-- 9.14.08--
Kyle and the Team achieve a critical goal for the 2008 Season in the ASA Midwest Tour.
Heading into the final events of the 2008 season, Kyle & the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM & the Thrive to Drve team achieve a critical goal of being recognized as a 'Touring Star' in the ASA Midwest Tour for the duration of this season, and for the 2009 season so long as the team maintains a top 12 in overall points standings. It is a welcome achievement for the team, and an acknowledgement of our hard work this season!
A belated report on the Kim Parsons Memorial 100 at Marshfield on 9/7 (Sorry for the delay); Kyle & the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM qualified 26th fastest on some less than par tires, and again having to fight his way into the Feature race, Kyle finished 4th in his qualifier (just outside the top 3 to make the show), but won his last change race to gain entry.
In the Feature event Kyle started 23rd, but worked his way to a 14th finish. Kyle remains 11th in ASA Midwest Tour overall points, and has moved up to 4th place in the 'Hard Charger' points standings.
The team will shortly be making a decision on weather we will be attending the Fall Classic at Madison International Speedway on 9/20. Otherwise we are on track for our final ASA Midwest Tour event in La Crosse during the first weekend in October.
-- 9.1.08--
Final Stretch in Sight for the 2008 racing season!
Kyle & the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM competed yesterday in the ASA Midwest Tour Labor Day 100 at Norway Michigan. The team held their ground throughout the day although they were off to a rough start. Kyle Qualified the car 24th fastest sending him to the qualifying heat races. In his first heat he finished 4th, not enough to gain entry into the feature event.
Kyle progressively got better though, winning his last change qualifier, sending him to the 23rd starting spot in the 100. Kyle ran a smooth race and finished in the 12th spot. Overall Kyle closed the gap just a bit with the 10th place points standing, but remains in the 11th spot with only 2 points races left in the ASA Midwest tour schedule.
Next up, Kyle heads to some of his old stomping grounds in Marshfield, WI. Hopfully his experience at this track can pay off big and help him out in the points finish for this challenging series!
ALSO -
We conntinue to add photos to our 'Mile Bus Trip' photo gallery, CLICK HERE to view 4 pages of pics!
ALSO -
We have added video from the Milwaukee Mile event to our 'Media' page - be sure to check this out!
-- 8.29.08--
Thursday Night Thunder wrap's up for 2008.
The final running of the FRRC's Thursday Night Thunder events at WIR was held last night at WIR, completing the 2008 series with the annual 'Fan Appreciation Night'. Kyle & the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM continued some of their late summer struggles last night at WIR, where mechanical issues dogged the team throughout the night.
Kyle qualified the #9 15th fastest with a very poor handling car. Adjustments were made however, and Kyle looked really good during his heat and semi-feature events, winning both by decent margins. By winning his events, Kyle was into the Feature event, and was making a strong showing of the event when mechanical issues toward the end of the race forced him to lose ground and finish 13th.
Thrive to Drive will wrap up the FRRC Series in the 9th position for 2008. Short of our goal for the year, but that is the way racing goes. Congratulations to the Series SLM points winner Jeff Van Oudenhoven!
ALSO -
Special thanks to our team sponsor Atcam, Inc. of Little Chute. Atcam purchased the team a pit box after seeing we currently went without one at some of the larger ASA Midwest Tour events. The team's gratitude cannot be expressed enough! Thanks also to all our loyal sponsors for your support throughout the 2008 season at WIR!
The ASA Midwest Tour is not over yet, and continues this weekend in Norway Michigan as Kyle is on the chase to make it into the Top 10 in overall points in this challenging series!!!
Have a great and safe Labor Day Weekend!
-- 8.27.08--
Photos from the 2nd Annual Bus Trip to the Mile!
If you were there with us, or just interested in some of the pictures we took from our 2nd Annual Bus trip to the Milwaukee Mile, Click on the following link to view and/or download the pics! Thanks again to all that attended!
http://gallery.me.com/ccalmes/100016
There are (3) pages of pictures on this site!
Also - Don't forget it's fan appreciation night tomorrow night at WIR for the final Thursday Night Thunder race of 2008! Free beer and corn in the pits after the races! Hope to see you there...
-- 8.25.08--
A solid run yesterday at the Milwaukee Mile for the #9!
A great day for racing yesterday for the Governor's Cup 100 at the Milwaukee Mile, part of the ASA Midwest tour. In a race featuring NASCAR greats Kyle Busch & Matt Kenseth, Kyle Calmes held his own in the #9 Arby's / Orv's pizza SLM in front of a packed house and a bus load of his own fans!
Kyle started the day off on the righ foot, setting practice times just outside of the top 10 of the 40+ cars in attendance. Kyle continued his pace during qualifying with a 12th fastest qualifying and start position for the 100.
The 100 lap Feature race was full of excitement on this fast 1 mile track. Kyle held his ground for the first 50 to save on his tires, then began a charge during the second 50 laps, which was exciting to watch! Kyle finished the Feature event 8th, his second top 10 finish in an ASA Midwest tour event this year!
This was a much needed solid finish and boost for the team that has been having a rough August this season due to mechanical issues on both cars.
A special Thank You from our team to everyone who joined us on the 2nd Annual Bus Trip to the Mile! Everyone seemed to enjoy the day, and we even managed to get Kyle on the bus for the ride home so we could get the inside scoop on his day. Thanks to all our fans who suppored Kyle for this big event! See you again next year!
Photos from the event coming soon!
The next event on our schedule is the FINAL Thursday Night Thunder event of 2008 at WIR this Thursday night. It's fan appreciation night with everyone encouraged to meet the teams in the pits after the event!
-- 8.20.08--
Team struggles with handling & mechanical issues over the weekend at Shakopee, MN.
Handling & mechanical issues seem to be the big challenge to overcome for the Thrive to Drive team this month, with repeated struggles to maintain consistency recently in ASA Midwest Tour events. This past Sunday was no exception, with Kyle and the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM practicing within the top 10 at Shakopee for the ASA MWT Shakopee 100, but that was about it for the good news.
