By Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (July 7, 2011) – The pace is about to pick up for the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National series, as the intensely competitive tour is in action over four consecutive weekends beginning with the Third Annual Northwest Swing that gets under way next Friday and Saturday.
Two weekend doubles in the Northwest, including the Fifth Annual Fred Brownfield Memorial at Elma, Washington’s Grays Harbor Raceway on July 15-16 and then Oregon’s Cottage Grove Sprint Car Nationals on July 22-23, will be followed up by the series first stop at California’s Placerville Speedway on July 29-30 and then the 21st Annual ASCS Knoxville Nationals at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway on August 4-6.
With nine different winners in the initial ten events of the season entering this busy stretch of events, 2009 Lucas Oil Sprint Car champion Shane Stewart of Bixby, OK, is out to the series points lead in the $60,000 championship chase.
While Stewart, the Copper on Dirt winner at Tucson’s USA Raceway in February, holds an 86-point advantage over Albuquerque’s Johnny Herrera in the driver points chase, the owner portion of the title chase feature a tight title battle with Jason Johnson’s JJR No. 41 just six points ahead of Stewart’s Paul Silva-owned No. 57 entry.
Stewart currently leads a veteran top-five group of drivers that includes Herrera, Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN), three-time series champion Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) and Gary Wright (Hooks, TX), with the rest of the top ten sporting a younger look with the likes of Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK), Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA), Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS), Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) and Zach Chappell (Talala, OK).
Other full-time Lucas Oil ASCS title contenders just outside the top ten include Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA), Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK), Danny Wood (Norman, OK), Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) and defending series champion Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA). Johnson has climbed to 13th in driver points after missing the initial four events of the season to finish off an Australian championship.
Johnson swept both nights of last year’s Fred Brownfield Memorial at Grays Harbor Raceway and then topped the opening night of the Cottage Grove Sprint Car Nationals before Brady Bacon won the finale in Oregon.
The series first visit to Placerville will mark the third and fourth National nights in California in series history after Tim Kaeding and Kyle Larson topped the season-opening pair of events at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway and Hanford’s Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway. Larson is expected to take on the Lucas Oil ASCS National forces at Grays Harbor and Cottage Grove.
Shane Stewart bested a field of 102 to win his second ASCS Knoxville Nationals last August.
The Series:
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters
When & Where:
July 15/16 – Grays Harbor Raceway
July 22/23 – Cottage Grove Speedway
July 29/30 – Placerville Speedway
August 4/5/6 – Knoxville Raceway
Track Information:
Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA) – 3/8-mile, high-banked clay oval located 21 miles west of US 101 on SR 8 to the junction of US 12, then 0.2miles north, then 0.6 miles east on Elma-McCleary Road. For more information, contact the track at 360-482-4374 or check http://www.graysharborraceway.net/.
Cottage Grove Speedway (Cottage Grove, OR) – ¼-mile, semi-banked clay oval located off I-5 Exit 174, one block south on Gateway, then one block south on North 19th Street, then right for 0.3 miles on Ostrander Lane, then 0.4 miles north on Douglas (next to the fairgrounds). For more information, contact the track at 541-942-7561 or 541-510-0757 or check http://www.cottagegrovespeedway.com/.
Placerville Speedway (Placerville, CA) – ¼-mile, high-banked clay oval located off US 50 to Forni Road, then north to Fair Lane (behind the El Dorado County Fairgrounds). For more information, contact the track at 916-783-3478 or check http://www.placervillespeedway.com/.
Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – ½-mile, semi-banked dirt oval located at the north edge of Knoxville, IA on SR 14 at the Marion County Fairgrounds. For more information, contact the track at 641-842-5431 or check http://www.knoxvilleraceway.com/.
Lucas Oil ASCS Grays Harbor Raceway History:
Jason Johnson swept through both nights of last year’s Fred Brownfield Memorial after Travis Rilat took the winner’s share to cap off the inaugural weekend of Lucas Oil Sprint Car competition in the state of Washington in 2009.
Grays Harbor Raceway Lucas Oil ASCS National winners include: Jason Johnson 2, Roger Crockett 1, Travis Rilat 1.
Grays Harbor Raceway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-Race Winners: Roger Crockett (7/17/09), Travis Rilat (7/18/09), Jason Johnson (7/16/10), Jason Johnson (7/17/10).
Lucas Oil ASCS Cottage Grove Speedway History:
Brady Bacon put a halt to Jason Johnson’s run of three wins in a row in the Northwest by winning last year’s edition of the Cottage Grove Sprint Car Nationals. Johnson was trying to win the Cottage Grove finale for the second year in a row after besting 2009 preliminary winner Shane Stewart in the finale of the series Oregon debut.
Cottage Grove Speedway Lucas Oil ASCS National winners include: Jason Johnson 2, Brady Bacon 1, Shane Stewart 1.
Cottage Grove Speedway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-Race Winners: Shane Stewart (7/24/09), Jason Johnson (7/25/09), Jason Johnson (7/23/10), Brady Bacon (7/24/11).
