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– TEXARKANA, Ark. (May 22) – All he could do was muster a wry smile.
Channin Tankersley’s bid for a top five was thwarted after a late-race incident in the ASCS Lone Star Region event at Texarkana 67 Speedway in Texarkana, Ark., on Saturday.
The 20-year-old from Highlands, Texas, had driven from ninth to fifth and was passing for fourth place when that driver spun out, collecting Tankersley and his hope for a third consecutive top-five finish with approximately 10 laps remaining.
“I was actually up on top of him,” said Tankersley, who was driving his primary sponsor Bruce Griffith’s sprint car. “I was trying to gas it up and crawl over him, but our cars were connected together and it killed the engine.”
The impact didn’t appear to damage Tankersley’s race car. However, as he was pushed off to restart, he noticed the car didn’t have brakes and he pulled into the pits to collect a 13th-place finish.
“It was a track that you needed to have brakes,” Tankersley said. “I didn’t want to tear up anything on Bruce’s car.”
Although it was a disappointing finish, the result didn’t dampen Tankersley’s spirit or his renewed vigor toward claiming the ASCS Gulf South Region championship.
After picking up a pair of top fives – including his first win of the season – two weekends ago, Tankersley climbed from 10th to sixth in the ASCS Gulf South standings. The chase resumes with a three-day weekend in Texas beginning Friday at Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, where Tankersley claimed that victory.
“You go ask anyone, once you get momentum on your side, that’s the best thing to have,” he said. “Everything flows better.”
Saturday’s race is at Gator Motorplex in Willis, where Tankersley hasn’t raced since 2009. That year he nabbed fifth- and eighth-place finishes with the ASCS Gulf South.
The Memorial Day Weekend wraps up on Sunday at Speedarama Raceway in Lufkin, where he earned a pair of top sevens last year and finished 17th in Griffith’s car earlier this year.
“Top fives and even top threes is what we’re going to have to keep doing if we have any shot at getting back in the point’s race,” Tankersley said.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 21 – Texarkana 67 Speedway in Texarkana, Ark.: Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 13 (9).
SEASON STATS –
11 races, 9 features, 1 win, 3 top fives, 3 top 10s, 5 top 15s, 8 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas; Saturday at Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas; and Sunday at Speedarama Raceway in Lufkin, Texas – all ASCS Gulf South Region events
FAVORITE NUMBER –
6: The position Tankersley currently ranks in the ASCS Gulf South Region standings.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tankersley71
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Custom Vinyl Designs
Custom Vinyl Designs creates and prints various vinyl options for race teams. From the race car to the trailer, and even parts, Custom Vinyl Designs can produce what any race team needs.
“Custom Vinyl Designs has been with me since I started racing sprint cars,” Tankersley said. “They’ve been really good friends and really good sponsors.”
Tankersley would like to thank his sponsors, including Griffith Truck & Equipment and Miller’s Machine & Welding for their continued support.