USAC Wingless Sprints Oklahoma - Ty Hulsey 2020 Champion.
Story by Terry Willis, USAC WSO official. February 7,2021
Oklahoma historically produces some of the finest drivers in all of auto racing. Kevin and Michelle Barksdale have a passion for bringing the best and the fastest in the region together to earn a championship in the top tier of Non-Wing action. These drivers prove that they are ready to step up to compete with other regional drivers and are ready for races on the national USAC Non- Wing Sprint Car schedule.
2020 Champion Ty Hulsey won the season finale in a dramatic dual edging out inaugural 2018 as well as 2019 back to back champion USAC WSO driver Brett “The Jet” Wilson. With Wilson flying around the top at Red Dirt Raceway and Ty methodically getting around the inside of the tight ¼ mile bullring it was anyone’s guess who would hold the flag and do the cage dance in Victory Lane. Veteran racer Ty was all smiles celebrating with his awesome team owners Kevin and Dena Risley as well as many family members and friends.
He began racing at age 5 running ¼ midgets and won rookie of the year and the championship pavement racing! He moved up to Jr. Sprints and did it again and again. He moved up to restrictor Micros and then Non -Wing and Outlaws and kept winning championships before racing Powri West Midgets. In 2021 it will be in his fourth year of racing Sprint cars he has enjoyed racing with USAC WSO for 3 years after chasing races in the War Series. He has amassed a commendable record of 5 total Racing Championships when you include the USAC Wingless Sprints Oklahoma 1st place Championship trophy at the recent Awards Banquet where he also raised up some shiny hardware from USAC National Headquarters home office. Covid prevented his team’s trip to Indianapolis where he would have been recognized with other great drivers from Oklahoma and all over the nation for regional and national wins and championships.
He began racing early on tagging along with his father Harlan Hulsey, his racing hero. Harlan left the sport for 20 years but put a car on the track in 2020 and competed with Ty for wins. Ty just wanted to follow in his Dads footsteps and also wanted to be like Donnie Ray Crawford. The race he wants to win the most is the Ironman 55 non wing show that honors Donnie Ray who drove car # 55 to many wins and was a true, lifesaving hero at the Tulsa Shootout. He has come close to a win with two 2nd place and one 3rd place finish in one of the greatest non wing events that have included the elite of non-wing drivers such as Dave Darland. I asked him how it feels to be a USAC Champion. His reply was USAC drivers are recognized as the premier non wing drivers and it felt great to be included in a well-earned association with the best racers at the top of the heap in all of racing!
When asked if the opportunity came up, what level of racing would be his dream to move into, his reply was quick to say he would enjoy a seat in a National series such as USAC Midgets, Sprint Cars, or the Silver Crown Division. He welcomes that opportunity but is very thankful for his current team and is proud to race with USAC WSO as well as some wing cars in his local area with Risley Racing. They have helped him live his dream and has accomplished great things racing with his friends.
When asked if he had a favorite racing photo or image, he said he had many that he enjoys many by his friend Dylan Duvall that recently lost his battle with Cancer in 2020.
Some would consider Ty as quite an expert in winning races on the bottom. He credits his father for teaching him to be patient and exercise throttle control to make the shortest way around the track when the top goes away and becomes single file. He has mastered the art of quick decision making and tries the bottom before everyone else gets down there. He doesn’t profess to have a rival but does have a huge amount of admiration for good ,hard ,clean racing with competitors like Brett “The Jet” Wilson and how they could race each other in a fierce points battle and not crash their equipment so they could compete another night.
The 2020 USAC WSO Series was challenging for all but Ty and “Riz” but they came out on top. He would like to extend a very warm Thank You to all of his team including his mother and father, his girlfriend Taylor, family, all his friends that helped him including Risleys Trash Service, Airgroup , Dragonfly Aviation, Auto Glass Unlimited, and the USAC WSO Team for creating a family and fan friendly environment and giving Risley Racing a place to compete at a high level in Non Wing Racing.
Photo credit: Jeff Taylor