By Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (July 11, 2011) – Following an idle weekend to recuperate from a busy three-day Fourth of July weekend triple, the Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region fires back into action with a pair of south Texas events this weekend.
On Friday night, the series takes to Beaumont’s Golden Triangle Raceway Park for the sixth of seven scheduled 2011 stops. Then, on Saturday night, the series moves on to Willis’ Gator Motorplex for the second time in 2011.
With 16 nights of action in the books and just 11 remaining, the title chase is still very much up in the air as Fort Worth’s George White holds a meager two-point advantage over two-time and defending champion Ray Allen Kulhanek.
Kulhanek extended his advantage to 27 markers over White after the second night of the Fourth of July weekend triple, only to surrender the lead after a 12th-place finish in the weekend finale.
Still within striking distance in third behind White and Kulhanek is Tommy Bryant, just 53 points out of the lead as he looks to extend his streak of 97 consecutive ASCS Gulf South events competed-in.
Chris Sweeney enters the weekend ranked fourth, with Channin Tankersley rounding out the current top five. Tankersley has topped two of the last three Gulf South events at Golden Triangle.
The balance of the current top ten includes Aaron Reutzel, Travis Elliott, Brandon Berryman (101 Gulf South events in a row), Greg Rilat and Beau Smith, with the likes of Gary Watson, Michael McNeil, Chris Coker, Larry Howery and Klint Angelette among others just outside the top ten.
Friday’s action at Golden Triangle Raceway Park fires off at 8:00 p.m., with Saturday’s green flag at the Gator Motorplex 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.
The Gator Motorplex is located in Willis, TX, off I-45 Exit 98 (Shepherd Hill exit), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75. For more information, contact the track at 936-588-6127.
The Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region is slated for 28 nights of racing action at eleven different tracks throughout Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in 2011.
Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:
6/17/11 – Channin Tankersley
5/27/11 – Gary Wright
5/13/11 – Channin Tankersley
4/15/11 – Ray Allen Kulhanek
3/4/11 – Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
9/3/10 – Jason Johnson
8/20/10 – Jason Johnson
7/16/10 – Gary Wright
6/18/10 – Tommy Bryant
5/28/10 – Chris Morgan
3/5/10 – Gary Wright
10/2/09 – Channin Tankersley
9/18/09 – Jason Johnson
7/17/09 – Aaron Reutzel
6/19/09 – 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 Gator Motorplex:
5/28/11 – Gary Wright
9/4/10 – Jason Johnson
5/29/10 – Kent Lewis, Jr.
5/23/09 – Skip Wilson
3/28/09 – Jason Johnson
7/19/08 – Tommy Bryant
5/24/08 – Chris Sweeney
9/16/06 – Brad Best
5/27/06 – Chris Sweeney
10/8/05 – Travis Rilat
4/16/05 – Scottie McDonald
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.