Curious which drivers you should keep an eye on at each Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota event? Series Announcer Rob Klepper will bring you his five drivers to keep an eye on each race weekend.
This week: King of Coles at Coles County Speedway, May 30-31
KLEPPER’S FIVE:
Gavin Miller
Why: It’s simple really… he’s due. Since Rounds 1 and 2 at Farmer City Raceway, Miller has been en fuego. He ran second at Humboldt, second at 81, and third last Saturday at Airport Raceway. That’s pretty good right? Last year at Coles County, he finished seventh, which came after a 12th-place run at Doe Run Raceway. So, if you do the math after a third-place finish prior to Coles this year… the numbers don’t lie. Keep your eye on the Soundgear No. 97… I’m calling it now.
Why: It’s simple really… he’s due. Since Rounds 1 and 2 at Farmer City Raceway, Miller has been en fuego. He ran second at Humboldt, second at 81, and third last Saturday at Airport Raceway. That’s pretty good right? Last year at Coles County, he finished seventh, which came after a 12th-place run at Doe Run Raceway. So, if you do the math after a third-place finish prior to Coles this year… the numbers don’t lie. Keep your eye on the Soundgear No. 97… I’m calling it now.
Karter Sarff
Why: Karter Sarff is darn good at Coles County in a Midget. Last year, he ran eighth with Xtreme but bounced back to win with POWRi during Illinois Speedweek only 13 days later. We’ve only gotten to see the No. 21k twice so far this year, which was darned exciting. Sarff finished third at the season opener at Farmer City, then won the next day. There will be blood in the water in Mattoon, so get that scary song ready and watch out for “The Shark.”
Why: Karter Sarff is darn good at Coles County in a Midget. Last year, he ran eighth with Xtreme but bounced back to win with POWRi during Illinois Speedweek only 13 days later. We’ve only gotten to see the No. 21k twice so far this year, which was darned exciting. Sarff finished third at the season opener at Farmer City, then won the next day. There will be blood in the water in Mattoon, so get that scary song ready and watch out for “The Shark.”
Corbin Rueschenberg
Why: Ruesch is off to a great start in 2025. Yes, we all know that Round 2 at Farmer City brought him an 18th-place finish. BUT… do not forget that he ran fourth the night before AND last Saturday night finished a Series best second to Cannon McIntosh at Airport Raceway in Kansas. The World Wide Web told me his nickname is “Bandit,” which makes perfect sense as he could sneak in and steal his first career series win.
Why: Ruesch is off to a great start in 2025. Yes, we all know that Round 2 at Farmer City brought him an 18th-place finish. BUT… do not forget that he ran fourth the night before AND last Saturday night finished a Series best second to Cannon McIntosh at Airport Raceway in Kansas. The World Wide Web told me his nickname is “Bandit,” which makes perfect sense as he could sneak in and steal his first career series win.
Alex Karpowicz
Why: We have a talented group of rookies this year with Xtreme, and one is from Spring Branch, TX named Alex Karpowicz. Say that five times in a row. Like many young shoes these days, coming out of Micros has taught this young man well. Three top 10s in his first five starts with the Series, including a best of seventh at Humboldt Speedway, followed by a seventh at 81 and yes you guessed it… a seventh at Airport. Expect the multi-time NOW600 Champ known as “Mr. Titanium” to knock out a top five or better during his first visit to Coles.
Ethan Mitchell
Why: Mostly because he’s Ethan Mitchell, aka “Lil Bundy.” Also, this dude is fun to watch on the tight bullrings. Also, because it’s his first Xtreme Midget race back after a big flip in a Micro at Millbridge that resulted in a broken shoulder blade among other things. Forget the fact that he ran 21st at Coles last year and think about this fact: Mitchell owns 1-Lap Xtreme Track Records at Port City (a bullring), Sweet Springs (another bullring) and the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin, IL (See a pattern yet?). A little luck and it’s Lil Bundy to the front people.
Why: Mostly because he’s Ethan Mitchell, aka “Lil Bundy.” Also, this dude is fun to watch on the tight bullrings. Also, because it’s his first Xtreme Midget race back after a big flip in a Micro at Millbridge that resulted in a broken shoulder blade among other things. Forget the fact that he ran 21st at Coles last year and think about this fact: Mitchell owns 1-Lap Xtreme Track Records at Port City (a bullring), Sweet Springs (another bullring) and the Southern Illinois Center in DuQuoin, IL (See a pattern yet?). A little luck and it’s Lil Bundy to the front people.
You can follow these drivers and more all weekend at Coles County Speedway, May 30-31, by getting your tickets in advance online or at the gate.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live – with Rob Klepper – on DIRTVision.
UP NEXT: St. Louis Firecracker Faceoff at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park, June 20-21
