Nicholas Fillman, USAC EC, November 28th, 2021.
The 2021 Rapid Tire, USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series, presented by Capitol Renegade was another year of growth and development for everyone involved with the series, namely our drivers and teams, many of which were new to the series in 2021.
Twenty-Three races were contested of the originally scheduled 32 events on the calendar for the 2021 season. While over twenty races were scheduled in 2020, and only were 13 completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twenty-five rookie drivers took part in an event during the 2021 season. The bulk of drivers who were of rookie status for the 2021 season, were graduates into the series from the likes of the 600cc micro sprint ranks.
Twenty-Eight was the high car count of the season for the 2021 season, coming at the final race of the year at the Bridgeport Speedway in November.
For the 2021 season the average car count remained above the number of starters for a regular night of racing with twenty-one being the series average for car counts across twenty-three events.
Seventeen different drivers were able to collect heat race victories on the series trail in 2021, with Briggs Danner and Alex Bright leading the way.
As was the case in the 2020 season, six rookie drivers ended up in the top ten in series points for 2021. Briggs Danner lead the way for the rookies over, Damon Paul, Nash Ely, Kenny Miller lll, Ed Aikin, and Tommy Kunsman Jr.
Five different drivers found victory lane on the series trail in 2021, with Alex Bright leading the way. While the series winner total may have been down slightly from seven in 2020, the dominating seasons of Alex Bright and Briggs Danner played a big factor in the win column. Steven Drevicki, Damon Paul, and Billy VanInwegen also scored victories on tour in 2021.
Speaking of Alex Bright, a new series record was set in 2021, with Alex Bright setting a new record for wins in a season with eleven wins on the series trail.
Another category that the series was happy to see increase for the 2021 season was total number of entrants across the year. This season seventy-two drivers attempted to make a feature with the series in 2021. We are hopeful this number will only increase next year in 2022.
The 2021 USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series was one to remember with new records being set, a new champion, more first time winners, and memories made between fans, teams, and series officials. We can only hope that the 2022 season will be even bigger, and better than we are imagining it will be. Stay tuned for the 2022 series schedule to be released soon.