After a change of tires following practice, the team began a struggle with handling. Kyle qualified an extremely loose car a dismal 32nd fastest sending him to the qualifying heats. The car's troubles remained during the qualifying and last chance heats with the #9 finishing 7th & 8th respectively.
A provisional was used by the team to enter Kyle into the Feature event. Kyle started last with improvement over some handling issues and climbed his way to 17th. The car began to run hot however forcing the team to back downduring the race. Kyle finished the Feature race 23rd and remains in 11th place in the overa ASA MWT points race.
Hopefully the team is finished with this bum in the road as we head into the final events at WIR, and the big race this Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile!
By the Way... There are still seats available on the bus if you are interested in an exciting day trip to the Milwaukee Mile with our team and fans! The forecast is looking perfect for a day of racing excitement with some big names attending the event! Join us on the 2nd annual bus trip to the mile - see details above.
-- 8.17.08--
Rough Night for the #9 at the Third leg of the Budwieser Triple Crown.
Kyle started the night off with a bang on Thursday night for the third and final leg of the Budwieser Triple Crown event posting his fastest time this season during qualifying of 19.381 and securing the 2nd fastest position for the nights events.
Kyle and the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM started and finished in the relatively uneventful 6 lap fast dash heat race. Kyle's problems began during the 50-lap Feature event when a shrinking right rear tire made the car extremely tight and costed Kyle valuable positions. Later in the race contact in front of Kyle collected the #9 and put him out of the event.
The #9 moves to 8th in overall FRRC points standings following this event. Kyle will have to perform very well for the remainder of the FRRC events if he is to jump back into the top 5 before the season is over.
The team is racing today in Shakopee, MN for the ASA Midwest Tour Shakopee 100. Kyle appears to be posting decent times during the early practice sessions today - check back for updates or for the latest, click www.asamidwesttour.com.
ALSO -
The ASA Midwest Tour has added video from the August 5th WIR event where Kyle placed 2nd! Check out the video on our 'Media' page!
-- 8.13.08--
August 08 T2D Newsletter released, along with details of our 2nd Annual Bus Trip to the Mile!
To view a copy of the August 2008 Thrive to Drive Newsletter, CLICK HERE!
Interested in joining Thrive to Drive for the Governor's Cup at the Milwaukee Mile on August 24th? CLICK HERE for details of our upcoming 2nd Annual Bus Trip to the Mile.
Check back soon for added information on the bus trip. Email us now if your interested and want us to add your name to the list of people going, or if you have any other questions regarding the trip.
UPDATE! Due to questions posed by attendees, those under 21 years of age will only be charged $ 45.
-- 8.11.08--
Kyle Gains in FRRC points following last week's excellent performance.
The #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM move up one spot in the FRRC points standings to 7th following last week's great performance by Kyle and the Thrive to Drive team at Thursday Night Thunder. A much needed boost in the competetive field of drivers competing in the FRRC Series weekly at WIR in Kaukauna.
Only 54 points separate the 2nd place of Terry Baldry and the 7th place of Kyle. The team hopes to bring in consistent results in this series from here on out to continually improve our position in the points standings. Great racing action for local fans is right in our back yard at WIR on Thursday nights!
Also - a few new photos added to our 'photos' page from the ASA WIR 150!
-- 8.8.08--
3RD Place Feature finish for the #9 last night at WIR for Thursday Night Thunder!
It was a great night for racing last night at WIR for the FRRC's Thursday Night Thunder, and rounded out a sucessful week for Thrive to Drive Motorsports. Kyle started the night off qualifying the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM 8th fastest. His qualifying position put him toward the back for the heat races. Not much gained in the heat for a 7th place finish.
A favorable roll of the dice put Kyle starting the Feature race on the outside of row 1. The #9 took the lead shortly into the race, but as Kyle was battling a tight car all night and couldn't hold off Van Odenhoven or Rothe for long and finished the feature a season high 3rd for an FRRC Feature race event!
All in all, a great run for the team, and Kyle was fortunate enough to be chosen by the FRRC for Kids bike winner Travis Reiter (and his brothers) for the ride along and photo op before the nights events.
These three just might be Kyle's biggest fans?
Also -
Only a few weeks away until the ASA Midwest Tour event at the Milwaukee Mile! Thrive to Drive Motorsports is busy planning the 2nd annual BUS TRIP TO THE MILE. Stay tuned for a newsletter and updates to this site for details in the very near future!
-- 8.6.08--
2ND PLACE FINISH FOR THE #9 AT THE SCAG POWER EQUIPMENT 150 AT WIR LAST NIGHT!
An exciting night it was as Kyle piloted the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM to a 5th fastest qualifying position last night at WIR in Kaukauna. Kyle finished his fast dash in the fifth position, but the in the feature event, he really shined.
Kyle started the Scag Power Equipment 150 in the 3rd row, but held his ground through the first 75 laps. A mandatory caution for refueling saw Kyle restart the racein 5th postion, but make a hard charge to the front to a second place spot before lapped traffic became a factor in his advancement.
Kyle and the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM finished a season high 2nd for an ASA MWT Feature Event!
The team is extremely happy with these results. Look forward to photos of the nights events soon!
Unofficially, this places the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM in 11th overall points standing in the ASA Midwest Tour. A much needed boost after our engine problems at Iowa Speedway.
-- 8.4.08--
Car Show Tonight!
In advance of the much anticipated ASA Midwest Tour Scag Power Equipment 150 @ WIR tomorrow night, Thrive to Drive will proudly be displaying the #9 Arby's car at Arby's Restaurant on KK in Darboy, just East of Hwy 441 from 5 PM - 6:30PM.
Randy Allan from Y-100 WNCY radio will be on hand for a live remote with Kyle and other drivers that are expected to compete in tomorrows big race. There will also be a give-away of (2) $50 gas cards from local Kwik Trip Stores.
Hint: Check out the Thrive to Drive 'History' page to brush on on some answers to trivia questions!
Hope to see you there!
