Story By: A2DPR / KYLE REINHARDT RACING – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – The first three months of the 2024 season were trying for Kyle Reinhardt.
After a career-best 410 sprint car season in 2023 in which he recorded three wins and thirty top-ten finishes in sixty one races, the Neptune City, NJ native expected to pick up where he left off when he opened the new season.
It hasn’t worked out that way. The first dozen races resulted in just three top ten finishes, the best being a 7th.
The car that had been so good to him last year got dinged a bit late in the year and it just wasn’t the same after repairs were made over the winter. As Pennsylvania Speedweek approached, Reinhardt pulled out a fresh frame and things started to improve. Then during the opening weekend of Speedweek, Chris Shuttlesworth rejoined the team to turn the wrenches.
Now, four races into the Speedweek series, he has clicked off three top ten finishes, including a podium at BAPS Motor Speedway in the Capitol Custom Coaches & Trailers, Coors Banquet Beer, E-Z-GO Golf Cars, Henry’s Wrecker Service No.91
BACK ON TRACK
On opening night of PA Speedweek at Williams Grove, Reinhardt qualified 8th in Group B and logged a 3rd place finish in his heat race, putting him 14th on the grid for the main event.
The night’s finale was a confidence-builder for Reinhardt. Despite getting crossed up early and slipping back as far as 18th, he drove back to a 10th-place finish by the end of the night.
Saturday night’s event at Lincoln Speedway rained out just after time trials, sending the series on to night three at BAPS Motor Speedway.
Everything clicked for Reinhardt on Sunday night. He timed 4th quick in Group B and went on to lead every lap to win his heat.
Drawing the pole for the feature certainly isn’t a bad thing, although it may have worked against Reinhardt Sunday. The high side was the fast way around BAPS Motor Speedway and he was lining up on the low side.
At the completion of lap one, Reinhardt had settled into third and was working to reel Danny Dietrich and Anthony Macri in. When the dust settled after thirty laps, the top trio remained the same. It was Reinhardt’s first podium of the season.
Back at Lincoln on Monday night with 36 teams on hand, Reinhardt qualified 13th in Group B, then pushed forward to a 4th place finish in his heat race after starting 7th. He went on to log a 13th place finish in the A-main.
On night five of PA Speedweek at Grandview Speedway, Reinhardt’s night got off to a tough start. He timed 17th overall and finished 5th in his heat race.
It was in the feature that Reinhardt bounced back. Showing that he made the right adjustments, he advanced six spots to an 8th place finish.
“We are finding speed and consistency this week. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on that.”, Reinhardt said.
UP NEXT
Reinhardt currently sits 6th in the PA Speedweek points with five races remaining.
Wed 7/3 – Port Royal Speedway
Thu 7/4 – Hagerstown Speedway
Fri 7/5 – Williams Grove Speedway
Sat 7/6 – Port Royal Speedway
Sun 7/7 – Selinsgrove Speedway