10/27/2014
ASCS
Weekend Rewind: American Sprint Car Series
TULSA, Okla. (October 27, 2014) - The 27th running of the COMPcams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tire gave fans plenty to talk about this past weekend. Along with the action in Little Rock, Ark. the drama was also thick in Arizona as the ASCS Southwest Region took on the Arizona Speedway for the final time this season.
Race count on the season stands at 158 to make 189 sanctioned events for the American Sprint Car Series with 72 winners across 305cid and 360cid competition. To this point, 617 drivers have taken part in at least one ASCS sanctioned event in 2014.
The Winners:
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
• Aaron Reutzel (STN Open) - A much needed win for Aaron Reutzel, the Clute, Texas driver pocketed $2,000 and guaranteed a provisional into Saturday's $15,000 to win Short Track Nationals finale. The win was Reutzel's third in an as many races at the I-30 Speedway.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
• Brian Brown (STN) - Having not made the cut at the Short Track Nationals since 2010, Brian Brown races his way into the show in dramatic fashion with a last lap, last corner pass on Aaron Reutzel.
Friday, October 24, 2014
• Christopher Bell (STN) - Working around Matt Covington on Lap 16, Christopher Bell secured his 23rd victory of the season and third with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real on the season. The win secured Bell's third trip to Saturday's $15,000 to win feature. The win was also Bell's first with the National Tour at the I-30 Speedway.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
• Mike Rux, Jr. (Southwest) - Leading start to finish, Mike Rux, Jr. parked his No. 22 in Victory Lane at the Arizona Speedway just outside Phoenix on Saturday night. Even better, the night's feature saw an increased payout, awarding Rux $2,000 for his first ASCS score.
• Christopher Bell (STN) - Runner-up the past two years, Christopher Bell bagged season victory No. 24, and for the first time the title of Champion at the Short Track Nationals. In Victory Lane, Bell said the win was the highest paying night of his racing career.
News and Notes:
• Congratulations Brandon - Due to an injury sustained at the Battleground Speedway, Brandon Berryman couldn't make the trip to the I-30 Speedway to enjoy watching his No. 31 grab the win, but he was in Victory Lane thanks to an iPhone and FaceTime. Congratulations Brandon, we hope to see you back at the track soon.
• Battle to Brawl - There were a few instances over the course of the Short Track Nationals that ended up with a few hard hits. Battling for the final transfer to Saturday's A-Feature on Thursday night, Tim Crawley and Jerrod Hull came together with Hull going upside down. Out the car in a hurry, the pair ended up on the ground to settle their disagreement. Both walked away from the incident unhappy, but not hurt. Fast forward to Friday night, and the final transfer out of a B-Feature turned ugly as Eric Riggins, Jr. went up and over the No. 17w of Harli White. Riggins was soon introduced to Harli's Father, Charlie. Putting Harli into Saturday's Last Chance Qualifiers, she was awarded the Josh Howard Determination Award by I-30 Speedway officials.
• Photo Finish - Thursday's A-Feature looked to be well in hand for Aaron Reutzel. That was until a restart with two laps to run pitted Reutzel against Brian Brown. Protecting the bottom groove, Brown had no choice but to rail the I-30 Speedway. Getting a fantastic run on the final lap into turns three and four, Brown was all throttle off the cushion to edge out Reutzel by maybe two feet at the line.
• STN Rookie - It's hard to imagine the word "Rookie" associated with Shane Golobic, but the Fremont, California ace earned the title Rookie of the Year for the 2014 Short Track Nationals of the Sparks Motorsports No. 91.
• Tires Always Win - The infield tires at the I-30 Speedway are famous. They are big, white, and don't move no matter how hard you hit them, and there are plenty of the oversized beasts lining the bottom line. Over the course of the weekend, several drivers tested the tires, but none harder than Taylor Tidmore. Battling in a Heat Race during the STN Open, Tidmore found the highline blocked exiting turn four, sending the No. 32b into the turn-one tires with incredible force. Breaking the front of the car off, Tidmore's family owned No. 13 was called into action for the rest of the weekend.
• On the Podium - Taking a look at the STN finishes, only one driver placed on the podium three times. Taking into account that anyone can compete in the STN Open, Aaron Reutzel picked off the win Wednesday night, finished runner up on his qualifying night, and was second to Christopher Bell on Saturday night. In fact, since Saturday at the Devil's Bowl Winter Nationals, every night Aaron Reutzel has been on the docket has resulted in a podium finish.
• First Win - Mike Rux, Jr. picked up his first win in ASCS competition this past Saturday night at the Arizona Speedway. Mike's best finish of the year to that point was fifth at the Tucson International Raceway on May 3.
• First Time Starters - Saturday night in Little Rock saw seven first time starters. In order by starting position, the first timers included: Dalton Davis (6th), Shawn Dancer (7th), Alex Sewell (8th), Gary Taylor (10th), A.J. Bruns (15th), Jerod Roller (17th), and Dusty Zomer (19th).
Coming Up:
Leaving the final week of October open as a just in case rain date for the STN, the final stretch for the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real takes the National Tour to the southwest for four nights of racing in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Kicking off Friday, November 7 at the El Paso Speedway Park in El Paso, Texas, the following night will be at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M.
The 2014 Season Finale takes place at the Cocopah Speedway in Yuma, Ariz. on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15. The Friday prelim pays $5,000 to win, while the season's final event will pay $10,000 to win.
Tickets for the El Paso Speedway Park can be purchased online at http://www.ascsracing.com. Tickets for the Cocopah Speedway can be found at http://www.cocopahspeedway.com.
For a complete listing of ASCS events in 2014, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
The 2014 season marks the twenty-third year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, which brings the best of Sprint Car racing to dozens of different tracks throughout the nation. Anchored by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV include: Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, iON Camera, Smokey Mountain Moonshine, C&R Radiator, Hawk Performance Products, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, and General Tire.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, KSE Racing Products, SpeedMart, Competition Suspension, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Saldana Racing Products, Maxwell Industries, Print Place, Simpson, The Joie of Seating, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley's Racing Products, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection Systems.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com as well as Twitter (@LucasOilASCS) and Facebook. News and information can also be sent to you with the ASCS E-News by texting ASCS to 22828 with any mobile device.
Submitted By: Bryan Hulbert
