Hours After Uncovering NASCAR Plans, 17-YO Midget Champ Achieves Another Feat in Dirt-Racing

NASCAR sensation Jade Avedisian has been enjoying a great 2023. The new Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series champion has continued to make news, and this time, it has come on a dirt-racing track. The 17-year-old star has broken the single-lap record in the history of the Merced Speedway in the recent USA NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series qualifying race.

Avedisian made her Merced Speedway debut in 2021 and has gone from strength to strength in two years. This was her third west coast experience on the USAC Midgets circuit. Jade entered the race, sitting in the sixth position in the point standings. The accolades kept coming as she became the first female driver to lead the USAC national standings earlier in 2023.

A wave of good news in NASCAR for Jade Avedisian

2023 has also been a season of many firsts for Jade Avedisian. As the season kicked off, she became the first female racer to grab a podium finish in the Chilli Bowl Nationals despite making her debut as a rookie. Finishing third with Keith Kunz Motorsports gave her a much-needed confidence boost that has gone a long way.

Last week, she brought more happiness to herself as she entered Toyota’s good books after signing a multi-year deal with the vehicle manufacturer. Avedisian has been driving Toyotas for most of her successful races, and it looks like the success is only getting started. The 2024 season will see the talented youngster run in a Keith Kunz Motorsports midget car in the USAC National Midget and XTREME National Midget circuits.

Besides that, the Toyota GR Cup has also been in her sight. Nitro Motorsports has availed Jade Avedisian’s services and has promised a launchpad platform to transition her into road course racing from dirt. Regarding sponsorships, Toyota Racing Development partner ExxonMobil is already exploring the opportunity and will feature on her vehicles throughout 2024.

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The route has also blessed her with a National Midget Championship and the feat of becoming the first woman to do so. The build-up to the competition was filled with celebration as well. Avedisian has already won Xtreme Outlaw feature races and two POWRi Midget Series races. However, when asked by Matt Weaver about the ultimate motivation behind her unwavering efforts and grit, she had a clear answer, “I want to race on Sundays in the NASCAR Cup Series.”

Avedisian is grateful for all the success she has had

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The Toyota Driver Development Program has produced some sublime NASCAR drivers in the past few years. Cup Series drivers Christopher Bell and John Hunter Nemechek are also a part of the program alongside Avedisian. With both drivers fighting for their respective championships in 2023, the newly crowned Midget Series champion aims to follow in their footsteps.

With so many positive developments to come quickly, it has been surprising for a youngster like her. Expressing the same, she said, “If you would have told me back at Chili Bowl that we would have been able to accomplish all of that, win the championship, I would have called you a liar,” 

“I have come a really long way since the Chili Bowl. Second full-time year helps but joining such a great team and my crew chief, Jarrett (Martin) helps. “And really, all the credit goes to them. They have such a ‘no quit mentality,’ and it drove me to be better. There were a lot of highs, but there’s a lot of lows over a long season too, and the team made sure it never got too low.”

Despite the triumphant times, she also understands that the road ahead is tough and is on a different level than where she operates now. While Cup Series racing is the dream, she says that she wants to keep winning irrespective of the circuit.

“I know what I’m doing next year and I am just really focused on that. I want to race in the Cup Series, and that’s the goal, but I want to win in whatever car they put me in. I want to make sure that I stay focused and do what I need to make the next steps happen.”

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With such an impressive resume, she has managed to grab the NASCAR community’s attention. The younger generation continues to produce potential superstars in different competitions and with the shift in power in NASCAR, the future does look bright.