-- 8.1.08--
Thrive to Drive regains some ground last night at WIR.
It would appear the team is getting back on track following a disappointing showing last week as Kyle qualified the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM 6th fastest last night for Thursday Night Thunder at WIR. Kyle started in the front row for the 6-lap Fast Dash and came out of that race with a 2nd finish.
The Feature event saw Kyle finishing 8th overall, which bumps him back up a spot in the FRRC points standings, essentially tied for 7th place.
Big race event coming up as the ASA Midwest Tour heads to WIR in Kaukauna WI on Tuesday night for the WIR 150! A good showing by our team is the goal to bump us back up in the ASA Points standings as well!
Dont Forget to stop by your local Fox Cities or Green Bay area Arby's restaurant for $3 off the admission price on Tuesday!
This is sure to be an exciting night for the team and not to be missed by #9 fans!
-- 7.30.08--
Bumpy night at WIR last Thursday leads to a drop in the FRRC points standings for the #9.
Well the team spent the weekend up north relaxing this past weekend, and probably much deserved break after a rough night at WIR last Thursday for the second leg of the Budweiser Triple Crown Series.
The car blew out a shock during qualifying that lead to some serious handling problems and a very dismal 25th fastest qualifying run for the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM. Kyle then needed to finish 4th in his qualifying heat race, and made much progress starting the race 11th, but a loose radiator cap caused fluid to get onto the tire and again affect handling. Kyle managed a 5th place finish in the heat, but not enough to make the Feature event.
The disappointing night moves the team back 4 spots in the overall FRRC points standings to 9th, although points-wise the team is tied for 8th.
After this weekends break the team took the car to WIR for some testing and Hank reports things look to be back on track. Lets hope so!
ASA Midwest Tour has added the Video Highlights from the Keith Fleck Miller 100 from Hawkeye Downs and we have added it to our 'Media' page. Check out Kyle at one of his better runs of the season for an ASA event!
-- 7.23.08--
Kyle loses 2 recently gained ASA MWT points positions following engine troubles at Iowa Speedway.
Following his engine problems at Iowa Speedway on Sunday that prevented the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM from competing in the feature event, Kyle loses his recently gained 2 positions, putting him back to 13th in overall ASA Midwest Tour Points standings.
Although the engine problems were a setback for the team, momentum seems to be with the #9 after some recent solid returns in the Tour. The team hopes to get back on track at the August 5th running at WIR in Kaukauna. Don't forget to visit your local Arby's restaurant for discount coupons at the gate (see below for more information).
The weather forecast can't get much better for tomorrow night's Thursday Night Thunder at WIR & the second leg of the Budwieser Triple Crown series! Don't forget to join the team in the pits after the races.
-- 7.20.08--
Team experiences engine problems that will prevent the #9 from competing in the Iowa 150.
A disappointing development to say the least as Kyle posted strong practice runs at Iowa Speedway this morning and this afternoon. In his first practice Kyle & the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM were 7th fastest on the track and this afternoon he was 13th fastest while testing some gear setups. The team was extremely excited about our chances at this spectacular racing venue and had the car set up the way they wanted when valve failure during qualifying ended our competition in the 150.
Kyle is expected to line up & officially start the race, but our problems guarantee us a last place finish today. This will be the first ASA Midwest Tour feature event that Kyle has not competed in this year.
The crew will pack the car up and make the repairs in time for the next ASA Midwest Tour event at WIR in Kaukauna, WI on August 5th. Hopefully better luck at that event will make up some ground from today's set back.
Disappointing today, but overall a great weekend of racing in the ASA Midwest Tour.
Our next event, Thursday Night Thunder, will be the re-scheduled second leg of the Budweiser Triple Crown! Hope to see you there!
-- 7.19.08--
The #9 remains in 11th in overall points standings in the ASA Midwest Tour following the Kieth Fleck Miller 100 at Hawkeye Downs.
The ASA Midwest Tour posted their points update this afternoon, and following yesterday's sucessful run, Kyle remains in the 11th overall points standing, holding his ground and recent gains against some of the best Late Model racers the midwest has to offer.
The team is practicing at Iowa Speedway in Newton this afternoon, then it is off to a car show at the local Arby's restaurant in Newton at 5PM. Tomorrow's race features NASCAR stars Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch. Should be an exciting event.
To check out webcams, and for the latest updates during tomorrows race, click: www.asamidwesttour.com. This race might be broadcast via the internet, if so ASA will post the link on their site.
-- 7.19.08--
An Excellent run for the #9 on the first leg of the 'western swing'.
Last nights running of the Kieth Fleck Miller 100 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids bode well for he Thrive to Drive team for the seventh race of the 2008 ASA Midwest Tour.
Kyle qualified the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza Super Late Model a solid 15th fastest, securing his spot in the 100. In a repeat from the last ASA MWT event, Kyle took home a win in his fast-heat race, finishing an impressive 6-7 car lengths ahead of the pack.
In an action packed Feature race which saw only one caution, Kyle advanced the #9 from his starting position to just outside of the top-ten, finishing a solid 11th, his best feature finish of the year in the ASA MWT thus far! While I haven't received the offical team report from Hank on how the car is handling/runnin, from last nights results it would appear the team has a good car heading into Sunday's race in Newton, IA.
Today the team gets to show the car off at Arby's of Newton, IA from 5pm - 7pm (see promo video below), then its back to racing on Sunday for what is billed to be one of the most exciting races of the ASA Midwest Tour in '08!
-- 7.17.08--
Tonights races at WIR have been Canceled.
In a statement by FRRC officer Clint Smith, "Due to yesterday's heavy storms and flooding of the racetrack and additional predicted rainfalls expected, tonight's races have been cancelled. Look for details soon about the re-scheduling of Leg two of the Budweiser/WAPL Triple Crown". We will pass along any re-scheduling info as soon as it is made available.
That makes two weeks in a row @ WIR - lets hope for better weather next week... The team now prepares for the busy weekend ahead in Iowa.
Good Luck Team!
