Curts Charges to First Mid-Am Victory of 2026 at Dells Raceway Park

Twenty-nine competitors rolled through the gates at Dells Raceway Park on Saturday night, but only 24 would earn a starting spot in the Mid-Am Racing Series Under the Radar Showdown feature. After qualifying, four heat races, and a Last Chance Qualifier, the stage was set for an exciting 35-lap main event.

The championship battle was already heating up before the green flag dropped. Daniel Calhoun entered the evening holding just a five-point lead over Cameron Vandermeir, while rookie Kellen Arnold III sat third in the standings, making every position on the track critical.

Mark Sontag Jr. paced qualifying with a blistering 14.729-second lap, edging Joshua Nelms for the top spot. Kenny Richards, Kevin Murphy, and Ricky Mathis Jr. completed the top five qualifiers, while eventual winner Clay Curts qualified 11th.

Heat race victories went to Marqus Hoover, Connor Kosowski, Cameron Vandermeir, and Rick Tackman, each earning a transfer into the night's feature. In the Last Chance Qualifier, Timmy Stewart raced to victory over Phil Speciale and Bobby Gash, while Jim Thorson, Josh Fehrmann, and Dan Janjanin secured the final transfer positions into the 24-car starting field.

When the green flag waved for the 35-lap feature, Clay Curts started from the pole position and converted it into his first Mid-Am Racing Series victory of the 2026 season, holding off a talented 24-car feature field at Dells Raceway Park.

One of the night's toughest breaks belonged to Mark Sontag Jr., who appeared to have one of the fastest cars on the property and was in contention for the victory before suffering electrical issues on a late-race restart, ending a promising evening just a few laps from the finish.

Kevin Murphy continued his strong 2026 campaign with a runner-up finish, while Joshua Nelms completed the podium in third. Rookie Matt Lee added another impressive performance with a fourth-place finish, and Cody Clubb rounded out the top five.

The remainder of the top ten featured Kenny Richards, Daniel Calhoun, Jeremiah Senko, Kyle Brick, and Marqus Hoover.

The Mid-Am Racing Series would like to thank Dells Raceway Park, the fans, officials, staff, and all 29 competitors for another outstanding evening of racing. Congratulations to Clay Curts on an impressive drive from 11th to Victory Lane to earn his first Mid-Am Racing Series victory of the 2026 season.

Feature Results (35 Laps)

1. Clay Curts (88D)

2. Kevin Murphy (427)

3. Joshua Nelms (0N)

4. Matt Lee (27L) (Rookie)

5. Cody Clubb (23C)

6. Kenny Richards (5R)

7. Daniel Calhoun (4C)

8. Jeremiah Senko (42S)

9. Kyle Brick (3B)

10. Marqus Hoover (00H)

11. Cameron Vandermeir (28V)

12. Connor Kosowski (43K)

13. Timmy Spatz (10S)

14. Bobby Gash III (76G)

15. Dan Janjanin (2J)

16. Phil Speciale (6S)

17. Kellen Arnold III (3K) (Rookie)

18. Ricky Mathis Jr. (3M)

19. Andrew Meyerhofer (14M)

20. Jim Thorson (99T)

21. Mark Sontag Jr. (1S)

22. Timmy Stewart (18S)

23. Josh Fehrmann (86F)

24. Rick Tackman (42T)

Qualifying Results

1. Mark Sontag Jr. (1S) – 14.729

2. Joshua Nelms (0N) – 14.805

3. Kenny Richards (5R) – 14.809

4. Kevin Murphy (427) – 14.827

5. Ricky Mathis Jr. (3M) – 14.885

6. Matt Lee (27L) – 14.913

7. Jeremiah Senko (42S) – 14.919

8. Cody Clubb (23C) – 14.950

9. Kyle Brick (3B) – 14.954

10. Kellen Arnold III (3K) – 14.970

11. Clay Curts (88D) – 14.980

12. Cameron Vandermeir (28V) – 14.983

13. Andrew Meyerhofer (14M) – 15.014

14. Phil Speciale (6S) – 15.021

15. Daniel Calhoun (4C) – 15.034

16. Marqus Hoover (00H) – 15.095

17. Connor Kosowski (43K) – 15.133

18. Timmy Stewart (18S) – 15.151

19. Shane Sapp (56S) – 15.185

20. Timmy Spatz (10S) – 15.197

21. Jim Thorson (99T) – 15.203

22. Josh Fehrmann (86F) – 15.240

23. Bobby Gash III (76G) – 15.251

24. Clint Evans (17E) – 15.398

25. Dan Janjanin (2J) – 15.428

26. Greg Beebe (98B) – 15.520

27. Ken Calhoun (88C) – 15.538

    
    

    DNS. Clay Curts (88D) (per timing sheet discrepancy)

    
    

    DNS. Tim Schmitt (9S)

Heat Race Winners

• Heat 1: Marqus Hoover (00H)

• Heat 2: Connor Kosowski (43K)

• Heat 3: Cameron Vandermeir (28V)

• Heat 4: Rick Tackman (42T)

  
  

Heat Race Results

Heat 1

1. Marqus Hoover (00H)

2. Timmy Spatz (10S)

3. Phil Speciale (6S)

4. Clint Evans (17E)

5. Timmy Stewart (18S)

6. Josh Fehrmann (86F)

7. Greg Beebe (98B)

8. Tim Schmitt (9S)

Heat 2

1. Connor Kosowski (43K)

2. Daniel Calhoun (4C)

3. Shane Sapp (56S)

4. Dan Janjanin (2J)

5. Jim Thorson (99T)

6. Bobby Gash III (76G)

7. Ken Calhoun (88C)

Heat 3

1. Cameron Vandermeir (28V)

2. Kyle Brick (3B)

3. Clay Curts (88D)

4. Kenny Richards (5R)

5. Jeremiah Senko (42S)

6. Mark Sontag Jr. (1S)

7. Ricky Mathis Jr. (3M)

Heat 4

1. Rick Tackman (42T)

2. Cody Clubb (23C)

3. Joshua Nelms (0N)

4. Kevin Murphy (427)

5. Kellen Arnold III (3K)

6. Matt Lee (27L)

7. Andrew Meyerhofer (14M)

Last Chance Qualifier (15 Laps)

1. Timmy Stewart (18S)

2. Phil Speciale (6S)

3. Bobby Gash III (76G)

4. Dan Janjanin (2J)

5. Clint Evans (17E)

6. Greg Beebe (98B)

7. Jim Thorson (99T)

8. Shane Sapp (56S)

9. Josh Fehrmann (86F)

10. Tim Schmitt (9S)