Michael Kofoid Bio
Michael “Buddy” Kofoid (born December 2, 2001) is an American professional dirt track and stock car racing driver. Competing primarily in open-wheel and dirt racing, Kofoid has built a reputation as one of the most decorated young talents in American midget and sprint car competition. He is a two-time USAC National Midget Series champion and a Toyota Racing Development program member who has begun transitioning into national NASCAR and ARCA competition.
Early Life and Background
Michael Kofoid was born on December 2, 2001, in Penngrove, California. He grew up in a region with deep roots in open-wheel and dirt track racing, which helped shape his early interest in the sport. Kofoid began racing at the age of five, starting in outlaw karts before progressing to bigger machines as a child.
He received his first sprint car at the age of ten, signaling a serious commitment to the sport. By the time he was a teenager, Kofoid was already competing at high-level venues, balancing school with a demanding travel schedule. His Penngrove upbringing and family support played a central role in his development as a young driver.
Path to NASCAR
Kofoid’s path toward NASCAR began with a standout international resume in sprint car and midget competition. In 2013, at just eleven years old, he became the youngest driver to win a sprint car A-Main in the New Zealand National Sprint Car Series. He went on to compete full-time on the Western Sprint Tour at age thirteen, finishing second in the final standings, and in 2016 he became the youngest winner in the history of Placerville Speedway.
He captured the New Zealand Sprint Car Title in 2019, further expanding his international reputation. These early achievements positioned him for opportunities with Keith Kunz Motorsports in the United States, where he would later earn back-to-back USAC National Midget Series championships and open the door to NASCAR and ARCA competition.
Michael Kofoid Career
Early Career (2018-2019)
Michael Kofoid made his first national touring appearance in 2018, attempting to qualify for a USAC National Midget Series race without success. That same year, he ran a one-off NASCAR K&N Pro Series West start at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track with Gary Thackeray’s team, finishing 21st after a mechanical issue.
In 2019, Kofoid joined Keith Kunz Motorsports for a part-time USAC National Midget effort and won on his national midget debut at Jacksonville Speedway. He also debuted in POWRi Midget Racing with two podium finishes and traveled to New Zealand with Daniel Anderson Racing, where he won the New Zealand Sprint Car Title.
USAC National Midget Series Breakthrough (2020-2022)
On December 14, 2019, Kofoid signed a full-time deal with Keith Kunz Motorsports for the 2020 USAC National Midget Series season, competing for Rookie of the Year. He delivered immediately, scoring three wins, fourteen top-fives, and twenty-two top-tens, finishing fourth in the final standings and earning Rookie of the Year honors.
Kofoid’s breakout arrived in 2021, when he finished inside the top ten in all but three races and captured the USAC National Midget Series championship with six wins, twenty-eight top-fives, and thirty-seven top-tens. He added two more titles that season, winning USAC Indiana Midget Week and the Make-A-Wish Trophy Cup.
In 2022, Kofoid defended his championship successfully, becoming a two-time USAC National Midget Series champion. He also collected a high-profile World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win at Huset’s Speedway on June 23, 2022, while continuing to drive the No. 67 for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports.
POWRi Midget Racing (2019-2022)
Kofoid made his POWRi Midget Racing debut in 2019 with two starts, finishing second and third. In 2020, he ran sixteen races for Keith Kunz Motorsports and posted seven wins, twelve top-fives, and twelve top-tens, finishing fourth in the standings despite missing four events. In 2021, he competed part-time and recorded nine wins, fourteen top-fives, and fifteen top-tens. He continued a part-time POWRi schedule in 2022 with Keith Kunz Motorsports.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (2022)
On March 31, 2022, Kofoid was announced as a driver for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt. He drove the No. 51 Toyota Tundra, using the same chassis Martin Truex Jr. had piloted to victory in the 2021 edition of the race. After starting 32nd following overheating issues, he charged into the top three during the final stage before a late spin resulted in a 27th-place finish.
