Photo by Dale Calnan/Image Factor Media
By Carin Sundin
OHSWEKEN, Ont. (August 26, 2019) – This week’s edition of “In the Driver’s Seat” features Kyle Wert # 19 from the HRW Automotive Mini Stock division. Each week this segment showcases a driver from the Middleport Mechanical Thunder Stock or HRW Automotive Mini Stock divisions to share some insight on the drivers wearing the fire suit and behind the wheel of the cars that put on the show.
Wert would like to thank the following sponsors for supporting their 2019 race season: Eccles Auto Service, Wellington Brewery, Junkyard Jord and Gales Auto Aftermarket. Kyle would also like to extend a special thank you to his girlfriend, Kailyn Swift, for her help and coming out to every race to support him. He’d also like to thank his many friends who help work on his car week in and week out through out the season.
How old were you when you started racing? What division/class? How long have you been in this current division?
KW: “I was 16 years old when I started racing in the Bomber division at Ohsweken Speedway. I raced for two years in the Bomber division before moving up to the Mini Stock class and I have been in Mini Stocks for three years.”
How did you get involved in racing?
KW: “I’ve always had a passion for racing since I was a kid. A friend of mine had started racing before me and I would help him out working on his car. A few years later I shared a car with a friend for my first year in the Bomber division The following year I continued on my own and halfway through that season I bought a car for the Mini Stock division.”
What was your scariest situation in a racecar?
KW: “I don’t get too scared when I’m racing. But I’ve looped my car around in the corner and had cars coming straight at me. Now that can be a little nerve wracking and definitely sucks.”
Do you get “race nerves” before a race?
KW: “I do not get race nerves before any of my races. I just get excited heading to the track and once I’m there I forget about everything and just go out there and race.”
What is your favourite race moment to date (as a driver, fan, growing up, etc.)?
KW: “Last year I rolled my car and totally wrecked it. I built a new car with the help of a few buddies for the following week. I went out that week and ended up racing to my first Feature win.”
If you could race in any other class, which would it be?
KW: “If I could race any other class, I would run a Thunder Stock car. I like the full-size stock car racing.”
What advice would you give anyone who is interested in getting into racing?
KW: “Find yourself a car and just go for it! But I’ll warn you, once you start, it will be hard to stop!”
What driver do you most admire? Do they influence your driving style?
KW: “I don’t have one specific driver that I admire, but the drivers I most admire are the ones that take the car they have and drive the wheels off of it!”
If you could compete in any race, what would it be? Which track?
KW: “I’m going to have to choose the Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway! Nothing like seeing NASCAR Trucks throw some slide jobs.”
Do you have any race day or pre-race superstitions or rituals?
KW: “I just have one superstition that I follow. Similar to Tiger Woods wearing a red shirt, if I bring my hat with me in the car for the feature, I’ll be going for the win.”
Who picked your number and why?
KW: “My #19 goes back to the days when I played hockey. The number came from my favourite player; Joe Sakic and I’ve kept the number ever since.”
What other activities do you enjoy besides race car driving?
KW: “I enjoy the automotive world and working on different things in my spare time. I also play hockey during the winter and baseball in the summer.”
Everybody at Ohsweken Speedway would like to wish Kyle Wert and the No. 19 HRW Automotive Mini Stock team a safe and successful 2019 season. Thank you, Kyle for getting “In The Driver’s Seat” this week.
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About MavTV Canada’s All North Racing Powered by Pinty’s
Ohsweken Speedway is excited to announce its Friday Night Excitement racing will be the centerpiece of a new international television broadcast on MavTV Canada called All North Racing powered by Pinty’s. All North Racing will visit Ohsweken for six live broadcasts that will be re-aired multiple times in Canada and the United States. The MavTV broadcasts are scheduled for May 31, June 21, July 22, July 23, August 30 and September 14. These broadcasts include both nights of the Northern Summer Nationals featuring Tony Stewart, Christopher Bell and Rico Abreu as well as the 15th annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. For more information on MavTV Canada, visit www.facebook.com/MAVTVCanada.
Ohsweken Speedway Live Stream
Can’t make it to the track or don’t live within driving distance? No problem! Check out all of Ohsweken’s weekly Friday Night Excitement action live online for free via the Ohsweken Speedway Live Stream. The stream goes live at 7:30pm EST each race night at www.OhswekenSpeedway.ca and on our official Facebook page.
2019 SEASON
Ohsweken Speedway’s 24th season of weekly Friday Night Excitement features four divisions of racing, including the Kool Kidz-Corr/Pak 360 Sprint Cars, Strickland’s GMC Crate Sprint Cars, Middleport Mechanical Thunder Stocks and HRW Automotive Mini Stocks. Visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com or call (519) 717-0023 for more information.
About Ohsweken Speedway: Founded in 1996, Ohsweken Speedway is a motorsports complex which includes a 3/8 (0.375) mile clay oval track. The facility is owned by the Styres family, and located in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada. Ohsweken’s weekly Friday night racing program runs from May to September each year, featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Crate Sprint Cars, Thunder Stocks and Mini Stocks. The season finishes each year with the track’ annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. Ohsweken Speedway also hosts weekly Micro Sprint racing on Thursday nights.
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Phone: (519) 717-0023
Email: media@ohswekenspeedway.com
Website: www.OhswekenSpeedway.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/OHSWEKENSPEEDWAY
Twitter: @OhswekenSpdway
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/OhswekenSpeedway
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/OhswekenSpdway
Ohsweken Speedway thanks the following partners for their support: Nitro 54 Variety, Ackland Insurance, Arrow Express, Auto Parts Centres, Bradshaw Brothers Fuels, Burger Barn, Case IH O’Neil’s Farm Equipment, Core-Mark International, Corr/Pak Merchandising Inc., Creative Edge Signs & Graphics, EPIC Racewear, Gale’s Auto Aftermarket, Hoosier Tire Canada, HRW Automotive, Insta-Insulation/Insta-Panels, Jibs Action Sports, Kool Kidz Ice & Water, McDonald’s Restaurants of Paris & Brantford, Middleport Mechanical, Club 54 Racing, Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Renway Energy, Rochester Knighthawks, Strickland’s GMC and Victory Gamez.