King Shows Speed In Modified Return At Super Bee
CHATHAM, La. – In his return to the limited modified division, Michael King Jr.’s strong start at Super Bee Speedway was derailed by another mechanical failure Saturday night.
Competing in the USRA Limited class at the quarter-mile, semi-banked dirt oval, King finished second in his eight-lap heat race to earn an inside-second row starting spot for the 20-lap main event.
King advanced from third to second on the initial start, holding serve for the first stint of the race before setting up a pass for the lead near the halfway point of the feature.
However, just as he was going for the top spot in turns one and two, King felt a part break aboard his blue-and-black No. 14jr that forced him to the infield and left him with a 12th-place finish.
The 23-year-old was one of only two Arkansans in the 20-driver field, allowing him to represent the Razorback State proudly, but left Louisiana frustrated after feeling another win slip away.
“It’s another weekend where we had another fast car, and unfortunately we ended up with another DNF,” noted King. “Our cars have been incredibly fast all season, but for whatever reason, we just can’t seem to shake this bad luck right now. We’ve challenged for six wins in a row, but we have nothing to show for it so far, which is definitely disappointing. We’re not about to give up, though.”
The good news for King is that he’s set to head to one of his favorite tracks in the country – Texarkana (Ark.) 67 Speedway – for one of the biggest races on his season schedule.
His next event is July 26, when he’ll race his steel-block late model with the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series against what is projected to be an all-star regional field, including CCSDS stars Logan Martin and Morgan Bagley.
“67 Speedway is really special to me, as it’s where I got to turn some of my first laps ever in a race car [in the four-cylinder class] years ago,” King recalled. “It’s probably my favorite track just for how it suits my driving style, but to be able to go there with the Comp Cams tour and really see how our late model program stacks up against some of the top teams in this area will be a really positive step for us.
“To make the show against that caliber of a field is always a goal of ours, and we’ll look to do that again just like we did when we were there last year.”
King would like to thank APE Engines, PPG Paint, Thurmon’s Heat & Air, M&A Wrecker Service, Advanced Specialized Services LLC, J&J Motorsports, ML Performance, Next Level Designs, SUPE, Team 5 Enterprise, Team Forty-Eight Motorsports, Thrifty Liquor, Land Service Landscaping, Pawfolio, Race Face Brand Development, and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation for their partnership and continued support.
About Michael King Jr.
Michael King Jr. is a 23-year-old dirt late model and dirt modified racer from Paducah, Ky., who now calls El Dorado, Ark., home. He’s in the midst of his sixth season of racing with his family-owned and operated team, spearheaded by his parents – Michael Sr. and Leslie.
King started in the front-wheel drive class in 2018, collecting 14 wins in his rookie season, including highlight victories during the Louisiana State Championship Race at Boothill Speedway and the Spooky 50 weekend at Super Bee Speedway.
He advanced into Limited Modifieds in 2019, and has racked up eight victories in the class, as well as the 2020 Super Bee Speedway track championship.
His late model tenure took off in 2022, and he debuted with the Titan Legends Late Model Series the next year, where he contended for rookie-of-the-year honors and narrowly missed out to Preston Farmer. King has also made two appearances at the prestigious Gateway Dirt Nationals in St. Louis, Mo.
King’s family is no stranger to racing, either, as his mother Leslie is a longtime shock builder under the ShocKing Shocks banner.
He counts dirt late model legend Don O’Neal and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson among his racing inspirations, and away from the racetrack, King is a supporter of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation’s efforts in the fight against pediatric cancer.
