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| Corey Heim, driver of the #11 Safelite Toyota and Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet. |
In a historic culmination of grassroots racing talent rising to the national stage, two former quarter-midget competitors have captured the championships in the 2025 seasons of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, marking a major milestone for the short-track developmental ranks.
In the Truck Series, rising star Corey Heim (formerly a standout in quarter-midget competition) clinched the 2025 title after a season of dominant performance, including multiple wins, poles and consistent top-ten finishes. Heim out of GA raced quarter midgets growing up, moving quickly into NASCAR higher ranks all leading to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion in 2025.
Corey began racing quarter midgets at a young age, competing in local and regional events. Like many professional NASCAR drivers, these early experiences taught him car control, racecraft, and discipline behind the wheel. After success in quarter midgets, he moved up through Legends cars, Super Late Models, and ARCA Menards Series competition. Heim has since become a standout in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving for TRICON Garage (Toyota) and earning multiple wins, poles, and championship contention.
Simultaneously, in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly called the Xfinity Series), Jesse Love, whose early career also began in quarter-midgets, secured the 2025 driver’s championship. Love, who is NASCAR's youngest champion, raced quarter midgets early on in his career, followed by USAC Midgets, legend cars, and others.
Jesse Love started racing quarter midgets at around age five, competing in the Baylands Quarter Midget Association in Northern California. He quickly stood out for his speed and consistency, winning numerous races and championships at a young age. His success in quarter midgets set the stage for rapid advancement through the ranks of youth motorsports — including USAC Midgets, Micro Sprints, and Late Models. Love went on to become one of the youngest winners and champions in the ARCA Menards Series, and by 2024–2025, he was racing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Richard Childress Racing.
Finally back in a midget here in Tulsa! Race of champions on tap for tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/zmCYxuqK3N
— jesse love jr (@jesselovejr1) January 12, 2026
Both drivers trace their roots back to the quarter-midget arena — the small, high-performance cars young racers pilot on short oval tracks. That foundation of wheel-control, car-placement and race-craft has proven invaluable at the national levels of stock-car competition.
Their ascents underscore the effectiveness of grassroots racing as a pipeline to NASCAR’s national series: the discipline required, early exposure to competitive environments, and the mental toughness developed in quarter-midget competition have served them well through late models, regional series, and ultimately to full-time rides in NASCAR’s upper tiers.
About Quarter Midget Racing
Quarter-midget racing — involving small, open-wheel cars for youth drivers ages roughly five to sixteen — has long served as a training ground for mechanics of racing: throttle control, car handling, overtaking skills, and race strategy. Many NASCAR drivers cite their quarter-midget experience as critical in shaping their careers.
About NASCAR Youth Racing
NASCAR Youth Series is the sanctioning body for the quarter midget racing division of the United States Auto Club (USAC). Quarter midget racing has been around since before World War II. It is a family-oriented motorsport that involves children ages 5-16 racing in specially-prepared cars. The cars, rules and safety procedures are designed specifically for kids. Quarter midget racing is divided into 14 classes/divisions. Kids typically race on oval tracks approximately 1/20th of a mile long. The surface of these tracks are dirt, concrete or asphalt.
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