MARIETTA, GA :: Kyle Plott, the 2014 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) South Carolina Rookie of the Year, will be busy in the final weeks of the 2014 racing season as he competes in both the Myrtle Beach 400 on Sunday and the Snowball Derby two weeks after that race.
Plott started racing in a Late Model this year, stepping in and driving for Troy Carnes. He ended up scoring one win on the season at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
“It was a good start,” Plott said. “We started halfway through the season and didn’t get the max amount of points we could have but we had a good season. First race, we qualified on the pole first race and got second. The only time we ever got out of the top-five was when we had four blown motors. Aside from those, we couldn’t complain about the season. We were always running up front.”
Plott felt accomplished to win NWAAS South Carolina Rookie of the Year honors but he gave much of the credit to the crew that works on his cars.
“It’s a great accomplishment. It’s one of the best things I’ve done in my career. It helps when you have great people surrounding you. Billy Poindexter, he came from a Cup background and he’s real smart with the stuff that he does. He’s coached me up and taught me a few things. It’s just a great deal. Hopefully we can perform as well as we want to at Myrtle Beach, qualify in and finish top-10.”
Plott raced at Myrtle Beach Speedway earlier this season but was sidelined from the event due to mechanical gremlins. He’s not nervous about going to Myrtle Beach though. Having raced in last year’s Snowflake 100, finishing 28th in the event, he knows how to manage tires and knows that will be the name of the game on Sunday.
“I’m not really nervous. We’ve just got to keep our heads down and figure out what we have to do on the car and make smart decisions. I’ve raced on tracks that wear down tires like Pensacola. I’m not worried about it because I’m good at tire management and making sure I have tires left for the last five laps. That’s not really a big deal. Usually, you get the car driving where you need to. You just have to be easy on it.”
Following the Myrtle Beach 400, Plott will head south down to Florida to compete in the 47th Snowball Derby. Plott has attempted to race in the Super Late Models only one time in the PASS South Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway but was unable to compete in the race due to a blown engine. He’s raced in the Pro Late Models before – most notably at last year’s Snowflake 100, the 100-lap Pro Late Model race at Five Flags Speedway that serves as a prelude to Super Late Model racing’s most prestigious event.
“It’s just going to be about getting the setup right and making sure it has speed in it. I believe we’ll make the race because we have a great car. It’s a Frankie Grill car.”
Plott knows he’ll have a good car for the Derby this time around and feels he might even have a solid shot to contend for the win.
“It’s a great possibility. If you’ve got a decent car and keep the tires on it, anybody can win the race. My main goal is to keep my nose clean, finish the race and have good pit stops. It’s going to be interesting.”
As of now, Plott is unsure what his plans are for next season but says he’d like to run the big Late Model Stock Car races as well as several Super Late Model races.