From Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (May 24, 2011) – It’s been several weeks since the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National series has seen action. But, after one more spurt of Regional action this weekend that includes an unprecedented slate of 16 events throughout the nation, the spotlight shifts back to the National scene over the next pair of weekends.
The Lucas Oil National Sprint Cars pick right back up where they left off with a card next Saturday night, June 4, at Little Rock’s I-30 Speedway before moving on to Nebraska’s Eagle Raceway the following weekend, June 10-11, for the prestigious Eagle Nationals which will be taped for later broadcast on the VERSUS Network.
With the Third Annual Rock ‘N Roll 50 flooded out earlier this month at West Memphis’ Riverside International Speedway, the series last saw action at I-30 Speedway on April 15-16 where Jeff Swindell parked a Roush/Yates Ford in ASCS National victory lane for the first time and then Gary Wright snapped a victory drought by becoming the eighth different series winner in as many events thus far in 2011.
The June 4 card at I-30 Speedway will mark Round Nine in the $60,000 championship chase, with Rounds Ten and Eleven at Eagle Raceway the following weekend. Only five National nights had been completed prior to the I-30 and Eagle June weekends of 2010.
Since the last National card at I-30 in mid-April, the National forces have busied themselves in different ways. Current points leader Shane Stewart has pulled Posse cash from the URC ranks, reigning champion Jason Johnson has added three Regional scores in Lone Star and Gulf South action, Johnny Herrera has picked off a pair of Southwest wins in Arizona, Jeff Swindell has turned circles in his West Memphis playground at Riverside including a May 7 win versus the local shoes, Tim Crawley snared a May 14 win at I-30, Aaron Reutzel, Seth Bergman and Zach Chappell have each competed closer to home in Regional action, Brady Bacon posted a Lone Star runner-up run at Cowtown before chasing storms to turn a few wingless laps, Logan Forler plucked an Eagle win, Dustin Morgan has tried I-30, Tony Bruce, Jr., has made random appearances and Gary Wright has tried to stock up on parts for the long haul.
The winner of USA Raceway’s Copper on Dirt in February, Shane Stewart holds the early advantage as he tries to claim his second Lucas Oil National Sprint Car championship. Shane is most closely pursued by a quartet of veteran contenders that includes Johnny Herrera, Jeff Swindell, Tim Crawley and Gary Wright. A host of youngsters are right in the mix too including Brady Bacon, Seth Bergman and Aaron Reutzel before a pair of tenured series veterans that complete the top ten, Tony Bruce, Jr., and Zach Chappell.
Meanwhile, Jason Johnson is outside the top ten looking in after finishing off Aussie duty in February, though the JJR No. 41 entry is just two points off Stewart’s Paul Silva-owned No. 57 in the owner portion of the chase.
In last year’s June event, Brady Bacon picked off third career ASCS National event. One weekend later at the Eagle Nationals, Danny Wood snared preliminary honors before Jason Johnson picked off his first series win of the year en route to a second Lucas Oil ASCS National championship.
Johnson is among this year’s eight feature winners with a Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals triumph on March 25, though Bacon and Wood both look to add their names to the 2011 list of victors that includes Stewart, Johnson, Herrera, Swindell, Wright, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Tim Kaeding and Kyle Larson.
Others vying for a first Lucas Oil ASCS National win of 2011 include the likes of Tim Crawley, Zach Chappell and Tony Bruce, Jr., each of whom has enjoyed series success at I-30 Speedway in recent years.
The Series:
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters
When & Where:
Saturday night, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. – I-30 Speedway
Friday night, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. – Eagle Raceway
Saturday night, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. – Eagle Raceway
Track Information:
I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR) – ¼-mile high-banked clay oval located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Rd.), then south to frontage road, then east. For more information, contact the track at 501-455-4567 or check http://www.i-30speedway.com/.
Eagle Raceway (Eagle, NE) – 1/3-mile high-banked clay oval located off I-80 Exit 420, then 11 miles south to SR 63, then west. For more information, contact 402-238-2595 or check www.tbjpromotions.com for ticket info.
Lucas Oil ASCS I-30 Speedway History:
A staple of the ASCS National Series, I-30 Speedway hosted the first official ASCS National event on May 15, 1993, with Memphis shoe Mike Ward dropping in on victory lane. Since that time, 21 different drivers have posted at least one ASCS National win in the 52 events contested at I-30.
Gary Wright has enjoyed the most success at I-30 with 13 triumphs, including one in the April 16 event that snapped a National victory drought that dated back to October of 2009 for “The Texan”.
Last year there were five different winners in as many Lucas Oil Sprint Car features at I-30 Speedway until Brad Sweet made it two wins in as many nights with a $15,000 triumph in the track’s 23rd Annual Short Track Nationals.
Two of last year’s features ran off in non-stop, 35-lap fashion, including a Zach Chappell triumph on April 10 and a Tim Crawley win on August 28. Others winners at I-30 last year included Brady Bacon (June 5) and then Sam Hafertepe, Jr., (October 28) on the opening night of the Short Track Nationals.
Jeff Swindell won this April’s preliminary feature before Wright rediscovered his winning ways atop I-30 clay.
