September 25, 2025 | By Ray Cunningham

Burks Battles To 4th Straight MWRA Title And First Ever POWRi WAR/MWRA Challenge Series Championship

Kansas City, Mo.—In 2025 (Topeka, Kansas) racer Wyatt Burks once again showed championship mettle as he beat back his rivals to win his fourth straight MWRA non winged sprint championship, (fifth overall).The first ever Wholesale Batteries Inc. Challenge Series title, (MWRA vs Powri WAR). And with it his first ever WAR championship, racing primarily the (Don Rumsey/Wyatt Burks Racing 11w) and also the (Jon Sawyer Racing 5). In a tight points battle with Jack Wagner in the Jesse Hockett Racing 77 in second. Brother Samuel Wbr Wagner in the Wagner Boys 73 finishing third. Wesley Smith racing the WSR 44 to a fourth place points run. And Zach Clark rounding out the top five in the ZCR 26.

How did Burks, aka “The Sheriff” accomplish those feats? By finding a way once again to get the maxim result out of each full points paying night. In 2025 there were eight races with that designation, and Burks had one victory, seven podiums, and eight top fives in all of those races. While adding his 18th career MWRA victory to his series leading total. And his eleventh win in WAR all-time as well.

Fluky? No, consistency on the track, and mechanical prowess in the pits, and preparation in the shop. In winning four straight MWRA titles (2022-2025) Burks driving his 11w and the (JSR 5 in select races in 2025) would collect (34) top threes, and (41) top top fives, in 48 starts.

Burks knows there have been many individuals who have helped this team win over the years including the late Don Rumsey, primary sponsor Wholesale Batteries Inc. and racers Chad Winfrey, and Wojo Johnson, to name a few. But always by his side from the quarter midgets to sprint cars has been his mom Becky Phillips Burks, and his father Jeff Burks, for each of the titles they have won together since the first in 2019 with the Iowa Sprint league.

The Capital city racer had this to say about winning championships in every year since 2019, except for (2021) when he finished fifth in the MWRA final standings. “It means a lot to win the MWRA Championship for the fifth time, and the fourth time in a row. We were never much for points racing before 2019, but what we have accomplished over the last six years has been pretty special”.

Racing with his father Jeff during this special time has also meant a lot to Burks, who recently turned thirty years of age. “It’s been great being able to do it with my dad. He’s my best friend and my crew chief. We may bicker and get on each others nerves sometimes, but I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. He has always pushed me to be my best. And has always been a great role model. I’m looking forward to us racing again together in 2026”.
Wholesale Batteries, Inc.

Midwest Wingless Racing Association
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Lewis Automotive Repair
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Jon Sawyer Racing (JSR)
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