Individual time trials begin today

There will be a lot of Ricky Bobby wannabes Wednesday at the Bill Armstrong Stadium. Everyone just wants to ride fast.

The individual time trials open the spring racing series for the Little 500. The event, which begins at 4 p.m. today, features each rider in a four-lap race against the clock.

And just like Will Ferrell’s character in “Talladega Nights,” the riders participating in the time trials have simple goals.

“Honestly, it’s ride as fast as you can for as long as you can,” Kappa Delta junior Jennifer Balbach said.

From a standing start on the bike, four riders are pitted in each corner of the track for the four-lap race. More than 300 men and women riders are scheduled to race throughout the evening.

The event favors sprinters, and several top finishers from last year plan to participate.

On the women’s side, everyone will be chasing Wing It senior Kristi Hewitt, who won the 2008 event with a time of 2:36.66.

“The only person that would really enjoy the ITTs is Kristi Hewitt,” said Julie Panzica, Kappa Delta senior and last year’s 12th-place finisher.

While Hewitt said the time trials are one of her strengths, it does not mean the event is the one she enjoys the most.

“I don’t know how anyone can enjoy something so grueling and painful,” she said.

Hewitt’s competition includes Balbach, Panzica, last year’s third-place finisher, and Teter teammates Caitlin Van Kooten and Jackie Moeller.

The Teter team members will try to match Saturday’s qualifying run, in which they set a Little 500 qualifying record. Last year, Teter members took five of the top 11 spots in the time trials.

For the men, only three of the top 10 finishers in last year’s event are participating. Phi Delta Theta junior Nick Sovinski has the top returning time, a 2:22.49 that gave him a second-place finish in 2008.

While his team won the pole position March 28 for the upcoming Little 500, Sovinski’s sights remain set on the final race.

“The entire team is looking forward to Wednesday,” Sovinski said, “and will use it as another stepping stone towards reaching our ultimate goal April 25.”

Cutters teammates sophomore Eric Young and senior Clayton Feldman are the only other top-10 finishers from last year.

The event directly impacts the remaining spring series races, including Saturday’s Miss-N-Out. The seeding for Saturday’s event is based on the times from the individual time trials.

Balbach said the race sets the pace for the rest of the spring.

“It’s a really good confidence booster to know you’re one of the top riders,” she said. “And it definitely gives you more confidence in the actual race.”