LIVERMORE FALLS — While youth and exuberance may be the dominant trend in NASCAR racing, it’s generally the veterans who set the pace and visit the podium on a regular basis.

Yet from the premier Sprint Cup Series on down to the weekly Whelen All-American Series classes at short tracks across the country, a number of young racers are creating quite a buzz.

Take 19-year-old Tyler King, for example. The second generation driver (son of veteran local racer Scott) is enjoying a strong start to his 2014 Pro Series campaign at Andy Cusack’s pristine Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.

In six starts, King has a win (May 31) and two second-place finishes to his credit. He rallied to a sixth-place finish in Saturday’s 125-lap special event after a pit stop. 

“We hit on a great set-up in the car late last season, and we haven’t had to make many changes,” King said. “This is only our fourth year together. We’re learning, and I feel like we’ve started to click as a team. We bent a valve in the engine on May 24, then I made contact with another car on June 7 and bent the tie rod which took us out of contention. Yet the car has been fast every time we’ve unloaded.”

King started out racing go-karts at age 11, winning multiple races and a pair of championships. He also spent a year in the Maine Mini-Mod Series, getting seat time and honing his skills. Once he moved up into the big Pro Stock-style cars and got comfortable, it was apparent he had natural ability.

At Beech Ridge, the top division is loaded with seasoned veterans who’ve been at that game a long time. Drivers such as past NASCAR K&N Pro Series champion Kelly Moore and BRMS mainstay Dan McKeage can be tough competitors.

“It’s pretty difficult to run with those guys and come away with a solid finish,” King said. “You have to be on top of your game the whole race; they don’t give away any positions out there. But once you’ve earned their respect and show you belong there, you’re all set. I think we’ve earned that respect now.”

Given the level of competition in the class, the team was excited about winning a 50-lap feature just one week after a DNF (did not finish) with engine trouble.

“It meant the world to us,” King said. “My father and I were pumped up for a week. We work hard to run strong down there, and when it came together for us that night, it felt really good. I truly didn’t expect to win a race so early in the season. And to back that up with a pair of second-place runs was all the more satisfying. We’re on a roll, and I hope it continues.”

King is thankful for the highly-dedicated family members who work endless hours to keep him up to speed. It takes a ton of support behind the scenes to keep any successful driver on-track.

“Without my grandparents (Joe and Bonnie), we wouldn’t be where we are,” King said. “We do have a few sponsors, but my grandfather works a lot of hours at the (Verso) mill to keep us going. I appreciate all he and my dad do for this team. I owe them my best effort for all they sacrifice to do this.”

As summer’s heat ramps up and his season hits full stride, King looks forward to a busy July and August. A lot can happen to a race team in the next month or so, yet the young man seems poised and ready.

“I just hope we can stay consistent, notch another win or two and rack up some more top finishes,” he said. “If we can do that, maybe we can contend for that 2014 Pro Series championship. We’ll give it our best shot and see how it all shakes out.”

pwhipple@sunjournal.com