-- 7.15.08--
Busy Weekend on Deck for Thrive to Drive & the #9 of Kyle Calmes!
We have a lot of news to report for the coming weeks of racing, starting off with a triple-play of racing begining this Thursday night for what will be the Second leg of the Budweiser Triple Crown Series of Thursday Night Thunder!
Budweiser Triple Crown
Currently Kyle is in 7th in the overall Triple Crown Points chase. The team hopes to improve our position in the series, but we know we will have our work cut out for us with plenty of competition in this local racing series. Thursday night racing at WIR is a must see for NE Wisconsin race fans!
Keith Fleck Miller 100
Jumping off of Thursday Night Thunder, the team heads to Cedar Rapids Iowa for the rescheduled ASA Midwest Tour Keith Fleck Miller 100 from Hawkeye Downs Speedway. Kyle has been improving on his results in this, the most challenging late model series the midwest has to offer, and the team is excited to be on the road in Iowa this weekend for what the ASA MWT is calling the Western Swing.
Promoting the Iowa 150
Thrive to Drive Motorsports and our main sponsor for the Midwest Tour, Arby's have joined with the ASA Midwest tour to help promote what is expected to be the biggest race of the tour, the Iowa 150 to be held at the spectacular Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA. Television stations local to the Newton / Omaha area will be running commercials in advance of the race promoting the race itself, and also our teams appearance at the Arby's of Newton on Saturday for a meet and greet with the fans. Check out the commercial below:
The Iowa 150 is scheduled to feature a couple of NASCAR's biggest stars, Matt Kenseth & Kyle Busch. If you are a fan of Late Model racing, this is a race not to miss on a world class 7/8 mile oval! There is a lot of excitement going into the weekend in Iowa for Thrive to Drive & the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM of Kyle Calmes!
As always, for the most up to the minute info on these races as they are progressing, go to www.asamidwesttour.com.
ASA Midwest Tour Echo Bear Cat July 100
The ASA Midwest tour has posted the Echo Bear Cat July 100 video highlights to its video section. This video is one to watch if you are a fan of the team as Kyle grabbed his first Fast-Heat win in the ASA Midwest tour this year! The interview with Kyle after the race shows what a high even a big heat win in the ASA MWT can put the team on!
We have posted this video on our 'Media' page for easy viewing - be sure to check it out and stay up on the ASA Midwest Tour in '08.
Arby's & Thrive to Drive help promote the upcoming Scag Power Equipment 150
An finally, Arby's and Thrive to Drive have joined together with the ASA Midwest Tour to prmote the Scag Power Equipment 150, to be held at our 'home track' of WIR on August 5th. Again, NASCAR star Kyle Busch is expected at this event and is a guaranteed exciting night of racing for all local race fans.
Stop at your local Arby's restaurant from Oshkosh to Green Bay and everywhere in between to receive a race flier that is good for a $3 discount on your ticket fo the 150 on Tuesday, August 5th.
Be sure to stop by your local Arby's in advance of the race to get your discounted tickets for this NOT TO BE MISSED event!
There you have it - the team is busy midway through the 2008 season promoting racing and working our way to our goals! We have a few busy weeks ahead with hopes for positive results. Hope to see you at the track!
Go Kyle!
-- 7.6.08--
Thrive to Drive gains 2 positions in overall points over the weekend in the ASA Midwest Tour!
A successful showing by the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM yesterday at I-94 Speedway in Sauke Centre, MN for the Echo Bear Cat July Spectacular 100 moves the Thrive to Drive team in the right direction in overall ASA Midwest Tour points standings, from 13th to 11th.
Kyle qualified the car 15th fastest, guaranteeing his starting position in the 100 lap Feature event. A high point of the night came when Kyle grabbed his first fast-heat win for an ASA event in '08! Kyle started his fast heat in the 1st position and held his lead for the duration of the 10-lap race to grab his win.
The feature event was an exciting one with only one caution on lap 2, the remaining 98 laps were run under green. Kyle started the race 15th and held his ground with these competetive drivers for a 16th finish in the 100.
For full details on this race, click: www.asamidwesttour.com.
Also -
We have updated our 2008 schedule adding a September 7th ASA Midwest Tour event to be held at Marshfield Super Speedway, Marshfield, WI, and also the re-scheduled the Cedar Rapids race to July 18th, which will keep the team in Iowa for that and the Newton race through that weekend.
Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend! Its back to WIR this Thursday...
-- 7.4.08--
Thrive to Drive regains the #5 points standing last night at WIR.
It was a packed house last night at WIR for Thursday Night Thunder, complete with an awesome fireworks display after the races. Kyle started the night off qualifying the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings Super Late Model 9th fastest.
The heat race was relatively uneventful, Kyle holding his ground and gaining a few spots to finish 8th. A favorable roll of the dice this week put Kyle on the outside of row 1 for the 30 lap Feature race. An exciting Feature event it was, as Kyle dropped a few spots in the opening laps of the race, but held his ground for the duration, securing a 6th place finish.
Handling issues again prevented the team from advancing or being as competetive as we would like. Although these results were solid and allowed us to regain the 5th overall points standing, for next week's TNT event, Hank says they will be heading back to a setup that was used earlier in the season that worked at WIR. Should be interesting!
It's no relaxing holiday weekend for the Thrive to Drive Team... We will be taking 'Lightning', the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM out to Sauke Centre, MN today for tomorrow's ASA Midwest Tour event, the Echo Bear Cat July Spectacular 100!
-- 6.30.08--
The ASA Midwest Tour adds the video highlights from the Chicagoland 100.
We have included the latest online video update from the ASA Midwest Tour, which the Thrive to Drive team participated in on 6/22, to our 'Media' page. Check it out to get the full scoop on the latest ASA Event!
-- 6.29.08--
Some competetive racing again at WIR on Thursday night costs the team our 5th points spot.
Kyle & the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM started the night with a 10th fastest qualifying spot, not as good as we have been having at WIR with a new setup the team was trying on the car. The roll of the dice for the heat race was unfavorable for us, but Kyle managed a 6th place finish in his heat.
