By Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (September 21, 2011) – Nobody has won more Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National events in the State of Missouri than Gary Wright, which should come as little surprise since he holds a commanding lead on the career win charts at 127.
But, little more than a week ago, there was at least some question as to whether “The Texan” would be ready for action by the time the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars take to the Show Me State for the only time in 2011 with this weekend’s Jesse Hockett / Daniel McMillin Memorial at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO.
Following a weekend of rest after breaking a scapula in an accident at I-30 Speedway on September 10 while tuning up for the Little Rock track’s upcoming 24th Annual Short Track Nationals, Wright has declared himself ready to go for this weekend’s action, which is expected to draw a stellar field of cars perhaps only exceeded thus far in 2011 by the ASCS Knoxville Nationals.
“I actually had the car all ready to go last week for the Gulf South race at Houston, but we fired it off and the ride was pretty rough so I decided to rest it over the weekend,” Wright commented.
The weekend off proved just the remedy, as Wright is ready to add to 11 previous ASCS National wins in Missouri during this weekend’s action at Lucas Oil Speedway.
“The broken scapula hasn’t really hurt that bad, it’s more the muscles in my back that have been uncomfortable,” Wright explained. “But, I’ve been getting those loosened up this week and feeling a lot better, I’m ready to go.”
Lucas Oil ASCS in Missouri: The ASCS National series has slung Missouri clay at least once every year since 1994 with the exception of 2001. While Wichita’s Mike Peters won the first ASCS event in Missouri with a Joplin triumph in September of 1994, Gary Wright has racked up the most Missouri victories with 11.
Wright scored the first of his Missouri ASCS National wins at Monett in June of 1997 and has picked off wins at six different Missouri tracks including Monett, Joplin, Lebanon I-44, U.S. 36, West Plains and Sedalia. Wright’s most recent Missouri triumph in ASCS National action came at the storied Sedalia half-mile on September 29, 2007.
Shane Stewart, a winner at La Monte’s LA Raceway last year, is next with seven Missouri triumphs followed by Jason Johnson at six. Johnson won the initial three editions of the Daniel McMillin Memorial (one at Double X Speedway and two at Lake Ozark Speedway) from 2007 to 2009. The 2009 McMillin win was Johnson’s most recent in Missouri.
With five wins this season, Johnson is second to Wright on the overall career ASCS win list at 53. This past weekend, Johnson picked off another Regional score in the Midwest to run his overall career ASCS total to 100 wins.
Tim Crawley is next on the Missouri list at five wins. Crawley won last year’s Lucas Oil Speedway event, the most recent Lucas Oil ASCS National card in Missouri.
Zach Chappell picked off his lone Missouri triumph in last year’s Hockett / McMillin Memorial at Lake Ozark Speedway.
Three of Jesse Hockett’s ASCS National wins came within his home state, and in all three he was teamed with “Wrench” and cousin McMillin. The duo broke into ASCS victory lane for the first time during the day portion of a Sedalia double header on September 27, 2003, before sweeping both nights of the 2005 Lake Ozark Speedway Nationals, also in September.
Lucas Oil ASCS National Feature Winners in Missouri (24 different winners in 61 events): Gary Wright 11, Shane Stewart 7, Jason Johnson 6, Tim Crawley 5, Terry Gray 3, Jesse Hockett 3, Larry Neighbors 3, Danny Wood 3, Brian Brown 2, Wayne Johnson 2, Ricky Logan 2, Garry Lee Maier 2, Billy Alley 1, Aaron Berryhill 1, Zach Chappell 1, Michael Dupuy 1, Tommie Estes, Jr. 1, Jerrod Hull 1, Danny Jennings 1, