By Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (May 9, 2011) – Just one point separates George White and Tommy Bryant in the Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South championship points chase as the series gets set for another pair of events this weekend.
On Friday night, the ASCS Gulf South takes to Beaumont’s Golden Triangle Raceway Park for the third time this season. Then, on Saturday night, it’s off to Texana Raceway Park in Edna, TX, for the first of two scheduled stops.
While 17 different drivers have competed in all six ASCS Gulf South events completed thus far in 2011, White and Bryant are the only two drivers that have made the feature cut in all six events. And, with both drivers posting three top-fives and five top-tens, Fort Worth’s White holds a meager one-point edge over Bryant as both vie for a first ASCS Gulf South championship.
Ninety-seven points off the lead pace in third is two-time and defending series champion Ray Allen Kulhanek, with Chris Sweeney just one point ahead of two-time champion Brandon Berryman in the battle for fourth. The balance of the top-ten includes Oklahoma rookie shoe Jeffrey Newell, Travis Elliott, Greg Rilat, Michael McNeil and Channin Tankersley.
After missing the feature in the season opening event at Golden Triangle in March won by Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Kulhanek bounced back at GTRP with his first win of the year on April 15.
With last year’s Edna event rained out, Texana Raceway Park hasn’t hosted an ASCS Gulf South event since 2009 when leading title contenders George White and Tommy Bryant split Fourth of July weekend victory honors.
The Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region has featured six different winners in as many event thus far in 2011 with those reaching victory lane including Kulhanek, Aaron Reutzel, Jason Johnson, Michael Dupuy, Hafertepe, and Gary Wright.
Friday’s action at Golden Triangle Raceway Park fires off at 8:00 p.m., with Saturday’s green flag at Texana Raceway Park flying at 7:30 p.m.
Golden Triangle Raceway Park is located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 near Beaumont, TX. For more information, contact the track at 409-752-7200.
The high-banked, 5/16-mile Texana Raceway Park dirt oval is located two miles east of Edna, TX, on SR 111, then left on Haines Road. For more information, contact the track at 361-781-0411.
The Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region is slated for 28 nights of racing action at eleven different tracks throughout Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in 2011.
Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:
4/15/11 – Ray Allen Kulhanek
3/4/11 – Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
9/3/10 – Jason Johnson
8/20/10 – Jason Johnson
7/16/10 – Gary Wright
6/18/10 – Tommy Bryant
5/28/10 – Chris Morgan
3/5/10 – Gary Wright
10/2/09 – Channin Tankersley
9/18/09 – Jason Johnson
7/17/09 – Aaron Reutzel
6/19/09 – Travis Rilat
5/16/09 – Gary Wright
5/16/09 – Tommy Bryant (4/24 Makeup Feature)
3/6/09 – Gary Wright
8/15/08 – Channin Tankersley
7/18/08 – Gary Watson
5/9/08 – Channin Tankersley
2/29/08 – Jason Johnson
9/28/07 – Jason Johnson
6/22/07 – Michael Dupuy
5/18/07 – Brandon Berryman
4/6/07 – Jason Johnson
9/29/06 – Kevin Ramey
8/18/06 – Jason Johnson
6/23/06 – Gary Watson
8/19/05 – Ray Allen Kulhanek
6/17/05 – Ray Allen Kulhanek
4/15/05 – Travis Rilat
9/18/04 – Kelly Angelette
7/9/04 – Stephen Chevallier
* 9/28/02 – Michael Dupuy
* 9/27/02 – Tim Crawley
7/5/02 – Buddy Bodden
5/24/02 – Jason Johnson
* 4/5/02 – Zach Chappell
* – Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.
Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Texana Raceway Park:
7/4/09 – Tommy Bryant
7/3/09 – George White
8/30/08 – Jason Johnson
The 2011 season marks the 20th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.