Buddy Kofoid

Last updated
Michael "Buddy" Kofoid
BornMichael Kofoid
(2001-12-02) December 2, 2001 (age 22)
Penngrove, California [1]
USAC National Midget Series career
Debut season2018
Current teamKeith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports [1]
Car number67
Engine Toyota
Crew chiefJarrett Martin [1]
Championships2 (2021, 2022)
Wins36
Best finish1st in 2021, 2022
Finished last season1st
Previous series
2019 to present POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series
Championship titles
2021-2022 USAC National Midget Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
2 races run over 1 year
2022 position45th
Best finish45th (2022)
First race 2022 Pinty's Truck Race on Dirt (Bristol Dirt)
Last race 2022 Clean Harbors 150 (Knoxville)
WinsTop tens Poles
000
ARCA Menards Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish71st (2022)
First race 2022 Atlas 100 (Illinois State Fairgrounds)
WinsTop tens Poles
010
Last updated on: November 5, 2022.

Michael "Buddy" Kofoid (born December 2, 2001) is an American professional dirt track and stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the USAC National Midget Series and POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series, driving for Keith Kunz Motorsports. He is the 2021 and 2022 USAC National Midget Series champion. He also competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 51 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 15 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. He also has competed with the NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws Sprint car Series. He collected his first Win at Husets Speedway on June 23, 2022.

Contents

Early career

Kofoid began racing at the age of 5, driving outlaw cars. [2] He began driving sprint cars after receiving his first one when he was 10. [3] He was the youngest driver to win a sprint car A-Main in the New Zealand National Sprint Car Series in 2013, at 11-years old. [4] He competed full-time in the Western Sprint Tour when he was 13, finishing 2nd in the final standings. [5] He won a sprint car race at Placerville Speedway in 2016, which made him the youngest person in history to win at the track. [6] Throughout most of his career, Kofoid primarily competes in sprint car and midget car racing events, and occasionally late model races.

United States Auto Club

Kofoid attempted to make his USAC National Midget Series debut in 2018, but would fail to qualify. [7] In 2019, he joined Keith Kunz Motorsports for a part-time effort. He would win in his first career national midget car debut, at Jacksonville Speedway. [8] On December 14, 2019, Kofoid would sign a full time effort in the USAC National Midget Series with Keith Kunz Motorsports in 2020, and compete for Rookie of the Year honors. [9] He would pull off an impressive season, scoring 3 wins, 14 top 5s, and 22 top 10s. He finished 4th in the final standings, and winning Rookie of the Year. [10] He would have a breakout season in 2021, finishing inside the top 10 in all but three races. He would win the championship with 6 wins, 28 top 5s, and 37 top 10s. [11] He would also win two more titles that season, the USAC Indiana Midget Week, [12] and the Make-A-Wish Trophy Cup. [13] As of 2022, Kofoid will continue to race full time with KKM, and defend for a second championship. [14]

POWRi Midget Racing

Kofoid made his POWRi Midget Racing debut in 2019, driving in two races. He finished 2nd and 3rd in both races. [15] He drove in 16 races for KKM in 2020. Despite not driving in four of the races, he managed to finish 4th in final standings, with 7 wins, 12 top 5s, and 12 top 10s. [16] He ran half of the season in 2021, scoring 9 wins, 14 top 5s, and 15 top 10s. [17] As of 2022, he will continue running part-time for KKM.

Late models

In 2021, Kofoid made his debut in late model racing. He ran two races for Racing Dynamiks, finishing 12th in his first race. He would finish 3rd in his second late model start at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. [18]

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West

In 2018, Kofoid signed with Gary Thackeray, and drove in a one off race with his team in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. He started 15th and finished 21st due to a mechanical issue. [19]

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

On March 31, 2022, it was announced that Kofoid will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at the 2022 Pinty's Truck Race on Dirt, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Kofoid will drive with the same chassis that Martin Truex Jr. drove in the 2021 Pinty's Truck Race on Dirt, where he led 105 laps and won the race. [20] Kofoid started 32nd due to an overheating issue during qualifying races. He quickly made his way to the front, and ran as high as 3rd in the final stage. He would finish 27th, after spinning in turn 2. Fellow driver, Derek Kraus, would run into the back of Kofoid's truck, as he was trying to avoid the wreck.

