Shellsburg’s Dale Kite hoping to mix work with love of racing

VINTON – After a decade of working full time and racing part time, Dale Kite is trying to kill two birds with one stone.

“If I’m racing full time I can just take my hauler to the race track and do two things I love to do,” Kite said.

Although he enjoys his job as a mechanic, Kite is working on starting his own trucking company.

“I have one truck and it’s older and needs a little bit of love,” Kite said. “I’m trying to get that rolling so I can get a couple trucks on the road with drivers and I can go racing full time.”

Kite is a native of Harlan and went to races as a kid at Shelby County Speedway before his family moved to Benton County near the end of his high school days.

When his buddy’s car went up for sale, Kite’s parents bought it and he’s spent the last decade trying to learn the ropes of racing.

“I was doing things backwards,” Kite said. “If you ask people they will help, but I was nervous because I usually keep to myself.”

After years racing Hobby Stock and Sport Mod, Kite started asking questions last season.

“People started helping me and we got the car figured out,” Kite said.

Now, Kite is looking to get his company up and going so he can make visits to several tracks around Iowa while still racing weekly at Benton County Speedway.

“Once I get my taxes back I can get all of the licensing on it and get started this summer,” Kite said.

If everything goes as planned, Kite hopes for stops at Independence, Marshalltown, Dubuque, Maquoketa and the Super Nationals in Boone.

“I go every year and I usually help other people, but I want to check it out for myself,” Kite said.

The Shellsburg resident's plans were almost altered when he nearly lost everything during the derecho when his garage took a hit.

“The door came open on one side and I asked (his wife Chrystal) if she could run out there and shut it quick because I have a lot of stuff in there,” Kite said.

The garage stored Kite’s tools and race car.

“She wouldn’t do it, but the garage held up with the exception of branches and tree limbs all over inside.”

Now Kite is focused on scoring some heat race wins in 2021 after a summer of learning in 2020.

“Drivers especially are always willing to help," Kite said. "Although it’s hard to teach someone to drive the car, because everyone drives differently.”

The “Bullring” at Benton County Speedway will be showcasing several different driving styles Sunday night when weekly racing returns after being rained out last Sunday. Pits and grandstands open at 4 p.m., hot laps begin at 5:30 and racing follows at 6.