Independence, MO: Dakota Earls was ripping the lip, mashing the gas, pushing his 15E to the limit last Friday night at Lakeside Speedway to finish a career best second place to Wyatt Burks after winning his heat race, and then leading the feature early. Afterwards in the pits, a sweaty, but jubilant, Earls, was soaking it all in as family, friends, and well wishers, stopped by to celebrate, and congratulate the recent high school graduate.
The scene was definitely one to remember for young Earls who has fought hard to be the best he can be driving a sprint car over the last 4 seasons with the Wholesale Batteries USAC MWRA Sprint Cars series. During that time, the racer who started his career driving Go Karts at age 4, followed by junior sprints, and then full sized racing machines (modifieds) before he was a teenager, has grown up literally, and figuratively, racing with the MWRA.
For Dakota, and his family, which includes father Jason Earls, mother Lisa Tye-Earls, and grandmother, Kay Earls, this journey has been one of ups, and unfortunately also many downs over the years, but never one where any of them gave up on the young drivers aspirations to race at this level. For you see, this is a racing family thru and thru.
Grandfather Earl Earls competed in both drag racing, and sprint car racing. Father Jason raced in sprint cars among other classes, as well as Papa Ronnie Tye, Lisa, and Uncle Chad, all competing in go karts. While his Uncle would also become a champion at Valley in non winged competition, and a regular along with his nephew in the MWRA.
But it all starts with Dakota, who over the years has been challenging himself in many ways after being diagnosed with Autism. Dakota has been involved in racing, but has also worked hard outside the sport tending to animals, and being a standout in the FFA, (Future Farmers of America).
Running with the MWRA, the former Junior Sprint, and E Mod standout has worked very hard to improve his racing performance. Over the years that has included a 7th place points finish in 2020 to earn the “Most Improved Driver” award. A 9th place finish in the final standings after 2021, and last year a career best result in the MWRA of 4th place for the season which included 5 top 10 results, and 2 heat race wins over the course of the 9 points paying races.
This year however the family race teams resolve was tested early like never before as Dakota struggled with a race car that resulted in finishes of 19th and 23rd in the first two events, sitting out the next two shows, before rebounding with a solid run of 7th at US 36 Raceway Dirt Track, and then a career best last Friday night at Lakeside Speedway of 2nd place, vaulting the team to 12th in the season standings, while giving the race team from the home of former President Harry Truman a big boost going forward as the MWRA continues on “The Road To A Championship” in 2023.
The USAC MWRA Sprint Car Series is next in action this Saturday night June 24th at Valley Speedway for race number 7 of the 2023 campaign.
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