12/29/2022
Owosso Speedway
Kyle Drake and the Owosso Speedway Curse
Lefty Gomez was an all-star pitcher for the New York Yankees in the 1930s and was credited with coining the phrase “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.” But what happens when things are the inverse? What happens when you’re good, but luck manages to evade you at every turn? For Kyle Drake, a Modified and Outlaw Super Late Model driver, his interactions with the Owosso Speedway have seemed to have been snakebit.
Drake began his career in full bodied stock cars racing a Pure Stock at what is now known as Corrigan Oil and Springport Mid-Michigan Speedways. But Owosso Speedway had a Pure Stock division as well, and Drake decided to load up the car and give the Big O a try. And he didn’t wade into shallow water, he cannonballed into the deep end making his first start at the 2008 Owosso Nationals. Unfortunately a broken transmission would end his weekend. A disappointment, but racing can be a cruel mistress.
The following year Drake made his return, and this time was able to get onto the track! In fact he not only made the track, he finished in the top three. But, his car was legal for the track he ran at weekly, which had a rule allowing the engine to be set back, unfortunately it was not deemed legal for Owosso, and while Drake had managed a good finish, the history book would not reflect it. A disappointment for sure, but again, these things happen.
Later on in the season, Drake made the jump up to a Modified. He made his first Owosso appearance at the Nationals, and once again disaster struck, The wiring went bad, Drake and a few helpers stayed up all night in the pit area thrashing to get the car track worthy. At this point things were starting to get suspicious.
The following season, again at Nationals, Drake made it out. Qualifying hadn’t been a dream so he had to race his way into the feature via the Last Chance Race. Drake was sitting one spot outside of transferring, when he tossed out a bold pass near the end of the race, and made his way into the A-Main! Maybe this curse deal was just overblown conspiracy stuff! Oh wait. Barely into the feature Drake’s engine expired, ending his race before it ever even got started.
Drake would give her a try once again in the 2011 season. This is when the curse managed to creep its way into Drake’s brain. Owosso Speedway in its current configuration hasn’t ever had a backstretch wall. Drivers have gone over the edge of the track thousands of times over the years. Drake had an understeer moment off of turn two and went over the edge of the track, again, as thousands have before. Except he ripped a gaping hole in the oil pan.
“After knocking the oil pan out of the car, I decided there was a good chance of a curse,” Drake recalled.
After a suspension failure the following year, Drake took an extended break for the Owosso, hoping that maybe time would heal all wounds and Lady Luck might smile on his efforts at the Big O. That was not the case. In 2020 when Owosso was just about the only game in town. A left rear shock mount got ripped out of the car.
Drake soon after made the move to the Outlaw Super Late Models. He had picked up a new car purchased from the Crosstown Motorsports team that campaigned former Owosso Front Wheel Drive Champion Kyle Crump. Drake had poured hours into the car, and on the debut with the new car he tangled with Jason Felver before the race had even gotten underway and sidelined the car for the remainder of the season.
Despite all the tough luck, Drake still is optimistic about his future at the Owosso Speedway under the new management. He’s actively looking to purchase a Modified to add to his stable, and still has the Super Late Model to attempt the Reveal the Hammer Series races booked at the track as his work schedule allows.
“I enjoy the challenge Owosso presents,” Drake said. “It’s a unique track.”
Still, even with optimism in his mind, don’t be surprised to see a job opening on the Drake Racing team for a Voodoo priestess or Witch Doctor. And if you see Kyle and crew burning some sage in the pits to ward off bad spirits, maybe mind your own business.
Article Credit: Chris Fobbe
Submitted By: Chris Fobbe
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