Starting the Feature event 9th, Kyle barely avoided a multi-car wreck in the early laps of the race. Kyle stayed consistent through the race and finished 6th in the Feature. In coming into the pits the Team noticed Kyle's right rear tire was flat, which could have been a bad situation for the team in the final laps of this race! Kyle's stats for Thursday moves the team to the 6th overall position in FRRC points standings, 1 point behind the 5th place car of veteran Lowell Bennett.
Crew Cheif Hank says although a new setup may have cost the team some qualifying and finishing spots, he expects good things to come in the races ahead!
-- 6.25.08--
Kyle holds his ground over the weekend in the ASA Midwest Tour event.
Kyle attended the Chicagoland 100 at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, IL over the weekend, part of the ASA Midwest Tour, and holds his 13th points standing in the series after an impressive Feature run.
The team battled some handling issues again leading up to the qualifying run of the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM. With a loose car during qualifying, Kyle managed a 22nd fastest qualifying position, therfore sending him to the qualifying heat races.
During the 10 lap qualifying heat, Kyle rode hard to a second place finish, sending him to the Featured 100 lap event starting in the 20th position. Kyle kept pressure on the pack and slowly advanced for the duration of the race, catching the 9, 10, and 11th place cars in the closing laps of the race, but he did not have the momentum to get bye them, finishing the Feature race a solid 12th.
The team would like to thank all the Thrive to Drive #9 fans that made the trek to IL over the weekend. We all appreciate your support of our team!
Weather forecast looks good for the next local event at WIR...
-- 6.19.08--
Kyle finishes 8th in the first leg of the Budwieser Triple Crown last night at WIR.
The #9 Thrive to Drive team qualified 7th last night for the first leg of the Budwieser Triple Crown at WIR. Being that it was the Triple Crown event, there were no heat races, only the 50 Lap Featured Event.
Set up adjustments prior to the Feature event left Kyle with a tight car for the main event. He managed an 8th finish, which the team was happy with given the handling issues during the Feature. Crew Chief Hank expects to get back to some testing with the cars to get some of the recent handling issues handled for future events.
Also - Thrive to Drive Motorsports in conjunction with our loyal sponsors was proud to sponsor a bike give-a-way at last nights race. Reilly Simonis was the lucky winner of the bike, and what a great kid.
Kyle & Reilly Simonis pose for pictures with Reilly's new bike.
Please remember to support our loyal sponsors. They make it possible for our team to remain active in our community!
-- 6.17.08--
Kyle & the T2D team compete in an unscheduled 'Red' race of the Red, White, & Blue Series at WIR over the weekend.
With flooding and rain either cancelling or postponing last week's scheduled events, the team decided to run Saturday in the Red race at WIR, which was an unscheduled event for the team. Out of a strong 40 car showing, Kyle & the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM qualified an impressive 3rd fastest!
Kyle ran an exciting feature race in this event, but the car got a bit loose about mid-way through the event. Kyle charged on with what he had to work with and managed a 5th place feature finish!
Kyle is currently in the second spot for Red, White, & Blue series points, but unfortunatly our ASA Scheduled race events will prevent the team from finishing this series.
This Thursday night at WIR will see the first of three Budwieser Triple Crown race events and is sure to be a competetive night of racing!
Thrive to Drive would also like to lend our congratulations to our Sponsor PERFORMANCE WELDING INC. for winning the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce 2008 Small Business of the Year award for Manufacturing. In business as in racing, hard work always pays off!
Also - new pictures added to our '2008 Photos' page.
-- 6.12.08--
NO RACES THIS WEEK / WEEKEND DUE TO WEATHER.
The FRRC has officially CANCELED tonights Thursday Night Thunder events at WIR due to the heavy rains forcasted for the Northeast Wisconsin area today and throughout tonight. The FRRC will announce a rescheduled date for the opening leg of the Budweiser Triple Crown event that was scheduled for tonight. Check back for updates or click on www.frrcracing.com for more information.
That would bring us to our next event, the ASA Midwest Tour Kieth Fleck Memorial 100 scheduled for tomorrow at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, IA, but today the ASA Midwest Tour announced this event is postponed for a later date due to the severe flooding occuring today in Cedar Rapids, IA. We will post the re-scheduled date once it is made available to us, or click on www.asamidwesttour.com for updates and a special note from Tim Olson & Steve Einhaus regarding this event.
We hope for the people of Cedar Rapids sake that a break in this weather cycle is coming soon!
Fingers crossed for good weather next week...
-- 6.7.08--
ASA MWT Dells race video highlights added to the 'media' page.
The ASA Midwest Tour has added the video highlights from the Miller Lite 100 Presented by Arby's from Dells Raceway park to their YouTube page - we have added this video to our 'media' page. Kyle collects his first ASA Win in this video during his qualifying heat!
We have also added a guestbook to our 'media' page - feel free to leave us your comments!
-- 6.6.08--
Last Night's Thursday Night Thunder events rained out.
The event began with a chance for some showers, Kyle & the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM started the night off with a 6th place qualifying slot that was sure to set the team up for some exciting results. But just as the LLM cars were about to wrap up their heat races, rain moved in and officials were unable to dry the track to continue the nights events.
Next event will be Thursday Night Thunder on June 12th, the first Triple Crown Series event of '08!
-- 6.3.08--
Kyle & the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM move to 13th in the ASA MWT Standings.
ASA Midwest tour updates their standings following the Miller Lite 100 Presented by Arby's at Dells Raceway park, moving Kyle and the Thrive to Drive team to 13th in the overall series points standings.
Hank reports the team did not finish as well as expected for the 100 due to handling issues the team worked through that effected the qualifying run and feature results, but commends our driver for the first place finish in the qualifying heat, and also smooth driving during the feature for what he had to work with.
Overall the team had a fun and eventful weekend with our Arby's Sponsor reps on hand for this event, and again gained valuable lessons regarding our cars performance!
