Defending Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) B-Spec National Champion, Kyle Keenan of Vancouver, Washington, continued his dominance last weekend as he piloted his No. 44 Kia Rio 5-door to a pair of wins at the SCCA Western Conference Majors at Portland International Raceway (PIR). Standing atop the podium has become an increasingly common result for both Keenan and Kia, and builds on the momentum gained in 2014 when every Kia model that raced in 2014 won a National Championship in its respective series and class: Rio 5-door in the SCCA Runoffs; Forte Koup in the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Touring Car A (TCA) class; and the factory-backed Optimas in the PWC Grand Touring Sport (GTS) class.
“From grassroots efforts like Kyle Keenan in his Rio, to our factory-backed Optima program in the Pirelli World Challenge, the rapid progression of the Kia Racing program is an important element in the historic growth in both stature and sales our brand has achieved in the U.S. market,” said Tim Chaney, vice president, marketing communications, Kia Motors America (KMA). “Each Kia model is not only competing, but winning against well-established and well-known manufacturers who have been racing much longer, and racers and consumers alike have definitely taken notice.”
Keenan’s success behind the wheel of his No. 44 Rio 5-door in 2014 earned him RACER Magazine’s prestigious “Club RACER of the Year” award following his SCCA Runoffs National Championship. Looking ahead, Keenan will defend his B-Spec title at the 2015 SCCA Runoffs later this year at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Race fans can keep up-to-date with the Kia Racing team via the Kia Motors America Facebook and Instagram pages, and on Twitter @Kia.
