Get to Know Kyle Ramsey

Kyle Ramsey competes in the Ohio Pro Compact Series that races between Sandusky Speedway and Lorain Raceway Park, although Ramsey mostly plans to race the Sandusky events.

How did you get involved in racing?

I started out in racing while I was in middle school. I used to be the kid who would always get in trouble in school with fights and have sub-par grades. My dad knew I liked racing so he decided to get me a go kart in 2005 with the conditions I started getting better grades and stayed out of trouble. In 2006 we started with a 30 year old go kart out at Fremonts road course track trying to see if it was something I was going to be any good at. I went from being a C & D student to getting a lot of A’s and B’s. Needless to say I found a passion in racing and didn’t want to have anything keep me from being able to race.

How long have you been racing?  Why did you choose the number you race?

As I said before, we started in the 2006 season in karts. Ran a few years in that and decided to make jump to a car in 2009. We traded all my karting stuff for a car to put together but never made it to the track due to funding as during that time the pure stocks made the change to street stocks at Sandusky Speedway. During this time, I was trying to decide what # we would run on the car and had tossed around a few options. In karts I ran #9 as I’m a big Kasey Kahne fan, but at the time someone had that # at Sandusky in the pure stocks so I just chose #91 instead. Unfortunately life happens and we just could never get money to get the Street stock together. In 2017 I finally told my dad I was tired of seeing the car in my garage every day I went to and from work. We made the decision to trade it for a cavalier and just go and try enjoy racing at Sandusky. The FWD class has where we’ve been ever since. In total now its been 9 season we’ve raced something.

What’s your favorite race track you’ve raced on?

Being a part of the National Compact Touring Series over the past 3 years, its allowed us to go to many different tracks in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. I would have to say the best track we had a chance to go to would be Owosso Speedway. The things that the owner Rex has been doing and still doing for that track is amazing.

What kind of hobbies outside of the racecar do you have?

Outside of everything involved with the racecar, I really enjoy doing graphic design. Started in college doing sim wraps for a game called rfactor that transitioned into iRacing. I’ve had the chance to design racecars, shirts, signs and a bunch of other things for racers and business owners across the country.

Do you have a workout plan that you follow to keep yourself in top shape for race day?

Round is a shape? Honestly over the past year tho, I have tried to watch more of what I eat as I am getting older. I’m constantly walking, lifting and doing things at work so that does help keep me active.

Did you have any racing heroes growing up?

Watching Nascar with my dad growing up there wasn’t really any drivers who stuck out to be until Kasey Kahne came into NASCAR. Being younger I didn’t really follow his USAC career to know what type of racer he was but just how he carried himself in NASCAR stuck with me. Being the guy who showed respect to everyone no matter what happened on the track.

What’s your favorite racing memory?

Hands down this is the 2020 Big Dog race at Sandusky Speedway. We brought up the idea to Chris Mize to put the 3 fastest Renegades against the 3 fastest pure stocks. The weeks leading up to it, the pure stock guys were so cocky that they would win which made the outcome so much sweeter. I was the 4th fastest that night in qualifying but one of the faster guys didn’t want to run, so I got to jump into the race. We ran 6 laps and at the end I took the win with Johnny Newman right on my tail.

Do you have any racers that you are close friends with?

Clayton Oliver and his entire family have been a huge help to us since we built our touring car. They all have done so much to help us on and off the track with tips, tricks and time walking us through things on the car.

What is your greatest accomplishment in racing?

To date my best racing accomplishment came in 2007 in the karts where I won both the oval and road course championship at Fremont. Being only my 2nd year in karting (first in the oval kart), it just felt like a huge accomplishment.

What are your plans for 2025?

In 2025 we will be returning home to the big house, Sandusky Speedway! After 3 seasons with the NCTS we plan to take a break from traveling and try and focus on dialing in our car. The direction Rich Lushes is taking the open compact class looks very promising and cant wait to see what all it holds.

Anyone you want to thank for getting you here?

First and foremost I want to thank my family. My wife and kids put up with a lot of my time focused on the car. My dad for being dedicated to getting the car on the track every week, even when we have to swap a motor in the car the day before a race. All my amazing marketing partners who have stuck with us over the years. Whether we’ve been racing at Sandusky or touring they all have been there for us: The Glass Guys Sandusky, Adirondack Mobile Home Sales, Bailey’s Storage Units, The Heither family, The Hage Family, Maggs Automotive, Jim’s Auto Salvage, BK Racing, Carl Clonch. Allstar Performance. Rev X.

Do you have a regular job, and if so what do you do?

I work as a Medical Equipment Tech for Medical Service Company. For nearly 11 years now I’ve been serving the community delivery medical equipment such as oxygen, hospital beds, wheelchairs and other such equipment. These types of equipment allow people to come home from the hospital or nursing home and try and have a sense of normalcy in their own home.

What are your long term goals in racing?

We really don’t have any long term goals for our racing program. We truely just race to have fun. For now we are happy staying in the fwds, but I really want to get a championship at Sandusky at some point.