From Inside Line Promotions
HIGHLANDS, Texas (May 5, 2013) – For the second weekend in a row, Mother Nature derailed TBJ Promotions’ first event of the season – the Eagle Motorsports Rock ‘N Roll 50.
And for the second weekend in a row, TBJ Promotions Founder Tony Bruce Jr. found himself in Texas competing in ASCS regional action. Once again, Bruce Jr. recorded a pair of top-five finishes with the ASCS Gulf South Region to make that four consecutive top fives.
“It was a pretty solid weekend for us,” he said. “It was unfortunate that we got rained out at the Eagle Motorsports Rock ‘N Roll 50, but we found a couple of races we could fill our schedule with and took advantage of an off weekend with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.”
Bruce Jr. opened the weekend on Friday at Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, where he finished 17th with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour a month earlier.
“We were pretty decent in the heat race, but it was really wet and hard to pass,” said Bruce Jr., who finished fourth in his heat. “It lined us up a little bit deep in the field.”
Bruce Jr. started 12th in the feature at the quarter-mile track, where he worked his way into the top three before a restart in the closing laps.
“We were able to actually get all the way to third,” he said. “On the last restart I just missed the bottom. I was trying to go after (Aaron) Reutzel there for second. I just missed the bottom and slipped up, let two cars by me.
“We were pretty terrible at Beaumont earlier this year with the National Tour race. We made a lot of changes and have kinda gotten the car figured out. It was a pretty solid night for us there at Beaumont.”
Bruce Jr. overcame a challenging heat race on Saturday at Battleground Speedway, where he again rallied for a top five in the feature.
“We just absolutely missed it in the heat race,” he said. “I think we missed it setup-wise and driver-wise. I didn’t get a good start. I was running third by the first corner. I just spun the tires on the bottom.”
After dropping from the pole position to fourth in his heat race, Bruce Jr. started the main event in 14th.
“We made the changes that we needed to,” he said. “I refocused myself and kind of got my mind together. It was a really good run for us. We had the car working really well and I felt like I made all the right moves that I needed to.
“Halfway through the race the track took a little rubber on the bottom, but you could still work the top of (turns) three and four around the cushion. We were able to pin some guys down in the rubber behind lapped traffic. I think experience allowed us to just make those moves and make them aggressively and pick off those spots.”
Bruce Jr. is taking this weekend off from competition before returning on Friday, May 17, at the US 36 Nationals Presented by RacinBoys.com at US 36 Raceway near Cameron, Mo., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour. It is the next scheduled TBJ Promotions event as well.
QUICK RESULTS –
April 26 – Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas – Heat race: 4 (4); Feature: 5 (12).
April 27 – Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas – Heat race: 4 (1); Feature: 4 (14).
SEASON STATS –
14 races, 1 win, 5 top fives, 7 top 10s, 13 top 15s, 14 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday, May 17, at US 36 Raceway near Cameron, Mo., for the US 36 Nationals Presented by RacinBoys.com with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour and Saturday, May 18, at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.tonybrucejr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
VIDEO –
Here is a link for RacinBoys’ footage of Bruce Jr.’s victory at Boyd Raceway on April 26: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Wheeler Metals
Established in 1968, Wheeler Metals is a sheet metal business that offers a variety of products for professional and amateur builders. Wheeler Metals has three locations in Muskogee, Okla., Rogers, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. For more information, visit www.WheelerMetals.com.
“When I moved to the Tulsa area a few years back we built a brand new shop,” Bruce Jr. said. “We always strive as a race team to find the best products for the situation and that was no different selecting the company to build our building. Wheeler Metals was the perfect fit for our needs. From 10×10 pole barns to 100×100 full metal buildings, they have it all. I challenge anyone to find a building company that will work the customers’ need like they do.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Lubbock Wrecker Service, The Oil Medics, Hinchman Racewear, Eagle Motorsports, Smiley’s Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfield Headers, Hoosier Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape and Pressure Tek for their continued support.