ARCA Menards Series

On August 9, 2022, it was announced that Kofoid will make his ARCA Menards Series debut at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack, driving the No. 15 for Venturini Motorsports. [21]

SprintCar Racing in New Zealand

Throughout 2018 and 2019, Kofoid raced throughout New Zealand in SprintCars with Daniel Anderson Racing. This trip proved successful, as he came away with the New Zealand SprintCar Title in 2019.

NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws SprintCar Series

Personal life

Kofoid is a fan of 20 time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser and NASCAR drivers Kyle Larson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kofoid is currently a member of the Toyota Racing Development program. [2]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223NCWTCPtsRef
2022 Kyle Busch Motorsports 51 Toyota DAY LVS ATL COA MAR BRI
27		 DAR KAN TEX CLT GTW SON KNX
11		 NSH MOH POC IRP RCH KAN BRI TAL HOM PHO 45th40 [22]

K&N Pro Series West

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314NKNPSWCPtsRef
2018 Gary Thackeray83 Chevy KCR TUS TUS OSS CNS SON DCS IOW EVG GTW LVS
21		 MER AAS KCR 58th23 [23]

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920AMSCPtsRef
2022 Venturini Motorsports 15 Toyota DAY PHO TAL KAN CLT IOW BLN ELK MOH POC IRP MCH GLN ISF
2		 MLW DSF KAN BRI SLM TOL 71st42 [24]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Murray, Richie (January 25, 2022). "Buddy Kofoid Aims to Defend USAC Midget Title in 2022". www.floracing.com. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Toyota Dirt Driver Spotlight: Buddy Kofoid". Speedway Digest. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Meet Buddy Kofoid". Toyota Racing. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Buddy Kofoid - FloRacing". FloRacing. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Michael Kofoid - Results - Western Sprit Tour". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Kofoid makes track history". Mountain Democrat. July 10, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Michael Kofoid - Results - USAC P1 Insurance Midget National Championship". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ Seelman, Jacob (September 21, 2019). "Kofoid Snags Jacksonville Summer Midget Win". Speed Sport. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ Seelman, Jacob (December 14, 2019). "KKM Inks Buddy Kofoid for Full USAC Season". Speed Sport. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Michael Kofoid - Results - USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  11. ↑ Essex, James (December 31, 2021). "Kofoid captures USAC Midget title for Columbus-based race team". The Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  12. ↑ Seelman, Jacob (June 13, 2021). "Kofoid Denies Seavey For Indiana Midget Week Title". Speed Sport. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  13. ↑ Rodda, Ron (October 24, 2021). "Trophy Cup Belongs to Kofoid". Speed Sport. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  14. ↑ Murray, Richie (January 25, 2022). "Buddy Kofoid Aims to Defend USAC Midget Title in 2022". FloRacing. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Michael Kofoid - Results - 2019 POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Michael Kofoid - Results - 2020 POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Michael Kofoid - Results - 2021 POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Toyota Partners With Racing Dynamiks To Field Bryson And Kofoid On Asphalt". Oval Track News. February 12, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Michael Kofoid - Results - 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West". thethirdturn.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  20. ↑ Sturniolo, Zach (March 31, 2022). "Buddy Kofoid to make Truck debut with KBM at Bristol dirt". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  21. ↑ Kristl, Mark (2022-08-09). "Buddy Kofoid Making ARCA Debut at Springfield". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  22. ↑ "Buddy Kofoid - 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Buddy Kofoid - 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Buddy Kofoid - 2022 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
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