Kyle Reinhardt Caps All Star Weekend with Top 10 at Waynesfield

The All Star Circuit of Champions resumed competition last weekend following a three week break in their 2021 schedule that annually allows teams the opportunity to compete in the 360 and 410 sprint car Nationals at Knoxville.

The Capitol Renegade team was looking to carry all the positives from their time at Knoxville, including the 360 Nationals Rookie of the Year honors for wheelman Kyle Reinhardt and a solid appearance in the B-main at the 410 Nationals, into  the stretch run of the All Star season.

8/20:  I-96 Speedway – Lake Odessa, MI

      (21 cars, Qualifying 9th, Heat 2nd,  A-main 15th)

First up in the series’ return to action was a trip to I-96 Speedway in Michigan.  When the tour last visited the 3/8-mile clay oval, Kyle Reinhardt logged a top-10 and was looking for more success this time around.  There were 21 total teams pit side for racing Friday night.

Reinhardt was the 14th driver to hit the track for qualifying but was able to log a solid lap that placed him 9th quick overall.  The effort set him up with the outside front row starting spot in the 3rd 8-lap heat race.  

Reinhardt ‘held serve’ in the heat race, riding home in 2nd and locking himself and the team into a top-10 starting spot for the A-main.

In the 30-lap finale, the All Star Rookie of the Year candidate struggled.  He and the team had ‘missed it’, as they say when referencing the correct setup.  Reinhardt slipped back out of the top 10 and when the curtain closed on the night’s competition, he found himself in 15th position.

8/21:  Waynesfield Raceway Park – Waynesfield, OH

      (22 cars, Qualifying 8th, Heat 2nd, A-main 8th)

As a result of expected weather around Plymouth Speedway in Indiana, the original planned destination of the series on Saturday, a mid-week schedule change was made that brought the series back to Waynesfield Raceway Park in Ohio.  

It was only the second visit for Reinhardt, with the first being in the midst of the hectic Ohio Sprint Speedweek back in June.  That night started off well for the Neptune City, NJ native with a top-10 qualifying effort in a field of 42 cars, but he and the team were not able to carry that momentum throughout the night, winding up with a 19th place finish. 

Saturday’s objective:  put a full night together.  It is a challenge the team has faced often in 2021, but a team can only race one race at a time.  They needed to start by achieving the objective in Ohio, then they could worry about the next race.

Step one of that objective went well.  Reinhardt recorded the 8th quickest time among the 22 cars that went under the clock.  

Step two also went well. The Capitol Renegade, Champion Brands, Henry’s Wrecker Service No.91 started and finished 2nd in heat number two, securing a 10th place starting spot for the 30-lap feature event.

The 3rd and final step of the team’s Waynesfield goal was all that remained to successfully achieve the objective.  Reinhardt and team came through.  The right decisions were made in the pits and on the track, enabling Kyle to compete for the entire distance, make some forward progress, and flash under the checkered flag with an 8th place finish.

“Both nights this weekend we were decent.  We were right there, but the motor stumbled a bit at the start of the heat.  When you start on the front row, you have to win.  We weren’t able to do that.  That was the difference between a good night and a great night the last two races.  We had a better car than our results showed“, Reinhardt commented.  

Up Next:

As August draws to a close, Reinhardt will find himself back on familiar turf.  Kyle and the Capitol Renegade team will continue their rookie campaign with the All Star Circuit of Champions by competing in a 4-race stint through Central Pennsylvania.  The swing will kick off at Grandview Speedway on Thursday, August 26th, followed by Williams Grove Speedway Friday, Lincoln Speedway Saturday, and BAPS Motor Speedway Sunday.

“I’m excited about these upcoming races“, Reinhardt shared.  “We’ve been getting better at time trialing and having speed early in the night.  We have often struggled later in the night though.  We believe we can use our experience in PA to help us be better later in the night too.  If we can do that and put a whole night together, we can have a really good week.”

Thanks to Our Partners!

RQM Enterprises would like to express their appreciation to all of their partners for the continued support!  Thanks to Capitol Renegade, Capitol Custom Coaches & Trailers, Champion Brands, Fibreworks Composites, Henry’s Wrecker Service, J&J Auto Racing, FK Rod Ends, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Kelly Racing Fuel, B.C. Walter Trucking, Arai Americas, Auto Meter, KSE Racing Products, InTech Trailers, Fel-Pro, Taylor Ignition Wires, Miller Welders, K&N Filters, Mettec, AL Driveline, Jesel Valvetrain, DMI, All-Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads, ISC Racers Tape, HMS Motorsports, Ultra Lite Brakes & Components, Rider Racing Engines, Saldana Racing Products and HP Engines for their support during the 2021 racing season.