Story By: A2DPR / KEEN MOTORSPORTS – ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – Kyle Keen returned to Lincoln Speedway over the weekend, nearly a month after his last visit resulted in a runner-up finish.
In the month that had passed, Keen endured multiple rainouts and had only completed one race, a URC event at Selinsgrove. Saturday night he was looking to pick up where he left off and begin to build some consistent momentum.
As is typical at Lincoln Speedway when the 358 sprint cars are on the card, a deep field was pit-side. Thirty-six teams signed in for the show, which lined up heats by pill draw, then set the feature lineup with the top five finishers transferring and only the top three being handicapped to the front.
Keen’s pill draw set him up with an uphill challenge for the night by putting him 8th on the grid for the fourth heat race. He got a great start and raced into 6th on the opening lap, then started his charge for more.
A few laps in, Keen was the victim of a spin in front of him. With nowhere to go, he got collected in the incident. Fortunately he was able to restart the race at the rear of the field, but he was only able to get back to 6th by the end of the 10-lap qualifying event in the Fine Line Auto Body, Keen Parts/CorvetteParts.net, Doubling Gap Ranch, Shetron, Auction & Equipment, LLC., Wicked Dog Grille, Heishman Racing Fuels, Wicked Cushion, DL Lehman Construction, Gearhead Coffee, Jeremy Zarfos Photography, Coyle’s Lawn Maintenance, 2B Wrapped, 4 Leaf Clover Farms, Turn 2 Terribles Podcast & Media, Kyle Keen Motorsports No.17.
After missing the transfer by one spot, Keen made his way into the feature with a 4th place finish in the B-main. From his 24th starting spot in the A-main, he was able to climb to 18th over the course of the twenty laps.
“It wasn’t the night we were hoping for, but I felt we were decent all night despite the outcome.“, Keen said. “It was just one of those nights when you have to play the hand you are dealt.“
“After the track took rubber, it was tough to really see how good or bad we were. In that situation you just have to hold your ground and defend. Going on offense is tough.“
Although not on his original schedule, Kyle Keen will return to Lincoln Speedway this Saturday, July 15th.