Levi De Keyrel is the: 2021 Outlaw Racing Series 1000 AM STK and 1000 AM LTD Champion.
Round 10/11 11/ 5-8/ 2021
Friday morning we left the house at 5:00 am to be able to get to Texplex
for Morning practice. My dad drove and I got in and went straight back to
bed. I woke up when we pulled in to get some Chick-fil a for breakfast right
before we pulled into the track.
When we pulled in we were not prepared for what we saw. No one could
get into the paddock because of all the mud. The Lindamood Demolition
crew was hard at work with a big payloader and a vibrating roller. They
worked non stop all day to make sure everyone could get to their pit spots.
We got in about 11:00 and set up the pit and got ready for practice. We
waited till the 5:00 practice and decided it was still to wet and decide to wait
till morning.
We rolled into the track at 6:30 am on Saturday to make sure I was able to
get the full ½ hour session in starting at 7:45. We had made some changes
to my Honda Talon 1000R and they were feeling really good. After practice
we had the drivers meeting at 8:30 and then straight into racing. I was race
2 and 6 for the day. First up was the 1000 AM LTD Class.
I lined up about in the center on the start to give me the option of outside
or inside in the first turn split lane. The outside was a little faster but I
wanted the option incase of a poor jump on my part. I went into the first turn
in 5th and the first 4 went outside. So I dove into the inside line to try to
make it happen. I came out in third and started to push. Jaden was in first
and starting to pull away. Kaden Isabella and I were pushing hard to real
him back in. When we started to get closer he spun a little and we got right
up on him. We were all running together and Kaden rear hub broke and his
wheel went flying off. I avoided hitting him and was up into 2nd. Jaden
made a mistake and hooked a wheel and rolled his car putting me into the
lead. I continued to push to see how fast of lap time I could run. I am
always comparing to see how I stack up against the Experts. It was great to
get the win in my first race of the day and it was also the first time my
Brother Kaleb and My Mom have seen me race.
Next up for me was race 6 the 1000 AM STK class. I already had the
championship locked up in this class. So I decided to give the other
competitors a chance at the win. I sat at the line until the Expert Womens
class was almost coming around. ( They were the first drop and we were
the third ) I worked on my start and then pushed to see how fast of lap I
could run. I ran hard for two laps and then back off to make sure I did not
get in the mix of anything.
There was a short intermission and I was back up for the 1000 AM LTD
class. I was going to need to be driving great as there are a lot of fast guys
in this class. I decided to not do launch control on the start and just foot it. I
got a great jump and was into 2nd. Jaden was leading and Kaden was right
behind me. We ran hard all race and that is just how we finished. 2nd was
enough to give me the overall and stretch my small one point lead in the
championship to 6.
In the 1000 AM STK class I again just focused on lap times and stayed out
of the race.
We cleaned everything up and my brother headed home and we went to
the hotel.
Sunday morning the hotel clock was off by an hour as it did not change for
the time change. For about a minute we thought we were running late then
my dad looked at his phone.
There was a sight lap to see the track changes and races started at 7:30.
Sunday I was race 3 and 6. First up for me was the 1000 AM LTD class.
Jaden got the holeshot, Kaden was in second, Briar was in third and I was
in 4th. We were all running neck and neck. I was trying to put the pass on
Briar and Jaden’s wheel went flying off. It was not a good weekend for the
RS1 drivers in my class. We all had to check up and Briar got a good jump
on me. I realed him back in and was not able to make the pass and finished
third.
In the 1000 AM STK I again worked on lap times and did not get in the mix
of things.
I needed one more good race to wrap up the championship in the 1000 AM
LTD class. It was go time. I remembered Erik Fontenot from PPEI saying
that launch control works awesome on the black top. When I got up to the
starting line I picked a spot that was total blue groove. I got a great jump
and was in second placing going into the first turn. Kaden and Briar went
outside and I got shuffled back to 3rd. Kaden was gone and Briar and I
had nothing for him. Briar and I battled all race It came down to the final
corner and he just beat me out. I finished third in the race but it was enough
to get the championship.
I still had race 6 the 1000 AM STK class to go. This time my dad had me
wait till they were coming over the hill before he let me go and I had to drive
in Manual mode all race and try to stay ahead of them. I had drove a little in
full manual mode but not a lot. It was so much fun.
We loaded everything up and it was time to head to the banquet.
Brian Adkison the owner of Outlaw Racing Series had a great Nacho bar
for everyone and it was time for the awards.
None of this would have been possible first of without Brian Adkison
taking over the series and keeping it going. He really has done an amazing
job this year giving us a great series to race.
My personal sponsors who got behind a kid that had never driven a SXS
before.
GOD
Progressive Power Sports: Bobby, Mike, David, David and Quin
Jsport SXS: Adam and Jeff
PPEI: Kory, Erik, Jacob and the rest of the guys
SSI Decals: Ian
Double E Racing: George
Maxxis Tires: Dean, Rick, Dave, Mike
Method Race Wheels: Steven
HONDA POWERSPORTS
Bell Racing: Tim
Axcel Sports: John
HMF: Brian
PCI Radios: Brandon
Sparco: Chris
Motive Engineering: Zane
ABF: Aaron
Thank You. Looking Forward to the 2022 season