Champions of USAC’s 2014 Honda .25 Midget series were toasted Saturday night in downtown Indianapolis, Ind. as the “Showcase of Champions” unfolded at the NCAA Hall of Champions.
Butch Lamb served as the emcee for the affair, which offered pre and post-banquet amusement with the Hall of Champions’ array of sports-related games and displays.

Eighteen National and multiple regional championships were celebrated, the National Champions also featured during opening ceremonies at Friday night’s 59th USAC “Night of Champions” National Awards Dinner, also in Indianapolis.

The “Generation Next” series encompassed a baker’s dozen events from coast to coast and resulted in 58 different class winners. 

Honored as USAC Honda .25 Midget National Champions as a result of their “Generation Next Tour” titles were Logan Heath of Hereford, AZ (Light 160 and Light World Formula Pavement); Carson Hocevar of Portage, MI (Heavy Honda and Heavy 160, Senior Animal and Heavy AA Pavement); Berklee Jimenez of San Antonio, TX (Heavy World Formula Pavement); Brady Johnson of Mooresville, N.C. (Junior Honda Pavement); Christopher Oplinger of Mount Holly, N.C. (Senior Honda Pavement); Tanner Reif of Henderson, NV (Junior Animal Pavement); Famous Rhodes II of Parkland, FL (Light Mod Pavement); Danny Sams III of Englewood, FL (Unrestricted Animal Pavement); Jack Wehmeyer of Sellersville, PA (Light AA Pavement); Aleksander Andrecs of Edgewater, MD (Junior Honda Dirt); Bradan Andrecs of Edgewater, MD (Junior Animal Dirt); Jesse James Bartleson of Rio Grande, NJ (Heavy World Formula Dirt); Zachary Curtis of Spring City, PA (Heavy Honda Dirt); Briggs Danner of Allentown, PA (Light 160 Dirt); Hanna Flood of Limerick, PA (Heavy 160 and Unrestricted Animal Dirt); Connor Gross of Middleton, MA (Light World Formula Dirt); Mike Thompson of Holland, PA (Senior Animal Dirt); and Conner Weiss of Barto, PA (Senior Honda Dirt).

Champions of the Eastern, Western, Northeast and East Coast sub-series were also recognized and presented distinctive awards.

Connie Ellington of Arizona, who served for the past three years as a dedicated USAC official, was the surprise recipient of USAC’s “Spirit of Youth Award” in recognition of her outstanding contributions and dedication to youth in motorsports.

All of the USAC champions received distinctive championship jackets compliments of Hoosier Racing Tire of Lakeville, Ind.

http://usacracing.com/news/25/item/4381-youth-take-center-stage-at-25-showcase-of-champions

TORRANCE, Calif. (May 23, 2013) – American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced a comprehensive motorsports partnership program with the United States Auto Club (USAC), including title sponsorship of several USAC racing series and a new role as Official Engine Supplier to the Ignite Midget Series.  Implementation of these programs will begin this year, and will be fully in effect for the 2014 race season.

 

Under terms of the multi-year agreement, Honda will become title sponsor for USAC’s National Midget, Ignite Midget (to be renamed Honda Midget) and .25 Midget racing series.  Honda K24 “crate” engines, sold and distributed by USAC, will become the new spec engine for the Honda Midget Series.

 

Honda K- and F-series engines, also supplied by HPD, are currently being utilized by individual teams in the USAC National Midget Series, and Honda GX-series engines remain a popular choice for .25 Midget competition. 

 

Honda will become the official vehicle of USAC, as well as the Official Side-by-Side and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) supplier; Official Generator and Official Pit Bike for the sanctioning body.  In addition, Honda will become the presenting sponsor of all USAC National race broadcasts, via live streaming through USAC.TV, Ustream and USACRacing.com. 

 

“Historically, USAC has occupied a leadership role in oval-track racing and grass roots motorsports nationwide,” said Mike Accavitti, Senior Vice President, Automobile Operations, for American Honda.  “We’re pleased to be able to greatly expand our role in USAC competition, while taking the next significant step in advancing HPD’s grassroots motorsports initiative.  We look forward to a long and successful association.”

 

Honda will supply USAC with Honda Civic Si pace cars for the National Midget and Honda Midget series.  Honda Side-by-Sides and ATVs also will be utilized by series officials.  Signage rights for the sponsored series, including Victory Circle, will be provided to Honda for the length of the agreement; and the iconic Honda “Circle H” logo will be placed on all Quarter Midget and Honda Midget entries. 

 

"USAC is extremely pleased to announce the new partnership with Honda today," says USAC CEO/President Kevin Miller. "Honda's new level of participation throughout USAC's racing programs brings new energy with its national marketing footprint. USAC and Honda have partnered today to create an expanded level of excitement in the Midget racing community and we look forward to a mutually rewarding motorsports experience for all involved."

 

Honda has been a fixture in North American open-wheel racing since 1994, and has played an active role in Indy car competition – as both a Manufacturers' Championship competitor and single engine supplier – since 1994.  

 

In competition with other auto companies, Honda has won six championships, more than any other manufacturer.  In years of multi-manufacturer competition, Honda-powered drivers have won eight titles, again more than any other.  Honda has a total of 197 race victories in open-wheel racing, 65 in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) competition and 132 in IndyCar. 

 

As engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series from 2006-2011, Honda supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field, and for a record-six consecutive years, the ‘500’ ran without a single engine failure.

 

Honda scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; and the 2012 race, won by Dario Franchitti, was Honda’s ninth consecutive “500” triumph – both against competition from other manufacturers and as sole engine supplier. 

 

Founded in 1993, HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines, and competes at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California.  The company is marking it’s 20^th anniversary as American Honda’s racing arm in 2013. 

 

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2012 American Le Mans Series, and in the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 2010 and 2012.  HPD offers a variety of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases “fun-to-drive” products for professional, amateur and entry-level racers.

Dave King served American Honda Power Equipment in several capacities during his 29 year tenure with the company; District Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, Sr. Engine DSM and Sr. OEM Rep. Dave shared a long relationship with Quarter Midgets of America, working with every tech director elected in QMA since 1994 and attending most, if not all of the Grand Nationals since Honda was introduced as a QMA engine. Dave believed in quarter midget racing and supported the sport through his time and efforts over the last 17 years. Dave was instrumental in helping HPD bring the Honda Racing spirit to Quarter Midget racing.  Dave was looking forward to his pending retirement next month.

Dave was a great asset to American Honda Motors and will be dearly missed.  Our thoughts are with his family and friends.