Gene Kirila
Name: Gene Kirila
Car Number: 11
Birthdate: February 14, 1993
Resides: Heritage, PA
Gene Kirila has been an active racer for 10 seasons starting his competitive career in Go Karts at the age of seven.
By 2005, Kirila had mastered the karting world and was ranked No. 1 on dirt surfaces and No. 2 on asphalt by the World Karting Association. The ‘Kirila Gorilla’ made the jump to Legends cars in 2005 and by 2007 was winning major events in the Summer Shootout Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In all, the then 14-year-old won five Legends features that year and the Pennsylvania State Semi-Pro Legends Championship.
A switch to the Late Model ranks followed in 2008 and in 2009, Kirila wheeled a David Stremme-owned American Speed Association Late Model in five events scoring two Top-10 finishes. Kirila also worked on and drove a big block dirt modified in 2008 learning valuable car control.
This season, Kirila hopes to roll on to bigger and better things through his new Pro and Super Late Model association with Gresham Motorsports.
"This is a huge opportunity for me," said Kirila, a Hermitage, PA native who will be a senior high school student in the fall. "To be in equipment this good is a lifetime opportunity for me. Last year, I had an excellent car with David Stremme Racing, but I didn’t get to run that many races. They kept me practicing and the 'Gorilia' was caged. This year, I am ready to race with Gresham Motorsports. I think the expectation is high for going out and running well."