Lonnie Wheatley, BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (December 20, 2022) – It was by the hair of his hairless chinny-chin-chin. But, it was Michael “Buddy” Kofoid emerging atop the 2022 Midget Power Rankings.
Kofoid and Cannon McIntosh ended the 2022 season with 725 points apiece, but it was Kofoid getting the nod based on his 16 feature wins on the season compared to McIntosh’s 15 wins. Kofoid entered USAC’s season-ending West Coast swing 64 points behind McIntosh and made up the ground on the strength of six podiums in seven events including three wins.
It is the third year in a row that Kofoid has topped the Midget Power Rankings with others earning the top spot since the inception of the Midget Power Rankings including Christopher Bell (2013 and 2014), Tanner Thorson (2015 and 2016), Logan Seavey (2018 and 2019) and Spencer Bayston (2017).
While Kofoid nipped McIntosh in the battle for the top spot, Bryant Wiedeman, Justin Grant and Brenham Crouch filled out the top five for 2022.
1. Buddy Kofoid (Penngrove, CA – 725 points) – Kofoid raced to a second consecutive USAC National Championship on the strength of 13 series wins including the BC39, Hangtown and a second Indiana Midget Week title while also scoring an early pair of POWRi Turnpike Challenge wins and a Chili Bowl preliminary triumph to finish atop the Midget Power Rankings for a third year in a row.
2. Cannon McIntosh (Bixby, OK – 725 points) – McIntosh ranked fifth in USAC points and fourth in POWRi, piling up 15 wins including a dozen POWRi scores and three in USAC action. It’s his fourth consecutive time among the Midget Power Rankings top ten and second time to finish second to Kofoid.
3. Bryant Wiedeman (Colby, KS – 597 points) – Wiedeman ranked among the top five with USAC (4th), POWRi (3rd) and Xtreme Outlaw (2nd) with a POWRi win at Brownstown and a POWRi/Xtreme win at Davenport along the way. Wiedeman made a jump from eighth in the 2021 Midget Power Rankings.
4. Justin Grant (Ione, CA – 528 points) – Grant earned runner-up honors in USAC Midget points with seven overall Midget wins during the season. Grant opened strong with a Chili Bowl preliminary win and closed strong with a Turkey Night triumph. It is Grant’s second straight year to finish fourth in Midget Power Rankings after a finish of fifth in 2017.
5. Brenham Crouch (Lubbock, TX – 439 points) – Crouch captured the 2022 POWRi title along with ranking third in Xteme Outlaw Midget points and ninth with USAC, nabbing a POWRi win at Lake Ozark Speedway. Crouch broke into the Midget Power Rankings top ten for the first time after a finish of 15th in 2021.
6. Zach Daum (Pocahontas, IL – 387 points) – The seasoned Midget shoe earned the inaugural Xtreme Outlaw Midget title, scoring a POWRi/Xtreme win at Port City in October. Daum breaks back into the Midget Power Rankings top ten for the first time since 2019, which was his seventh year among the top ten including runner-up rankings in 2013 and 2014.
7. Thomas Meseraull (San Jose, CA – 380 points) – T-Mez claimed third in USAC points with four series wins. Meseraull climbed three positions after back-to-back Midget Power Rankings of tenth in 2020 and 2021.
8. Jacob Denney (Galloway, OH – 318 points) – Denney earned eighth in USAC Midget points, picking off an Indiana Midget Week win at Lincoln Park Speedway. Denney’s first full year of Midget action netted his first top ten in the Midget Power Rankings.
9. Chance Crum (Snohomish, WA – 310 points) – Crum ranked among the top ten in both Xtreme Outlaw (6th) and POWRi (8th) points, earning a POWRi/Xtreme win at Pevely. Crum broke into the Midget Power Rankings top ten for the first time after a finish of 23rd in 2021.
10. Mitchel Moles (Raisin City, CA – 281 points) – Moles was the top-ranking rookie in the USAC ranks at sixth in points with three series wins including a Leffler Memorial triumph at Wayne County in Illinois. Moles is the fourth driver along with Crouch, Denney and Crum to crack the season-ending Midget Power Rankings top ten for the first time.
The Midget Power Rankings are a part of the Open Wheel Power Rankings that also includes STIDA Winged 410s, Non-Wing Sprint Cars and Rod End Supply Winged 360s.
