Wheatley Runs into Mechanical Failure While Leading at Skagit Speedway

 

 

Inside Line Promotions

 

– ALGER, Wash. (May 12, 2014) – Although Austen Wheatley recorded his best result of the season last Saturday, it came in heartbreaking fashion.

 

Austen Wheatley

 

Wheatley placed 10th in the main event at Skagit Speedway, where he led the first 11 laps before mechanical issues ended his night early.

 

 

 

“It definitely sucks because we only get to race there so many times a year,” he said. “That’s my home track and I’d really like to get a win there. It’s just a major bummer.”

 

 

 

Wheatley opened the night by qualifying third quickest around the 3/10-mile oval.

 

 

 

“It felt pretty good so I thought we were going to be quick time,” he said. “I don’t know why we are a tenth off quick time.”

 

 

 

He then finished where he started – third – in the heat race on the fast track. The main event was inverted by four, which started Wheatley on the outside of the front row.

 

 

 

“It felt flawless,” he said. “The track was pretty good for the main event. There were two lanes.”

 

 

 

Wheatley powered to the lead on the start and began maneuvering through traffic within a handful of laps. He was cruising down the backstretch just before the midpoint of the race when a rear end malfunction halted Wheatley’s bid for his first victory of the season.

 

 

 

He is scheduled to return to Skagit Speedway this Saturday in the 360 class. It will mark his first 360 race since 2011.

 

 

 

QUICK RESULTS –

 

 

 

May 10 – Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 10 (2).

 

 

 

SEASON STATS –

 

 

 

10 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top 10, 1 top 15, 2 top 20s

 

 

 

UP NEXT –

 

 

 

Saturday at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash.

 

 

 

MEDIA LINKS –

 

 

 

Website: http://www.AustenWheatley.com

 

 

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiniWheats44w

 

 

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DownForceDesigns?fref=ts

 

 

 

APPAREL –

 

 

 

Wheatley will have t-shirts and hoodies for sale at every race he competes at this season. For his schedule of races, visit http://www.AustenWheatley.com.

 

 

 

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Redlined Welding & Construction

 

 

 

Redlined Welding & Construction performs welding and construction for fishing boats and processors. Based out of Lake Stevens, Wash., Redlined Welding & Construction is owned and operated by Austen’s father, Shannon Wheatley.

 

 

 

“Redlined Welding & Construction is a family business and we race with a family team, so without Redlined Welding & Construction I wouldn’t be able to race,” Austen Wheatley said. “It is the heart and soul of this team.”

 

 

 

Wheatley would also like to thank Downforce Designs, Astro Titanium, The Oil Medics, Fire-Down Graphics, SpeedMart, Bell and King Racing Products for their continued support.

 

 

 

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

 

 

 

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

 

 

 

To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.