Kyle Busch will be back behind the wheel of a Super Late Model on Tuesday, August 4, when he competes in the ARCA Midwest Tour Dixieland 250. The marquee Midwestern event takes place at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, the site of Busch’s first Super Late Model win with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Busch won at Wisconsin International Raceway during the Midwest Tour’s inaugural season, taking the checkered flag in a 150-lap feature on August 7, 2007. That win was the first for Busch’s new Super Late Model program, which has become one of the top teams in the nation in the 13 years since.
“It’s always cool to go back to Wisconsin International Raceway because that’s where we got our very first Super Late Model win as Kyle Busch Motorsports back in 2007,” said Busch. “Gregg (McKarns) and everybody with the ARCA Midwest Tour do a real nice job promoting their events and the state of Wisconsin has some talented drivers and passionate fans – so it’s usually great racing and a fun atmosphere.”
While Busch will undoubtedly be one of the favorites to win the event, there will be plenty of stout competition from some of the Midwest’s top racers. Among those are former Midwest Tour champions such as Ty Majeski, Dan Fredrickson and Casey Johnson.
“Majeski is always tough to beat up there, and you have a lot of other guys from up that way who have a lot of laps around that place like Dan Fredrickson and Casey Johnson who will be in the mix.”
While Busch is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, he enjoys competing in Super Late Models whenever his NASCAR schedule allows. Those races give Busch another competitive outlet as well as an opportunity to gauge the status of the team.
“Super Late Models are really fun to drive and just like with the Truck Series I enjoy getting in my own equipment a few times a year to help evaluate where our stuff is at. It’s usually hard to find races that fit into my schedule during the NASCAR season, so I’m glad we were able to add this to our schedule and have KBM have a presence at another big race. “
Throughout the 2020 season, the primary driver for the Kyle Busch Motorsports Super Late Model program has been Iowa teenager Sammy Smith. The former World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Pro Late Model champion has put together momentum in recent weeks, adding confidence for the team entering the Dixieland 250.
“Here lately since Seth Holbrook (Super Late Model crew chief) has been overseeing things and working alongside Rudy (Fugle, Truck Series crew chief) we’ve been having better runs with Sammy (Smith). Second-place at Jennerstown and third-place at the Redbud, so I’m looking forward to getting in my Rowdy Energy Camry and seeing how things are compared to when I raced earlier in the year at Las Vegas.”
Smith will also be competing for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the event, giving the team two cars and two points of reference while preparing for the big race.
“Sammy is also going to be running the race, so it’ll be good to get to compete in the same event as him and kind of get a feel of what he’s feeling compared to what I’m feeling.”
Stay tuned to Speed51 for coverage details regarding the Dixieland 250 at Wisconsin International Raceway.
-Story by: Zach Evans, Speed51 Content Supervisor – Twitter: @ztevans
-Photo credit: Speed51 Photo