Klendworth Tames the Desert, Closes Points Gap with Dominant Phoenix Win

Phoenix, AZ — Kyle Klendworth reminded the field exactly why he’s the only champion in ISRA Open Wheel Series history, delivering a composed and calculated drive at Phoenix Raceway on April 15th to secure his third win of the season in Round 11 of the Sim Gaming Expo Open Wheel Series.

Matt Taylor brought the field to green from the pole and wasted no time asserting control, leading the opening 36 laps while trying to extend his 31-point advantage over Klendworth. Early on, it looked like Taylor might drive away from the field, but as the laps clicked off, the race began to shift from raw pace into a strategy-heavy contest, with drivers stretching their fuel windows well beyond the projected two-stop race in the Dallara IR18.

The first major shake-up came just past the halfway mark when Chris Stofer worked his way to the lead around lap 51, briefly taking control of the race and putting pressure on Taylor. But that momentum came to an abrupt halt after Stofer was issued a black flag for speeding on pit exit, dropping him out of contention and reshuffling the fight at the front.

That opening was all Kyle Klendworth needed. Pitting early in the green-flag cycle around lap 55, Klendworth executed a textbook undercut, maximizing clean air and leapfrogging Taylor once the pit sequence played out. From that point forward, Klendworth controlled the race, managing the gap while the field behind him struggled with tire wear and a tightening racing groove.

As the final laps wound down, both Klendworth and Taylor found themselves flirting with the limits, each brushing the “blue wall” while searching for grip on a surface that had become increasingly difficult to pass on. Taylor later noted the track had narrowed to essentially one lane, making any late-race charge nearly impossible once track position was lost.

At the checkered flag, Klendworth crossed the line just 0.7 seconds ahead of Taylor, sealing a critical victory in the championship fight. David Sirois completed the podium in third, opting for a conservative approach throughout the run as he battled a loose condition and focused on bringing the car home clean.

Just behind the podium, Alex Guyon delivered a steady and consistent performance to finish fourth, while Mike Rigney turned in one of the drives of the race, slicing through the field from last place to secure a fifth-place finish on the lead lap. Further back, Mason Mitchum showed resilience after early contact with the wall forced repairs, but despite returning to the track, his night ultimately ended in the pits.

In victory lane, Klendworth reflected on the balance battle he faced early in the run, joking, “First lap I was too loose. Second lap I was too tight. Third lap—just right,” a lighthearted summary of a night where adjustments and execution made all the difference. Despite the win, Klendworth knows there’s still work to be done as he continues to chip away at Taylor’s points lead.

For Taylor, a second-place finish keeps him firmly in control of the championship picture, maintaining a strong margin as the season begins to wind down. With only a handful of races remaining, every position continues to matter in the fight for the Season 3 title.

The series now heads to Kentucky Speedway next Wednesday at 9:15 p.m. ET, where the high-speed oval will present a very different challenge as the battle between Taylor and Klendworth continues to build toward its conclusion.