Lucas Oil ASCS Placerville Speedway History:
Set to host the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars for the first time, Placerville Speedway will become the 116th different track to host an ASCS National event since 1993. The series made its California debut with this year’s season openers in February. Tim Kaeding (Tulare) and Kyle Larson (Kings) defended their home turf successfully in those openers.
Lucas Oil ASCS Knoxville Raceway History:
A total of 41 ASCS National events have been completed at Knoxville Raceway including each night of the track’s 360 National over the past 15 years since 1996. Current Lucas Oil Sprint Car points leader Shane Stewart captured his second ASCS Knoxville Nationals title in 2010.
Knoxville Raceway Lucas Oil ASCS National winners include: Wayne Johnson 6, Billy Alley 5, Terry McCarl 4, Shane Stewart 4, Jason Johnson 3, David Hesmer 2, Dennis Moore, Jr. 2, Gary Wright 2, Kenny Adams 1, Johnny Anderson 1, Brian Brown 1, Kaley Gharst 1, Jesse Giannetto 1, Josh Higday 1, John Kearney 1, Matt Moro 1, Jake Peters 1, Roger Rager 1, Jeff Swindell 1, Doug Wolfgang 1, Dusty Zomer 1.
Knoxville Raceway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-Race Winners: Doug Wolfgang (7/26/96), Terry McCarl (7/27/96), David Hesmer (7/12/97), David Hesmer (7/30/98), Gary Wright (7/31/98), Gary Wright (8/1/98), Dennis Moore, Jr. (6/12/99), Roger Rager (6/15/00), Matt Moro (6/16/00), Wayne Johnson (6/17/00), John Kearney (6/14/01), Wayne Johnson (6/15/01), Terry McCarl (6/16/01), Jake Peters (6/13/02), Wayne Johnson (6/14/02), Jeff Swindell (6/15/02), Josh Higday (6/13/03), Kenny Adams (6/13/03), Dennis Moore, Jr. (6/14/03), Jason Johnson (6/11/04), Billy Alley (6/12/04), Billy Alley (8/6/04), Dusty Zomer (8/4/05), Billy Alley (8/4/05), Billy Alley (8/5/05), Johnny Anderson (8/3/06), Billy Alley (8/4/06), Jesse Giannetto (8/5/06), Kaley Gharst (8/2/07), Shane Stewart (8/3/07), Shane Stewart (8/4/07), Jason Johnson (6/20/08), Jason Johnson (7/31/08), Wayne Johnson (8/1/08), Wayne Johnson (8/2/08), Wayne Johnson (8/6/09), Terry McCarl (8/7/09), Terry McCarl (8/8/09), Brian Brown (8/5/10), Shane Stewart (8/6/10), Shane Stewart (8/7/10).
Current 2011 Points:
Top 15 Driver Points: 1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 1,300, 2. Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) 1,214, 3. Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN) 1,147, 4. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 1,130, 5. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,116, 6. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 1,085, 7. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,066, 8. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 1,017, 9. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 1,012, 10. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 911, 11. Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA) 887, 12. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 877, 13. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 754, 14. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 674, 15. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX) 544.
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters Owner Points (Top 15): 1. Jason Johnson Racing #41 – 1,306, 2. Paul Silva #57 – 1,300, 3. Herrera/Main #45x – 1,214, 4. Swindell Group #28 – 1,147, 5. Mike Ward #88 – 1,130, 6. Bacon/Tel-Star #99 – 1,085, 7. Petersen Motorsports #23 1,066, 8. Bruce Racing #18 – 1,017, 9. Kenny Reutzel #87 – 1,012, 10. Randy Washburn #0 – 911, 11. Steve Forler #2L – 887, 12. M&M Motorsports #2 – 877, 13. Cooper/Sperry #01/51 – 872, 14. Danny Wood #81 – 674, 15. Sam Hafertepe #15 – 544.
Brodix Rookie of the Year Points: 1. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 1,012, 2. Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA) 887.
2011 Feature Winners:
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series: Jason Johnson 2, Jack Dover 1, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 1, Johnny Herrera 1, Tim Kaeding 1, Kyle Larson 1, Shane Stewart 1, Jeff Swindell 1, Gary Wright 1.
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:
August 19/20 – Jackson Speedway (Jackson, MN)
Lucas Oil ASCS on the Web:
Those unable to catch all the action in person can listen to every Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters live at www.racinboys.com.
Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.
Lucas Oil ASCS on TV:
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in nine one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network and MavTV.
The full schedule according to www.motorsportshour.com is as follows:
Thunderbowl Raceway (Feb. 9) – 4/23/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Kings Speedway (Feb. 12) – 5/7/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
USA Raceway (Feb. 18) – 5/29/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
USA Raceway (Feb. 19) – 6/5/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Eagle Raceway (RAINED OUT) – 9/11/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Eagle Raceway (June 11) – 9/18/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Grays Harbor Raceway (July 16) – 10/30/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Cottage Grove Speedway (July 22) – 11/6/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET
Cottage Grove Speedway (July 23) – TBA
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for 36 nights of racing action at 14 different tracks throughout the nation, with the country’s top Sprint Car drivers set to battle it out for their share of the $250,000 points fund.
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.