7/11/2022
KC Sparks
Minnesota Missile Monday: Sparks Solid Run at Sweet Springs
Minnesota Missile Monday: Sparks Solid Run at Sweet Springs
Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex; Sweet Springs, MO
By: Stephanie Sparks
The 1KC Motorsports team hit the track for the first time in July with a trip to Sweet Springs Missouri for the weekly point show racing in the restricted micro division. A total of twelve drivers registered for the restricted class representing Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Hawaii, and Minnesota.
HEAT:
KC Sparks drew the highest number in the bucket which put him at the tail of heat 2 to start the evening’s racing action. The initial start was called back for poor formation at the line but the second attempt at a start was clean and green.
Sparks quickly moved to the inside of the track where he pulled alongside the 22 machine of Hank Soares and was challenging for fourth at the end of lap one. Going into turn one, Sparks drove to the low side and slid up ahead of Kyle Heflin and Soares advancing two positions up to third. Sparks was able to maintain the advantage over the challenging Heflin for a couple circuits but Heflin’s experience allowed him to drive back ahead of Sparks.
The preferred line was around the bottom, but Sparks could not get his car to rotate enough to drive off the bottom out of the turns which allowed Soares to overtake the fourth position a couple laps later. Sparks worked on his line and finished fifth. Mason Nester picked up the heat win with Heflin, Soares, and Landon Jesina finishing in the top four.
Heat one was won by Peyton White with Waylon Phillips, Brody Hibdon, Logun Lunsford, and Hayden Alberson making up the top five.
FEATURE:
Sparks did not make the invert for the feature line up and started the 20-lap main event from the outside of the fourth row. Soares earned the pole position but after some issues getting up to speed, he had to retire from the event before taking the green, moving Heflin up to the front row alongside Phillips.
The non-stop feature event saw the leaders put some space on the track over a gaggle of cars competing for a place in the top five. Sparks got caught up in a three wide battle where he backed out and was running ninth before regrouping and finding his line. Lunsford, Nester, Jesina, and Sparks raced with the bottom the preferred line, making it hard to pass. Sparks was able to move ahead of Alberson who kept running the higher line on the track and found a good rhythm to hold off Abbigale Johnson who was gaining on him before he figured out the corners.
Heflin took advantage of the front row start and led all 20 circuits. White ran second and was closing at the end with only three tenths separating the top two at the end. Phillips, Hibdon, and Lunsford rounded out the top five. Nester, Jesina, Sparks, Johnson, and Alberson were the top five.
Upcoming Schedule:
MICRO RACING:
7/15-16: Jefferson County; Fairbury, NE
OR
7/15: Micro Special at English Creek Speedway; Knoxville, IA
7/16: Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex; Sweet Springs, MO
2022 Partner/Sponsor Appreciation
Autoland; Sioux Falls, SD
Furby’s Auto Repair; Sioux Falls, SD
GRP Motorsports; Stillwater, MN
Last Deck LLC; Jackson, MN
Heser Auto and Detailing; Jackson, MN
Hawk Wings; Jackson, MN
G-Force Chassis; Concordia, MO
Schure Build Suspension; Slater, MO
MyRacePass; #TeamMRP #GetTheApp
TL Racing; Jackson, MN
Living Like Outlaws
YTD MICRO STATS:
Shows: 7
Wins: 0
Top 5: 1
Top 10: 6
Heat Wins: 0
YTD KART Stats:
Shows: 10
Wins: 4
Top 3: 8
Top 10: 10
Heat Wins: 3 out of 6
Quick Times:0 out of 4
Article Credit: Stephanie Sparks