Kyle McKiou Steals Track Mod Title in Final Round at Pitt Race

2024 TRACK MOD CLASS CHAMPION: KYLE MCKIOU

Kyle McKiou competed and podiumed for the season in two classes, Street Mod, and Track Mod, but with 3 wins and track records at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Autobahn Country Club, and Pittsburgh International Race Complex, McKiou defeated Brad Perkins by 1 point.

Chicago, IL - While Brad Perkins led the championship charge into the final moments of the NOS Energy TrackBattle Championship in the Track Modern category, his win and track record at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca were not enough to seal the deal. Kyle McKiou, who began running in Track Mod alongside his entry in the same #29 Toyota GR Supra in Street Mod, gathered enough momentum to eclipse Perkins in the final round of the season.

McKiou began his season running strictly in Street Modified, but after three rounds of competing there, opted to run in both Track Mod and Street Mod, splitting his track time between tires and setups. His first round in Track Mod took place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where he not only won, but also took a track class record. He beat Brad Perkins and Brandon Hodge, a fellow Toyota GR Supra competitor, to win in Ohio.

McKiou followed up this effort with two consecutive second places finishes to Perkins at Road America and Chicagoland, setting up a dual between himself and the Chicane Motorsports BMW M3. Jackie Ding scored 3rd at Road America, while Chris Smith landed a P3 at Lime Rock behind the two championship leaders. While McKiou skipped WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Perkins pounced on the opportunity, roaring back late in the Podium Sprint session to knock local drivers off the top step and steal a track record in the process. 

The roles reversed at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, with Perkins skipping the round and leaving the door open for McKiou. In the first session on Friday, McKiou eclipsed the overall GRIDLIFE track record and earned the additional point needed to bump himself above Perkins - even with a win at the event, he would have lost the tiebreaker without the additional point. 

McKiou also managed to score several podiums in Street Mod while competing in Track Mod, and finished 2nd in the Street Mod class. His season undoubtedly is one of the most impressive in NOS TrackBattle Series history.