Jordan 'The Kid' Stratton entered Monday needing 20 wins to reach career victory No. 1,000. He will join Walter Case Jr. as the only drivers win 1,000 races prior to the age of 22.
Stratton, who turns 22 on June 30, has won 35 races this year. Case accomplished the feat in 1982.
Stratton, the son of trainer Dave Stratton and nephew of trainer Peter Stratton, won 630 races last season, good for fifth place in North America. A native of Ottawa, Ohio, Stratton became the youngest person in the 50-year history of Monticello Raceway to win the driving title there.
He might not be alone this year in reach 1,000 at an early age. Matt Kakaley, who turns 21 on March 19, is within 217 victories of the milestone. Kakaley has 61 wins so far this season and notched 499 last year. Trace Tetrick, the brother of two-time U.S. Driver of the Year Tim Tetrick, and Brandon Givens both need fewer than 120 victories to reach 1,000. Trace Tetrick turns 23 on September 29 while Givens turns 23 on September 6. Billy Dobson, who is 24, needs 13 wins for 1,000.
Marc St. Louis Jr., who will turn 21 on August 7, might not reach 1,000 career wins this year, but merits attention. St. Louis has 431 lifetime victories.
(Harness Racing Communications)