By Tony Veneziano

Kyle Hirst will always remember the 2017 season, during which he put his name in the history books a couple of times over the course of the year. 

First, he earned the inaugural Sprint Car Challenge Tour (SCCT) championship in his home state of California. Next, Hirst picked up his first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series win, which had long eluded him. That win came on the opening night of the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA.

“Last year was a huge year,” Hirst said. “To finally snag that first Outlaws win and then win the inaugural SCCT title was pretty cool. You always want to try to better yourself in life and everything you do. It looks like we have to try to do that again and try to win another Outlaws race and try to win the SCCT championship.”

Hirst, who drives for the Roth Motorsports team, begins his defense of the SCCT this weekend at Placerville Speedway in Placerville as the 2018 SCCT season kicks off. Last season, the second-generation driver finished third and sixth at Placerville in the two SCCT races at the quarter-mile bullring in Northern California.

“I think there is always a little pressure going into any race,” Hirst explained. “I’ve heard there are going to be 50 cars there this weekend, so you are going to have good cars and good teams, so it’s going to be tough. 

"A lot of people saw how successful the series was last year and I’m hoping we’ll gain a few more teams coming out to run the whole deal. They have already raised some good funds and it’s going to pay $4,500 to win, so it’s not going to be easy pickings. We are looking forward to the challenge and seeing if we can do it again.”

Hirst opened his season by racing with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series during its annual early-season West Coast swing, which was plagued by rain. Of the eight races scheduled in California, only three were completed. Hirst also raced in the pair of Outlaws race at Las Vegas.

“Anytime you race with the Outlaws it’s going to better you and prepare you for any type of race you go to,” noted Hirst, who calls Paradise, CA, home. “The five races I got to run, kicked my butt. It makes you get on your toes and try a little harder. Hopefully, we’ll have a little momentum headed into this weekend.”

In 13 races last season with the SCCT, Hirst finished seventh or better in each and every one. He was on the podium 10 times, including a series-leading four runner-up finishes. One of his main goals this year is to reach the winner’s circle with the series.

Defending #SCCT champion @KyleHirstRacing will be part of our pre-race Meet'n'Greet Saturday with his @RothMotorsports 83 on display behind the turn-4 bleachers from 3:30-4:30 @pvillespeedway ? @RCMDesignInc pic.twitter.com/sZFv5qLOzL

— SCCT (@360SCCT) March 27, 2018

“I never thought of myself as ‘Mr. Consistency,’” he shared. “I’ve always tried to go for wins, but it just worked out where we were on the podium and fighting for a win or coming from deep in the field to get on the podium. We were always fast. We just couldn’t steal that one win we needed. 

"The first six or seven races last year, there were six or seven different winners. It wasn’t like one guy was dominating. When you have around 40 cars on average, you have a fair number of guys who can win every night. One of my main goals this year is to come out swinging and hopefully get a win right out of the gate or get a couple. If you win races, you’ll win championships. At the end of the day, that’s definitely the main goal.”

The inaugural 13-race season for the SCCT was a great success in 2017. The average car count was 42, with the first three races of the season drawing 58, 63, and 50 cars, respectively. Only once was there less than 30 cars in attendance for an event and that was when the series ventured out of state. A total of eight drivers picked up wins, including seven different drivers to start the season.

“It's been great what everyone has done with the series,” said the veteran driver. “Scott (Russell) and Kami (Arnold) got it going and do a great job with it. Matt Wood is involved and the Abreu family as well. Everyone has stepped up their game. 

"It was really cool to see a series come in and do what they did. It kind of lifted the whole expectations of California sprint car racing, I think. It made everyone raise their game and more money in the purse, though it’s not all about the money. It’s about how you go about it and treat your people. I think they’ve brought a lot of that back to California again.”

Along with contesting the full SCCT schedule this season, Hirst will run the entire King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series. He is a three-time series champion with that tour. Last year, Hirst won twice with the King of the West-NARC Sprint Cars Series and was fifth in points. 

“I have never won two championships in one year,” Hirst said. “We have three with the King of the West-NARC and then the SCCT last year. To be able to do two in one year is not going to be easy by any means. Both series have strong drives and teams. To be able to win both championships would be a big feat and a great accomplishment for me. I’m certainly looking forward to the challenge.”