Sweet, KKR Team Earn Back-to-Back Second-Place Finishes

Brad Sweet and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR) team were back in action over the weekend as the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series traveled to Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., and Lake Ozark (Mo.) Speedway.

On Friday, the Outlaws unloaded at Lakeside Speedway for a 30-lap feature. The No. 49 team got off to a rocky start after qualifying 13th quick out of 36 cars. Because of the qualifying effort, Sweet was forced to start fourth in the evening’s opening heat race. With minimal passing, Sweet also finished in the fourth position. After making adjustments to the NAPA AUTO PARTS car, he lined up 13th for the start of Friday’s Feature event. Once the green flag waved, Sweet wasted no time working his way through the field. By lap two, the No. 49 had already cracked the top ten. He continued to navigate the field and was scored third at the halfway point. After several laps of hard racing between Sweet, Daryn Pittman and Logan Schuchart, Sweet secured the second position with three laps remaining. Shane Stewart, the leader, was in clean air ahead, and Sweet was forced to settle for a second-place, podium finish.

“I didn’t quite do a good enough job,” Sweet said following the race. “We’ve got to do a little bit better to get this NAPA AUTO PARTS car back in Victory Lane. My guys gave me a great race car for the [feature]. We just need to get a little better track position, and I think we would’ve had a car to win tonight.”

The KKR team started Saturday off on the right foot at Lake Ozark Speedway when they set quick time with a 11.402-second lap. Sweet started on the Pole in the opening heat race and went on to win, advancing to the Fast Pass Dash. The No. 49 drew an eighth-place starting position in the Dash. Despite spinning early in the eight-lap race, Sweet battled back to finish second. When the green flag waved to start the 40-lap A-Main, Sweet began challenging his teammate James McFadden for the lead. After multiple slide job attempts, Sweet couldn’t get around McFadden. With 13 laps remaining, the No. 49 made its way around his teammate for the lead, right as the caution came out. Sweet restarted second again. McFadden mastered the restart and led the remainder of the laps as the pair navigated lapped traffic. Sweet settled for a runner-up finish for the second night in a row.

“I kind of got a little conservative thinking about the points, which sucks, you shouldn’t do that,” Sweet said. “He [McFadden] was fast and drove a great race. Just happy to bring the NAPA AUTO PARTS car home in second tonight.”

Sweet and his KKR team made significant gains in both the Driver and Owner Championship Point standings. With three races remaining in the season, Sweet sits 62 points ahead of Logan Schuchart in driver standings. The KKR team extended their owner points lead to a 34 point advantage.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway.

Start / Finish:
Friday, Oct. 16: 13 / 2
Saturday, Oct. 17: 2 / 2
Points Standing / Total: 1st / 6928 pts. (+62)

Next Race: Oct. 24, Kokomo Speedway, Kokomo, IN
How to Watch or Listen: www.dirtvision.com

NAPA: @NAPARacing
Brad Sweet: @BradSweet49
Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt