Driver: Kyle Getchell
Hometown: Bark River, Michigan
Car: #26 600 Micro Sprint
Sponsors: Getchell Builders, GPS Heating and Cooling, RT Electric, Berg’s Landing, Dome Lanes, NuColor, LaCourt Concrete, North Shore Bait and Tackle, Esser’s Glass and Pane, Witt Auto Ford
Since getting his start in racing at the Upper Peninsula International Raceway, Kyle Getchell has been a mainstay at the track. Kyle began racing in the track’s 500 Micro Sprint division, which is now the Sportsman Micro Sprint division. In the years after, he has worked his way up to the 600 Micro Sprint division. Racing, for Kyle, hasn’t been confined to just the UPIR dirt track either.
In December of 2017, Kyle and his team made the trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma to compete in the Tulsa Shootout. The Shootout, which runs in conjunction with the Chili Bowl at the Tulsa Expo Center, is arguably the most prestigious Micro Sprint event in the country. While at the Shootout, Kyle was able to meet the likes of NASCAR driver Christopher Bell and race against Micro Sprint legend Frank Flud, though that race wouldn’t end positively for either one of them.
“I actually spun out and got into a pile up with him,” said Getchell, “I mean that’s not a great thing but it’s funny to think that I was the reason why the legendary Frank Flud was out of the Shootout.”
After four weekends of racing at UPIR in 2019, Kyle sits third in points with one win and two top fives. Although winning is always a great outcome, it is not the only goal for Kyle this year.
“Our goals for the year is to come out every night and give it the best we got,” Getchell remarked, “I keep learning every week on and off the track by reviewing notes and learning from mistakes.”
A big part of learning comes from the help of his crew, including former UPIR racer and Kyle’s step-dad, Gregg Brayak, and Kyle’s grandfather Bill Getchell.
“I have to give credit to my pit crew,” Getchell said, “They have another view of the track that I cannot see. They can see what lines I’m running and what lines are faster or slower and they let me know right after the race about what they’ve seen.”
In addition to running UPIR, Kyle has raced at Tomahawk earlier this year with plans to possibly race there again later in the year. The most important thing for 2019 is something Kyle's grandpa always tells him, “Have fun and be safe!”
For more information and updates about Kyle Getchell you can visit the GB Motorsports Micro Sprint Facebook page.
By Todd Rose