Kennedy Races to Fourth-Place Finish at S.D. Sprint Car Nationals

By Spieker Promotions

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (April 30, 2018) – After recently tying the knot with his lovely bride, Lauren, Thomas Kennedy was back behind the wheel of the Buffalo Wild Wings / Kennedy Floorings No. 21K last weekend at Park Jefferson Speedway. Kennedy was in action Friday and Saturday for the inaugural Pepsi South Dakota Sprint Car Nationals, co-sanctioned by the Property Solutions of America MSTS 360s and the Carpetland Nebraska 360s.

Things got off to a great start for Kennedy during Friday’s preliminary night, which featured two sets of heat races to determine the top 16 drivers in passing points.

Kennedy rolled out in the sixth starting spot in heat number one, but back-to-back incidents on the opening lap had him lined up fourth on the third attempt at a complete restart. Once the race got underway, Kennedy moved by Stuart Snyder and Donovan Peterson to claim the second position. Kennedy then set his sights on Eric Lutz for the lead in the closing laps.

On the final circuit, coming to the checkers, Lutz blew a left rear tire, which allowed Kennedy to close in significantly. However, Lutz limped his No. 6 machine to the heat win as Kennedy settled for second.

The second round of heats for Kennedy was over before it began. Kennedy blasted his way through the field from the seventh starting spot and into the lead in the opening laps. Lutz tried to keep pace with the Winnipeg, Manitoba driver, but Kennedy easily walked away with the heat win by over a half lap around the three-eights mile clay oval.

At the end of the night, Kennedy was the high point man and would start on the pole for Saturday’s $10,000-to-win 30-lap A-main.

Following A-main hot laps on Saturday, Kennedy was happy with the car and made very minor changes to his General Signs / Speedway Shots machine.

However, once the green flag flew for the main event, Kennedy was quickly relegated back to third. Kennedy opted for the outside lane on the opening lap, which allowed Gregg Bakker and Eric Lutz to move by him. Remaining within striking distance of the leaders, Kennedy closed in on the lead duo in lapped traffic, but the rubbered up surface wasn’t conducive to passing.

In the final laps, Kennedy fell victim to Jack Dover and took the checkers in the fourth position.

This Friday, Kennedy will be making his return to I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., where in four races last year, he recorded two wins and finished no worse than third. Saturday, Kennedy will make his first-ever visit to Wagner (S.D.) Speedway with the MSTS 360s.

2018 Stats:
Races: 4
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 4
Top Tens: 4
Heat Wins: 1