Kyle Sheldon Gets The Call To Run For Elmo Reckner At DIRTcar Nationals In Volusia

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – NASSAU, NY – Looks like Kyle Sheldon’s off-season just got shorter…by about a few months, to be exact.

Sheldon, who finished 10th in Modified points in 2017 at Lebanon Valley, has been tabbed to run the Elmo Reckner #17 next week at the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am for this,” Sheldon said Thursday afternoon. “I’m ecstatic to have this opportunity and can’t thank Elmo & Alex (Thomson…Sheldon’s car owner) enough for the chance.”

The original plan was a deal between Reckner & Thomson. The duo would use one of Thomson’s engines bolted into one of Elmo’s cars for the event in Florida. Unfortunately, plans changed at the last minute for Ballston Lake, NY driver, which left them looking for someone to fill the seat.

Enter, Kyle Sheldon.

“It’s one of our motors in the car,” Sheldon said. “Elmo has a commitment now and can’t make it. He asked if I would be interested in driving all week down there. How could I turn down an opportunity like that?”

The car the team will run is a four-race old Bicknell while the engine is an 18-degree Big Block built in Connecticut by 42 Racing Engines, which Thomson owns.

“I know Alex has been working with Elmo to help his engine program,” he said. “I know the motor, but I’ve never driven a Bicknell before. This should be interesting.”

There’s just one more thing that needs to get situated for the third-generation driver from Nassau, NY. Can he get comfortable in the car?

“Not only have I not been fitted for that car, I haven’t even seen it,” Sheldon said with a laugh. “I’ll see it on Tuesday in Florida. Alex’s driving his truck with Elmo’s trailer down Monday morning and I’m following him. We’ll be at the speedway Tuesday morning to get ready to race.”

The Big Block Modifieds will run Tuesday through Saturday next week at the Volusia Speedway Park.