From Inside Line Promotions
(March 7) – The season opener went from jubilation to dejection for Channin Tankersley in a matter of seconds.
Tankersley won his ASCS Gulf South Region heat race at Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas, last Friday only to be forced to the pits three laps into the feature with engine issues in his first race of the year.
“From the time we unloaded, the car was fast,” the 20-year-old from Highlands, Texas, said. “I started on the pole of the heat and ran away with that thing.”
After leading all eight laps to claim the heat race, Tankersley started the 30-lap feature in 10th – one spot behind eventual winner Sam Hafertepe Jr.
“I was up to sixth or seventh place on the second lap, then coming out of turn two on the third lap, the engine just let go,” Tankersley said. “We were glued to Hafertepe’s bumper up to that point. I know two laps isn’t much, but we for sure had a top-five car and possibly a top-three car.”
Tankersley was credited with finishing 20th in the feature.
A year after traveling the country with the ASCS National Tour, Tankersley is racing for the ASCS Gulf South championship this year. He sits 20th in the standings.
While the next ASCS Gulf South race isn’t until April 1 at Heart O’Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas, Tankersley will be in action March 25-26 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, with the ASCS National Tour.
“I am really looking forward to that,” said Tankersley, who finished 14th on the ASCS National Tour last season. “Hopefully we have a little better luck then.”
QUICK RESULTS –
March 4 – Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas – Heat race: 1 (1); Feature: 20 (10).
SEASON STATS –
1 race, 1 feature, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 1 top 20
UP NEXT –
March 25-26 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, with the ASCS National Tour at the 38th annual Spring Nationals
FAVORITE NUMBER –
8: Laps led from green to checkered in Tankersley’s heat race victory in the season opener.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tankersley71