McIntosh Charges from 19th to Make History as First Two-Time BC39 Winner

Courtesy Photo IMS

INDIANAPOLIS — Cannon McIntosh carved out a historic victory Wednesday night, becoming the first two-time winner of the BC39 Presented by Avanti Windows & Doors at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

McIntosh, of Bixby, Oklahoma, stormed from 19th on the grid to win the 39-lap USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship feature, driving the No. 71K for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports. The defending champion collected $20,039 in the race honoring the late Bryan Clauson, a USAC legend and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter.

“I’m speechless right now – this is amazing,” McIntosh said in victory lane. “To do it in honor of Bryan Clauson here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway twice now, it’s just an honor. It’s all for him, and I’m sure he’s looking down, smiling and seeing another good race here.”

It was a dominant night for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, which swept the podium. Gavin Miller finished second in the No. 97, with Jacob Denney third in the No. 67.

McIntosh’s path to victory was anything but easy. He flipped during a qualifying race earlier in the evening and had to race his way into the main event by winning the Elliott’s Custom Trailers & Carts semi-feature, which placed him 19th on the starting grid.

Initially out of contention, McIntosh steadily picked off cars as race leader Justin Grant battled Denney up front. By Lap 30, McIntosh had surged into third as Grant and Denney began a thrilling duel for the lead. The pair traded slide jobs and contact before a dramatic incident on Lap 37 when Grant collided with Denney while attempting a pass, sending Grant briefly airborne. The contact flattened Grant’s left front tire and bent his nerf bar, ending his bid for a sweep after winning Tuesday’s 30-lap feature.

McIntosh seized the opportunity, sliding into second and then battling Denney for the win. On the penultimate lap, the two made hard contact in Turn 2. Denney momentarily held the lead, but McIntosh countered with a decisive slide job in Turn 4 to take the white flag and the lead. Denney and Miller collided behind him, allowing McIntosh to escape and seal the win.

“A lot of guys moved up to the top there, and it was hard to make moves,” McIntosh said. “When you throw a slide job, you lose so much momentum. Luckily, I was the guy coming from behind and putting those guys in bad positions.”

In support action, Bryton Buoy led all 20 laps to win the Stoops Junior Sprint Invitational feature. Tuesday’s winner Levi Ballard closed the gap in the final laps but finished second. Owen Larson, son of 2024 Brickyard 400 winner Kyle Larson, placed fifth.

USAC racing returns to The Dirt Track at IMS on Thursday, July 24, with the AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship as part of Indiana Sprint Week presented by Honest Abe Roofing. It will be the first USAC Sprint Car race ever held at IMS and comes just ahead of Brickyard Weekend on the 2.5-mile oval.

For tickets and more information, visit www.ims.com.

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