Abby from DRM Arby's prepares to take some Hot Laps in the Kwik Trip Racing car at the Dells!
The team looks forward to our next event locally at WIR this Thursday night!
Also - Thrive to Drive recaps the year thus far in our June Newsletter. CLICK HERE to get the detaiils.
-- 6.1.08--
Kyle Starts and finishes 18th in the ASA MWT Miller Lite 100 Presented by Arby's at Dells Raceway Park.
Under perfect weather conditions for racing, Kyle qualified 18th fastest at Dells Raceway Park for the Miller Lite 100 Presented by Arby's. Kyle missed the cutoff and was poised to race his way into the Feature event, which he did in his qualifying heat, taking home his first - first place finish for an ASA Midwest Tour event this year!
Kyle started the 100 in the 18th spot, and that is the position he finished the race in.
I will update these results once I get Hank's input on the nights events, but it appears to have been a smooth showing for our team.
For complete updates and stats on the race, click www.asamidwesttour.com.
-- 5.30.08--
Rain holds off and Thrive to Drive has another great night at WIR in the second running of Thursday Night Thunder this year!
A second fastest qualifying position started the night off for the team on a positive direction, and sent the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM to the fast dash. Kyle started the dash on the inside of the last row and six laps later managed a 4th place finish out of that heat race.
Rain caused a slight delay before the feature event, but once things were underway it was action-packed as usual. Kyle started the race mid-pack and on turn 3 of lap 1, narrowly avoided a huge multiple-car wreck! The restart saw the remainder of the race under green, and Kyle continually working the #9 through the pack for a 7th place finish!
Positive results again for Thursday Night Thunder!
Kyle remains in 5th place in the overall FRRC points standings.
A big weekend for the team as we roll out 'Lightning' - the Arby's / Orv's Pizza #9 for the ASA Midwest tour in the Dells!
-- 5.28.08--
Thrive to Drive Motorsports has a busy weekend ahead in support of the Miller Lite 100 presented by Arby's.
Sunday, June 1 is the date of our next ASA Midwest Tour Event at Dells Raceway Park at Wisconsin Dells, but the Thrive to Drive #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza Super Late Model will be busy on Saturday, May 31st in support of our main ASA sponsor, and co-sponsor of the ASA events on Sunday - Arby's!
Kyle and the #9 will be on hand this Saturday afternoon from 3pm - 5pm at the West-side Wisconsin Dells Arby's restaurant. Arby's plans on contests to win promotional giveaways in addition to the ASA car and driver on hand. Two local radio stations are planning live remotes for this event, so if you are in the area, stop in to say hi!
Location: 710 Trout Road Wisconsin Dells, WI Near I-90/94 & Hwy 13.
Locally, we hope to see you at our next event tomorrow night in Kaukauna!
-- 5.27.08--
Heading into the 2nd FRRC 'Thursday Night Thunder' Event, Kyle holds a 5th place standing in overall points.
The FRRC released its standings after last Thursday's Season-opening event, putting the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings SLM in the 5th slot after the exciting season opener. Looks already to be a competetive and exciting season! See our '2008 Standings' page for more detailed info on our points standings.
This Thursday looks to be an excellent night for some summer racing - we hope to see some Thrive to Drive / Kyle Calmes fans in the stands in support of our favorite driver! Don't forget to join us in the pits after the races.
Also - Crew Chief Hank wanted me to recognize the 'Next Big Danica' in racing as the newest fan of the #9, but I think he might just be doting on his youngest granddaughter - you be the judge...
Looks like Hank has already recruited Danica Pfrang for the team!
-- 5.23.08--
Enjoy the Memorial Holiday Weekend!
Also - ASA Midwest Tour has added a recap video of the Kwik Trip Stores 100 from Jefferson Speedway which was run on 5/17. Click our 'Media' link above to view this video.
See you next week!
-- 5.23.08--
Thrive to Drive kicks off the 2008 FRRC Series with solid results!
Starting the night off with an impressive 6th fastest qualifying time, the #9 Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings Super Late Model of Kyle Calmes proved that all the hard work in the off season was about to pay off in the 2008 season with a solid and fast car.
Kyle started the six - car Fast Dash on the pole position and walked to a 4 - car lead in minimal time, and took home his first Win of the 2008 Season in that race!
The Feature event was full of action. Kyle started the race about 1/2 way through the pack and showed speed and handling as he continually improved his position throughout the race. Midway through the race saw a few caution(s) due to various incidents on track. Kyle would eventually find himself on the pole again during one of the re-starts, but contact between him and Terry Baldry would send them both to the back of the pack with about 12 laps remaining in the race. Minor damage to Kyle's car didn't slow him as he continually imporved positions again and ended up with a respectable 8th place Feature finish in this exciting first - event of the FRRC Season!
For full details on race see: www.frrcracing.com.
-- 5.22.08--
FRRC's Thursday Night Thunder Starts Tonight!
Need an adrenaline rush until you can catch that local racing action first hand? Check out one of Kyle's successful qualifying runs from the 2007 season at WIR via in-car-cam...
This and many other cool media items available on our 'Media' page - check it out!
-- 5.20.08--
Kyle moves to 14th in the ASA Midwest Tour / 'Thunder' ready for Thursday night!
ASA Midwest tour updated points standings today, and we updated our '2008 standings' page accordingly. Kyle moves down one spot to 14th in overall standings due to a not-as-planned qualifying and feature result in Jefferson.
On the bright side, our Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings Thursday Night / WIR car 'Thunder' is ready for its 2008 debut this Thursday at WIR! Testing went excellent last week Tuesday and the team is excited for our chances this year in the FRRC's weekly Thursday Night Thunder events at WIR! See picture of completed car below...
The weather is looking to be the best forcast we have seen on race day so far this year, and we hope to see you at the track on Thursday! All fans welcome after the race to see the car up close in the pits!
-- 5.18.08--
A fast car, but not the greatest stats for the ASA MWT Kwik Trip 100 last night at Jefferson.
