By Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (February 28, 2011) โ The American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region kicks off its tenth year of competition with a pair of $3,000-to-win events atop two different southeast Texas clay ovals this weekend.
On Friday night, the ASCS Gulf South Region takes to Beaumontโs Golden Triangle Raceway Park for the Prelude to the Gulf Coast Nationals, with the Fourth Annual Gulf Coast Nationals following on Saturday night at Highlandsโ Battleground Speedway.
Fridayโs card marks the first of six ASCS Gulf South tilts atop the Golden Triangle Raceway Park clay oval, with Saturdayโs Battleground action the first of three Highlands stops.
Ray Allen Kulhanek of Montgomery, TX, will kick off his defense of the ASCS Gulf South Region championship this weekend after outlasting Cluteโs Aaron Reutzel and Conroeโs Tommy Bryant for the 2010 title. It was Kulhanekโs second Gulf South title after claiming the top spot as well in 2005.
While Kulhanek reigns as defending ASCS Gulf South champion, the balance of last yearโs top ten in points included Reutzel, Bryant, two-time series champion Brandon Berryman, Travis Elliott, Chris Sweeney, Wes Miller, Scottie McDonald, Logan Bledsoe and Beau Smith with veteran contenders Greg Rilat and 2006 champion Gary Watson just outside the top ten.
Nebraskaโs Jack Dover captured the inaugural rendition of the Gulf Coast Nationals at Houston Raceway Park in 2008, Texan Gary Wright topped the Second Annual event at 105 Motor Speedway in 2009 and Missouriโs Brian Brown won the Third Annual Gulf Coast National in last yearโs return of Sprint Car racing to Battleground Speedway.
Fridayโs action at Golden Triangle Raceway Park fires off at 8:00 p.m., with Saturdayโs green flag at Battleground flying at 7:00 p.m.
Golden Triangle Raceway Park is located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 near Beaumont, TX. For more information, contact the track at 409-752-7200.
Highlandsโ high-banked, 3/8-mile Battleground Speedway dirt oval is located east of Houston off I-10 exit 787, then four miles north. For more information, contact the track at 832-421-7223.
The ASCS Gulf South Region is slated for 26 nights of racing action at ten different tracks throughout Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in 2011.
Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:
9/3/10 โ Jason Johnson
8/20/10 โ Jason Johnson
7/16/10 โ Gary Wright
6/18/10 โ Tommy Bryant
5/28/10 โ Chris Morgan
3/5/10 โ Gary Wright
10/2/09 โ Channin Tankersley
9/18/09 โ Jason Johnson
7/17/09 โ Aaron Reutzel
6/19/09 โ Travis Rilat
5/16/09 – Gary Wright
5/16/09 – Tommy Bryant (4/24 Makeup Feature)
3/6/09 – Gary Wright
8/15/08 – Channin Tankersley
7/18/08 – Gary Watson
5/9/08 – Channin Tankersley
2/29/08 – Jason Johnson
9/28/07 – Jason Johnson
6/22/07 – Michael Dupuy
5/18/07 – Brandon Berryman
4/6/07 – Jason Johnson
9/29/06 – Kevin Ramey
8/18/06 – Jason Johnson
6/23/06 – Gary Watson
8/19/05 – Ray Allen Kulhanek
6/17/05 – Ray Allen Kulhanek
4/15/05 – Travis Rilat
9/18/04 – Kelly Angelette
7/9/04 – Stephen Chevallier
* 9/28/02 – Michael Dupuy
* 9/27/02 – Tim Crawley
7/5/02 – Buddy Bodden
5/24/02 – Jason Johnson
* 4/5/02 – Zach Chappell
* – Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.
Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Battleground Speedway:
8/21/10 โ Jason Johnson
3/6/10 โ Brian Brown
The 2011 season marks the 20th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.