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Kevin Hetrick’s 410 Debut

Kevin Hetrick’s 410 Debut
Kevin Hetrick
Friday, April 29, 2016
By Joanne Cram

After nearly a decade in a 305 sprint car, Gladstone, Illinois’s Kevin Hetrick decided that 2016 was the year to upsize his sprint car to a 410.
Having grown up at the racetrack watching his father, Jim, race southeastern Iowa and at Knoxville Raceway, Kevin is living out his life-long dream of racing at the famed half mile. Kevin’s earliest memories are of being at the racetrack sitting in the stands while his dad raced, when at the age of five, Kevin’s dad joined him as a spectator. The family continued to enjoy spending as much time together going to the races, especially Knoxville Raceway.

Since racing is addicting and tends to be in your blood, it wasn’t long before the Hetrick brothers started chatter of getting behind the wheel of race cars. 1999 saw Kevin’s older brother, Brian, piloting a 360 at 34 Raceway, in Burlington, Iowa. That same season, Kevin was determined to bring his racing dreams to fruition and began his racing career in a hobby stock, competing at the same track. After eight years of the hobby stock class, Kevin moved into the B Modified class at 34 Raceway; while his brother Brian continued his successful 360 sprint car career.

Then in 2007, 34 Raceway began to offer a 305 sprint car class, which piqued Kevin’s interest. He had always known a racing sprint car was his goal, and a 305 was a great entry point. His dad, Jim, put together a car for Kevin, and Brian bumped down a class to compete in the 305 class as well. This was an oddity at 34 Raceway- two brothers competing in the same class was a new thing. While racing the same track was familiar, the difference between handling a B Mod and a sprint car was huge. Kevin said there was a big learning curve to overcome, but nonetheless, he won a heat race that rookie season and learned a lot.

2008 proved to be a year that would change the Hetrick family’s lives forever. With both brothers still competitively racing in the 305 class at Burlington, the season was going great for both of them. Kevin had won a handful of heats and was progressively getting more consistent on the track; Brian led the points chase the entire season. On August 18, 2008, Brian Hetrick was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident, which left the family reeling and grief stricken. The 305 class at 34 Raceway voted unanimously to give the point title to Brian, even though he was never going to make that last call for the final race.

Brian’s relentless crew of Ryan Anderson and Brian Collier wanted to carry his dream on, and knew that the best way to do that was to join forces with Kevin in memory of Brian. Kevin took over Brian’s #35, and began racing to honor his brother’s memory. His goal was to win back to back championships with Brian’s number 35, but when the points shook out at the conclusion of the 2009 season, Kevin came up one point short. The season was memorable, however. Kevin’s biggest highlight was winning his first ever feature on the inaugural Brian Hetrick Memorial Race. Kevin remembers feeling like his brother was there with him racing that night.

2010 was a highly successful season for Hetrick, as he began and ended the season as the point championship for the 305 sprint car class. 2011 brought more feature wins; two at 34 Raceway and one at Bloomfield. With the successes of his 305 adventures in southeast Iowa, Hetrick decided to step things up a notch and head the 2 ½ hours west to Knoxville Raceway, where he gave 2012 and 2013 his best efforts to compete on the half mile. With setbacks of both motor and mechanical failures, Kevin didn’t get as many laps under his belt as he had hoped; he doesn’t even recall being able to finish a race in either of those two seasons.

The Hetricks weren’t giving up that easily however, and in 2014, they were back with a more consistent motor program and Kevin won Rookie of the Year honors, claimed his first ever feature win at Knoxville Raceway, and landed third in points for the season. Overall, he collected 11 features in a 305 sprint.

2015 brought more bad luck and inconsistent qualifying performances. The season all but ended for Kevin after a bad accident that destroyed his car and shook the team up, making it difficult to get back on the track for the remainder of the season. After reorganizing and prioritizing, the 35 team decided financially, it made sense to move up to the 410 class, where Kevin can make $500 to start the 410 feature, as opposed to a $400 1st place 305 prize. He figured he would have just as much in cost of moving up to a 410 as a 360, but the payout was a much better structure than the 360 class.

Kevin’s goals for this initial season in a 410 are to earn Rookie of the Year honors again, but this time as a 410 driver. He has already hit one of his goals; making the A Main on his second night. Kevin is quite realistic in his aspirations. This is a year for learning and growing, so making the feature every Saturday night is his only goal this year. Every time he hits the track he wants to improve, learn, and grow as a sprint car driver. He is impressed with all of the competition at Knoxville; it draws some of the best caliber drivers from all over the world. Racing with 410 royalty such as Lasoski and McCarl at Knoxville has been a dream of Kevin’s and he is eager to hit the track and race against them.

Sponsors of the Hetrick family-owned ART chassis, Automotive Machine #35 include Jones Siding and Construction, The Brew House #25, Dorrian Heating and Cooling, Days Construction, and X-Press Surface Repair.

Kevin can’t thank his family (mom, Joyce; dad, Jim; four and a half year old daughter, Kaylee) enough. His loyal and hardworking crew consist of Ryan Anderson, Brian Collier, Cody Bosley, John Jones, and Kaylee Hetrick. Kevin would also like to thank Matt Garner and Glenn Freeland for the help with learning the differing set up of a 410.