Awesome. That’s for the TL:DR folks.
Seriously, if you want to have a boatload of fun on the track, in the paddock, in your shop, at the low end of the road racing cost spectrum, go get yourself a Sprite or Midget racer and come be a part of what we’ve got going. Heck, we’ll even help you find a car and give it a once-over.
On-track you’ll find competitive, *respectful* racing in vintage spirit (i.e., not smashing into one another) throughout our grids. In the paddock you’ll experience a big family where everyone pitches in whatever is needed: Tools, parts, knowledge, elbow grease, beer, a sandwich, donuts, dinner, and plenty of jokes and laughs.
Need a hand with the car away from the track? Give the group a shout and people will show up to pitch in.
The 2025 season reached new heights with five races in three states and two countries, and was also a springboard for the future, as two new drivers came onboard, with more than that in queue to join our merry band in 2026. We’re optimistic that we’ll see a 20-Spridget grid in 2026!
Spokane
By request, we added to SOVREN’s long-anticipated return to Spokane/Qlispe Raceway with a Sprite-Midget Challenge race. Amid a great weekend of racing, the Sprite-Midget Challenge race was a highlight. With competitive racing throughout the pack pitting drivers who either had never raced this track or who hadn’t in years, in the end it was Campbell securing his first ever P1 finish, followed closely by Newby and Herb.
Oh, and did we mention that Campbell beat Newby while driving Newby’s car? Yep. After Campbell lost his engine on test day at Spring Springs, Stephen insisted that Loren enter the Spokane event with his second car. And at the end of the race it was Newby who was first to congratulate Campbell. Wheel to wheel on the track, thrilled for one-another’s success off.
Drivers in attendance: Newby (1), Campbell (12), Herb (149), Volkert (50), Newman (4), Heacock (13).
Laguna Seca
Next many of us drove south the famed Laguna Seca track, joining California drivers O’Shea, Smith, Carson, and, and Stoffregen. The race started with the first two rows going past the waving green flag four-wide, with Smith teleporting into the fray at turn 2 to make it a group of five. Perhaps the best description of the action is courtesy Victory Lane writer, Buddy O’Ryan:
“The Sprite-Midget Challenge brought its show to town and put on a great race featuring more lead changes than I could count and the best podium ceremony in vintage racing.”
Campbell, back in his own car and in the lead on the last lap but being pushed hard by Stoffregen, saw god, had lunch with him, then tried to brake for The Corkscrew, leading to an epic off and letting Stoffregen, Newby, and Smith speed by as he off-roaded down the gravel.
Drivers in attendance: Newby (1), Campbell (12), Volkert (50), Newman (4), Shinn (62), Stoffregen (77), Carson (73), O’Shea (33), Smith (8).
Northwest Historics
The SMC race at the Northwest Historics was a race within a race, with Minis joining the grid to for the first annual SOVREN Battle of the Brits.
The third race of the year was also the third race with multiple lead and other position changes, with Campbell *just* edging Newby at the checkered flag by about 18 inches. That the Waters and Racine Minis finished 1/2 overall wasn’t on their radar at all as they barreled down the front straight side by side past thrilled spectators in the grandstands.
Lyford was close behind to take third, and Heacock, in the Donald Healey car, took the top spot in the small bore (948, 1098) group.
Drivers in attendance: Newby (1), Campbell (12), Herb (149), Volkert (50), Newman (4), Shinn (62), Lyford (07), Duncan (154), Soucy (11), Heacock (13), Smith (8), Maggio (33).
VRCBC Historics
Attrition is a part of every race season in the group, but it really reared up at Mission. A small but game field of four cars, drivers, and proxy runners took the green flag for the crowd-favorite Lemans-style start. Leading on the last lap, Newby became yet another casualty as he lost his engine just three turns before the finish. O’Kell capitalized to take the win, with Volkert in second. Despite being disabled, Newby picked up third place points in the depleted field. Maggio grabbed top place points for the 948/1098 class as the solo entry.
Drivers in attendance: Newby (1), O’Kell (7), Volkert (50), Duncan (154), Ruppel (44), Maggio (33).
Columbia River Classic
The 2025 Sprite-Midget Challenge season concluded at SOVREN’s Columbia River Classic at Portland International Raceway.
We rolled out the Lemans-style start again, this time with a more robust 12-car grid. Heacock pulled another magical catapult start out of his bag of tricks, going from fourth on the grid to first before the chicane. But Campbell, starting on pole with O’Kell and Newby at the back, pulled out to a monstrous multi-second lead by the end of the first lap. It didn’t last long, though, as he over-cooked the chicane and went around, forced to sit and wait for the field to go by before re-entering. After that it was a full-on battle between Newby and O’Kell. At the checkered flag it was O’Kell by less than a car length, with Herb taking third-place points. Smith took small-bore first place points, with Heacock close behind.
Thus concluded our official 2025 race schedule. In the 1275 class it was Newby, Campbell, O’Kell. In the 1098/948 class it was Heacock, Smith, Maggio.
Drivers in attendance: Newby (1), Campbell (12), O’Kell (7), Herb (149), Volkert (50), Newman (4), Sweet (56), Eldridge (38), Duncan (154), Weiss (77), Heacock (13), Smith (8).
But…Newby had one more trick in his bag. The SOVREN Fall Finale found our usual run group over-subscribed, and the mid-bore group with only four cars. After polling the drivers, Newby got race control to move us to the mid-bore group with a split-grid start…we all enjoyed five more Sprite-Midget races that weekend under perfect sunny Northwest skies.
We want to extend a hearty thank-you to Victory Lane for supporting the Sprite Midget Challenge with coverage and trophy sponsorship, as well as a pro-rated full page ad supporting the Battle of the Brits.
Dan, Celac, and the rest of that gang, you helped make the season fun!
Now on to 2026, welcoming Owen, Mark, Clete, Al, Devon, Drew, Gary, Ehab, and Coley to our group!