Karter Sarff Wins First USAC Midget Feature at Paragon
Karter Sarff captured his first USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature at Paragon Speedway during round two of Indiana Midget Week. He started sixth, slipped past Jakeb Boxell on lap 14 and led the final 17 laps to win the 30-lap feature by 2.274 seconds. Sarff, from Mason City, Illinois and nicknamed “The Shark,” drove the Paul May Motorsports (Peffley & Hinshaw Wrecker Service/Factory 71/Ripper/Speedway Toyota) entry. After the race he said, “It doesn’t even feel real,” and publicly thanked Paul May and his team. Sarff had posted the LearnLab fast qualifying time of 15.383 seconds, his fourth consecutive fastest qualifier in Indiana Midget Week events, and collected the K&N Clean Air Award after leading 17 laps. He negotiated heavy lapped traffic while extending his lead in the closing stages. The race featured early incidents: Zach Wigal led the opening lap before slipping off on lap 2, and Kyle Jones flipped on lap 4, bringing out the lone red flag; Jones was still listed as running after the incident. The top five finished Sarff, Jakeb Boxell, Cannon McIntosh, Kale Drake and Jacob Denney, with Denney earning Rod End Supply Hard Charger honors after rallying from 19th to fifth. Boxell finished runner-up, retained the USAC national points lead (277) and led Indiana Midget Week 139–135 over Sarff after Paragon. Sarff’s victory was the first driver since Gavin Miller in 2023 to record a first USAC feature during Indiana Midget Week, the first first-time USAC National Midget victory at Paragon Speedway since John Andretti in 1985, and marked car owner Paul May’s first USAC National Midget win. Gavin Miller set a new track record in the K1 RaceGear first heat with a time of 2:07.379.