Title sponsorship for the Midget Power Rankings for 2023 is available. Anyone interested in doing so may contact lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
A look at the final Top 50 in 2022 Midget Power Rankings is as follows:
| Rank | Name | Wins | Pts | 2021 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buddy Kofoid | 16 | 725 | 1 |
| 2 | Cannon McIntosh | 15 | 725 | 6 |
| 3 | Bryant Wiedeman | 2 | 597 | 8 |
| 4 | Justin Grant | 7 | 528 | 4 |
| 5 | Brenham Crouch | 1 | 439 | 15 |
| 6 | Zach Daum | 1 | 387 | 21 |
| 7 | Thomas Meseraull | 4 | 380 | 10 |
| 8 | Jacob Denney | 1 | 318 | 98 |
| 9 | Chance Crum | 1 | 310 | 23 |
| 10 | Mitchel Moles | 4 | 281 | 43 |
| 11 | Kaylee Bryson | 0 | 255 | 17 |
| 12 | Taylor Reimer | 1 | 242 | 41 |
| 13 | Chase McDermand | 3 | 193 | 74 |
| 14 | Karter Sarff | 4 | 191 | 18 |
| 15 | Dominic Gorden | 0 | 190 | NR |
| 16 | Tanner Thorson | 1 | 163 | 7 |
| 17 | Jade Avedisian | 2 | 160 | 52 |
| 18 | Logan Seavey | 0 | 157 | 9 |
| 19 | Kyle Larson | 0 | 155 | 16 |
| 20 | Ryan Timms | 2 | 146 | 14 |
| 21 | Tanner Carrick | 2 | 144 | 56 |
| 22 | Daison Pursley | 1 | 135 | 3 |
| 23 | Kevin Thomas, Jr. | 0 | 128 | 11 |
| 24 | Gavan Boschele | 1 | 127 | 19 |
| 25 | Michael Pickens | 1 | 126 | NR |
| 26 | Shane Golobic | 1 | 126 | 33 |
| 27 | Chris Windom | 1 | 124 | 2 |
| 28 | Kyle Jones | 3 | 121 | 35 |
| 29 | Ethan Mitchell | 0 | 121 | 37 |
| 30 | Jason McDougal | 0 | 120 | 20 |
| 31 | Michael Faccinto | 1 | 119 | 99 |
| 32 | Brady Bacon | 0 | 118 | 26 |
| 33 | Christopher Bell | 2 | 112 | 24 |
| 34 | Jerry Coons, Jr. | 0 | 105 | 53 |
| 35 | Carson Macedo | 1 | 98 | 66 |
| 36 | Kyle Cummins | 1 | 93 | 29 |
| 37 | Spencer Bayston | 0 | 93 | 32 |
| 38 | Joe B. Miller | 0 | 91 | 25 |
| 39 | Keith Rauch | 6 | 90 | 48 |
| 40 | Jake Andreotti | 1 | 88 | 20 |
| 41 | Jonathan Beason | 0 | 85 | 22 |
| 42 | Emerson Axsom | 0 | 80 | 5 |
| 43 | Chase Johnson | 1 | 77 | 36 |
| 44 | Jace Park | 0 | 76 | 107 |
| 45 | Rico Abreu | 1 | 71 | 65 |
| 46 | Tyler Courtney | 0 | 69 | 28 |
| 47 | Brody Fuson | 2 | 68 | 64 |
| 48 | Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. | 0 | 63 | 46 |
| 49 | C.J. Leary | 0 | 62 | 82 |
| 50 | Alex Bright | 0 | 61 | 39 |
Breaking into the Top 50 (From 2021): Jacob Denney, Chase McDermand, Dominic Gorden, Jade Avedisian, Tanner Carrick, Michael Pickens, Michael Faccinto, Jerry Coons, Jr., Carson Macedo, Jace Park, Rico Abreu, Brody Fuson, C.J. Leary.
Falling out of the Top 50 (From 2021): Jake Neuman (12), Brent Crews (13), Corey Day (27), Zac Taylor (30), Tanner Berryhill (31), Chase Randall (34), Trey Gropp (39), Andrew Felker (40), Kyler Johnson (42), Trey Marcham (44), Cole Bodine (45), Jake Bubak (47), Emilio Hoover (49), Hayden Williams (50).
