BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Hayward Motorsports confirmed Wednesday morning that Brady Bacon will take over as driver of the team’s OilFire Whiskey No. 19 for the rest of the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series season.

“We are thrilled to have ‘The Macho Man’ join our team, and wholeheartedly believe he is capable of finishing out the year with top-notch performances,” team officials said in a statement. “Thank you to all that support us in doing what we love.”

The Hayward Motorsports No. 19 currently sits fourth in car owner points with the USAC National Midget Series. Tanner Thorson drove for the team since the season opened in February and announced Monday that he had parted ways with the team.

Thorson won four races in the Hayward Motorsports No. 19 on the USAC trail this season, including the Indiana Midget Week finale at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway in June. In all, he earned 11 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in 16 feature starts this season with USAC.

Bacon has run five USAC National Midget Series races in 2020, split between car owners Kelly Hinck and Klatt Enterprises. His best finish this year is 17th at the Southern Illinois Center at DuQuoin in March.

Bacon’s most-recent USAC National Midget Series win came at Arizona Speedway in November of 2019 during the Western World Championships, driving the now-shuttered FMR Racing No. 76e for late car owner Frank Manafort.

The NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series season continues Sept. 25 at Gas City I-69 Speedway.