I-30 Speedway Lucas Oil ASCS National winners include: Gary Wright 13, Tim Crawley 5, Garry Lee Maier 4, Terry Gray 3, Jason Johnson 3, Wayne Johnson 3, Mike Ward 3, Tony Bruce, Jr. 2, Travis Rilat 2, Shane Stewart 2, Brad Sweet 2, Brady Bacon 1, Pete Butler 1, Zach Chappell 1, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 1, Ricky Logan 1, Jason Meyers 1, Eric Sandage 1, Tim Shaffer 1, Nick Smith 1, Jeff Swindell 1.
I-30 Speedway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-Race Winners: Mike Ward (5/15/93), Tim Crawley (6/24/93), Terry Gray (7/17/93), Garry Lee Maier (6/18/94), Garry Lee Maier (8/13/94), Terry Gray (5/20/95), Ricky Logan (6/24/95), Gary Wright (7/15/95), Mike Ward (5/18/96), Garry Lee Maier (6/15/96), Garry Lee Maier (8/3/96), Mike Ward (5/17/97), Gary Wright (6/14/97), Wayne Johnson (9/26/97), Wayne Johnson (9/27/97), Gary Wright (5/16/98), Terry Gray (6/13/98), Eric Sandage (8/25/01), Pete Butler (6/22/02), Gary Wright (7/13/02), Gary Wright (9/21/02), Gary Wright (6/21/03), Tim Crawley (7/12/03), Shane Stewart (9/6/03), Gary Wright (6/5/04), Travis Rilat (7/10/04), Gary Wright (8/28/04), Tim Crawley (6/11/05), Gary Wright (7/9/05), Travis Rilat (10/1/05), Jason Johnson (7/29/06), Jason Johnson (4/28/07), Gary Wright (7/14/07), Shane Stewart (10/25/07), Tim Shaffer (10/26/07), Jason Meyers (10/27/07), Nick Smith (4/26/08), Gary Wright (7/12/08), Gary Wright (10/23/08), Tim Crawley (10/24/08), Tony Bruce, Jr. (10/25/08), Wayne Johnson (11/5/09), Jason Johnson (11/6/09), Tony Bruce, Jr. (11/7/09), Zach Chappell (4/10/10), Brady Bacon (6/5/10), Tim Crawley (8/28/10), Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (10/28/10), Brad Sweet (10/29/10), Brad Sweet (10/30/10), Jeff Swindell (4/15/11), Gary Wright (4/16/11).
Lucas Oil ASCS Eagle Raceway History:
Eagle Raceway became the 110th different track to host an ASCS National event with last year’s Eagle Nationals. After Danny Wood broke back into Lucas Oil ASCS National victory lane with a win in the preliminary feature, Jason Johnson posted his first series win of the year in the Eagle Nationals championship feature event.
Eagle Raceway Lucas Oil ASCS National winners include: Jason Johnson 1, Danny Wood 1.
Eagle Raceway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-Race Winners: Danny Wood (6/11/10), Jason Johnson (6/12/11).
Current 2011 Points:
Top 15 Driver Points: 1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 1,072, 2. Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) 962, 3. Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN) 956, 4. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 890, 5. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 881, 6. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 854, 7. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 844, 8. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 793, 9. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 790, 10. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 745, 11. Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA) 707, 12. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 690, 13. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX) 544, 14. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 518, 15. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 454.
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters Owner Points (Top 15): 1. Paul Silva #57 – 1,072, 2. Jason Johnson Racing #41 – 1,070, 3. Herrera/Main #45x – 962, 4. Swindell Group #28 – 956, 5. Mike Ward #88 – 890, 6. Bacon/Tel-Star #99 – 854, 7. Petersen Motorsports #23 844, 8. Kenny Reutzel #87 – 793, 9. Bruce Racing #18 – 790, 10. Cooper/Sperry #01/51 – 774, 11. Randy Washburn #0 – 745, 12. Steve Forler #2L – 707, 13. M&M Motorsports #2 – 690 14. Sam Hafertepe #15 – 544, 15. Danny Wood #81 – 454.
Brodix Rookie of the Year Points: 1. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 793, 2. Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA) 707, 3. Justin Carver (Millington, TN) 325.
2011 Feature Winners:
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series: Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 1, Johnny Herrera 1, Jason Johnson 1, Tim Kaeding 1, Kyle Larson 1, Shane Stewart 1, Jeff Swindell 1, Gary Wright 1.
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:
July 9 – I-90 Speedway (Hartford, SD)
July 15 – Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA)
July 16 – Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA) – VERSUS
July 22 – Cottage Grove Speedway (Cottage Grove, OR) – VERSUS
July 23 – Cottage Grove Speedway (Cottage Grove, OR) – VERSUS
July 29 – Placerville Speedway (Placerville, CA)
July 30 – Placerville Speedway (Placerville, CA)
August 4/6 – 21st Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals (Knoxville, IA)
Lucas Oil ASCS 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.
Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.
Lucas Oil ASCS on TV:
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in nine one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network and MavTV.
The full schedule according to www.motorsportshour.com is as follows:
Thunderbowl Raceway (Feb. 9) – 4/23/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Kings Speedway (Feb. 12) – 5/7/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
USA Raceway (Feb. 18) – 5/29/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
USA Raceway (Feb. 19) – 6/5/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Eagle Raceway (June 10) – 9/11/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Eagle Raceway (June 11) – 9/18/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Grays Harbor Raceway (July 16) – 10/30/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Cottage Grove Speedway (July 22) – 11/6/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Cottage Grove Speedway (July 23) – TBA
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for 37 nights of racing action at 15 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.
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.