The Ultimate Southeast Late Model Series will have to wait until next year to see its newest face on a regular basis, but it can get a sneak peek of Kyle Hardy at this weekend's LIVE-streaming event from Dublin (NC) Motor Speedway.

The Stephens City, VA, driver is planning on running for Rookie of the Year honors in 2018. Hardy is a well-known and respected racer in the mid-Atlantic, and his effect on the Ultimate competition will definitely be felt.

To prepare for next season, Hardy is racing at 311 Speedway in Pine Hall, NC, on Friday night and at Dublin Motor Speedway on Saturday. These will be his first Ultimate events of the season and his first at those tracks.

For his weekend's effort at 311 and Dublin, Hardy is putting in the time to research and also calling on racing contacts to help him prepare for the event.

“We’ll watch some videos,” Hardy said. “I know a guy that lives in North Carolina that has raced at the tracks, and I asked him a couple of questions just to see what we’re in for. Things like that are how we figure out what we’re suppose to do once we get there.”

Hardy has been racing Super Lates since 2009. Before that he raced Karts, so the full-bodied Supers are the first heavy cars he has raced. In the past few years, Hardy has made a name as a competitor in his area and will be a wild card going into the Ultimate weekend.

More importantly, he needs to learn how the Ultimate competitors race. While he and his team think joining the regional tour is the best move, the transition to series racing from running individual events can be tough.

“We were just thinking about the reality of things” Hardy said. “Racing regionals and (for) a points title — it’s a lot more efficient if you can race and have something to build off of if you’re really good instead of just racing weekly for the purse money and nothing else. That's why we’ve come up with the plans, also to be able to travel to different tracks and race with different people, just explore new things.”

Hardy will get a test by fire this weekend in back-to-back Ultimate SE events. FloRacing subscribers can watch his efforts LIVE from Dublin Motor Speedway.

Ultimate Southeast Dublin Motor Speedway Coverage 

Four Reasons To Stream The Ultimate Dublin Race 
311 Speedway Gets Back In Action 
Locked In Podcast: Featuring Chris Ferguson 
Kelley Carlton’s Secret To Ultimate Success 
Head-To-Head: Tyler Millwood Wins 
Ross Bailes Wins In Every Ride 
Anthony Sanders Revels In Free Agency 
Chris Ferguson Is Revved Up For Dublin 
Locked In Podcast: Featuring Tyler Millwood 
14 Winners In 17 Ultimate Southeast Late Model Series Keeps Fans Guessing