From Tyler Altmeyer
JOLIET, Ill. (May 15, 2021) — It was a weekend of firsts for the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1, as Neptune City, New Jersey’s Kyle Reinhardt is now the newest member of the All Star winner’s club, etching his name in the Series history books with a wire-to-wire victory at the Dirt Oval at Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois. Earning $8,000 for his first-ever All Star triumph, Reinhardt, aboard the RQM Enterprises, Capitol Renegade, No. 91 sprint car, was actually the second All Star Rookie of the Year contender to score their first Series win this weekend. Clauson Marshall Racing’s Tyler Courtney nailed down an $8,500 victory at I-96 Speedway just one night prior.
“This is pretty unreal,” Reinhardt said, an engineer by trade who traded in the workplace for a steering wheel. “I just can’t thank all of the people who stuck behind me enough. I wouldn’t have been able to stop working to race without their help and support. This is just unreal.”
Although Reinhardt was able to control all 25 circuits, it was not a walk in the park, as Courtney and Rudeen Racing’s Cory Eliason each did their best to overtake the Garden State native, giving little slack especially during single-file restarts.
Lapped traffic also played a major role over the course of the 25-lapper. Between laps 13 and 21, slower cars attempted to create a near-impenetrable road block for Reinhardt around the track’s bottom groove, ultimately allowing Courtney to keep pace with his fellow Series rookie. A late-race caution with four laps remaining actually sealed the deal for Reinhardt, creating a clear track and clean air for his final four circuits.
“I had a good pace going and I was able to get by a couple slower cars, but I ended up getting held up a lot by one. Even then, I wasn’t sure what was going on behind me,” Reinhardt continued. “When that last caution came out and they said over the raceceiver that there were 21 laps down, I actually took a big breath and relaxed a little bit because I thought we were going to be ‘OK.'”
Courtney held on to finish second, followed by Eliason, Cap Henry, and the “Northpole Nightmare” Bill Balog.
Up next, the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 will take center stage in the Hoosier State, set to battle for four straight nights at three Indiana bullrings, all of which kicking-off on Thursday and Friday, May 20-21, with a two-night stay at the all-new Circle City Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dubbed the All Stars Indiana Invasion presented by Rayce Rudeen Foundation, competitors will not only duel for a total winner’s share equaling $48,000 over the four-day extended weekend, but a points fund equaling $26,000 will also be distributed among the top-five in the final weekend standings. The All Stars Indiana Invasion presented by Rayce Rudeen Foundation champion will be awarded a $10,000 top prize, with second through fifth awarded $7,000, $4,000, $3,000, and $2,000, respectively.
Floracing All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1
the Dirt Oval at Route 66
Joliet, Illinois
Saturday May 15, 2021
Feature:
1. 91-Kyle Reinhardt
2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney
3. 26-Cory Eliason
4. 4-Cap Henry
5. 17B-Bill Balog
6. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg
7. 11-Ian Madsen
8. 67-Buddy Kofoid
9. 39-Jake Blackhurst
10. 8M-TJ Michael
11. 2W-Scotty Neitzel
12. 5-Paul McMahan
13. 65-Jordan Goldesberry
14. 21BP-Brinton Marvel
15. 68-Dave Uttech
16. 23-Russel Borland
17. 4B-Scott Biertzer
18. 5J-Jeremy Schultz
19. 20R-Robbie Pribnow
20. 29-Hunter Custer
21. 9K-Kyle Schuett
22. 10-Zeb Wise
23. 24-Rico Abreu
24. 13-Justin Peck