10/22/2026
Tyler Kent Earns United Sprint League Rookie of the Year Honors
Tyler Kent finished the season with a big accomplishment, earning United Sprint League Rookie of the Year honors. Throughout the year, he continued to learn, improve his race craft, and gain experience competing in non-wing sprint car racing.
Looking back on the season, Kent said he enjoyed racing and knew there would be plenty to learn along the way. He had his ups and downs, but overall, he feels the season helped him grow as a driver.
Earning Rookie of the Year is especially meaningful to Kent because it is an award a driver only gets one chance to win. Being able to compete against drivers with years of experience made the accomplishment even more special. “I feel like being Rookie of the Year is a big honor because you only really get one chance at it,” Kent said.
One of the biggest things Kent learned this season was how important it is to focus on his own race. Advice from his dad, Tim, stuck with him from the beginning of the year. “You can’t chase points.” Instead of worrying about the standings or trying to force a result, Kent learned to focus on driving his own race, a lesson he plans to take with him into next season.
When it comes to non-wing sprint car racing, Kent knows what he likes best. In his opinion, there is nothing better than non-wing dirt track racing, and he hopes to keep competing in the sport for years to come.
During the USL season, Kent recorded a 10th place finish at Enid Speedway, 13th at Caney Valley Speedway, 8th at Beaver County Raceway, 14th at Lawton Speedway, 18th at Creek County Speedway, and 11th at Lawton Speedway.
Kent also gave credit to the people who helped make his racing season possible. He thanked his dad, Tim, and stepmom, Kendra, for giving him the opportunity to race as often as he could throughout the season. He also gave a special thanks to his grandpa, Bill, for towing the car to the track and being his crew chief in the pits.
He also thanked his sponsors, Oklahoma Chiller, Rose Motorsports, and Hoss Media, for their support throughout the season.
With a Rookie of the Year award to show for his efforts, Kent has plenty to be proud of after this season. Although his plans for next year are still up in the air, he hopes to be back at the track competing in the USL and continuing to improve.
This is a huge accomplishment, and he has plenty of reasons to be proud of what he achieved this season. Here's to more laps, more learning, and more success ahead!
Congratulations to Tyler Kent on earning United Sprint League Rookie of the Year!