Smitty Boys Racing welcomes Kyle Hirst for 2011 campaign
By Gary Thomas
Antelope, CA – January 19, 2011…Defending ASCS National Rookie of the Year Kyle Hirst will be returning to the tight bullrings of California for the upcoming racing season as he joins forces with the Smitty Boys Racing team.
During its inaugural season of competition Smitty Boys Racing captured the California Sprint Car Civil War Series owners title, utilizing drivers Steven Tiner and Stephen Allard throughout the year.
Allard also drove the No. 14s mount to a handful of wins at four different tracks including Calistoga Speedway, Silver Dollar Speedway, Marysville Raceway Park and Placerville Speedway. In addition to those, Smitty Boys Racing also scored a runner up finish at Calistoga Speedway’s Louie Vermeil Classic with Midwest driver Daron Clayton sitting in the seat.
Hirst spent last season on the road with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour, finishing eighth in the year-end standings and earning Rookie of the Year honors. During a pair of his trips home to California the 23-year-old also scored a seventh place finish at the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial in May and a seventh place overall result at the Trophy Cup in October.
The Smitty Boys Racing team is owned by Steve Smith, with the famous crew chief Darin “Heavy D” Smith turning the wrenches. The crew will also be made up of Robert the wrench, Ryan Smith and Michael Helwig.
The team plans to kick off the year at the February 9 Lucas Oil ASCS National event in Tulare and follow the tour through Tucson on February 18 and 19. After coming back home the Smitty Boys then plan to run a type of “California Outlaw” schedule, hitting select events each week at various tracks.
Sponsors for the No. 14s machine will include AA Johnson and Sons Concrete, Heavy D Motorsports, Brad Sweet Motorsports, Borello Racing Engines, Dirt Solutions, PT-Afco Shocks, Sellers Racing Wings, Glicko Hardware, Nor Cal Masonry and Criobars Torsion Bars.
“I’m really excited about this season and think we can do some great things with Kyle in the car,” said Heavy D. “We had a great year last season with Stephen and it was awesome to help Steve Smith get the car owner title with Civil War. I just want to thank everyone that’s supporting us this year and helping out.”
Smitty Boys Racing is also looking for additional support in an attempt to run the full Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series schedule. Anyone wishing to help out can please contact Darin Smith at heavydmotorsports@hotmail.com
Photo by Steve Lamothe of http://www.stevesracingphotos.com
- Gary Thomas on Jan 19, 2011
- Article Date: 1/19/2011