KTJ Is Rock Steady In Ocala USAC Sprint Practice

Kevin Thomas Jr. led USAC sprint car practice Thursday night at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway. (Rich Forman photo)

OCALA, Fla. – Kevin Thomas Jr. and Rock Steady Racing’s first night out together this season went just about as smooth as one could ask it to.

The Cullman, Ala., driver – who won at Ocala Speedway in 2021 – turned a lap of 13.796 seconds to lead Thursday night’s open practice for the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series at the three-eighths-mile dirt oval.

The three-hour session was the final preparation for the opening two races of the season on Feb. 9-10 at the track formerly known as Bubba Raceway Park.

Thomas and his Inferno Armor/Eddie Gilstrap Motors/Creative Finishing-backed, Stanton Chevy-powered Mach-1 recorded the best lap of the evening in the second of three groups that timed in Thursday.

Mitchel Moles was the quickest in group one and second fastest overall with a lap of 13.928. Logan Seavey, in the debut of the Abacus Racing sprint car program, was best in the third and final group and third overall at 13.962 seconds.

Carson Garrett was fourth overall at 14.009, while two-time and defending series champion Justin Grant rounded out the top-five at 14.016.

Rock Steady Racing won the most recent USAC national sprint car event at Ocala last February with Kyle Cummins behind the wheel. Cummins was 14th overall in Thursday’s practice at 14.216.

Four-time USAC National Sprint Car Series champion Brady Bacon, the winner of last year’s season opener at Ocala, timed in ninth-fastest overall.

For the first night of racing on Feb. 9 at Ocala, grandstand admission for fans age 13 and up is $30, while kids aged 12 and under get in free. Pit passes are $40 apiece for all those age six and up, while pit access for kids five years old and younger is free.

On both nights at Ocala, the pits open at 2 p.m. ET, while the front gates open at 5 p.m. and cars hit the track at 6 p.m. Outlaw 4s will serve as the support class both days.

Every lap of the USAC season is available to stream live through FloRacing.

The times:

1. Kevin Thomas Jr., 3R, Rock Steady-13.796; 2. Mitchel Moles, 19AZ, Reinbold/Underwood-13.928; 3. Logan Seavey, 57, Abacus-13.962; 4. Carson Garrett, 15, BGE Dougherty-14.009; 5. Justin Grant, 4, TOPP-14.016; 6. Chase Stockon, 5s, KO-14.024; 7. Robert Ballou, 12, Ballou-14.063; 8. C.J. Leary, 15x, BGE Dougherty-14.083; 9. Brady Bacon, 69, Dynamics-14.094; 10. Daison Pursley, 21AZ, Team AZ-14.118; 11. Timmy Buckwalter, 20, Hummer-14.136; 12. Briggs Danner, 39, Hogue-14.140; 13. Alex Bright, 27, Heffner-14.210; 14. Kyle Cummins, 3p, Petty-14.216; 15. Sterling Cling, 34, SCR-14.225; 16. Matt Westfall, 33m, Marshall-14.261; 17. Jadon Rogers, 17GP, Dutcher-14.325; 18. Joey Amantea, 88J, JPA-14.359; 19. Jake Swanson, 2B, 2B Racing-14.392; 20. Zach Daum, 5d, Daum-14.394; 21. Tom Harris, 84, Harris-14.470; 22. Trey Osborne, 5, Baldwin/Fox-14.582; 23. Mark Smith, 43m, Witherspoon-14.612; 24. Tye Mihocko, 5T, Wilson-14.613; 25. Shane Butler, 18, Butler-14.972; 26. Will Hull, 7s, Hull-15.148; 27. John Mollick, 4J, Clever-15.170; 28. Chase Howard, 13, Howard-15.795.