Last minute adjustments to the #9 Arby's / Orv's Pizza SLM made for an extremely loose car during the qualifying run last night. Kyle ended up qualifying a dismal 27th fastest on this tight quarter-mile track at Jefferson. That qualifying position sent Kyle to the qualifying heats.
Starting toward the back of the pack, Kyle managed a 5th place finish in his heat race, not good enough to make the Feature event, but he would get another crack at it in the Last Chance race. Needing a 4th place finish to make the feature event, and Kyle running in the 5th position and charging hard, he made contact with the car running in the 4th position after that car spun, costing Kyle a finish position and a provisional to run in the Feature event.
With 27 laps complete, the Feature event was rain delayed for just over an hour. Kyle started the feature in the back and minor set-backs throughout the event prevented him from advancing through the field much. Kyle managed a 21st place finish in the Kwik Trip 100.
For the complete story on this race, click: www.asamidwesttour.com.
Its time for some local racing action, and the start of Thursday Night Thunder at WIR!
-- 5.13.08--
'Thunder' sees its first action of 2008 / ASA MWT re-caps Madison via Youtube.
The Orv's Pizza / Bayland Buildings #9 Super Late Model dubbed 'Thunder' is now complete and scheduled for its first track run today at WIR for testing. Just over 1 week remains until the first running of the FRRC's Thursday Night Thunder on our 'home track' in Kaukauna, WIR!
Its been a busy few weeks for the team putting final peices together to get the WIR/FRRC car ready for tonights track testing, along with preparing the ASA MWT car 'Lightning' for THIS SATURDAY's Kwik Trip 100 at Jefferson Speedway in Cambridge, WI. The team is ready for the challenges ahead and we are ready for Jefferson!
The ASA Midwest Tour has announced in conjunction wih Youtube, a page where they will be posting highlight videos of all the ASA Midwest Tour events! This is an exciting way for you to view for yourself what we try to recap here in our updates. The first event covered was May 4th's Echo Chain Saw 100 at Madison International Speedway, along with the 2007 season recap. To view the clips yourself, CLICK HERE, or to view the highlights from Madison, see video on our 'Media' page! Congrats to the ASA MWT for this convenient addition to their media reports!
-- 5.6.08--
Kyle & the #9 Arby's, Orv's Pizza SLM move to 13th in overall points in the ASA Midwest Tour.
For full points details, see our '2008 Standings' page, or click: www.asamidwesttour.com for full series standings.
-- 5.5.08--
An exciting and action packed event last night at Madison International Raceway lends some positive results for the #9 Thrive to Drive Team.
The ASA Midwest Tour Echo Chainsaw 100 went off yesterday under a packed house and blue skies at Madison International Raceway to some action packed races that saw an exciting evening for Thrive to Drive fans! Kyle piloted the #9 Arby's, Orv's Pizza SLM to an excellent 8th fastest qualifying position to start the evening off on the right foot! The team obviously had the car set up correct for this, the fastest half-mile track in Wisconsin.
Kyle's fast heat race was run relatively uneventful, but it was the feature event that saw all the action.
With a favorable roll of the dice for our team, Kyle started the 100 on the outside of row 2. It was not long into the race and the #9 was running in 2nd place. Kyle ran a smooth race dropping back to the 8th position for the bulk of the 100 laps. Excitement was building for #9 fans as Kyle was running in 6th position with about 20 laps to go in the race, when on lap 87, contact between Iverson & Schendel battling for the #4 position collected Kyle and sent him to the back of the pack.
With only 13 laps remaining in the 100 and starting from the rear with some minor damage to the #9, Kyle managed to pick up a few more positions finishing the feature event a respectable 16th. It may not have been an ideal top 5 or top 10 finish, but overall was a competetive day showing a lot of promise for this young team! We expect Kyle will remain relativley high in ASA MWT points standings heading into the next ASA race in Jefferson.
Much thanks to Arby's for the souveniers they made avaiable - the crowd seemed to love the gift bags during the autograph signing session.
Photos from the days events uploaded to our '2008 Photos' page!
For complete results, race coverage, and stats, see: www.asamidwesttour.com.
-- 4.28.08--
NASCAR's Kyle Busch to compete in the ASA MWT Echo Chainsaw 100 @ MIS this coming weekend!
Fresh off of his wild win at Talledega this past weekend, the ASA Midwest Tour announces that Kyle Busch will be competing along with us at the Echo Chainsaw 100 in Madison this weekend! Fingers are crossed for favorable weather for this event, the Thrive to Drive team are ready for the challenge! Click Here for the official event poster!
For additional details on this upcoming event, click: www.asamidwesttour.com.
Did you know... Kyle's favorite song is 'Holy Diver' by Ronnie James Dio? I wouldn't have guessed that one either... Click the following link to see the rest of Clint Smith's Q&A with our favorite SLM Driver, Kyle: www.clintman.itgo.com/about_10.html. Fun and interesting Q & A!
-- 4.27.08--
Pictures added to 'Photos' page from the season opener in Elko, MN last weekend.
Also - additional information on our Tire Sponsor Program as mentioned in our spring newsletter. Click the link below if you are interested in supporting the team via this progam.
-- 4.20.08--
Kyle & The #9 Arby's, Orv's Pizza SLM finish 14th at the Season Opener for the ASA MWT in Elko, MN.
After a rough start to the day with a broken transmission during the first practice, the Thrive to Drive crew knew they would have their work cut out for them the remainder of the day at season opener in Elko, MN yesterday. Kyle managed to keep the Arby's / Orv's Pizza car under control duing the event and only 'touched' the wall in what could have been a much worse incident than it actually played out.
The team sprang into action and changed out the transmission during the practce sessions, leaving Kyle with limited practice time at this tricky track. Kyle made it to qualifying and missed the cutoff qualifying 22nd fastest, sending him to the qualifying races.
Kyle successfully managed a 2nd place finish in his qualifying race, finishing behind Wausau's Chris Wimmer to secure his spot in the Kwik Trip 125. This track proved so challenging to the drivers that seven of the ASA Midwest Tour traveling stars failed to make the feature race by either qualifying or racing their way to a starting position in the 125.