ARCA Menards Series (2022)
On August 9, 2022, Kofoid was confirmed to make his ARCA Menards Series debut at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack with Venturini Motorsports. He drove the No. 15 Toyota Camry, expanding his stock car experience under the Toyota Racing Development umbrella.
Late Models (2021)
Kofoid made his late model debut in 2021, running two races for Racing Dynamiks. He finished twelfth in his first start and followed that with a third-place result at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in his second appearance.
Keith Kunz Motorsports Era (2019-Present)
Kofoid has been a fixture with Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports since 2019, climbing from part-time USAC rookie to a two-time national champion. He drives the No. 67 with crew chief Jarrett Martin, while representing Toyota through the Toyota Racing Development program. His tenure with the team has produced two national titles, a World of Outlaws win, and a steady stream of national stock car opportunities.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kofoid is known for his versatility across dirt surfaces, with particular strength in high-banked bullrings and large dirt ovals. His sprint car background gives him sharp car control in traffic, and he has shown a willingness to charge through the field, as seen in his 2022 Truck Series debut. Working alongside crew chief Jarrett Martin, Kofoid has built a steady feedback loop that has translated into consistent top-ten runs in USAC competition.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Kofoid counts his 2013 New Zealand sprint car A-Main win, his 2016 Placerville Speedway victory, his 2021 and 2022 USAC championships, and his Huset’s Speedway World of Outlaws win in 2022. His 2022 Truck Series debut at the Bristol dirt race and his 2025 New Zealand midget successes, including wins at Baypark Speedway and the NZ Midget Championship at Western Springs, have also marked important chapters in his career.
Michael Kofoid Career Wins
Michael Kofoid has built a stacked resume across multiple dirt racing series, anchored by two USAC National Midget Series championships and a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory. He has also been a consistent winner in POWRi Midget competition, with double-digit win totals in both 2020 and 2021.
USAC National Midget Series Highlights
Kofoid is a two-time USAC National Midget Series champion, claiming titles in 2021 and 2022 with Keith Kunz Motorsports. His 2021 championship run included six wins, twenty-eight top-fives, and thirty-seven top-tens, and he added USAC Indiana Midget Week and the Make-A-Wish Trophy Cup that same season. He also earned USAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2020.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of USAC, Kofoid has posted seven POWRi Midget wins in 2020 and nine more in 2021, plus a 2022 World of Outlaws win at Huset’s Speedway. He also won the 2019 New Zealand Sprint Car Title and, during the 2024/25 New Zealand season, won the Bay Superstars 30 Lapper, the Bay 51, the 50 Lap Classic at Western Springs, and the NZ Midget Championship at Western Springs on January 4, 2025.
Michael Kofoid Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kofoid grew up in Penngrove, California, in a family that supported his early racing ambitions. His progression from outlaw karts at age five to a sprint car at ten reflects a household committed to developing his career. He is widely known by the nickname “Buddy,” which has followed him throughout his racing journey.
Personal Life
Outside of racing, Kofoid is a fan of twenty-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser, along with NASCAR drivers Kyle Larson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He is a member of the Toyota Racing Development driver development program, which continues to shape his transition from dirt tracks to national stock car series.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Kofoid’s 2025 season has been highlighted by a successful return to New Zealand with Trent Way Motorsport, where he raced a midget on the 2024/25 summer schedule. He won the Bay Superstars 30 Lapper and the Bay 51 at Baypark Speedway, then added the 50 Lap Classic and the NZ Midget Championship at Western Springs Speedway, claiming his first win at the iconic New Zealand venue.
Back in the United States, Kofoid has continued his work with Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports in the No. 67, building toward another USAC National Midget Series campaign. His partnership with crew chief Jarrett Martin and the Toyota Racing Development program has kept him firmly in championship contention across dirt and selected stock car events.
With back-to-back USAC titles already secured and a growing international resume, Kofoid enters the heart of the 2025 season as one of the most accomplished young dirt racers in North America. Continued strong results in New Zealand, the USAC series, and select NASCAR or ARCA starts could position him for an expanded national stock car role in the years ahead.
