January 4, 2024 | By NSCHoF

Justin Grant Named North American Non-Wing Sprint Car Poll “Driver of the Year” for 2023

KNOXVILLE, Ia. — Justin Grant of Ione, California has been named the 2023 “Driver of the Year” by the North American Non-Wing Sprint Car Poll voting panel of media members, promoters, sanctioning officials and manufacturers for the second straight year. The 2023 USAC National Sprint Car champion won eleven times with the series, including a three-race sweep of the Kokomo Speedway Smackdown.  Grant garnered ten of the twelve first-place ballots cast in the year-end poll.  Oxnard, California’s Ricky Lewis and Sutter, California’s Logan Seavey received the other first-place votes.

Those drivers ranked second through fifth, respectively, were Tony Hulman Classic winner and 2023 Indiana Sprint Week champion, Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Knoxville Corn Belt Clash winner Jake Swanson of Anaheim, California, four-time USAC winner, Kyle Cummins of Princeton, Indiana, and USAC Rookie of the Year, Emerson Axsom of Franklin, Indiana.

Three-time USAC winner, CJ Leary was sixth, followed by Eldora Four Crown winner, Seavey, USAC/CRA champion Brody Roa, Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series champion, Lewis and former Driver of the Year, Robert Ballou.

The Topp Motorsports #4 team with Justin Grnat at the wheel, earned the 2023 Non-Wing “Team of the Year” Award for the second straight year.

Ricky Lewis was bestowed the “Wild Card Award” for his exciting non-Wing sprint car performances in 2023 for the first time, while Columbus, Ohio’s Trey Osborne will receive the 2023 non-Wing sprint car “Rookie of the Year” Award.

Richie Murray of USAC will receive the North American Non-Wing Sprint Car Poll “Media Member of the Year” honor for the fourth time. 

The O’Connor Family, promoters of events at Kokomo Speedway are awarded 2023’s “Promoter of the Year” Award.  Their award will be their seventh in this category.

Joe Devin of DRC Chassis will receive the “Builder/Manufacturer of the Year” honors for the tenth time.

The North American Non-Wing Sprint Car Poll is an annual awards program of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation, Inc., of Knoxville, Iowa. Awards will be distributed in 2023 at tracks and other locations throughout North America.

2023 Non-Wing Sprint Car Poll Top 20

Position. Name, Hometown, Points (First Place Votes)

1. Justin Grant, Ione, CA, 1120 (10)
2. Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK, 613
3. Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA, 324
4. Kyle Cummins, Princeton, IN, 318
5. Emerson Axsom, Franklin, IN, 254
6. CJ Leary, Greenfield, IN, 253
7. Logan Seavey, Sutter, CA, 247 (1)
8. Brody Roa, Buena Park, CA, 208
9. Ricky Lewis, Oxnard, CA, 200 (1)
10. Robert Ballou, Rocklin, CA, 160
11. Jadon Rogers, Worthington, IN, 68
12. Matt Westfall, Pleasant Hill, OH, 64
13. Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, AL, 58
14. Chase Stockon, Fort Branch, IN, 52
15. Tye Mihocko, Peoria, AZ, 40
16. Mitchel Moles, Raisin City, CA, 39
17. Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA, 36
18. Daison Pursley, Locust Grove, OK, 35
19. Wyatt Burks, Topeka, KS, 34
20. Kory Schudy, Springfield, MO, 25

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