Sweet Gains Ground in Northeast as Title Race Heats Up

The Kasey Kahne Racing NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team tackled a key northeast doubleheader last weekend, traveling to New Jersey and Pennsylvania for pivotal High Limit Racing championship action. Brad Sweet and the NAPA crew delivered consistent performances, highlighted by a new track record and heat race victories, to close the championship points gap as the season nears its finish.

The NAPA team’s first stop came Saturday at Bridgeport Motorsports Park in Bridgeport, NJ. It marked the first of seven remaining races in the High Limit title chase, with Sweet entering the night ranked third, 72 points out of the lead. The NAPA No. 49 timed in fifth out of 28 cars, putting “The Big Cat” on the pole of Heat 2. Sweet drove to the heat race win, securing a spot in the Dash. After starting third in the Dash and finishing fourth, Sweet lined up on the outside of row two for Saturday’s  30-lap feature.

Just 10 laps into the main event, rain began to fall, bringing out the caution. With the track deemed un-raceable, the field was scored by running order at the time of the stoppage. Sweet was credited with a fourth-place finish and added another top-five to the NAPA No. 49’s season total.

Sunday brought a new challenge for Sweet at Path Valley Speedway Park in Spring Run, PA, a track he had never raced before. The NAPA driver wasted no time making history, setting a blistering lap in qualifying to break the track record and secure the Capitol Renegade Quick Time Award. From there, Sweet charged from fourth to first in Heat 1 and earned the “Ace in the Hole Award” to start on the pole of the Dash. He led every lap to secure the pole position for the 35-lap A-Main.

In the feature, Sweet held steady inside the top two early while navigating multiple cautions. As the laps wound down and the field hit traffic, Sweet battled fiercely but slipped back to sixth at the checkered flag. Despite the late fade, the NAPA No. 49 team left with valuable points gained toward the championship.

After the strong weekend performances, the NAPA team sits third in the High Limit Owner’s Championship standings, just 52 points behind leader Rico Abreu and 18 points back from second-ranked Aaron Reutzel. With five races remaining, the chase is still on.

The NAPA crew quickly returned to the Mooresville, NC, shop early Monday morning to regroup. The next challenge comes with a Kansas doubleheader at Lakeside Speedway on October 10-11.

Start / Finish:
Saturday, Sept. 27, Bridgeport Motorsports Park: 4 / 4
Sunday, Sept. 28, Path Valley Speedway Park: 1 / 6
Points Standing / Total: 3rd / 2,532 pts. (-52)

Next Race: Friday, Oct. 10, Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, KS
How to Watch or Listen: FloRacing

NAPA: @NAPARacing
Brad Sweet: @BradSweetRacing
Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt