Kyle Rickey Wins Media Race
Experience varies for the media that competed against Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson. Racing executives and writers got an opportunity to become competitors. SMI CEO Marcus Smith and David McGrath, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The track at Monza Indoor Karting is challenging to be precise and not get loose. While several cautions slowed the race, it was difficult to get a clean lap. Traffic, getting into the wall or not being smooth could slow you down or ruin a good lap.
In the end, Larson won overall but it was Kyle Rickey of MRN Radio taking the trophy. Larson presented the trophy to the national broadcaster, while Rickey got a selfie for his collection.
“There was a lot of Karts out there,” Rickey said. “I think there was 17 or 18 of us. Lot of wrecks a lot of caution, which messed up a lot of my laps, but you make the best of it. And if I can come home second to Kyle Larson. That’s a good day.”
Larson presented Rickey the media race trophy for “second place.”
Rickey practiced yesterday at a track that was new to him.
“I’ll be the first to admit that I came here and got a couple laps because I had never seen the place before on track. I’ve been here done some events with Joey Logano last year but never drove so it was fun, very technical.”
Yellows certainly affected a lap if you were running well in the previous sector.
“There were a couple of times the caution came out in Sector two after a really good sector one. So I would just back off, you know, relax the muscles and then coming down the hill, the last corner just get on it and try again. And you know, let traffic go that was key is to have a clean track, which is hard with 17 of us out there. And you know, I think there were 10 seconds difference between the fastest and the slowest, at least. But you know, it worked out I was fine. That was the biggest takeaway other than the trophy.
A 1-2 Kyle finish with both being nationally known wasn’t the first time they’ve competed.
“We raced together years ago to track in Charlotte outdoor racetrack and I beat him that day and he mentioned it earlier today I’m coming back for you. And he did and he won and but I’m glad I was semi-respectable to the laps he was running. He’s a little lighter than me too.”
Rickey was at a disadvantage in seat time compared to Larson’s frequent schedule driving Sprint Cars and his full-time ride for Chip Ganassi.
Some of Rickey’s upcoming events include the SK 5K at Stafford (CT) Motor Speedway on Friday. A nine-week run sees him reporting for MRN at Kentucky, New Hampshire, Eldora, Pocono, Watkins Glen, and Michigan.
For years, Rickey traveled throughout the country covering the events live on radio, but a change to do his work locally in Connecticut helps.
“Oh, this makes it a lot easier having these couple weeks off from traveling because I just came off a five-week stretch. To go home, go to Stafford don’t see everyone there. I love that racetrack. I love Thompson this Sunday. Do these fun events. It’s nice to have a national event like this in my backyard, for the most part, I’m 25 minutes up the road. So yeah, it makes it easier it’ll be a nice break. But I think in two weeks when the plane leaves for Kentucky I’ll be ready to go.”
Rickey started his career at Thompson (CT) Speedway Motorsports Park before getting to the national level, and ultimately a worldwide audience.
“I think about that every time I walk in the gates of Thompson and Russ Dowd in 1996 calling me up to the announcer’s booth saying, ‘All right, you wanted to do it. It’s (a) double feature night for everybody.’ So they had like 10 features that night and so the last race was a Late Model race. So here you go, ‘Here’s the headset. Here’s the lineup, go!’ and ever since then, I’ve been talking and you know, kind of made a living out of it. And it’s been fun and but I’ve never forgot that first race at Thompson in the Late Model. And then
Rickey is active on social media throughout the race weekend. Anyone of note at the track, he’ll find them and usually have a post about it, along with photos.
“You gotta have fun with it. Lot of selfies.”
Kyle Rickey is available on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Sources: Nicholas Teto, YankeeRacer.com