by BARRY ANGSTADT

It’s easy to name the fastest and most successful 600cc Micro Sprint driver who hasn’t yet won a race in 2017. He’s got a boatload of runner-up and top-five finishes and came within a whisker of winning one of the biggest 600cc races of the year, along with several other near-misses throughout the season. He’s Tyler Brehm of Royersford, Pa., and he’s got one more shot at reaching victory lane before the calendar turns to 2018…

Brehm is geared up and ready to go for the gold – or should we say green, as in $5,000 greenbacks – in the first ever East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals on December 1st & 2nd at the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ.

Since he teamed up with car owner Steve Recchione part way through the 2016 season, Brehm has been turning heads with the speed in Recchione’s No. 21R and his consistent drives. This year, despite a late start in wingless 600 competition at Linda’s Speedway, Brehm was a constant fixture inside the top five and rebounded to finish second in the point chase.

“We led a ton of laps but just couldn’t buy a win,” said Brehm. “Steve gives me a quality car each and every week; he’s committed to giving me whatever we need to go fast and get some wins. We ended up with lots of second place finishes and we’re happy that we are running so well and finishing up front, but it’s also frustrating to come so close so often and not get (at least) a couple of victories. But we can still finish the year with a huge win if we can pull it off at Trenton.”

The 23-year-old Brehm admits that everyone will be on an even playing field when the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals get underway with a practice night on Thursday, November 30. “That (the practice night) will be very important; everyone will be anxious to get a feel for the track and see what type of set up will be needed for the bullring type of dirt track that will be in place.”

He believes his experience running the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, OK, will prove to be beneficial when he gasses Recchione’s ’08 Hyper inside the Cure Insurance Arena.

“I’ve run the Chili Bowl four times, and I know how guys will race on a tight indoor dirt track. You’re gonna feel people’s bumpers – that’s just the way it is with indoor racing. You can’t lose focus or get riled when you feel someone’s bumper…just keep on racing.”

Brehm proved he can maintain his focus on the task at hand when he last competed at the Chili Bowl, winning his heat race on preliminary night, then climbing through the alphabet mains on Saturday. He made it to one of the C-Mains where he rumbled from 20th to 12th which unfortunately did not produce a transfer to a B-Main.

Perhaps his best weekend of 2017 occurred near the end of October, in the annual Micro Sprint National Open at Linda’s Speedway, where he competed with a wing for one of the few times this season. Brehm throttled to quick time honors in Friday’s time trials and also captured a heat race triumph, thereby earning the pole position for the A-Main. He fell back to third in the early laps, then roared back to wage a nip-tuck battle for the win with Garrett Bard and Tommy Kunsman. Trying the low side and the top, Brehm and Bard produced an instant classic, racing hard but never touching for lap after heart pounding lap. Bard held on to win by a scant margin over Brehm, who gained much respect and admiration from all in attendance, including Bard, for the tough but clean manner in which he raced the leader.

Now it’s time for Trenton, and Brehm, who works for DMI building rears for stock cars, would love to reward his car owner, and himself, by becoming the winner of the inaugural East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals.

“I’m very confident in the car, and I’m ready to race and give it the old college try,” said Brehm. “And I will tell you this; I raced hard and clean at Linda’s – and all the other races I’ve run – but at Trenton, if I get fed a bumper, I will return the favor because it’s indoor racing, and that’s the way you’ve got to do it.”

Brehm and Recchione are supported by several marketing partners, including Mako Construction, Chad Fritz/ ERT Racing Engines, Pro Glide Bearings, Custom Metal Coating, Zemco Racing, Horsepower Inc., and Shell Shock.

Presented in part by Oliver Communications, the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals powered by VP Racing Fuels gets underway with a practice night on November 30. Friday, December 1, will feature heats and qualifier races to lock a dozen drivers into Saturday’s A-Main. Everyone else will return for alphabet mains on December 2nd to try and race their way into the main event. With $5,000 to win (if the driver takes the gambler’s challenge) and $200 to take the green, the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals is building an entry list of close to 100 must-see wheel-twisters that will rock the Cure Insurance Arena in this first time event.

For additional information, check out www.indoorautoracing.com.