Archive for category: Sprint Cars

Preston Lattomus said from the beginning that his rookie campaign in a winged 410 sprint car would be all about seat time—the more laps, the better.

That approach is proving to be the right one in a Central Pennsylvania sprint car scene that offers plenty of speed while also demanding quick adaptation. For Lattomus, the method has been simple: keep racing, keep learning, and focus on the small improvements that add up over a night-to-night stretch.

“In my head, racing 11 times in one month helps me move on from the previous race and start thinking about the next one,” Lattomus explained. “As far as learning goes, being in a car that frequently also helps with minimizing mistakes and learning from them because of those previous mistakes being so fresh in my head.”

Learning Curve: Starts, Restarts, and Early Confidence

Over the course of the month, the biggest gains for Lattomus have come from the areas he and the team have been attacking repeatedly—particularly starts and restarts.

“Towards the end of the month, I started to improve on the biggest thing for us recently, starts and restarts,” he said. “The last couple of races, I felt very comfortable early in the race when previously I did not.”

Lattomus also noted that even nights where the results didn’t match what the team was working toward still provided valuable education.

“The Touring races came with a learning experience, even though I did not qualify for the A-mains,” he explained. “One thing I learned was how tough qualifying is when the best in the world are in town, and how small the gap becomes from being 10th and 20th.”

Tough Fields, Positive Mindset, and Gaining Perspective

Racing against elite competition has also impacted the way Lattomus thinks about performance—especially when things don’t go as planned.

“Another thing is when racing against those guys and not doing well, I had to keep a positive mindset and not get discouraged,” Lattomus said.

When he discussed what has been most challenging about competing against the Outlaws-caliber fields, Lattomus pointed to the same theme as his biggest improvement focus: the early phase of the night.

“The thing that killed me the most, racing against the Outlaws, was starts,” he said. “Everyone is already so good that it becomes harder to pass, especially early on in the night. So after qualifying, I think not advancing on starts was a big one.”

Despite the learning curve, his confidence hasn’t been shaken.

“As far as confidence goes, it hasn’t hindered,” Lattomus said. “But our perspective on it has definitely changed because of what our expectations have become.”

Short-Term Goals and What Comes Next

Lattomus described the team’s near-term goals as consistent runs near the front, with results that reflect the work he’s putting in week to week.

“The short-term goal is top 5s and strong top 10s,” he explained. “I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do that and haven’t always succeeded. But the confidence of being able to do that consistently is there. The more consistent we are able to get upfront, the wins and impressive finishes are coming.”

Adjustments Off the Track: Scheduling and Strategy

Along with development on the race car, the plan has also shifted in how the team approaches upcoming weekends. Lattomus said the Ohio events have been removed from the schedule.

“We are no longer running the Ohio races and plan to stick to the local races that weekend,” he said. “The local stuff is where we can keep building, keep learning, and keep logging laps.”

Speedweek Excitement: Grindy, Valuable, and Worth It

Looking ahead, Lattomus is already focused on one of the most demanding opportunities of the season: Speedweek.

“The 10 nights of Speedweek are always something to look forward to, even though it’s one of the most grueling you can do as a race team,” Lattomus said. “As a driver, and we as a team do it and want to compete because we love it. So definitely excited for what Speedweek has to offer.”

Built With Support in the Pit

Lattomus credits a strong support group for helping him process everything that comes with rookie 410 racing—both on race nights and between events.

“Kyle and Scott have been great,” he shared. “I told Kyle I feel like I need to do a better job of giving feedback on what I feel and what I need. There’s a lot to process and get used to, so I can be good at that. I’ll get there.”

With Scott McClaren handling much of the decision-making and adjustment work from the 358 experience, and Kyle Reinhardt now mentoring after stepping out of the 410 seat, the team is building continuity—translating feedback and seat time into small performance gains that are meant to show up over time.

Upcoming Weekend: More Laps at Williams Grove, Lincoln, and BAPS

Lattomus is also looking forward to a packed three-race weekend aimed at maximizing seat time and continuing the team’s momentum.

Over the upcoming June 5-7 weekend, the team will compete at:

• Williams Grove Speedway (Friday)
• Lincoln Speedway (Saturday)
• BAPS Motor Speedway (Sunday)

“The challenge of putting together the best laps I can in qualifying or in a race is exciting to me,” Lattomus said. “I’m excited about the opportunity I have to race this Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, EZGO Golf Cars, Betts Garage No.91 sprint car. I’m excited because I know what we can and will accomplish eventually.”

Focus Moving Forward

At this stage of the season, Lattomus isn’t chasing perfection—he’s building it. With a clear focus on learning faster, improving starts and restarts, and keeping his mindset steady against tough competition, he’s setting the foundation for the stronger runs he believes are coming.

“I try to focus on the big picture—the learning, the improvements,” Lattomus said. “If I get too wrapped up in results, it can take a toll on my confidence. I just take a day to process our night, put things in perspective, and learn from the opportunities.”