Belleville, IL. (10/19/2020) Making the ultimate decision to change classes of competition is never an easy choice, especially if the driver questioning those changes is considered one of the nation’s top contenders. Tom Curran, of Kansas City Missouri, would prove to be up to the task of altering his racing career in 2020, parking his winning micro to undertake a full-size non-wing sprint car endeavor.
Heading into his first race with the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League Racing Tom Curran would laughingly remark, “I don’t really have any high expectations; load the car in one-piece, don’t get in anyone’s way, and finish basically”. Curran would do more than just make laps though, keeping pace with front-runners from the start and establishing a solid reputation early. Unfortunately, motor issues would sideline Tom for several events throughout the season but key placements at the Lake Ozark Speedway’s Non-Wing Nationals would be the edge Curran was after in his rookie of the year honor campaign.
Showing his early career-best at Central Missouri Speedway, in Warrensburg Missouri, with an outstanding podium place finish Tom would not shy away from an epic five-car battle for the top spot. Curran would hold his own all feature by wheeling his way through lap traffic while slicing-and-dicing among the Midwest’s top open-wheel talent, bringing the crowd to their feet several times with drives to the front after claiming his first-ever POWRi WAR heat race victory. Gaining one top-five and one top-ten in three feature starts on the season, the future looks well-lit for this stand-out emerging POWRi Lucas Oil Wingless Auto Racing Sprint League star.
Reflecting upon this past non-wing sprint car season, Curran would state “It’s a nice honor to win rookie of the year, as a team we learned a lot and had some good results at times.” Going on to add “Future plans are to just keep learning and try to become more consistent.”
Racing the highly colorfully wrapped and eye-catching Deaton’s Waterfront Services, Permastone Countertop Solutions, Misty’s Glass, AFD Graphics, Speed Shack Performance 410, DRC Chassis #11X; Curran will definitively be a force to be reckoned with on the racing surface in 2021 and beyond with the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League as he continues to tackle the learning curve of changing classes. Expect Tom to resume his steady transition in 2021 and be back to his winning ways in no time within open-wheel competitions.
Top Ten in Season Standings with the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League:
- #91 Riley Kreisel Warsaw, MO 4 Wins (3540 Points)
- #77 Jack Wagner Lone Jack, MO (-790)
- #6 Mario Clouser Auburn, IL 3 Wins (-1120)
- #11W Wyatt Burks Topeka, KS (-1450)
- #16 Anthony Nicholson Bartlett, TN (-1620)
- #2 Jason Billups Holt, MO (-1660)
- #73 Samuel Wagner Lone Jack, MO (-1820)
- #28 Kory Schudy Battlefield, MO (-1920)
- #27 Steve Thomas Ludlow, IL (-2290)
10 #22s Slater Helt Harrisonville, MO (-2300)
- #12 Wesley Smith Nixa, MO (-2330)
- #ST1 Lane Stone Concordia, MO (-2480)
- #24 Landon Simon Tipp City, OH (-2570)
- #2 Zach Clark Olathe, KS (-2610)
- #11X Tom Curran Kansas City, MO (-2730)
POWRi Season Points Championship Banquet and Awards Ceremony will be announced later, stay tuned to the website and social media platforms for further updates.
Follow along for more information such as race recaps, updates, full results, and press releases online at www.powri.com, or on Twitter & Instagram at @POWRi_Racing or on Facebook at POWRi. POWRi League rules, contingencies, forms, and payouts can be found under the info tab at the top of the POWRi website.