PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Indiana driver Kyle O’Gara captured Saturday night’s non-wing sprint car feature at Showtime Speedway.
O’Gara made the trip south one week before the third annual Dave Steele World Non Wing Sprint Car Championship 125 next weekend to get tuned up. If Saturday’s performance is any indication, he could be a serious contender for the $5,000 prize next weekend.
Due to the low number of cars as the result of a scheduling conflict, the event distance was cut from 25 laps to 15 laps prior to the feature.
The big storyline leading into Saturday’s event was the close points battle between L.J. Grimm and 12-year-old Colton Bettis. The season finale for the 2021 Showtime Speedway sprint car championship was postponed from late in 2021 until Saturday night. Entering the event, Grimm had a slim point lead over Bettis.
Grimm was unable to attend as he was participating in the Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series opener. Grimm’s absence, coupled with the second-place finish by Bettis, saw Bettis claim the 2021 Showtime Sprints season championship.
It is believed that Bettis is the youngest driver to ever capture a pavement sprint car championship of any kind at the age of 12.
Next up will be the third annual Dave Steele World Non Wing Sprint Car Championship 125 Feb. 25-26.