(Photo Credit: Pat Grant)
Lonnie Wheatley, NIXA, Mo. (January 21, 2015) – Kyle Bellm has known all along that he wanted to make a run at National points somewhere along the way.
It was just a matter of when.
The time is now, as the accomplished 24-year-old Regional racer from Nixa, Missouri, will step up to take on the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour in 2015. It will mark Bellm’s first run at the $60,000 ASCS National championship.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Bellm explained.
Newly married in November, Bellm felt the time was right for the family-owned No. 14k Sprint Car team to take to the road.
“We still have the freedom to do this right now, whereas several years down the road that may not be the case,” Bellm says. “If we’re as successful as we think we can be, we can build on it and see where it takes us.”
If past results are any indication, Bellm should be right in the mix of the ASCS National points chase in short order.
In fact, coming off his second runner-up ranking in ASCS Warrior Region points over the past three years, Bellm has already tasted success in limited ASCS National action with his first triumph coming in the 2013 edition of the storied Devil’s Bowl Speedway Spring Nationals in Mesquite, TX.
Along with several ASCS Regional wins in recent years, it’s something he looks to add to in his first full-time National effort this year.
Bellm comes off a 2014 season that netted ASCS Warrior Region points runner-up honors, his fifth top-four Regional ranking since 2008, all while splitting time among the family No. 14k entry, the Hockett Racing No. 77 and Smith Racing No. 86.
“I can’t thank those guys enough for the opportunity to drive their equipment,” Bellm says. “Anytime someone ask you to drive their car, it’s an honor and fortunately we were able to win races with both of them along the way. The extra seat time makes a world of difference.”
Now, it’s time for Bellm and the No. 14k to go all out on the National trail beginning with East Bay Raceway Park’s $10,000-to-win “King of the 360’s” Nationals near Tampa, FL, in just a few short weeks on February 19-21.
It’s an opening set of races on a Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour schedule that currently includes more than 40 nights of action at 25 different tracks in 14 different states from Florida to Washington and all points in between. Bellm will fill in the schedule with occasional Regional events along the way.
While additional sponsorship would certainly help the cause, it’s a trail Bellm and the No. 14k team couldn’t begin to embark upon without current sponsors that include PPG Automotive Finishes, Colorvision, Schure Built Suspensions, Christian County Collision Repair, Bybee Lawn Care, Dynotech Racing Engines and www.racinboys.com.
For more information, check www.kylebellm.com.
- Bryan Hulbert on Jan 22, 2015
- Article Date: 1/22/2015