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: Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park, Aug. 1-2
KLEPPER’S FIVE:
Jacob Denney
Why: We start with the current series points leader, who just so happened to sweep both events in OK last weekend, bringing a 133-point lead into I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park. His win at Tulsa Speedway on Saturday night was career series win number six. It was also his sixth win this year. Why does that matter? Well… with that win, he tied Chase McDermand (who won six times in 2023) for the most wins in a single Xtreme Outlaw Midget season. So, with a win in the “Show-Me State” he would take sole command of that record. Denney won in Pevely with Xtreme back on June 21, the same night McDermand was the Smith-Ti Quick Qualifier. Hmmm… that’s odd. The kid’s a threat, that is obvious. But coming off a weekend sweep at two DIFFERENT tracks and now just has to worry about one you ask? Please… eazy peezy.
Gavin Miller
Why: He’s been knocking on the door more than anyone, trying to get to Victory Lane this year. In the first 12 events… he’s only finished outside the top 10 three times and since round two holds an average finish of 3.6… that’s 3.6! During that time, the kid from PA has finished second three times, once to his KKM teammate Cannon McIntosh and twice to ANOTHER KKM teammate Jacob Denney. Miller also has FIVE third-place finishes this year, and each time it was Cannon McIntosh either winning or running second. In seven total starts at I-55, he has three top fives, and in June finished third twice. I mean, wow, this is a statistician’s dream! The Ironman trophy has a legitimate shot at ending up in the “Keystone State.”
Cannon McIntosh
Why: It’s been well documented (mostly ‘cuz I keep bringing it up) that the defending Xtreme & POWRi champion had a rough couple rounds at Farmer City to start the year. I’m sure he wants me to shut up about it (and that’s a fair point), but if he can chase down Denney in this championship then we both will look good. Similar to Miller, Mac has been en fuego since round two with an average finish of 2.8. I don’t know for sure (even though I do) but that seems quite good. He’s always been good in Pevely, MO across 10 total starts, posting two wins (one this June), four top fives and five top 10s. Now, he knows top 10s just won’t cut it as good as Denney is running. Heck, top fives may not help him win a second straight title. But he does know the math and the math says he needs to win… simple as that.
Chase McDermand
Why: First off before anyone says “Hey, he was one to watch last week”… you’re right. But think about this… Chase McDermand is fourth in points just 139 points behind Denney AND he’s only 36 points behind Gavin Miller for second. Got it? Oh, and he ran sixht on his birthday at Tulsa and I declined a cupcake from his family to which I regretted later in the night. I-55 is special to this kid as he won his first POWRi feature there in 2022. And this weekend the Xtreme Outlaw/POWRi Challenge Series continues so that helps. In total at Pevely, McDermand has racked up three top fives and eight top 10s in 10 starts including a seventh and fourth in June this year. Last week, I mentioned he’s due to get back to Victory Lane. NOW… I’m saying it. We’re passed the pomp and circumstance of the birthday and now it’s time to get back to business… and I promise I’ll never decline a sweet treat again.
Kameron Key
Why: Rounding out the top five in points is the lone driver in the top 10 from the state of Missouri. In fact there are nine different states represented in the current Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series top 10 in points. I’m sorry… what? That’s rad in itself. Key is coming off a solid weekend in OK. Bouncing back to ninth after potential disaster at Arrowhead, then finishing fourth the next night at Tulsa could set up this return to his home state for a date with the confetti. He’s only run at I-55 four total times BUT his most recent was his best ever finishing sixth with Xtreme on June 21. Trifecta showed wicked speed in OK but just didn’t have the luck to go along with it. And that’s the KEY right? With a little luck, he could give the boys their first win of the year.
You can follow these drivers and more all weekend at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park on Friday-Saturday, Aug. 1-2, by getting your tickets in advance online.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live – with Rob Klepper – on DIRTVision.
UP NEXT: Appalachian Midget Week in Pennsylvania, Aug. 6-9
