McIntosh seeks third straight BC39 win in big field of 68 drivers

Submitted by IMS

Two past winners highlight the list of 68 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship drivers entered to compete in the eighth running of the BC39 Presented by Avanti Windows & Doors on Tuesday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 1 at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Cannon McIntosh (2024-25) and Justin Grant (2023) are the past winners of the event taking place on the 1/5th-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of the fabled IMS oval. The entire event, including the 39-lap feature Wednesday evening paying $20,039 to win, continues to honor late USAC champion and Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson.

McIntosh is the only two-time winner of the BC39, and he will seek to extend his place in history at the Racing Capital of the World with an unprecedented third straight win. McIntosh, from Bixby, Oklahoma, is driving the No. 71K Keith Kunz-Curb-Agajanian Motorsports car.

Grant, from Ione, Calif., will seek his second BC39 win in the No. 87 car fielded by CB Industries, owned by Chad Boat, the son of Indianapolis 500 pole winner Billy Boat. Grant was battling for the lead with less than three laps remaining last year when contact damaged his car and ended any chances for victory.

Other top USAC drivers entered include 2024 BC39 preliminary feature winner Kale Drake, USAC Triple Crown champions Logan Seavey and J.J. Yeley, 2024 USAC National Midget champion Daison Pursley and 2025 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car champion Kyle Cummins.

2026 USAC Indiana Midget Week champion Karter Sarff is entered, along with current USAC National Midget point leader Jakeb Boxell and late model star Ricky Thornton Jr.

A long list of drivers who have won USAC national features also will compete in one of the most prestigious dirt-track races in America, including Kaylee Bryson, Kevin Thomas Jr., Mitchel Moles, Briggs Danner, Jake Swanson, Jacob Denney, Zach Daum, Gavin Miller, Hayden Reinbold, Zach Wigal and Drake Edwards. All have previous BC39 experience except for Swanson.

The field also contains 21 BC39 rookies competing for the award sponsored by Max Papis Innovations: Swanson, Frank Flud, Alex Midkiff, Dodge Carlbert, Logan Julien, Wesley Smith, Jake Robinson, Tyler Watkins, Christian Miller, Wout Hoffmans, Drew Sherman, Adyn Schmidt, Kade Taylor, Tony Helton, Eric Heydenreich, Alex Sewell, Jason Tessier, Cameron Hagin, Hayden Wise and Bradley Fezard.

Eighteen different American states are represented in the talented field, with an event-high 12 Hoosiers racing in their home state. Drivers from The Netherlands (Hoffmans), England (Brandon Carr) and Australia (Robinson) also will compete.

On-track action begins Tuesday at IMS with The Stoops Star Spangled Showdown, featuring a full program of events for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship. Public gates open at 4 p.m. ET, with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. followed by opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. and racing consisting of heat races, C-Main, Semi-Features and concluding with a 30-lap feature event. After the feature, fans are invited on the dirt track to talk with drivers and see the race cars up close.

Public gates also open at 4 p.m. for championship night of the BC39 on Wednesday. A driver autograph session is scheduled for 4 p.m., and a public drivers meeting will be held in the fan zone at 5 p.m. Hot laps start at 6:30 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. and racing consisting of qualifying races, C-Mains, Semi-Features and the 39-lap feature event.

Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and for more information for both nights.