From Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. – The real chase begins this weekend. And the history-rich Sprint Car racing venue of Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX, will be the place.
That’s right, the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters lift off the 2010 campaign with the 37th Annual Devil’s Bowl Speedway Spring Nationals this Friday and Saturday night.
It marks the beginning of the series $60,000 championship points pursuit, with $250,000 to be divvied up among the series top 15 drivers and owners at season’s end. This weekend’s action, which includes two full nights of heat races and feature events, culminates with Saturday night’s $6,000-to-win Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals championship finale.
The weekend’s action will all be taped for later broadcast on both the VERSUS Network and MavTV.
Bixby, Oklahoma, native Shane Stewart will lead a field of 60 or so competitors into the weekend as the series’ reigning champion. Stewart topped last year’s $60,000 title race by just 25 points, edging out 2008 champ Jason Johnson.
Stewart will be back aboard Paul Silva’s Wesmar-powered No. 57 A.R.T. chassis that worked so well last year. “About the only thing that’s changed is now we have Rock Star Energy Drink on the wing,” Stewart explained.
Stewart’s title defense will be a difficult task indeed, as a plethora of contenders are ready to take aim at that top spot.
At least five more past series champions are ready for another run at the Number one ranking, including four-time kingpin Gary Wright of Hooks, TX, three-time champion Tim Crawley of Benton, AR, and single-time winners Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA), Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) and Zach Chappell (Talala, OK).
Also set to return to the Lucas Oil Sprint Car trail after taking in the full 2009 tour are Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS), Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO), Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK), Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) and Darren Long (Elida, OH).
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon and Little Rock native Ricky Logan are also set to take on the full slate of events after taking in a bulk of last year’s schedule, while rumors continue to swirl regarding the driver of the Dennis and Jeri Benjamin owned entry that Paul McMahan piloted last year.
A sturdy crop of Brodix Rookie of the Year contenders will be in the mix as well, including Oklahoma shoes Matt Covington and Dustin Morgan, California reps Kyle Hirst and Justyn Cox, New Mexico’s Joshua Hodges, Texas teens Aaron Reutzel and Channin Tankersley and Idaho’s Joe Ramaker.
Also set to return to the National trail are 2002 runner-up Michael Dupuy of Amite, LA, and 2008 Brodix Rookie of the Year Eric Baldaccini of Keller, TX.
While Stewart topped last year’s Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals preliminary main event, Louisiana’s Jason Johnson reigns as defending Spring Nationals champion after besting a field of 67 competitors in last year’s season-opener.
Other recent Spring Nationals winners include Gary Wright (2008), Jake Peters (2007) and Fort Worth’s Kevin Ramey (2006). Ramey also topped the most recent Lucas Oil Sprint Car event at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, last October’s Winter Nationals.
The Series:
Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters
When & Where:
Friday night, March 19 at 8:00 p.m. – 37th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals prelim
Saturday night, March 20 at 8:00 p.m. – 37th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals finale
Track Information:
Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – ½-mile, high-banked clay oval located six miles east of Dallas’ I-635 on I-20, then three miles north on Lawson Road. Lawson Road north of the track (and south off of US 80) has been closed for repair, so fans and racers are urged to use I-20 and then go north on Lawson. Track phone: 972-222-2421.
Lucas Oil ASCS Devil’s Bowl History:
Devil’s Bowl Speedway has been hosting the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series since 1994, with 20 different drivers scoring at least one victory in 60 feature events. Gary Wright has claimed 20 of his 126 career Lucas Oil National Sprint Car wins at Devil’s Bowl, including a Spring Nationals triumph in 2008.
Wright and Jason Johnson have had somewhat of a stranglehold on victory lane at Devil’s Bowl over the past three seasons, combining to win eleven of the last 14 features atop the storied clay oval. Only Tony Bruce, Jr. (a Spring Nationals preliminary winner in 2008), Shane Stewart (a Spring Nationals preliminary winner in 2009) and Kevin Ramey (Winter Nationals winner in 2009) have interrupted the Wright-Johnson reign of terror at Da’ Bowl.
Tony Bruce, Jr., has been passed on the final lap of the last two editions of the Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals. Wright made a last corner pass of Bruce for the win in 2008, with J. Johnson getting the best of Bruce on the final round last year.
Devil’s Bowl Lucas Oil ASCS winners include: Gary Wright 20, Jason Johnson 7, Wayne Johnson 4, Kevin Ramey 4, Danny Jennings 3, Shane Carson 2, Terry Gray 2, Garry Lee Maier 2, Mike Peters 2, Travis Rilat 2, Shane Stewart 2, Sammy Swindell 2, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Tim Crawley 1, Edd French 1, Johnny Herrera 1, Larry Neighbors 1, Alan Payne 1, Jake Peters 1, Mike Ward 1.
