From Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (September 29, 2010) – A new event title sponsor and all three nights of action to be taped for later broadcast on VERSUS and MavTV is the first hint that the 23rd edition of I-30 Speedway’s Short Track Nationals in Little Rock, AR, will be bigger and better than ever.
And, when a hundred or so of the nation’s top Sprint Car competitors from throughout the nation battle it atop the high-banked, ¼-mile clay oval out before a packed grandstand for three nights at the end of October for the most lucrative purse of the year on the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National trail, the magnitude of the event will be fully evident.
With camping space already maxed out, tickets flying out the office door and entries pouring in, the buzz is already in the air for I-30 Speedway’s 23rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, set to take place on October 28-30 after a Wednesday night, October 27 Test ‘N Tune Session.
This year’s edition of the prestigious event, newly sponsored by COMP Cams, includes a $15,000 winner’s share with an unprecedented minimum of $2,300 to start the 23rd Annual STN championship finale on Saturday night, October 30. Well over $100,000 in purse money will be doled out over the three night spectacle.
After pulling off the upset Short Track Nationals win in 2008 over a field of 95 and then backing it up over a field of 101 last year, Tony Bruce, Jr., of Liberal, KS, will try to become the first driver in STN history to pull off three wins in a row.
Bruce matched four-time STN winner Gary Wright and two-time event winner Steve Kinser as the only ones able to knock down back-to-back wins.
Bruce also joined Wright as one of just two drivers to win the STN on more than one occasion since the event became the nation’s premier showcase in 1993. Wright scored his first STN victory in 1995, then followed up with a second win in 1999. Wright extended his total of STN triumphs to four with back-to-back victory drives in 2003 and 2004.
Other past winners include Jason Meyers (2007), Jason Johnson (2006), Tim Montgomery (2005), Paul McMahan (2002), Jason Sides (2001), Mike Ward (2000), Tim Crawley (1998), Wayne Johnson (1997), Pete Butler (1996), Terry Gray (1994) and John Gerloff (1993).
Steve Kinser (1988, ’89 and ’91) and Sammy Swindell (1990) claimed early renditions of the Short Track Nationals before the 1992 finale was rained out.
Drivers planning on competing in the 23rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires are encouraged to submit their entries as soon as possible. Entries postmarked by October 17 are $150, with entries submitted after that $250. Entry forms are available at http://www.i-30speedway.com/2010stnflyer.pdf or by calling 501-455-4567.
What: 23rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.
Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR). I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).
When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 28-30, 2010. $15,000 to win the STN finale on October 30, with $2,300 to start the STN championship feature. Race time is 7:30 p.m. each night. Rain date is November 4-6. Test ‘N Tune session on Wednesday night, October 27. All three nights will be taped for later broadcast on VERSUS and MavTV.
Past Winners: Tony Bruce, Jr. (2009 and 2008), Jason Meyers (2007), Jason Johnson (2006), Tim Montgomery (2005), Gary Wright (2004, 2003, 1999 and 1995), Paul McMahan (2002), Jason Sides (2001), Mike Ward (2000), Tim Crawley (1998), Wayne Johnson (1997), Pete Butler (1996), Terry Gray (1994), John Gerloff (1993), Steve Kinser (1991, ’89 and ‘88) and Sammy Swindell (1990). 1992 finale was rained out.
The Series: A premier stop on the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National trail, Jason Johnson, Brady Bacon and Shane Stewart are currently locked in a torrid three-way duel for the series $60,000 championship chase, with Tim Crawley, Jack Dover and others trying to gain ground in Riverside Speedway’s Rock ‘N Roll 50 (October 1-2) and the Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals (October 15-16) prior to the STN.
After the STN the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars will finish out the year at Las Cruces’ Southern New Mexico Speedway (November 12-13), Tucson’s USA Raceway (November 18-20) and then Las Vegas Motor Speedway (November 26-27).
Current top 20 in Lucas Oil Sprint Car points: 1. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 2,406, 2. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 2,344, 3. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 2,333, 4. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 2,199, 5. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 2,143, 6. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 2,136, 7. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 2,121, 8. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 1,991, 9. Kyle Hirst (Loomis, CA) 1,989, 10. Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR) 1,965, 11. Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK) 1,879, 12. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 1,757, 13. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 1,752, 14. Channin Tankersley (Highlands, TX) 1,635, 15. Justyn Cox (Clarksburg, CA) 1,513, 16. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,387, 17. Austen Wheatley (Lake Stevens, WA) 1,344, 18. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 1,152, 19. Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO), 850, 20. Andrew Marshala (Shawnee, OK) 823.
The Trade Show & Midway: This year’s rendition of the Short Track Nationals will also include the Sixth Annual Short Track Nationals Trade Show & Midway. Fans, drivers & crews will have the opportunity to visit vendor displays, which opens at noon on Thursday and then at 9 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The deadline for guaranteed vendor space is Monday, October 25. Inquiries regarding vendor space should be directed to dssm93@msn.com.
The Tickets: Advance tickets are on sale through Wednesday, October 27, no advance sales after that. Tickets ordered in advance are just $45 for all three nights. Day of show prices are $15 on Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday. To order tickets in advance or for more information, call the track at 501-455-4567 or e-mail orders to racing@I-30speedway.com. Children’s tickets will be available at the event for just $2 on both Thursday and Friday and then $5 on Saturday. There is a $1 per ticket surcharge for orders placed via credit/debit cards. Pit passes are $30 on both Thursday and Friday and $35 on Saturday.
For more information regarding the 23rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, contact I-30 Speedway at 501-455-4567.