Sweet Scores Podium Finish to Start 2024 Season
The Battle of the Bay at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa marked the opening of the High Limit Racing season, and Brad Sweet and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team of Kasey Kahne Racing arrived intent to make their mark on the points standings from the start.
With 56 cars in attendance for the first night at East Bay, the NAPA No. 49 hit the top of the charts in qualifying with a lap time of 12.550 seconds. Heat race action followed, and the Big Cat battled his way from fourth to third, punching his ticket to the dash by being the fastest car in his heat. In the dash, Sweet showed consistent speed by charging from third to second.
The action on night one of the Battle at the Bay truly heated up during the evening’s feature race. Despite starting strong in second place, the NAPA driver faced formidable competition and slid back in the field. The five-time World of Outlaws champion showed his determination though, and he fought his way to a fourth-place finish.
That was just the beginning for the NAPA team. Because Sweet secured a fourth-place finish in Monday’s preliminary event, he was automatically locked into the heat races on night two, bypassing qualifying. This placed him fourth to start in Heat Race 4, where he revealed the speed of the NAPA machine on the 1/3-mile oval. Sweet charged to the lead, winning his heat and placing himself first to start the dash.
Sweet took charge in the seven-lap dash and never looked back, earning the win. Finally, the 30-lap A-main took the green flag to mark the final race of the two-day event. Launching the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 like a rocket, Sweet quickly caught the tail of the field. Competitor Tyler Courtney managed to sneak by the Big Cat for the lead, and Sweet lost another spot after a tough battle. He brought the No. 49 machine to the checkered flag in third, earning a spot on the East Bay podium.
Next up for Sweet and the NAPA team is Deuces Wild at Golden Isles Speedway in Waynesville, GA.
Start / Finish:
Monday, Feb. 12: 2 / 4
Tuesday, Feb. 13: 1 / 3
Points Standing / Total: 1st / 133 pts.
Next Race: Thursday, Feb. 22, Golden Isles Speedway, Waynesville, GA
How to Watch or Listen: FloRacing
NAPA: @NAPARacing
Brad Sweet: @BradSweetRacing
Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt
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Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR), located in Mooresville, NC, was formed in 2005 and employs more than ten people dedicated to sprint car racing. The organization fields two entries in the High Limit Sprint Car Series; Brad Sweet (NAPA No. 49) and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (No. 9). Collectively, KKR has 6 World of Outlaws Championships (Daryn Pittman in '13 and Brad Sweet in '19, '20, '21, '22 & '23). Since the team's inception, KKR has amassed over 285+ dirt car wins.