Rookie Adam Hilton Set For Open Wheel Showdown

LAS VEGAS — A quick look at the BITNILE.com Open Wheel Showdown Presented by askROI winged sprint car entry list reveals a little-known driver from Brighton, Colorado.

Adam Hilton has filed an entry and plans to participate in his very first OWS Nov. 6-8 at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Hilton’s story is an intriguing one. There’s a reason fans may be unfamiliar with him. He’s a rookie. And when we say rookie, he’s a rookie in every sense.

The OWS has quickly become the biggest pavement sprint car race in the country in terms of car count and prize money. Teams annually migrate from all over the country in hopes of taking home the $50,000 first-place prize.

Every driver has self-imposed goals of what they hope to accomplish during the weekend in Las Vegas. Hilton is no different.

The 42-year-old Hilton might have the toughest job ahead of him compared to others. Not only is he a sprint car rookie, but he only has five career starts dating back to last season, and they have all come at Colorado National Speedway in Dacono, Colorado.

What he lacks in track time and set-up experience, he more than makes up for it with enthusiasm, passion and lofty goals.

His love for sprint cars began as a kid in 1995.

“I was riding my bicycle as a kid in 1995. This guy in my neighborhood, Craig Shaeffer, started his sprint car down the street by my house” recalled Hilton. “I chased that thing with my bicycle. I ended up being on his ASCS championship team in 1996 after that. I wasn’t more than 10 or 11 years old.”

After a career that included super stocks and late models, Hilton bought a sprint car in 2024.

“After a late model race a couple years ago. I was having a beer with Cris Muhler. He was telling me about this new non-wing sprint car series that was starting. He said, ‘I’ll sell you that sprint car in my back yard for $4,000.’ A guy I was crewing on a late model for had an all-aluminum engine sitting in the shop. He told me to take it and put it in the car. The whole thing just started coming together from there even though we didn’t race that car.

“Then a friend of mine, Steve Lacy’s dad, had a sprint car,” Hilton added. “He had the passion to race again but Steve didn’t have the passion to drive again. Low and behold enough people came together and purchased the Beast for me that they had for sale.”

In a career that has so far included only four winged shows at CNS, he proudly points out he has made the A-main all four times with fields of nearly 30 cars.

“My third time out was a non-winged race at the same track. I got quick time,” Hilton explained. “I was second in my heat race. In the feature event, I was taking the lead and spun out. I got a flat, spun out, and couldn’t get it fixed. Made both A-mains gain this year at CNS during the fourth of July weekend.”

Now Hilton prepares to take on a field of some of the best winged pavement sprint car drivers in the country.

“This sprint car venture has kind of given me a drive in life and rejuvenated my passion for racing,” Hilton said. “Driving a sprint car has always been on my bucket-list. I’ve always dreamed of doing this and it’s happening.

“When I told everybody I wanted to do Las Vegas, everyone pretty much told me it’s way above where we’re at. I said, ‘who says I can’t do it?’ I looked at the roster and thought I’ve raced ahead of a lot of these guys already.

“I’m no Aaron Willison, but I’ve already beaten a bunch of these guys. I’ve never driven a lap on the Bullring, but I’ve watched races there.

“Steve Lacy has helped me acquire some pieces and components for the car. I think we now have something I can make the main event with.

“My goal is to make the A-main, which I feel I can,” Hilton noted. “But the racer in me wants to go out and win it. I know I’ll have my work cut out for me and this won’t be an easy task. but the competitive part of me likes challenges. I’m looking forward to it.”