Devil’s Bowl Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-race Winners: Shane Carson (6/21/94), Alan Payne (5/12/95), Mike Ward (7/23/95), Mike Peters (9/1/95), Sammy Swindell (9/2/95), Sammy Swindell (9/3/95), Wayne Johnson (6/18/96), Terry Gray (7/6/96), Terry Gray (11/1/96), Johnny Herrera (11/2/96), Shane Carson (4/5/97), Wayne Johnson (6/18/97), Edd French (10/31/97), Mike Peters (11/1/97), Gary Wright (6/19/98), Gary Wright (10/3/98), Garry Lee Maier (10/4/98), Gary Wright (7/8/99), Garry Lee Maier (7/30/99), Gary Wright (10/1/99), Gary Wright (10/2/99), Gary Wright (7/21/00), Gary Wright (10/6/00), Larry Neighbors (4/20/01), Gary Wright (7/20/01), Gary Wright (10/6/01), Travis Rilat (4/19/02), Jason Johnson (6/7/02), Wayne Johnson (10/4/02), Gary Wright (10/5/02), Kevin Ramey (4/18/03), Tim Crawley (10/17/03), Gary Wright (10/18/03), Shane Stewart (10/23/04), Danny Jennings (3/18/05), Danny Jennings (3/19/05), Danny Jennings (6/9/05), Gary Wright (10/21/05), Gary Wright (10/22/05), Kevin Ramey (6/24/06 – Spring Nationals makeup feature), Kevin Ramey (6/24/06 – Summer Nationals), Gary Wright (7/13/06), Jason Johnson (10/13/06), Travis Rilat (10/14/06), Wayne Johnson (3/16/07), Jake Peters (3/17/07), Gary Wright (5/12/07), Gary Wright (7/19/07), Jason Johnson (10/12/07), Jason Johnson (10/13/07), Tony Bruce, Jr. (3/14/08), Gary Wright (3/15/08), Jason Johnson (5/10/08), Gary Wright (7/17/08), Jason Johnson (10/17/08), Gary Wright (10/18/08), Shane Stewart (3/20/09), Jason Johnson (3/21/09), Gary Wright (10/17/09), Kevin Ramey (10/19/09).
Current Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters Points:
None; First Event of 2010.
Final 2009 Driver Points: 1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 2,573, 2. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 2,548, 3. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 2,517, 4. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 2,398, 5. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 2,353, 6. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 2,307, 7. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 2,292, 8. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 2,261, 9. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 2,247, 10. Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 2,232, 11. Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 1,949, 12. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 1,848, 13. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 1,764, 14. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 1,732, 15. Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) 1,711.
2009 Lucas Oil Sprint Car Feature Winners:
Jason Johnson 4, Shane Stewart 3, Tim Crawley 2, Wayne Johnson 2, Terry McCarl 2, Travis Rilat 2, Sammy Swindell 2, Gary Wright 2, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Roger Crockett 1, Jack Dover 1, Tim Kaeding 1, Kevin Ramey 1. Speedweek winners; Tony Bruce, Jr., Zach Chappell, Tim Crawley, Nick Smith and Gary Wright.
Lucas Oil Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:
April 9 – Lone Star Speedway (Kilgore, TX)
April 10 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)
April 23/24 – Riverside Speedway (West Memphis, AR) – VERSUS/MavTV
Lucas Oil Sprint Cars on the Web:
Those unable to catch all the action in person can listen to every Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters live at www.racinboys.com.
Also, the Lucas Oil ASCS Show airs on www.racinboys.com each Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET, recapping the previous week’s events while also previewing upcoming action.
Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.
Lucas Oil Sprint Cars on TV:
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in ten one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network and MavTV.
Events to be aired on VERSUS and MavTV include the following:
Event Date – Track (Location)
March 19 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX)
March 20 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX)
April 23 – Riverside Speedway (W. Memphis, AR)
April 24 – Riverside Speedway (W. Memphis, AR)
June 11 – Eagle Raceway (Eagle, NE)
June 12 – Eagle Raceway (Eagle, NE)
September 25 – Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO)
October 28 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)
October 29 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)
October 30 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for 37 nights of racing action at 18 different tracks throughout the nation, with the country’s top Sprint Car drivers set to battle it out for their share of the $250,000 points fund.
In its 19th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing, the American Sprint Car Series brings the best of Sprint Car racing to approximately 100 different tracks throughout 30 states and Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of eleven different Regions throughout the nation.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.