Sweet Lands Podium at Kokomo, Keeps Fighting Form at Ransomville

The NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team kicked off a busy week at one of the most iconic bullrings in the country — Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana. Known for its tight racing and electric atmosphere, the track has long been a favorite of Brad Sweet, who claimed his first non-wing Sprint Car win there 20 years ago. Despite that history, a winged win had still eluded him. Sweet and the NAPA team rolled into Kokomo eager to change that.

Sweet came out strong on Monday night, timing in third out of 16 cars in Qualifying Flight B. That effort put the NAPA 49 on the pole of Heat 3, where Sweet flew to the win and secured a spot in the Dash. A tough Dash draw placed him sixth, but the NAPA driver gained a spot to finish fifth, setting up a third-row start for the 40-lap, $20,000-to-win Feature.

The Feature proved to be a show. The front-runners diced through heavy lapped traffic all night, and Sweet kept the NAPA machine in the thick of the action. With smart moves and consistent pace, he climbed to third in the final stretch — not quite within striking distance of the leaders, but strong enough to notch his ninth podium finish through the first 11 High Limit races.

With Wednesday’s scheduled event at Fremont Speedway postponed due to rain, the team shifted its focus to Ransomville Speedway in New York on Friday night. At a venue where Sweet had never finished worse than fourth in three previous starts, expectations were high — but the night got off to a rocky start.

Sweet qualified 21st out of 28, setting up a tough climb from seventh in Heat 3. Still, the NAPA team dug in, and Sweet worked his way forward to finish fourth and transfer directly to the A-Main. Starting 13th in the Feature, Sweet held steady for the full 30 laps, eventually bringing the NAPA No. 49 home in 12th place.

Saturday’s event at Utica-Rome Speedway was another weather casualty, but the NAPA team remains at the top of the High Limit championship standings. Sweet leads by 29 points heading into one of the most exciting weeks of the season, a four-race stretch in Pennsylvania beginning Tuesday at Grandview Speedway and capped by a $75,000-to-win showdown at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night.

Start / Finish:
Monday, May 12, Kokomo Speedway: 5 / 3
Friday, May 16, Ransomville Speedway: 13 / 12
Points Standing / Total: 1st / 787 pts. (+29)

Next Race: Tuesday, May 20, Grandview Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: FloRacing

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