TULSA, Oklahoma -- Ultimately, the journey at the Tulsa Shootout, for the most part, is a mind struggle that builds character by pitting positivity in performance against what for almost everyone is the ultimate frustrating result.

For the team of drivers under the Kyle Beattie Racing/SKE Chassis tent, Thursday morning provided some proof of that point. 

Hunter Yeany, 19, started KBR's morning off in the Winged Outlaw competition by starting fourth and finishing a solid third in his Qualifier.  For Yeany, this was only his third full race in the car and his fourth start on a dirt track.  The road course ace gained a lot of confidence as he fell back to fifth early, then raced to third by committing to the bottom of the track and was closing in on second place for a time.  

That's the positive.  The ultimate frustrating result is that only the first two across the line transferred up to the next main.  But it was still a huge improvement for the Virginia Beach, Virginia driver, who less than a year ago won a USFPro race (Road To Indy ladder) at NOLA and now is excited to make some more starts on the dirt. 

He'll have another shot at the largest micro-sprint race in the world later this evening in the Winged "A" Class.  

Karter Beattie kept the positivity flowing in his Winged Outlaw qualifier by starting outside pole and winning the event going away. That put him in the back of the "C" Main, where he started 11th and worked his way to an 8th place finish, ending his run in that class. 

Tanner Tucker started third and finished third in his Winged Outlaw qualifier, again a solid run for an 11-year-old who has podiumed numerous times this week but in this case, third was one spot short to transfer to the next main. 

Nathan Meendering, son of JGR Xfinity Crew Chief Jeff, started pole and finished second in HIS Winged Outlaw main and bumped up to the "C" Main, a hugely successful run for the 16-year-old who has never raced anywhere but Millbridge Speedway in North Carolina. 

In the Non-Wing Outlaw division, London McKenzie started 6th in his qualifier and never really had a chance to show what his SKE Chassis could do before he got involved in two incidents including a rollover.  Although he stayed with it and drove to a valiant sixth-place finish, his weekend in that class was done. 

It was Beattie's turn to come back to the track in his Non-Wing Outlaw car.  He started fourth and finished sixth, ending his weekend in that division. 

The Winged "A" Class runs later this evening, with Beattie, Yeany, Tucker, and Meendering all looking to finish in the top two and keep their golden driller dreams alive in Tulsa.

Colt Bailey is off today but will compete in his Junior Sprint "C" Main on Friday.