Championships in a single year out of the total 24 championships.
2022 was a year to remember with USAC National Champions. With 17 different National Champions across the 24 classes (12 pavement and 12 dirt). Significantly up from the 11 different National Champions in 2021. Will 2023 follow in the footsteps of 2022 with more National Champions, or will it fall in lines with 2021 with more champions winning more than 1 class. Max Reaves and Peyton Knecht took home the most National Championships, with 3 total National Championships each. The Pio family had a record year yet again, with all 3 kids (Gage Pio, Quinlan Pio, and Gunnar Pio) taking home National Championships. Their championships totaled 4 national championships for the 2022 year.
It's fascinating to see the remarkable achievements and developments in the world of motorsports, particularly in the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the inaugural year of the NASCAR Youth Series. 14 National Champions were crowned at the famed USAC Night of Champions. Among the 24 possible National Championships, nine of them went to two drivers. Lincoln Smith clinched all of the senior division national championships on the dirt side (Senior Honda Dirt, Light World Formula Dirt, Senior Animal Dirt, Light 160 Dirt) , as well as the Light World Formula Pavement National Championship. RJ Deighton claimed four championships all on Pavement (Heavy Honda Pavement, Heavy 160 Pavement, Unrestricted Animal Pavement, Heavy World Formula Pavement), dominating in his last year with the NASCAR Youth Series. Another impressive feat was Jax Wittmer, while racing the least amount of races required for points eligibility (3 events for dirt and 4 events for pavement), gained two national championships (Junior Animal Pavement and Junior Animal Dirt).
It will be intriguing to see how the motorsports landscape continues to evolve in 2024 and beyond, with the emergence of new talents and the ongoing success of established drivers and families. We take a look at some key players in the NASCAR Youth Series for 2024:
Roo Reaves (NC) - Roo ended 2023 with a National Championship in Junior 160 Pavement, but was on the search for more. With 2024 being the last year Roo will be eligible for the junior class, Roo will be a competition that drivers will be looking to defeat. Aside from Roo only clinching 1 national championship, the drivers who captured the other Junior Pavement Divisions (Junior Honda - Easton Gardner and Junior Animal - Jax Wittmer) are both no longer eligible for the Junior classes in 2024, and will be racing Senior classes in 2024.
Gavin Gardner (FL) - In 2023 Gavin competed in four classes on the National tour (Heavy Honda, Heavy 160, Heavy World Formula, Unrestricted Animal). He finished runner up in two of those classes (Heavy Honda & Heavy World Formula) and 3rd place in the other two classes (Heavy 160 & Unrestricted Animal). With several events on the 2023 National Tour, Gavin goes into 2024 with hot steam. Gavin plans to compete on the National Tour and the Dixie Shootout Tour in 2024, aiming for multiple championships across the two series.
Case James (NC) - Case finished 2023 with a bang, clinching two National Championships Light 160 Pavement & Senior Animal Pavement) as well as finishing runner up in the Light World Formula Pavement division. Case has his sights on multiple championships again in 2024, with a schedule including the NASCAR Youth Series National events and the full 2024 Dixie Shootout Tour.
There are a multitude of contenders for this years National Championships, as these are just a few. NASCAR Youth Series champions will be recognized at the annual USAC Night of Champions over the Performance Racing Industry weekend in Indianapolis Indiana at the Indiana Rooftop Ballroom.
2021 USAC .25 National Champions
Cody Kontra - Junior Honda Dirt,Junior Animal Dirt
David Milozar - Senior Honda Dirt
Peyton Knecht - Heavy Honda Dirt
Gunnar Pio - Light 160 Dirt,Senior Animal Dirt,Light World Formula Dirt,Formula Mod Dirt,Light 160 Pavement,Senior Animal Pavement,Light World Formula Pavement,Formula Mod Pavement
Jacob Bierman - Heavy 160 Dirt,Unrestricted Animal Dirt
Logan Watt - Heavy World Formula Dirt
Colton Knapp - Junior Honda Pavement
Hayden Wise - Senior Honda Pavement
Reed Whitney - Heavy Honda Pavement,Heavy 160 Pavement,Heavy World Formula Pavement
Bristol Spicola - Junior Animal Pavement
Max Reaves - Unrestricted Animal Pavement
2022 USAC .25 National Champions
Hudson Andrews - Junior Honda Pavement
Jackson Diehl - Senior Honda Pavement,MOD World Formula Pavement
Max Reaves - Heavy Honda Pavement, Unrestricted Animal Pavement, Heavy World Formula Pavement
Gage Pio - Junior 160 Pavement
Case James - Light 160 Pavement
Gunnar Pio - Heavy 160 Pavement
Cap Curry - Junior Animal Pavement
Jace Hale - Senior Animal Pavement
Lincoln Smith - Light World Formula Pavement
Liam Ballard - Junior Honda Dirt
Larry Kelleher - Senior Honda Dirt
Peyton Knecht - Heavy Honda Dirt, Heavy 160 Dirt, Unrestricted Animal Dirt
Henry Schneider- Junior 160 Dirt
Quinlan Pio - Light 160 Dirt, Senior Animal Dirt
Lukas Kostic - Light World Formula Dirt, Mod World Formula Dirt
JT Bierman - Heavy World Formula
Logan Koester - Junior Animal Dirt
2023 NASCAR Youth Series National Champions
Ryker Sumner (IN) - Junior Honda Dirt
Lincoln Smith (OH) - Senior Honda Dirt, Light World Formula Dirt, Senior Animal Dirt, Light 160 Dirt, Light World Formula Pavement
Avery McMellen (MD) - Heavy Honda Dirt, Unrestricted Animal Dirt
Reice Widger (PA) - Heavy World Formula Dirt
Jax Wittmer (PA) - Junior Animal Dirt, Junior Animal Pavement
Augustine Punke (IL) - Heavy 160 Dirt
Kaden Wenger (PA) - Formula Mod Dirt
Avelina Gosselin (PA) - Junior 160 Dirt
Easton Gardner (FL) - Junior Honda Pavement
Colton Kelly (GA) - Senior Honda Pavement
RJ Deighton (NJ) - Heavy Honda Pavement, Heavy 160 Pavement, Unrestricted Animal Pavement, Heavy World Formula Pavement
Roo Reaves (NC) - Junior 160 Pavement
Case James (NC) - Light 160 Pavement, Senior Animal Pavement
Tyler Lupton (MI) -Formula Mod Pavement
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