Reinhardt Hits PA Speedweek Events to Maintain Momentum

On the heels of the grueling All Star Circuit of Champions Ohio Sprint Speedweek in June, Kyle Reinhardt and the Capitol Renegade, Champion Racing Oil, Henry’s Wrecker Service team took some time off to recharge.  The break in the All Stars’ schedule after Ohio Speedweek lasts nearly three weeks, but they knew they couldn’t sit on the sidelines that long and hope to maintain the momentum they had built in the closing days of the Ohio stint.  To ensure they remained sharp, the team loaded up and headed back to the track for a handful of Pennsylvania Speedweek shows.

7/2:  Williams Grove Speedway – Mechanicsburg, PA

      (Qualifying 6th, Heat 3rd,  A-main 11th)

Reinhardt’s night got off to a solid and promising start when he registered the 6th quickest time against the field of 32 teams taking their shot at the $15,000 to win Mitch Smith Memorial at Williams Grove Speedway.  The time put him on the pole of his heat race and set the team up for a good night.  

The night took a step backward when Reinhardt gave up some ground in the heat race and settled for a 3rd place finish, missing the redraw for the prime starting spots in the A-main.

The Neptune City, NJ native started 13th in the feature event.  Reinhardt struggled early and slipped backwards a few positions.  A late surge as a result of attrition combined with earned positions netted the team an 11th place finish when the dust had settled.

“It wasn’t quite the finish we should have earned here tonight, but the good news is we know exactly what we did wrong with the car.  We have to learn from it and move on“, Reinhardt explained.

7/3:  Port Royal Speedway – Port Royal, PA  (rained out)

Reinhardt and team were looking forward to track time at ‘The Speed Palace’.  They had struggled there earlier in the year, so the opportunity would serve as a barometer of their progress in preparation for some lucrative events later in the year at the popular Central Pennsylvania half-mile.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature inserted herself noticeably into the equation and wiped out the program just after hot laps had begun.

7/4:  Selinsgrove Speedway – Selinsgrove, PA

      (Qualifying 2nd, Heat 3rd,  A-main 13th)

The Independence Day holiday brought 33 race teams to the PA Speedweek finale at a facility that Reinhardt considers his favorite.  He’s had quite a bit of success at Selinsgrove Speedway in recent years, but it was his favorite long before he found success there.  Kyle owns 5 total victories at the track. He also won the 2019 360 sprint car and 2020 410 sprint car track championships at the big half-mile that many call ‘the Knoxville of the East’ because of its size, shape and speed.  

Despite not turning an laps at Selinsgrove since last season, Reinhardt had clearly not forgotten his way around the Snyder County oval.  He logged the 2nd fastest lap during time trials, then captured a 3rd place finish in his heat race to lock himself into the redraw.

Reinhardt’s good fortune continued when he pulled the pole position during the redraw.  The initial green flag didn’t go quite as well for the All Star Rookie contender though, as Danny Dietrich got to the line first and secured the top spot by turn one.  The scramble at the drop of the green cost Reinhardt initial momentum and before the first lap was complete, he had slipped to third behind Brent Marks as well.  

Reinhardt pursued Dietrich and Marks throughout the event, but despite his best efforts and the benefit of two restarts, he was unable to reclaim the positions he had lost.  He ultimately rode home comfortably in third, keeping his guard up and never allowing fourth place Rico Abreu to get close enough to threaten for a spot on the podium.  

It was following the event that Reinhardt and team were caught off-guard when they came up light at the scales.  Despite passing over the scales with no issues following qualifying and bolting on additional weight prior to the feature to offset fuel burn-off, they did not meet the minimum weight and were officially credited with a 13th place finish as the last car on the lead lap.

“We were really good tonight and we were good Friday.  Based on the few laps we were able to make at Port last night before the rain, we were going to be good there too, so we’re confident we’re going the right direction and can continue to make gains“, Reinhardt explained.  “We’re anxious to head back out with the All Stars next weekend and get the second half of the season off on the right foot.“

RQM Motorsports would like to thank 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.

UP NEXT:

Time to hit the road again.  All Star Circuit of Champions’ series action resumes on July 9th at Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY, followed by the 2-day Lou Blaney Memorial event at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH on July 10th-11th.