By ohnson 
Let us commence by introducing ourselves. Our names are Larry and Brooke Wight. Larry is the driver of the 99L Gypsum Express Northeast Big Block Dirt Modified and, on occasion, his 360 or 410-winged Sprint Cars.
During the summer months, our schedules tend to become extremely busy. Larry races weekly for points at Brewerton, Fulton, and Utica Rome Speedways, while also following the Super DIRT car series.
Larry and I met ten years ago at the Motorsports Expo in Syracuse, N.Y., and since then, we have been an integral part of each other’s lives. On February 27th, 2016, Larry and I got married at Turning Stone Casino in Central New York.
DirtTrackDigest.com approached us before we headed to Tulsa and inquired if we would be interested in documenting our daily experiences. DTD requested that we offer our firsthand accounts and provide the vividness and atmosphere of this thrilling event.
We expressed our enthusiasm and if this helps race fans relish the behind-the-scenes experiences of this remarkable midget event, we will be more than glad to do so.
How did our adventure commence?
Thanks to our dear friend Dave Reedy, we were able to meet and secure a ride with Heffner Racing for the 2016 Chili bowl. Larry made his rookie debut in the USAC midget, crewed by Sean Micheal and Sean Strausbaugh.
Larry wasn’t the sole wheelman for Heffner racing at the 2016 Chili Bowl; his teammate for the week was Tanner Berryhill.
Sean and Sean were the sole representatives of Heffner racing responsible for maintaining both cars throughout the entire week. To alleviate the workload for Sean and Sean, Larry decided to bring a few of his own crew members to assist. Pat Ward, Scotty Jeffery, and Jake Pietrowicz were the ideal trio to bring along. These three individuals have been a part of Gypsum racing throughout Larry’s entire racing career. It’s effortless for these three to understand what adjustments Larry will desire on the car even before he exits the track.
Tim McCreadie is a seasoned veteran when it comes to the Chili Bowl. Fortunately for us, we have known Timmy for a considerable time from the Super DIRTcar Series Tour. Throughout the entire week, Timmy and Larry were constantly seeking each other out and chatting for what seemed like endless hours.
They couldn’t stop exclaiming, “The setup on these midgets is like a 1980 DIRT modified.”
TMac provided Larry with a crash course on how to reach the front of the pack as swiftly as possible and maintain that position to qualify. Timmy truly expedited Larry’s learning curve as he struggled to set aside his Big Block knowledge.
Witnessing two drivers who typically compete for positions now sharing notes was truly astonishing. As a race fan, this was the most remarkable aspect of the week for me (aside from Larry being #2 trending on twitter thanks to Kyle Larson).
Larry and Timmy were there representing all our New York dirt drivers, demonstrating that our drivers undoubtedly can hold their ground against the best in the nation.
Heading into Chili Bowl 2017, Hefner Racing and Sean Michael have constructed Larry a brand-new Triple X Chili Bowl-specific car.
Sean managed to shave off approximately 70 lbs. compared to last year’s car.
If Larry hasn’t gained any weight and restricts himself to Cracker Barrel when we are in the south, this could significantly enhance his chances of qualifying for the Golden Driller. To aid in the weight reduction, the team decided to opt for a carbon fiber body complemented with a simple red and white paint scheme.
We will be departing on Sunday morning for Tulsa. We will have hot laps on Monday. On Tuesday evening, Larry will participate in his heat race for the 2017 Chili Bowl.
We sincerely hope you all will be watching on racinboys.com. Larry is eager to get into the new car and discover its potential. If it’s anything like last year, this is bound to be thrilling!
Hammer Down, hope it sticks!