2007 BCRA Midget Champion Justin Grant

By Robert Haugh

Impressing veteran drivers, owners and Midget racing fans, 16-year-old Justin Grant made waves in 2007 en route to claiming the 2007 DMS Race Products BCRA Midget series championship.

Chauffeuring his own #30 Beast/Esslinger on pavement and Dave and Wendy Thurston’s #17 Spike/Esslinger on dirt, the Argonaut High School Honors senior from Ione convincingly won the overall BCRA championship --- fending off 7-time BCRA titlist Floyd Alvis by nearly 200 points.

Justin’s 2007 performance included 13 Top Ten finishes, 11 Top Five finishes, 6 Top Three finishes, a new track record at Ukiah as well as a second Fast-time in September at Ukiah, a main event win at the prestigious Vukovich Classic at Madera in April, and three Heat race triumphs, as well as garnering more passing points than any other driver.

Grant also claimed the pavement driver’s title, pavement owner’s title, dirt driver’s title and secured the dirt owner’s title for car owner Dave Thurston.

Starting in Quarter Midgets at 6, Justin moved through the ranks of youth racing, establishing a solid presence among his adult competitors. By 8, Justin was competing at the highest level in Quarter Midgets, racing kids twice his age. Justin's personality and driving talent gained him recognition as one of the top Quarter Midget drivers in the Nation. Opting to leave Quarter Midgets in his prime at 12, he left behind numerous track records and over 250 combined wins and Championships at Local, Regional, State, and National levels, moving into Outlaw Karts.

During the 2003 indoor series, Justin impressed many by winning 13 of 15 main events, often competing against much more experienced California Champions. At 14, Justin was crowned the 2005 National Champion after dominating the “Open 500cc” Class.

At 15, Justin opted to pursue his dreams, personally taking on the task of putting together a pavement Midget operation. He presented himself to, and was approved by the BCRA Board to compete at age 15 as an underage minor. His rookie flags were pulled after his very first laps in a Midget, and he has continued to impress officials, fans, and especially other drivers.

After having run only a handful of races in 2006, Justin was honored with BCRA’s 2006 "Johnny Boyd" Rookie of the Year award.

Justin’s official Web site can be found at www.JustinGrantRacing.com.