SAPULPA, Okla. — Jacob Denney was like many aspiring filth midget drivers, dreaming that legendary automobile proprietor Keith Kunz would sooner or later name with a suggestion to drive for his crew.
The distinction is his telephone rang.
5 months since answering, the Ohioan has already discovered his tempo with the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports crew after capturing his first profession Xtreme Outlaw Midget Collection introduced by Toyota function win on the season-opening World of Outlaws Illini 100.
“I used to be tremendous pumped within the second, and it was a dream come true, actually,” Denney stated. “I’m actually joyful to be the place I’m at on this stage with them. Kaleb (Wyrick) has been giving me an awesome automobile each evening, so everybody serving to round me has actually been a blessing. I can’t thank Keith (Kunz), Pete (Willoughby), Toyota, and JBL sufficient for actually taking an opportunity with me and permitting me to drive their automobile.”
Denney constructed his identify on the nationwide midget stage with Malloy Motorsports in 2023 and 2024, choosing up six mixed function wins between USAC and POWRi. Denney completed seventh and fifth within the USAC Nationwide standings each years.
He made his first begin for KKM on the 2024 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Collection finale at Jacksonville Speedway in a No. 68 LynK Chassis, ending seventh the primary evening and eleventh within the finale. Then, he made three further begins for KKM on the POWRi finale, choosing up his first win with the crew, earlier than he was formally introduced to take over the JBL Toyota from Ryan Timms.
“The primary evening of Creek County for the POWRi opener, I used to be so comfy,” Denney stated. “I wasn’t actually phased; I simply went in and located my restrict. However from the primary lap, I’ve been tremendous comfy. It takes quite a bit to be quick, so discovering it comfy actually helps. (At Farmer Metropolis) it helps in instances the place it’s treacherous however discovering that belief in your self and working as much as the wall makes it rewarding.”
Most tracks on the 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midgets schedule are amenities the Galloway, Ohio, driver has by no means visited. The upcoming swing of races in Oklahoma and Kansas will see his first visits to Humboldt Speedway (Friday, Could 9) and 81 Speedway (Saturday, Could 10), respectively.
Denney just isn’t apprehensive by the dearth of expertise, because the Illini 100 win at Farmer Metropolis marked the primary time he raced on the quarter-mile bullring.
“I imply, it’s a must to really feel ready, or can’t be assured when one thing new is subsequent,” Denney stated. “I imply, it was my first evening at (Farmer Metropolis) and we did simply advantageous, so that you simply gotta dive into it. (The tracks) are all type of the identical, all of them have their little tips and issues that make you quicker at each place, so so long as there’s confidence going into it and we do our regular factor, we are able to maintain issues going.”
As he chases his first nationwide midget title with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets in 2025, Denney is obstructing out any unneeded ideas that may distract him from competing in one of the best racing alternative he’s earned.
“I don’t assume there’s been a lot strain,” Denney stated. “You simply gotta go in and do your job. You don’t know what’s gonna occur, so excited about it or including strain when nothing’s occurred doesn’t assist you in any respect. Racing’s all about confidence, so that you gotta be assured in your self, your automobile, belief your self, and issues will all work out.”
