KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? Lawrence’s Larry Sinks traveled Thursday to the Kansas Speedway to let one of his friends borrow a car for the weekend.

In return, Sink’s well-connected racing buddy hooked him up with the ride of a lifetime.

Sinks, the owner of Victory Sportswear, 721 E. Ninth St., took two laps around the 1.5-mile tri-oval Speedway in a two-seater IndyCar as part of the Indy Racing Experience. Sinks’ friend landed him a demonstration ride, sometimes reserved for members of the media before racing events.

“It was awesome,” Sinks said of his spin in the Dallara-built car powered by a 680-horsepower Menard engine. “It was a dream scenario.”

Sinks — an avid racing fan, particularly of the Indy Racing League — joked the car only was slightly faster than his daily driver, a Ford Expedition.

“It sat just a little lower,” Sinks said, “and, OK, went a lot faster.”

Sinks marveled at the way the Firestone tires gripped the track instead of letting the $650,000 ride slide up or down the steep embankment.

“People that have never driven a car like that can’t imagine the grip the tires have,” Sinks said. “I know it kind of sounds weird, but it’s actually pretty cool.”

Sinks, who drove a NASCAR stock car at the Dale Jarrett driving school a couple years ago, said the IRL car was a lot faster.

“It created a lot more G-force than the stock car,” Sinks said. “We got the IRL car up to 175 mph, where I think I went 150 in the stock car.”

Lawrence's Larry Sinks is strapped into an Indy Racing League two-seater for a special ride at Kansas Speedway. A racing-industry friend hooked Sinks up with the ride Thursday in Kansas City, Kan. The IRL's Argent Mortgage 300 is scheduled for Sunday at the Speedway.

Despite the thrill of the ride in the 1,650-pound Dallara, Sinks said his ultimate rush at a race track came two decades ago.

“I think it was 1983, but I got to drive a miniature car around Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Sinks said. “That was the thrill of my life.”

Not that Thursday’s speed session was any slouch.

“I absolutely loved it,” Sinks said. “The only seat that would have been better was the one the driver was sitting in up front.”

• Rain out: Dennis Setzer’s reign atop the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points lead helped him when torrential rains washed out Friday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 qualifying and practice sessions at the Kansas Speedway.

Based on Truck Series rules, Setzer’s No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado will start on the pole at today’s 167-lap race, which is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

Lawrence's Larry Sinks, right, gets tips from Scott Jasek before Sinks' ride in an Indy Racing League car. Sinks took the test ride Thursday at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

“This is the first time I have been the points leader and in a position to start the race from the pole as the points leader,” said Setzer, who holds a 131-point lead over No. 2 starter Carl Edwards.

Setzer said he was comfortable with his Morgan Dollar Motorsports team.

“We are honestly hoping for no practice,” he said. “We feel like we are ready to unload and go fast right now.”

Edwards — a Columbia, Mo., native who finished second at the Speedway last season — said it would be a dream for him to have success near his hometown.

“This is as close to a home track as I get,” said Edwards, who was runner-up to teammate Jon Wood at the 1.5-mile tri-oval track in 2003. “This would be an unbelievable place to win a race for me.”

• Third time’s a charm: Friday’s rains secured Thiago Medeiros his third consecutive pole in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series. In today’s Aventis Racing for Kids 100, he’s gunning for his third straight win. The race is scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m.

“The car was feeling really good,” said Medeiros, who posted the day’s top time of 28.9307 at 189.142 mph in a rain-shortened practice session.

“I was really comfortable in the draft and by myself. I’m happy with the pole and confident for tomorrow.”

• Moving on up: Patrick Racing announced Friday that Jeff Simmons would take over for the recently retired Al Unser Jr.

The 27-year-old Simmons finished second last season in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series, scoring 10 top-10 finishes.

Simmons, the only two-time winner of the Barber Dodge Pro Series, will race the No. 20 Patrick Racing Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone in Sunday’s Argent Mortgage 300.