Inside Line Promotions
– HARTFORD, S.D. (July 11) – Things are starting to fall into place and not a moment too soon.
Tony Bruce Jr. has recorded a top 15 in each of his past 11 races, including eight top 10s. And last weekend was arguably one of his best of the season with a trio of top-10 finishes as the team heads to the West Coast for three consecutive weekends with the ASCS National Tour.
“We were good all weekend,” the Liberal, Kan., native said. “It’s nice to catch a couple of breaks and get into a flow, especially as we leave home for the next month. This is going to be a real test.”
He is currently eighth in the ASCS National Tour standings – only 99 points out of the top five – with three straight two-day shows upcoming in Washington, Oregon and California to wrap up July.
Last weekend started off with a struggle in the opening heat race Thursday at Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls, Minn.
Bruce Jr., who won the event last year, finished sixth in his heat race at the dirt oval. That started him 15th in the main event, where he rallied to place fourth – his fourth top five of the season.
“There wasn’t much passing in the heats,” he said. “Once the track lined out, we were really fast. When you start that far back, anything in the top five is a good night.”
Friday night wasn’t much different at Jackson Speedway in Jackson, Minn., for the ASCS Midwest Region event.
After winning his heat race, Bruce Jr. started the dash in seventh and finished eighth. He then placed sixth in the main event.
“That was a typical ½ mile,” Bruce Jr. said. “Once we sorted out after the opening lap on the start, that was pretty much the running order and the finishing order.”
He wrapped up the weekend with another heat win and a sixth-place finish on Saturday at I-90 Speedway in Hartford, S.D. However, he had his sights set on a higher result.
“I was running third and going after second place,” he said. “We had a restart and I went around a lapped car. That car then decided to slide me in the next turn and he just about took out my front end. A few cars got by me.”
Despite the frustration of a spoiled top five, Bruce Jr. was more than content with three top 10s during the weekend and the momentum his team is building.
His West Coast swing with the ASCS National Tour begins Friday and Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash.
For live updates of Bruce Jr. and the races, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 7 – Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls, Minn. – Heat race: 6 (5); Feature: 4 (15).
July 8 – Jackson Speedway in Jackson, Minn. – Heat race: 1 (2); Dash: 8 (7); Feature: 6 (8).
July 9 – I-90 Speedway in Hartford, S.D. – Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 6 (6).
SEASON STATS –
28 races, 25 features, 1 win, 4 top fives, 13 top 10s, 20 top 15s, 25 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash., with the ASCS National Tour
FAVORITE NUMBER –
11: Positions gained in last Thursday’s feature at Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls, Minn., where Bruce Jr. recorded his fourth top five of the season after charging from 15th.
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 listen 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 – TBJ Promotions
TBJ Promotions is a full-service promotional company with an emphasis on sprint car racing. Owned and operated by Tony Bruce Jr. and Jesse Douglas, TBJ Promotions runs the Rock-N-Roll 50 at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. (May 7), the Steve King Memorial at Jetmore Motorplex in Jetmore, Kan. (May 28-29) and the Eagle Nationals at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb. (June 10-11). For more information, visit www.tbjpromotions.com.
“We know what to do and know how to do the right thing in racing,” Bruce Jr. said. “I’ve lived the promotional side and the racing side. I’m out to win for the competitors and I’m out to win for the fans.”
Bruce Jr. would like to thank his sponsors, including The Oil Medics, Travelwizer.com, Ticketmob.com, LRB Manufacturing, Hoosier and Smiley’s Racing Products for their continued support.