With a hectic schedule driving for Kasey Kahne's sprint car team, Brad Sweet finally had a weekend off.
So the Grass Valley native returned home from Indiana to visit family and friends – and race at Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway.
Tonight and Saturday, Sweet pilots the No. 83 for good friend Rod Tiner at Chico. This is Sweet's idea of a vacation.
"Coming out here to see my family is relaxation," Sweet said Thursday. "This is the first weekend I've had off in months. You'd think you'd want to spend the weekend off (the track), but this isn't really stressful. … I get to see all my friends at the racetrack – and race them."
Sweet, 22, signed in November to drive wingless sprints and midgets on the United States Auto Club circuit for NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran Kahne, the 2000 USAC Midget champion.
Like fellow Cup star Tony Stewart, Kahne launched his own USAC team. The two NASCAR drivers have a healthy rivalry as sprint-car owners.
"They always want to beat us, and we really want to beat them," Sweet said. "They have the two super teams in our sport with huge budgets. Kasey and Tony are always joking about who's the best."
Kahne is a hands-on owner, Sweet noted. "He wants to know how everything is going. He's willing to do whatever it takes, and he's really happy when we do win. He's a pretty busy guy himself, but he's definitely into it."
Those NASCAR ties have been good for sprint car racing, Sweet added. "Absolutely, it definitely broadens our audience. … Also, a lot of drivers have come out of USAC to race in NASCAR. That attention is good."
So far this season, Sweet's major highlight was back-to-back midget victories June 21 and 22 at Iowa's Knoxville Raceway.
"That's one of the most famous dirt tracks in the country," he said. "Two wins in two days at that track is pretty cool."
Sweet would like to follow Kahne's example.
"I would love to get the opportunity to try NASCAR some day, but you never know," he said. "I'm pretty happy where I am."
Free drinks for a nation?
Kahne and Stewart will drive Saturday at Florida's Daytona International Speedway in NASCAR's first Coke Zero 400. If one of the 13 drivers sponsored by Coca-Cola wins, the company will offer coupons good for a free 20-ounce bottle of Coke Zero to every U.S. resident, age 13 or older.
"It's pretty common for the winning driver to spring for a round of drinks after the race, but we're taking things to a whole new level for the inaugural Coke Zero 400," Stewart said in announcing the unusual promotion.
Besides Stewart, the other Coke-sponsored drivers are Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, David Ragan, Elliott Sadler and Michael Waltrip. To get a coupon, log on to www.cokezero.com before July 13.
Call The Bee's Debbie Arrington, (916) 326-5514.