With a 22nd starting position in the 125, Kyle ran a competitive race and ended the day with a respectable 14th place finish in this, the first race of the 2008 season!
Given the challenges the team faced during the day, Hank would like to thank the entire team for their hard work and dedication throughout the day. Kevin Voight, Brian Sollars, and Kyle sucessfully switched out the transmission with limited time while the rest ot the team focussed on the minor body damage after the practice incident. Gary Thyssen & Joe Wittlin did a great job on the tires all day, and Robyn Wussow (our eyes in the sky) brought our driver home with the successful 14th place finish.
Detailed race results, photos, and much more are available on the ASA MWT website: www.asamidwesttour.com.
The team turnes its focus to preparing for the next race on May 4th!
-- 4.16.08--
Only 2 Days remaining until the '08 Season Opener in Elko, MN!
Excitement is in the air as the team gears up for another season of racing, and driver Kyle and the team couldn't be more ready to take on the challenges of competing in a touring Super Late Model Series! Keep tabs on Thrivetodrive.com for all news and updates on the #9 Arby's, Orv's Pizza, SLM throughout the season!
Now Available: New desktop background featuring the #9 Orv's Pizza, Bayland Buildings, SLM 'Thunder' (see our Media page)!
Thanks to Matt Erickson for all the sick graphics he does for the team!! (and by 'sick', we mean awesome!)
-- 3.11.08--Thrive to Drive releases our Spring Newsletter.
Not on our email list yet? Want to veiw our spring newsletter? Click here to view it for yourself! The newsletter includes a printable schedule for the 2008 season of our events!
Let us know if you want future announcements from our team emailed directly to you.
-- 3.3.08--
Thrive to Drive Publishes our 2008 Race Season Schedule.
The complete ASA Midwest Tour circuit, along with a full Thursday Night Thunder schedule at WIR make up the majority of a season full of racing for Thrive to Drive in 2008. Optional races include some Wisconsin Challenge Series events, and yet others may be added to the list as the season progresses.
For the complete schedule, check out our '2008 schedule page'.
-- 2.24.08--
With Spring right around the corner, Thrive to Drive gears up for the 2008 racing Season!
Its been a long, cold, and snowy winter, but its almost over. Race fans have something to cheer about again as the national circuits are back in action for 2008, and our race season is just over 6 weeks away. Thrive to Drive is busy working on the (2) cars that we will be competing with this year, and with the gained experience of our Driver in last years rookie season, we are keeping a positive outlook for our chances in both the FRRC series and the ASA Midwest tour!
A few updates to start things rolling in the 2008 season:
2008 Sponsor News.Thrive to Drive is proud to announce sponsorship agreements for the 2008 race season with Arby's Restaurants, Orv's Pizza, Truck Country and Bayland Buildings as major sponsors of either our ASA MWT car, the FRRC / WIR car, or both. We are fortunate to have the continued backing of all our loyal sponsors - without them we could not compete at the level we need to.
Complete sponsor listings can be found on our 'Sponsors' page here on thrivetodrive.com.
New look to Thrivetodrive.com.
Hope you like the changes here at Thrivetodrive.com, as always, this is your 'one stop shop' for all that is Thrive to Drive. The latest team news, stats, and schedule info are found right here, and we keep the site up to date regularly throughout the season.
We love to hear your feedback and sugesstions for either the site or the team. Please lend all your comments to: info@thrivetodrive.com.
2008 Race Schedule Coming Soon!
We will be releasing our 2008 Race Schedule shortly and will post the full schedule on this site and also release it in a newsletter along with other announcements. Stay tuned!
If you would like to be included in our e-mail newletters throughout the year, please send your name and email address to: info@thrivetodrive.com.
-- 12.10.07--
FRRC Launches New & Improved Website.
frrcracing.com is the new home of the FRRC on the World Wide Web. Check out the new site by clicking this link: www.frrcracing.com. Don't forget to change your favorites to the new address!
-- 11.25.07--
A big THANK YOU to all that made 2007 a Success!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Kyle and Hank would like to take a moment to thank everyone that made 2007 a successful year! From our truly supportive and loyal sponsors, to the dedicated crew, our fans, and everyone else behind the scenes that lend support to our team. Thanks for making 2007 a great year, and we look forward to 2008!
Please visit our 'sponsors' page and remember to support them!
Kyle and Hank.
-- 11.24.07--
ASA Midwest Tour Announces its 2008 Schedule.
Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving, and how better to follow up turkey & football with some 2008 racing news?
The ASA Midwest Tour just announced its (tentative) 2008 schedule. Thrive to Drive will be participating in the full schedule for 2008, so we are pleased to pass this info on:
2008 ASAMT Schedule (Tentative)
Saturday, April 19 Elko Speedway Elko, MN 125 laps
Sunday, May 4 Madison Int’l Speedway Oregon, WI 100 laps
Saturday, May 17 Jefferson Speedway Jefferson, WI 100 laps
Friday, June 13 Hawkeye Downs Cedar Rapids, IA 100 laps
Sunday, June 22 Grundy Cty Speedway Morris, IL 100 laps Saturday, June 28 Dells Raceway Park WI Dells, WI 100 laps
Saturday, July 5 I-94 Raceway Sauk Centre, MN 100 laps
Sunday, July 20 Iowa Speedway Newton, IA 150 laps
Tuesday, August 5 Wisconsin Int. Raceway Kaukauna, WI 150 laps
Sunday, August 17 Raceway Park Shakopee, MN 100 laps
Sunday, August 24 Milwaukee Mile West Allis, WI 100 laps
Sunday, August 31 Norway Speedway Norway, MI 100 laps
September TBA
Sunday, October 5 La Crosse Speedway West Salem, WI 100 laps
This is only the half of it - to read more about the just released schedule, along with only a few of the exciting plans the ASAMWT has in store, please visit: www.asamidwesttour.com!
Kyle and Team member Kevin Voight discuss a little 'pre-race strategy'.
