Byrd's "Indy Challenge" opens new avenue to Indy from USAC

Seven USAC Midget races in 2016 form the nucleus of the inaugural Jonathan Byrd's "Indy Challenge" which affords unprecedented career opportunities to USAC participants and opens the avenue to compete at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Indianapolis brothers David and Jonathan Byrd have constructed a unique format for their "challenge," which features seven races in USAC's National and Western Midget series serving as the steppingstone to the ultimate prize.

Five wins would earn that driver a seat in the 2017 Freedom 100 Indy Lights race at IMS. Six victories would secure a seat for the full roster of oval races on the 2017 Indy Lights schedule, while a sweep of all seven USAC events would earn the driver the 2017 Indy Lights oval races mentioned, as well as propel the winner to a ride in the 2018 Indianapolis 500.

Included are seven premier races on USAC's 2016 calendar, starting with the June 4 Indiana Midget Week race at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway. Race two will be the final night of the Belleville (Kans.) Midget Nationals on Aug. 6 while subsequent races are the Aug. 17 "Eastern Invasion" race at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.; the "Louie Vermeil Classic" Western Midget race at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway in September; the "4-Crown Nationals" at Eldora Speedway on Sept. 24; the "Gold Grown Midget Nationals" finale at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., on Oct. 8; and the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway, Nov. 24.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for our participants," says USAC President Kevin Miller. "The Byrd family has long been a supporter of America's grassroots motorsports and this challenge will mark a new avenue for our drivers who aspire to compete at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway."

"On behalf of my mother Ginny and my brother David, we are truly excited to announce the Jonathan Byrd's Indy Challenge," said Jonathan Byrd. "We recognize the talent it takes to compete at the highest levels in motorsports and know that succeeding and winning in the USAC National Midget ranks, especially on these larger tracks, can translate to success at Indy. We look forward to continuing our commitment to giving an opportunity to the best of the best in Midget racing, given our family's championship history. We want to thank USAC for allowing us to play a part in bringing a renewed focus to the incredible racing that is featured by the USAC National Midget Championship."

Source: USAC