Features Completed: 108 (132 in 2021, 87 in 2020, 124 in 2019, 116 in 2018, 131 in 2017, 158 in 2016, 141 in 2015, 126 in 2014, 154 in 2013)
Number of Different Winners: 48 (50 in 2021, 37 in 2020, 51 in 2019, 56 in 2018, 60 in 2017, 62 in 2016, 65 in 2015, 57 in 2014, 66 in 2013)
Number of Drivers to Earn Points: 164 (190 in 2021, 167 in 2020, 214 in 2019, 226 in 2018, 236 in 2017, 278 in 2016, 274 in 2015, 241 in 2014, 248 in 2013)
Past Top Tens in Midget Power Rankings:
2021 – 1. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid (15) 924, 2. Chris Windom (7) 615, 3. Daison Pursley (8) 613, 4. Justin Grant (5) 603, 5. Emerson Axsom (4) 599, 6. Cannon McIntosh (5) 568, 7. Tanner Thorson (7) 492, 8. Bryant Wiedeman (3) 438, 9. Logan Seavey (2) 403, 10. Thomas Meseraull (5) 337.
2020 – 1. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid (10) 689, 2. Cannon McIntosh (8) 687, 3. Tanner Thorson (8) 559, 4. Tyler Courtney (5) 481, 5. Chris Windom (4) 457, 6. Daison Pursley (2) 390, 7. Jake Neuman (2) 317, 8. Logan Seavey (2) 304, 9. Kyle Larson (7) 299, 10. Thomas Meseruall (4) 271.
2019 – 1. Logan Seavey (16) 891, 2. Tyler Courtney (9) 605, 3. Zeb Wise (5) 490, 4. Jesse Colwell (2) 467, 5. Tanner Carrick (2) 435, 6. Chris Windom (2) 404, 7. Cannon McIntosh (1) 382, 8. Zach Daum 375, 9. Tucker Klaasmeyer 363, 10. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (2) 326.
2018 – 1. Logan Seavey (9) 734, 2. Tucker Klaasmeyer (6) 483, 3. Ryan Robinson (1) 457, 4. Tanner Carrick (2) 442, 5. Christopher Bell (9) 345, 6. Chad Boat (2) 321, 7. Tyler Courtney (3) 312, 8. Zach Daum (1) 295, 9. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (5) 294, 10. Justin Grant (2) 281.
2017 – 1. Spencer Bayston (8) 668, 2. Tanner Thorson (7) 608, 3. Shane Golobic (1) 444, 4. Tyler Courtney (5) 408, 5. Justin Grant (3) 359, 6. Christopher Bell (10) 346, 7. Brady Bacon (4) 342, 8. Zach Daum (1) 325, 9. Ryan Robinson 289, 10. Tyler Thomas (6) 277.
2016 – 1. Tanner Thorson (16) 795, 2. Spencer Bayston (3) 666, 3. Carson Macedo (3) 551, 4. Zach Daum (4) 469, 5. Brady Bacon (1) 356, 6. Bryan Clauson (5) 317, 7. Chad Boat (3) 310, 8. Tyler Thomas 294, 9. Ryan Robinson 282, 10. Justin Peck (1) 273.
2015 – 1. Tanner Thorson (7) 548, 2. Darren Hagen (5) 522, 3. Spencer Bayston (5) 500, 4. Rico Abreu (9) 488, 5. Christopher Bell (8) 438, 6. Bryan Clauson (6) 422, 7. Andrew Felker (3) 383, 8. Zach Daum (3) 379, 9. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (3) 373, 10. Tyler Thomas (2) 276.
2014 – 1. Christopher Bell (16) 659, 2. Zach Daum (4) 589, 3. Bryan Clauson (10) 555, 4. Rico Abreu (5) 449, 5. Darren Hagen (6) 421, 6. Tanner Thorson (2) 411, 7. Andrew Felker (3) 313, 8. Tracy Hines (2) 304, 9. Tyler Thomas (1) 283, 10. Alex Bright (5) 244.
2013 – 1. Christopher Bell (10) 543, 2. Zach Daum (8) 504, 3. Darren Hagen (8) 415, 4. Andrew Felker (2) 406, 5. Rico Abreu (7) 402, 6. Bryan Clauson (8) 397, 7. Brad Kuhn (1) 325, 8. Tracy Hines (2) 322, 9. Ronnie Gardner (13) 280, 10. Alex Bright (3) 231.
The Open Wheel Power Rankings are determined by cumulative points based on a sliding scale dependent upon car count at Sprint Car and Midget events across all sanctions and non-sanctions throughout North America.