PLACERVILLE, Calif. — These days Tanner Carrick spends most of his time racing sprint cars, but there’s always a seat for him in the Keith Kunz-Curb-Agajanian Motorsports midget stable.
Kunz has played a significant role in Carrick’s career.
Back in 2017, Kunz brought a then 15-year-old Carrick on board to tackle the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget tour.
Two years later, Carrick claimed his inaugural series victory with KKM. In January of this year, the Lincoln, Calif., native drove a Kunz car to his biggest racing win to date, the Monday prelim at the Chili Bowl. Fast-forward to Thursday night at Carrick’s home track, Placerville Speedway, where Carrick showed his gratitude for all Kunz has done by helping further cement the legendary car owner’s place in history.
Carrick out-dueled Michael Pickens to top the Hangtown 100 opener, upping Kunz’s USAC National Midget win total to 134, breaking a tie with Steve Lewis to give him sole possession of the most in series history.
“Keith and Pete (Willoughby) are always there for me,” Carrick said. “When I wanted to come back and run for them, they had a car for me. Ever since then, whenever I ask Keith or Pete if I can come run, they’ve got a ride for me. That means a lot to me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here and be able to do this. I guess getting this win for them is my return for what they do for me.”
For Kunz, breaking the record wasn’t a matter of if but when, but even as it became official, the accomplishment still felt somewhat surreal.
“Steve Lewis was one of the greatest car owners ever and I never dreamed of being close to him,” Kunz said. “I think 30 years ago was my first win, so it’s been a long time creeping up there. I’ve had such good guys drive for me over the years.
“I’m just real happy for Tanner, coming into his home track,” Kunz continued. “He’s drove for me before a lot. When we got here, he was feeling pretty good about this place. He just loves this place. We knew right from the beginning of the night he was going to be a factor in this. Right before the feature I said, ‘Where are you starting?’ He held up two fingers, and I said, ‘Alright, let’s go get this.’”
Kunz and Carrick’s connection extends beyond the owner/driver dynamic, making the night even more meaningful.
“We get to go hunting with Keith and take Keith hunting and go do stuff,” Carrick explained. “It’s pretty fun. We don’t just race. We actually go hang out and do stuff as like a family.”
The prelim win is just the first step in Carrick’s ultimate goal of adding his name to the Hangtown 100 champion’s list, and his focus is sharp with two nights to go.
“I was close at the first Hangtown 100,” Carrick said. “We led a few laps and then ran second for a long time to Kyle (Larson) and then Christopher (Bell) got around us and we ran third. I want to win this one. We’ll try again tomorrow, try again Saturday, and try to win this thing.”
Kofoid Stays Hot
Buddy Kofoid has been on a roll as he closes in on his second consecutive USAC National Midget title in the Keith Kunz Motorsports No. 67, and Thursday was no exception. Kofoid lined up ninth for the main event and charged forward to third over the course of the 30-lap feature, his seventh podium in his last eight starts.
While the night didn’t count for points toward his championship aspirations, the event points he earned should position him favorably as he pursues his first Hangtown 100 victory after leading the most laps in the finale last year before finishing second.
The Penngrove, Calif., driver is enjoying the chance to race in front of the home crowd where he laid the foundations of his racing career, and he’s hungry to add one of California’s blossoming crown jewels to his résumé.
“I’ve been running here for a few years,” Kofoid said. “This is where I got my start in sprint cars. It’s cool to kind of come back home and see some familiar faces.”
Tanner Carrick (center) shares the podium with Michael Pickens (left) and Buddy Kofoid. (Joe Shivak photo)
Another Pickens Runner-Up
For the second straight race it was Michael Pickens occupying the second slot on the podium after also finishing runner-up Tuesday in Bakersfield, Calif., aboard the Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports machine.
Pickens gave Carrick all he could handle as the Auckland, New Zealand, wheelman took the initial lead and paced the opening circuit. Carrick snatched the lead on lap two, but Pickens hounded him for much of the race, tossing several sliders at him, forcing Carrick to crossover multiple times to regain the lead.
Pickens made one final run at Carrick following a late restart but couldn’t complete the pass.
“Toward the end there we had a hell of a car and obviously got alongside him there with a few to go,” Pickens recalled. “Man, if I’d slid myself and got to the curb down there, it would’ve been real good or real bad, so I decided to try and stick the bottom but he, unfortunately, ran around the top of us.”
Pickens is banging on the door of another USAC win, and if he can notch one during the western swing, it’ll mark his first since June of 2017 at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind.
Other Notables
• Carrick wasn’t the only local with a strong run as fellow California sprint car ace, Shane Golobic, moved forward from 10th to seventh in the feature.
• The driver rounding out the top-five was this year’s World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year Spencer Bayston, who wheeled the Dyson Motorsport midget.
• Mitchel Moles salvaged his evening by charging from 22nd to 12th after transferring from one of two B-mains.
Keyword: Hangtown Notes: Carrick Helps Kunz Make History