Petty looking to improve skills

Ryan Petty helps son Jase strap in for his first midget race at Anderson Speedway in 2023. (Aaron Skillman photo)

By Ken de la Bastide

Illinois teenager Jase Petty is looking to improve his craft behind the wheel of a race car with the Kenyon Midget Series in 2024. Petty and his father Ryan purchased the midget campaigned by Tanner Tecco the past two years and has assistance from Jeff Hill. Jase, 14, is a freshman in high school in Oakland, IL and has been competing in karts and Spec Racer Fords on road courses.

“He made his first oval start last year at Anderson,” Ryan Petty said of his son's 11th place showing. “Right now we're looking for seat time and the Kenyon Midgets offers good, clean hard racing,” Ryan said. “We're looking to improve his craft and be competitive.” He said Jase is excited to make his first start on a dirt oval during the coming season.

“Right now we're looking at running eight or nine races,” Ryan said. “We'll want to find out how many races he can run and still be eligible for rookie of the year honors.” The USSA rule book allows a competitor to race five times in a season and still be eligible for rookie of the year in the following year. “We travel a lot,” Ryan said. “This will be something different. We're planning to run the SCCA runoffs and will try to win that.” He said Jase would like to make a career of racing, but is also working on obtaining his pilot's license.