FORESTHILL, Calif. – Eighteen-year-old Ryan Robinson is heading back home seeking a fresh start for his racing career next season after three years of full-time midget racing.
Robinson confirmed to SPEED SPORT Wednesday night that he has parted ways with Keith Kunz Motorsports and will not continue racing with the team after three full seasons there.
The California teenager started with KKM in 2015 as a fresh-faced 14-year-old, running a partial schedule, but that run quickly turned into a complete season the following year with the support of Abreu Vineyards and the Abreu family.
He landed sixth in USAC National Midget Series points and second in the Rookie of the Year standings in his first full season on the USAC trail, but Robinson dropped outside the top 10 the next year, leading him over to the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget league for a shot at the title this season.
Robinson finished second in POWRi points to teammate Tucker Klassmeyer, but noted that “things just weren’t clicking” between he and the No. 71 squad.
“I want to be clear that there’s no ill will or hard feelings at all between me and Keith or any of the guys at KKM. It was just time for me to do something different,” Robinson said of the amicable split. “We just weren’t where we needed to be and eventually, you just get to that point when you know something’s not working and I feel like we got to that point and this decision was what came out of that.
“It’s been coming for a little while. This outcome isn’t a surprise, at least in my mind,” Robinson continued. “We just needed to change something and this was a good time to do it.”
“We appreciate everything that Ryan has given to our team over the past three years and certainly respect his decision to pursue a different path in racing,” added team owner Keith Kunz. “He spent a lot of time with us and was a big part of our organization for several seasons. Watching both he and Tucker battle for the POWRi championship this season was a lot of fun and we wish him well for the future.”
In reflecting on his time with Keith Kunz Motorsports, Robinson admitted that while midget racing wasn’t necessarily his preferred path, he couldn’t have passed up the opportunity to join the Toyota Racing Development pipeline when he was given the chance to do so.
“It’s tough for me … because I don’t really know if running for Keith this many years made me a better race car driver or not,” noted Robinson. “There were good and bad times. I love running winged cars, and that’s what I want to do going forward, but when the opportunity was presented to me … at the age I was when I started with KKM, you can’t let that walk away from you.
“Who knows; if it had gone differently we might be having a completely separate conversation, but my heart is in winged racing and I know that’s the direction that I’m heading in for next year.”
Robinson hopes to put together a schedule of winged sprint car events for himself so that he can continue to be behind the wheel during the upcoming season, with plans to remain close to home.
“Winged racing is really challenging and for me, it’s what I grew up around,” said Robinson. “It’s just what I want to do and what I’m passionate about. … I actually had never even seen a midget race until I went to Calistoga (Speedway) and watched them there about a year before I started racing for Keith.
“I want to be a winged racer … and I think I kind of always have been, in a way.”
Just because he’s leaving the KKM family, however, doesn’t mean that Robinson hasn’t grown as a person during his time with the organization.
“Pete Willoughby, in particular, has taught me a ton over the years,” noted Robinson. “It’s been more than just racing, too. He’s taught me business aspects, a lot about real estate … and that’s a field I’d like to get involved in some because of him. I owe him a lot and I do truly appreciate everything this team has done for me over the years.”
In short, Robinson just wants to get the “fun factor” back when he goes to the race track.
“Honestly, the most fun times that I had with Keith were when we were winged sprint car racing, and it would be just me, Big Al (Scroggins) and Pete going to the race track and having a good time,” Robinson said. “When we went to Knoxville (Raceway) for the All Star race this year … that was my first time there and Al’s first time crew chiefing there and we made the show. That was such a cool moment.
“I think, for me, the fun got sucked out of it more recently and that’s why things weren’t working out so well,” Robinson continued. “That’s the number one reason that I think we didn’t click this year. Going forward, I want to get back to having fun again and enjoying my time at the race track when we pull a car out to go race.
“I don’t know what our schedule will be yet, but I know what I want to be doing and I hope we can make it happen. I’m just ready to go have some fun again.”
