PETERSEN MEDIA
After a successful weekend with the Finley Farms team in August, Kyle Hirst returned to the seat of their potent No.77 machine for the Fall Nationals in Chico, CA and scored a pair of top-10 finishes.
Starting the feature in the fourth row, KH worked into the top-five early as he worked the low side of the speedway. Hirst continued to remain technical and hit his marks as many of the front-runners ran the same line until they reached lapped traffic.
Late in the feature KH closed fast on Tim Kaeding as the duo fought tooth and nail for the fourth spot. Kaeding allowed Hirst to poke his nose under a few times, but quickly slammed the door, keeping Hirst in the fifth spot at the finish.
Kicking the night off, Hirst timed in the Finley Farms machine sixth quickest, putting him in the second heat race. A second place heat race finish put him in the dash, and a seventh place finish in the dash put him in the fourth row for the feature.
The action continued on Saturday night for another complete show at the Silver Dollar Speedway to conclude the Fall Nationals, and it got off to a rough start for Hirst as he missed it during qualifications and ended up 38th quickest.
Starting tenth in second heat, Hirst was on a mission as he was “up on the wheel”, and charged his way to a fifth place finish, earning himself a transfer spot into the feature event.
KH would grid the field from the 24th and final starting spot for the 40-lap finale, and though he was overshadowed by race runner-up, Tim Kaeding, he still put on one of the most exciting drives of the night.
Putting his right-rear tire on the cushion, Hirst was a rocket as he flew around the Silver Dollar Speedway seemingly grabbing a position a lap, as he followed fellow 12th row starter, Kaeding, to the front.
Taking advantage of some timely cautions, Hirst would end up charging his way to a ninth place finish when the 40-laps concluded.
“I have to give a huge thanks to Jason and Scott Finley for giving me an opportunity to drive for them again this weekend,” Hirst said. “Every time we hit the track we were able to go forward. We were awesome on Saturday, I just wish we could of timed in better, and given ourselves a fighting chance, but congratulation to Sean Becker on grabbing two wins this weekend.”
ON TAP: Hirst will now take a weekend off before heading to the Kings Speedway on October 13th for the Cotton Classic.