PETERSEN MEDIA
– Over a bust holiday week, Tony Bruce, Jr and his one8 Motorsports team continued their string of top-ten finishes as they posted three more last week, and vaulted up to fifth in the championship point standings.
Action kicked off on Tuesday night as TBJ stopped in at the US 36 Raceway in Cameron, MO for the inaugural running of the US 36 Nationals, an event he also promoted.
The night didn’t get off to the greatest start for Bruce, as he wasn’t able to capitalize on his front row starting spot and fell all the way back to the fourth spot, sending him to the B.
Winning the B, Bruce lined his Hincman Racewear/Pro Auto/Oil Medics No. 18 machine up in the 17th spot for the 30-lap finale.
In the feature, TBJ got his elbows up as used several bold slide jobs to fight his way up to the eighth spot at the finish and earn the Pit Stop USA Hard Charger award.
“We were not good in the heat, and we paid for it the rest of the night,” he said. “We were pretty good in the A, and really had to get up on the wheel to make some passes and get moving forward.”
The series returned to action on Friday as they made an appearance at the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapid, IA, a venue TBJ was victorious at earlier this season.
This time taking advantage of his front row heat race start, TBJ picked up with the win and put his machine in the redraw, where he would pull the three.
Grabbing the third spot as the race got underway, TBJ pressured second running, Stu Snyder, for the first three laps until he was able to get his Butlerbuilt/Factory Kahne/Randy’s Racing Filters around Snyder on the fourth lap as he set his sights on race leader, Jason Johnson.
Entering lapped traffic on the 10th circuit, Bruce would close in on Johnson, but wasn’t able to seriously get up to him and challenge for the lead, as he settled for the runner up spot.
“Jason was pretty good tonight, and was tough tonight,” said TBJ. “I was happy to see a late race caution, but we had a lapped car in between us and he was able to walk away in clean air.”
Saturday night Bruce closed out his week by stopping in at I 90 Speedway in Hartford, SD.
Starting seventh in his heat, a fifth place effort wasn’t enough to transfer directly to the show, and TBJ was forced to run his second B of the week.
Again picking up the win, TBJ nearly turned in an identical performance to Tuesday as he started in the ninth row and charged his way all the way up to the eighth spot where he earned the Pitstopusa.com Hard Charger Award for the second time of the week.
“We started deep in our heat and ended up having to run through the B,” he said. “We were good all night, and came out with another top-ten and jumped up to fifth in the points.”
Bruce would like to thank all of his sponsors, Hinchman Racewear, Pro Auto, The Oil Medics, Smileys, SWE, Maxwell Industries, FK Rod Ends, Butlerbuilt, Factory Kahne Shocks, Randy’s Racing Filters, DriversWebsites.com, Racinboys.com, Wilwood, Zemco Headers, Hoosier Tires, Gaerte Engines, Pro Powder Coating, Fuel Safe, Bell, Weld Wheels, and ISC Racer’s Tape for their support through the 2012 season.
ON TAP: TBJ and the one8 motorsports team will continue to head west as they are next in action at the Electric City Speedway in Montana on Wednesday, July 11th.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay updated with TBJ by visiting his website at
www.tonybrucejr.com, or by following him on twitter @tonybrucejr
SPONSOR SHOUT OUT: Smiley’s
Located in Dallas, TX, Smiley’s Race Products is a full service speed shop to handle any of your parts needs. With a full staff who has racing background, Smiley’s is an industry leader in race products, and are proud to team with Tony Bruce, Jr.
“From my first day into the world of sprint car racing I have had an association with Smiley’s. Owner Tom Lorenz and his staff know racing, and all the staff at Smiley’s has a background in racing and that’s why I choose them for all of my parts needs.”