Inside Line Promotions
– JETMORE, Kan. (May 31) – Well, it started off good.
In a busy weekend with a brand new sprint car and engine, Tony Bruce Jr. had high expectations for Memorial Day Weekend.
Those were met on Friday at RPM Speedway in Hays, Kan., where Bruce Jr. overcame an early fuel issue to charge from 12th to third in the final dozen laps of the feature.
“It was the highlight of my weekend just because that was our best finish,” the Liberal, Kan., native said. “We definitely had one of the fastest cars if not the fastest at the end.
“I had really high hopes after that night.”
Bruce Jr. then hauled to Jetmore, Kan., for the 3rd annual Steve King Memorial presented by The Oil Medics, which is a two-day event put on by his TBJ Promotions. Pulling double duty of promoting and racing at The Great American Dirt Track, Bruce Jr. ran into a myriad of issues that plagued his team on the track.
“We had a whole bunch of dumb luck when we got over to Jetmore,” he said.
After winning a B Main and driving into the top 10 midway through Saturday’s feature, Bruce Jr. was sent to the pits when the left front radius rod unscrewed itself. He was running ninth, but finished in 19th.
It didn’t get any better on Sunday when the hydraulic wing valve came apart, which bled the race car of the power steering fluid in the heat race. He didn’t attempt to start the B Main.
“Sometimes you just have to know when to say when,” he said.
Bruce Jr. is ready to return to the track this weekend, when he will drive for Clifford Young on Thursday at Beebe Speedway in Beebe, Ark., during the USCS Speedweek.
Bruce Jr. will then race his car on Saturday at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., with the ASCS National Tour.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 27 – RPM Speedway in Hays, Kan. – Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 3 (12).
May 28 – The Great American Dirt Track at Jetmore Motorplex in Jetmore, Kan. – Heat race: 4 (6); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 19 (15).
May 29 – The Great American Dirt Track at Jetmore Motorplex in Jetmore, Kan. – Heat race: 7 (4); B Main: DNS (10).
SEASON STATS –
17 races, 14 features, 0 wins, 2 top fives, 5 top 10s, 9 top 15s, 14 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Thursday at Beebe Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., during the USCS Speedweek and Saturday at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., with the ASCS National Tour
FAVORITE NUMBER –
9: The position Bruce Jr. ranks in the ASCS National Tour standings heading into this weekend.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.tonybrucejr.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tonybrucejr
ON THE AIR –
Bruce Jr. was a featured guest on the ASCS Show by Racinboys on May 24. Check out the link below for his interview, which starts at approximately 44:20 into the show.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=19159
He was also on the April 26 edition. Click on the link below to list to Bruce Jr.’s interview, which begins around the 52:25 mark.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=18733
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Smiley’s Racing Products
Established in 1968, Smiley’s Racing Products offers all parts necessary to operate a race team and is a Hoosier tire dealer. With locations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, Smiley’s Racing Products is associated with various motor sports teams. For more information, visit www.smileysracing.com.
“We’ve been with Smiley’s Racing Products from Day 1,” Bruce Jr. said. “It has been a long-lasting relationship and there has always been mutual respect on everything. They are the longest partner that we’ve ever had. The first day we bought stuff for my race car we bought it at Smiley’s Racing Products and have been with them ever since.”
Bruce Jr. would like to thank his sponsors, including The Oil Medics, TBJ Promotions, Travelwizer.com, Ticketmob.com, LRB Manufacturing and Hoosier for their continued support.