Kyle Schuett is here to stay folks. The 2021 IRA Sprints Rookie Contender turned heads and then some last Saturday night at Wilmot in one of the most impressive nights from an IRA rookie since Sean Rayhall earned two consecutive quick time awards last season. Yet somehow, an air of “what if” hung around the Schuett Racing camp after the A Main at a windswept Wilmot Raceway on Saturday.
Schuett continued his good pill draw streak with the IRA and went out to qualify 10th. One of the first drivers to find the hooked up bottom lane of an already slick and dry Wilmot surface, Schuett nailed his second lap to go 7th quick overall, essentially locking himself into a dash later on as long as he transferred to the feature out of his heat race.
“We qualified really well.” Schuett said about his 2 lap session. “Getting into the top 10 is huge as far as setting up the rest of your night, and 7th was awesome for us.”
The 10 lap heat race was almost a disaster for the Health Alliance/Progressive Propane 9K. A spin on the opening circuit by Robbie Pribnow from 1st collected Mike Reinke and Schuett. Luckily, Kyle’s machine suffered only minor right rear wheel damage and the Philo, IL native was able to continue on. Schuett wound up holding on for 2nd in the heat, officially earning a spot in one of the night’s two dashes. Schuett pulled into his pits after the heat race, and he realized just how close to a DNF he came.
“Our right rear was at 5 pounds after that race.” Schuett said. “I was just holding on those last few laps.” Schuett then received some even more luck, pulling the outside front row spot in dash #1.
This 4 lap dash to determine the inside of the first 5 rows of the night’s feature consisted of 3 former IRA champions (polesitter Jake Blackhurst, Scotty Neitzel and Jeremy Schultz), and consistent front runner Scotty Thiel. Schuett left them all for dust. Using a fantastic start to rocket around the outside of Blackhurst on the opening circuit, Schuett took the lead and never looked back. The 9K crossed under the checkered nearly a straightaway ahead of Blackhurst’s 39 in second.
“I just got a better start.” Schuett said “To win a dash against those guys is really exciting.” The result earned him the pole position for the IRA Sprints Feature. However, the feature would be a very different story from the dash.
“We thought the track didn’t change much after the dash, when in fact it got way slicker.” Schuett explained. “We really messed ourselves up by not changing the car for the A. We slipped back to 10th by the end. I tried every line while battling with Blake for the lead early on, but it just wasn’t enough and it just wouldn’t hook up anywhere. It’s unfortunate but all a part of the learning process.”
The Top 10 result elevated Schuett to 10th overall in IRA points and allowed him to extend his lead in Rookie of the Year standings over Jack Berger and Bailey Goldesberry.
The next race for the Schuett Racing Inc. 9K will be this Saturday, May 8th at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI with the IRA Sprints for their Spring Sprint Car Special. Tickets are available at the track and on Cedar Lake’s website. If you can’t make it out to see the methanol monsters of the IRA in person, every IRA race will be exclusively broadcasted on the FloRacing streaming service all season long.
Kyle Schuett and Schuett Racing thanks their 2021 partners for their continued support throughout the year!
Health Alliance
Progressive Propane
Amsoil
First Mid Insurance Group
Kim’s AutoBody
Engler Machine and Tool
R&B Powdercoat
Allstar Performance
Safety-Kleen
Diversified Machine Inc. (DMI)
Rod End Supply
Hooker Harness
Steve Thomas Racing
J&K Property Rentals LLC.
The 9K team will contest the full Bumper to Bumper IRA Sprints schedule in 2021, along with several outside shows with the All Star Circuit of Champions, World of Outlaws and more. You can follow Kyle's season at www.schuettracing.com and on Facebook at Schuett Racing Inc and Twitter @schuettracing, as well as Midwest AutoSports PR on Facebook at MAS AutoSports and Twitter @mas_autosports.
This article is licensed for use for Schuett Racing Inc. by Midwest AutoSports and should not be replicated or re-published without the expressed written consent of Midwest AutoSports Media and Promotion.