PETERSEN MEDIA: With the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series ending their 2020
campaign on the West Coast, Lincoln, CA driver Tanner Carrick kicked off a reunion tour with Keith Kunz Motorsports with a pair of Top-10 finishes that included a bid for a win during Saturday night’s Western World finale.
“I can’t than Keith Kunz and his team enough for the opportunity to run some more midget races this year, and to rejoin their team,” Tanner Carrick said. “I had a great time in Arizona and am looking forward to the final three races this week in California.”
Making his return to KKM official on Friday night, Carrick kicked his night off by timing the Toyota/TRD powered No. 98k machine in ninth fastest in qualifying time trials.
Running sixth in his heat race as the team fought brake issues on his entry, Carrick would finish sixth in the semi to punch his ticket into the 30-lap feature event.
Making a couple of minor adjustments prior to the feature, Carrick would have a good showing from his 12th place starting position. Able to make up some ground and fight his way forward, Carrick closed the opening night of the Western World Championships out with a seventh-place finish.
Saturday night saw Carrick continue to reacclimate himself to a KKM prepared Midget as he would time in third fastest in time trials before finishing fifth in his heat race and locking into the Western World Championship feature event.
Taking the green flag from the fourth starting position, Carrick would ride the high side early and take over the second position as he flanked KKM teammate, Michael Kofoid.
With a very strong entry underneath him, Carrick would stalk Kofoid for much of the race and would actually close in on his teammate as they raced through traffic.
As the action intesnsified, Carrick would look to make a bid for the lead only to see a late yellow bunched the field up with just 13 laps left in the race. While it appeared to be just what Carrick would have a little bad luck hinder his night.
Under the yellow, Carrick’s left rear tire would start to lose air pressure and he would do all he could to keep it inflated under the idle. Carrick’s luck would run out as the tire would let go when the action resumed, and he would slow to a stop and bring out the caution.
Able to make repairs, Carrick would rejoin the field and still battle his way back up to finish 10th when the dust settled on the vent.
“Man, we had an awesome car on Saturday night, and I wish we wouldn’t have had that bad luck with our left rear tire,” Carrick explained. “We definitely had something for Buddy (Kofoid), but if we couldn’t get the win, glad it was one of our teammates.”
Tanner Carrick would like to thank Keith Kunz Motorsports, Curb Records, Toyota, TRD, IWX, Mobil1, Walker Performance Filtration, and Wilwood for their support.
2020 BY THE NUMBERS- Starts-29, Wins-0, Top 5’s-5, Top 10’s-17
ON TAP: Carrick will be back in the KKM NO. 98K on Tuesday night in Bakersfield, CA before taking part in the final two USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget races of the year on Friday and Saturday in Merced, CA. Friday night will also see Carrick pilot the family owned No. 83T sprint car.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay up to speed with Tanner Carrick by following him on Twitter @Carrick_Tanner or @CarrickMotorsp1.