Kyle Bellm had a career season in sprint cars in 2017 and is hoping that will lead to greater things next year.

Highlighted by his first Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) win in Speedweeks at Route 66 Raceway in Amarillo, Texas, last June, he used that success to springboard his team for the remainder of the year. It was his first win with the national touring regulars since 2013.

“It was good to get that win, it’s what this team was needing,” Bellm said after his Amarillo win.

And with renewed confidence, Bellm went on a spree — eventually. He did not close out Speedweeks with a great deal of success, but he carried that win in his back pocket and returned to Nixa, MO, with the knowledge that he was capable of beating some of the best sprinters in the business.

He won four races in short succession at nearby Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, MO, and scored 10 top fives in his next 11 races.

“It was the best season that we’ve had so far,” Bellm said. “We had some struggles early and then a little bit at the end of the year, but we really had things working well over the middle portion of the year.”

When the checkered flag waved over the season, Bellm was credited with five wins and 17 top fives — nearly all of which came in the hot summer months.

Two of his top fives for the season came with the highly competitive ASCS, and while both of those came on the familiar Missouri State Fairgrounds Speedway in Sedalia, MO, it was the Amarillo win that has made him hungry to tour more widely.

Now it is time to set his focus on 2018 — and for the moment, that future is uncertain. Bellm is actively pursuing a ride with another team that can help him make the entire ASCS schedule. If that opportunity is not presented next year, he will run the same type of schedule as 2017.