2014 NASCAR Peak Antifreeze Series Powered By iRacing Champion Michael Conti Impressive In Legends Debut

WEST PATERSON, N.J. - 2014 NASCAR Peak Antifreeze Series Powered by iRacing champion Michael Conti was impressive in his INEX legends car racing debut on Saturday at Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama, North Carolina.  

The 18-year-old got faster each time out in the Kyle Beattie Racing No. 96, avoided several wrecks and brought the car home in one piece with a 13th place finish. 

After the race, Conti was satisfied with his initial transition from the Sim to the seat. 

"It was a lot to take in, that's for sure," he smiled.  "I had to get used to using the clutch smoothly to begin with and then the spatial judgment and having to learn how a legends car really handles and reacts.  Our goal coming into the weekend was to learn as much as possible and perform respectably.  I'm thankful to have accomplished both of those goals."

Beattie, a long time racer and car owner, echoed the sentiment.  "I thought Mike did great," Kyle said when the evening was over. "For someone who hadn't ever raced before, he used good judgment and didn't put himself in any positions he wasn't ready for.  We were happy to be able to race him and would look forward to more opportunities to work with him in legends and/or late models whenever he's ready."

 

Over the course of the afternoon and evening, Conti gradually got faster and smoother in the car, eventually running lap times within two tenths of a second of the fastest qualifier.  He had the car sideways more than once and showed strong car control skills in saving it each time. 

 

"My team was joking with me about taking me to the nearest dirt track," the driver said with a grin. "Obviously the Sim experience has given me the basic instincts as to how to react when the car is loose or tight.  The thing I had to adjust to is the physical differences of actually sitting inside the car and working the clutch and getting used to the spatial judgment from inside the seat with the Hans device and headrests and such.  All in all it was a fun day and I can't thank everyone from Kyle Beattie Racing and Team Full Throttle enough for their help in making it happen."