Derek Green of Granda, Minn., turned in one of the most dominating seasons in recent memory in 2023 en route to winning his first Medieval USRA Stock Car National Championship.
Along the way, the 32-year-old driver of the No, 32 machine from Granada, Minn., competed in 38 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series events and finished outside the top ten just once, and was a top-five finisher in all but four of his starts. He’ll turn 33 on Dec. 19.
Green was by far the most dominant force in full-fendered competition, winning 25 feature races at eight different tracks including the Deer Creek Speedway, Fairmont Raceway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Karl Chevrolet Hamilton County Speedway, Pritchard Family Auto Stores Mason City Motor Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Rapid Speedway and Sports Park Raceway.
Making the journey event more difficult was the fact that Green had to do what had only been done eight times since the inception of the USRA Stock Car—beat Mitch Hovden for the title. The nine-time champ came up short, however, as Green ended Hovden’s string of five straight titles.
Josh Cain, who made the journey from Rio Rancho, N.M., and won this year’s Summit USRA Nationals at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., finished third behind Hovden—a two-time Summit USRA Nationals winner—in the final national standings
But with 15 and 11 wins during the 2023 campaign, respectively, Hovden and Cain were nearly doubled by Green’s 25 triumphs.
Medieval USRA Stock Car 2023 National Championship
Final top 20 points standings showing finishing position, car number, driver, hometown and points earned.
1. 32 Derek Green, Granada, Minn., 4508
2. 15 Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa, 4443
3. 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M., 4400
4. 3C Colin Deming, Hobbs, N.M., 4387
5. 0F Mason Beck, Urbana, Mo., 4336
6. 23 Brayden Gjere, Mabel, Minn., 4318
7. M17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M., 4318
8. 11 Waylon Dimmitt, Camdenton, Mo., 4296
9. 33 Kevin Donlan, Decorah, Iowa, 4280
10. 67 Kyle Falck, Decorah, Iowa, 4229
11. 127 Andy Morris, Fort Gibson, Okla., 4214
12. 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M., 4182
13. 35 Bill Crimmins, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 4175
14. 85 Darrin Schmidt, Winchester, Kan., 4172
15. 74 Rodney Schweizer, Kansas City, Kan., 4141
16. 88 Jeff Dixon, Trenton, Mo., 4117
17. 23 Mark Simon, Buffalo, Mo., 4112
18. 7 William Garner, Lebanon, Mo., 4092
19. 7 Doug Keller, Easton, Mo., 4085
20. 91J Jaylen Wettengel, Topeka, Kan., 4065
Past Medieval USRA Stock Car National Champions:
2023 – Derek Green, Granada, Minn.
2022 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2021 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2020 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2019 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2018 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2017 – Elijah Zevenbergen, Ocheyeden, Iowa
2016 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2015 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2014 – Justin Lasiter, Alamogordo, N.M.
2013 – Donovan Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
2012 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2011 – Mitch Hovden, Decorah, Iowa
2010 – Rich Gregoire, Russell, Minn.
2009 – Tory Reicks, Waucoma, Iowa
2008 – Tom Schmitt, Independence, Iowa
2007 – Tom Schmitt, Independence, Iowa
2006 – Scotty Pratt, Tipton, Iowa
In addition to a $4,000 national points fund check plus another $300 for winning the Christie Door Company Northern Region driven by MVT, Green will also earn awards from Summit Racing Equipment, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing, Allstar Performance, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, Gunshepherd.com, Hooker Harness, Integra Racing Shocks and Springs, JE Pistons, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, Medieval Chassis, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, Real Racing Wheels, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Race Products, Wilwood Racing and others.
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Awards banquet approaching: Green will be honored when the United States Racing Association (USRA) and United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) host a joint awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 27, inside the 9,792-square-foot Nevada Ballroom at the Harrah's Kansas City Hotel & Casino to celebrate the 2023 racing season for both organizations.
Tickets include a luxurious dinner featuring a plentiful selection of fine food and a succulent dessert bar. A cash bar will also be available. The cost is $65 per person and can be purchased by calling (515) 832-6000 or (515) 832-7944, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets sales are available through Friday, Dec. 22, at 12 noon, and then resume on Wednesday, Jan. 3, after the holiday break. The deadline to purchase tickets to the awards banquet is Friday, Jan. 12, at 4 p.m.
A limited number or hotel rooms have been reserved for banquet attendees. Call Harrah's at 800-427-7247 or book online and mention the Group Code “S01US24” to receive the special Group Rate.
Harrah's Kansas City offers one of the most exciting hotels and casinos in the heart of America, blending small-town charm with big-city amenities with over 390+ luxurious rooms, a collection of gourmet dining experiences and the area's hottest gaming and entertainment. Visit Harrahs.com for more information.
Alternatively, you can book rooms at Ameristar Kansas City, which is located just minutes from Harrah's. Use Group Code “USRA23” or “USMTS23” and call (816) 414-7000.
For more than two decades, the United States Racing Association has attracted more and more racetracks and dirt track racers each year through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. During the 2023 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 60 of America's finest dirt ovals hosted more than 1,000 nights of racing.
To learn more about the USRA, check out USRAracing.com. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. To get USRA news and exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox, click here.
USRA competitors can register for the 2024 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series online at USRAracing.com/Register or call (515) 832-6000 to register by phone. You can also download the application at USRAracing.com/Downloads and then submit your completed form by email at office@usraracing.com or fax at (515) 832-7958.
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USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Chevrolet Performance, Christie Door Company, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, KS Engineering, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.
USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allen Autosports Race Cars, ARMI Contractors, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DAY Motorsports, Duvall Electric, Gunshepherd.com, Innovative AutoGlass & Window Tint, PBM Performance Products, Star 1 Roofing & Construction, Stealth Thru Tubing, Texas Locomotive Solutions, TNT Auto Parts, YouDirt.com.
USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, K1 RaceGear by Ryan Bowers, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, MD3, Medieval Chassis, MSD, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, QuickCar Racing Products, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.
USRA RACETRACKS: 67 Speedway of Texarkana, 81 Speedway, Alien Motor Speedway, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Arrowhead Speedway, Bolivar Speedway, Boothill Speedway, Callaway Raceway, Caney Valley Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Crawford County Speedway, Cresco Speedway, Dallas County Speedway, Deer Creek Speedway, Diamond Park Speedway, Eagle Valley Speedway, Electric City Speedway, Elk City Motorsports Park, Fairmont Raceway, Fayette County Speedway, Gondik Law Speedway, Hamilton County Speedway, Harrah's Kansas City Hotel & Casino, Humboldt Speedway, Hunt County Raceway, I-35 Speedway, I-90 Speedway, Lakeside Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Lawton Speedway, Legacy Speedway, Longdale Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Mason City Motor Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Monett Raceway, Northwest Missouri State Fairgrounds, Ogilvie Raceway, Outlaw Motor Speedway, Rapid Speedway, Red Cedar Speedway, Red Dirt Raceway, Rocket Raceway Park, Route 66 Motor Speedway, RPM Speedway, Sabine Speedway, Salina Highbanks Speedway, Sandia Speedway, Sports Park Raceway, Springfield Raceway, Super Bee Speedway, Thunder Valley Speedway, Tomahawk Speedway, Tri-State Speedway, Tulsa Speedway, US 36 Raceway, Vado Speedway Park, West Texas Raceway, Winneshiek Raceway.