PETERSEN MEDIA- One week removed from a violent accident at Kern County, Kyle Hrist and Roth Motorsports were back in action in Hanford, CA for the 33rd Annual Cotton Classic where Hirst would charge to a fourth place finish with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour before coming up just short with the King of the West Series as he finished second in that feature event.
“We had a couple of really good racecars, and I have to thank my Roth Motorsports team for working their butt’s off for me,” Kyle Hirst said. “I had a good run with the SCCT but didn’t quite have enough for the Top-Three and I gave the 410ci feature event away on the final restart. We had good speed, and hoping we can be even better at Trophy Cup.”
In the penultimate event for both series’ in which he is the point leader in both as well, Hirst took another step closer to earning both titles as he kicked things off by timing in the Roth Enterprises/HR Livestock Transportation/Roth Investments entry in third fastest in his time trial group with the SCCT.
From the front row of his heat race, the Paradise, CA wheelman would finish third which would keep him from the Dash but safely put him in the 30-lap feature event.
Rolling off the starting grid from the sixth row, Hirst would go to work on an immaculately prepared surface in the feature event. Able to carve his way around the Keller Auto Speedway, Hirst would blaze through the Top-10 as he would get up into fourth.
Chasing after Rico Abreu, Shane Golobic and Dominic Scelzi, Hirst didn’t quite have enough to get up and challenge for a podium position, though capped the night off with a great from 12th to fourth.
In KWS action, Hirst would get off to an even better start as he kicked his night off in the 410ci program by earning quick time honors as he looked to create separation between himself and Shane Golobic in the points battle.
Finishing third in his heat race again, Hirst would make himself eligible for the KWS Dash where his fourth place finish put him in the second row for the 30-lap Cotton Classic feature event.
Running fifth in the early goings of the 30-lap affair, Hirt would begin fighting his way forward on a lap restart.
Able to get by Golobic, Willie Croft, and Chase Johnson, Hirst began to pressure Mitchell Faccinto for the race lead just before the halfway point. A caution would hold up progress, but when the action resumed, Hirst would continue to stalk the leader as they got back into traffic.
Surging to the lead on the 18th lap, Hirst would quickly start to open up a comfortable lead as he looked to score Cotton Classic lore. Stretching his lead to nearly 3 seconds, a red flag with just three laps to go would change things up quite a bit.
With Faccinto on his rear bumper, Hirst would continue to stay glued to the bottom groove. On the white flag lap, Hirst would admittedly make a mistake in one and two missing his mark and it would allow Faccinto to make up a little time.
Going into three and four, Hirst would dive low again but as Faccinto went for it, he would make it stick out of four and would beat Hirst to the line as the Roth Motorsports team settled for second.
“I hate it for my guys, because we had a car that was good enough to win the race,” Hirst said. “I missed my mark on the last lap and it cost us. Thanks to Dennis and Teresa Roth for their continued support, as well as everyone that supports our race team.”
The Roth Motorsports team would like to thank Roth Enterprises, HR Livestock Transportation, Roth Investments, 3H Cattle, FK Rod Ends, Weld Wheels, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Kent Performance, Kaeding Performance, and Astro Titanium for their support in 2018.
BY THE NUMBERS: Races: 53, Wins: 12, Top 5’s: 31, Top 10’s: 35.
ON TAP: Hirst is set for the 25th Annual Trophy Cup taking place Thursday – Saturday in Tulare, CA.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Roth Motorsports by checking out their website, www.rothmotorsports83.com, following them on Twitter @RothMotorsports, or liking them on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Roth-Motorsports-461528867251285/. You can keep up with Kyle Hirst by following him on Twitter @KyleHirstRacing.
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