If you put Jacob Denney in a staring contest against pressure, pressure would blink.
Through three quarters of the 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, Denney has proven himself to be the class of the field with record-breaking accolades and heights he never guessed.
Maintaining a 64-point lead into the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series finale, and a 273-point lead heading into the final six events of the 2025 season, Denney hasn’t found a need to prioritize point collecting, as the majority of the year saw him face new tracks on the schedule.
That season-long test never bothered him, as every win except for I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park has been at tracks that he’s never seen beforehand. With four tracks left to account for, Denney will get to add Doe Run Raceway, Highland Speedway, and Millbridge Speedway to his list of new facilities he’s gotten to race.
“I think every night is a challenge of its own,” Denney said. “Every night is a little bit different. You’re racing some of the best Midget guys in the country, so it never gets easier. I think that’s the thing is that not to get complacent, just keep pushing forward, and trying to find more to stay on top.
“Sometimes, you’re already at the edge of more, and then you got to back it down a little bit. I think every night’s hard in its own aspect, (every track) has little things go this way and that way, so I take it all night-by-night and try to focus on the next thing I’m headed for.”
The Galloway, OH driver’s biggest takeaway from his first year at Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) is the level of comfort his crew chief, Kaleb Wyrick, and other team members have provided to him in situations where he hasn’t.
“I gotta thank Kaleb for that,” Denney said. “These guys have worked hard every night. Sometimes, I’m a pain when I’m not comfortable. But, for the most part, we always work really well together.
“(At the) start of the year, I told Kaleb what I like to feel, and as long as I’m comfortable, I’ll do whatever it takes. And, he’s gotten me comfortable every night, and when I’m not, he’ll work around it and get me there. So, that’s really nice to have somebody that trusts you enough to change the little things here and there to get you a little bit more out of the car so you could drive a little bit better.”
Before joining one of the most successful squads in dirt Midget history, Denney carved out his resumé by racing for multiple teams, including three wins in both USAC and POWRi with both Mounce/Stout Motorsports and Malloy Motorsports. In 11 previous Xtreme starts between 2022-2024, he scored a combined five top fives, eight top 10s, and three podiums.
At the end of 2024, Denney got the offer to take over the reins of the No. 67 JBL Audio Toyota as Ryan Timms departed the seat. Denney began his tenure by capturing his awaited first Series win in the season opener at Farmer City Raceway.
The win set the tone for the year that the 20-year-old was going to enjoy, earning an additional seven wins, 13 podiums, 16 top fives, and finishing top 10 in all 18 races to lead all Series competitors.
“It’s really about being smart with it,” Denney said. “Taking the first part of the race a little bit more smart and not just on-kill, and then if you’re in position to win it, obviously you gotta get to the white flag before you can win the race. So you get yourself there, then take the opportunities and pounce on it.
“The big thing I’ve noticed this year is getting out front early and setting a nice pace, limiting mistakes, and not having to push at a crazy level. At the end of (2024), I was trying to go to this whole other level that sometimes it’d work or I’d make a huge mistake or crash. So I’ve learned to be smarter about it, keep a consistent pace, and let (other drivers) make all the mistakes.”
Denney will chase his second of three Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series championships with the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series finale weekend at Doe Run on Friday, Sept. 5, and Highland on Saturday, Sept. 6.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVIsion – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.
