Story By: A2DPR / KYLE REINHARDT RACING – PORT ROYAL, PA – Kyle Reinhardt rolled into Port Royal Speedway with the Grove Racing team carrying the momentum of three straight top five finishes and five top ten finishes in seven starts with the team.
With a lot of cash on the line over a three day period, Reinhardt was in the best position he had ever been to claim a nice share of the money Port Royal was putting up for the 56th Annual Tuscarora 50.
Before he could even get started, one of his three chances was washed away by rain when Thursday’s opener was cancelled. That still left Friday’s $10,000 to win show and the $60,000 (increased from its original $56,000) to win Tuscarora 50.
The All Star five heat group format was in play for the 48 teams on hand Friday night at Port Royal Speedway. Reinhardt turned the 5th quickest lap in his group. With only four transferring from each heat, he would need to move forward to get in the show.
After a strong start, an issue developed and Reinhardt faded to a 7th place finish in the Grove Racing, Capitol Renegade, Bakers Mobile Home Transport, Coors Banquet Beer, Henry’s Wrecker Service No.45.
Starting deep in the B-main (13th), Reinhardt needed to get to the top four to race his way into the A-main. He managed a 10th place finish.
The team used an available provisional to start the A-main. Reinhardt was able to move forward a few spots to a 21st place finish in the 30-lap Friday finale.
“We weren’t very good in qualifying, then we had an issue in our heat. Hard to dig out of a hole like that with so many good cars here.“, Reinhardt said.
Saturday evening the program began under sunny skies but with an unfavorable forecast, just like Friday night’s show. The Tuscarora 50 format split the 49 cars into two groups for time trials.
Reinhardt turned the 10th quickest lap in Group B, a nice improvement over Friday’s lap.
The qualifying effort earned Reinhardt the pole for heat number four with the top three finishers transferring to the A-main, but unlike the night before, the skies did not cooperate. Moments after time trials were completed, the rain came. They didn’t let up for hours, forcing officials to postpone the event.
When the Tuscarora 50 is rescheduled, the program will start over. A makeup date for the event has not been announced yet.
Reinhardt and the Grove Racing No.45 team will join the All Star Circuit of Champions at Fremont Speedway for the two night Jim and Joanne Ford Classic on September 15th and 16th.