Kyle O’Gara: A Model of Consistency
Consistency is the key to every championship. A perennial championship contender who embodies the notion of consistency better than most, is Kyle O’Gara. Another strong season saw O’Gara finish third in the 500 Sprint Car Tour Championship Standings for the second straight year. He, along with 2022 Tour Champion Kody Swanson, are the only two drivers to finish in the top three in points in back to back seasons.
O’Gara began competing on a regular basis in 2018 with the group that is now known as the 500 Sprint Car Tour. Prior to the 500 Sprint Car Tour being formed in the winter of 2021, sprint car races held at Anderson Speedway were sanctioned by the facility. When O’Gara first began competing in these events, he struggled. He did not have a podium position through the first eight events he raced in, but broke that streak with a second place finish in the 2020 edition of the Glen Niebel Classic. A metaphorical switch had been flipped and O’Gara found his footing. Since the beginning of the 2021 season, he has eight top five finishes, five podium positions, and two wins at Anderson Speedway. His recent success at the Anderson, Indiana oval immediately translated to other tracks that the 500 Sprint Car Tour would visit in 2022 and 2023.
Kyle O’Gara in victory lane after winning the 2023 Glen Niebel Classic at Anderson Speedway - Jack Kessler Photo
“It was a pretty big task when we started sprint car racing,” explained Kyle O’Gara. “My crew chief, Brad (Larsen) had limited knowledge coming from Indy Car and my knowledge on bigger cars was limited. We have grown a lot as a team since 2018 and can't wait for the future!”
A win and multiple podium positions lifted Kyle O’Gara into third place in the final 2022 Championship Standings for the 500 Sprint Car Tour. A result that sent him, and his crew, into 2023 with a tailwind of momentum. The tone was set early as O’Gara dominated the opening race of the 2023 season at Anderson Speedway, leading all 75 on his way to a deciding victory. A victory that saw O’Gara atop the championship standings for the first time since the series began competing in 2022.
O’Gara followed up his Opening Day victory with a top five finish at Berlin. He then went on to have five top three finishes across the final seven races of the season. Among those came three runner up finishes and another victory. When the series made its first ever trip to Lorain Raceway Park in South Amherst, Ohio, the night belonged to O’Gara. Once again, he went to victory lane in dominating fashion having led all 50 laps of the event.
Kyle O’Gara pictured with crew chief Brad Larsen - Jack Kessler Photo
In regards to being as consistent as possible, Kyle O’Gara fits the mold perfectly. Not only has he finished third in the final championship standings two years in a row, but he has collected a total of 16 top ten finishes over a total of 18 races competed in since the beginning of the 2022 season. More impressively, 12 of his 16 top ten finishes saw him finish in the top five as well. In 2022, O’Gara completed 522 of a possible 555 laps for a completion rate of 94%. He followed suit in 2023 completing 512 of a possible 525 for a completion rate of 98%. O’Gara’s ability to not only compete in every race, but to finish races while also competing for wins, sets him apart as one of the most prolific, and consistent, drivers in the 500 Sprint Car Tour.
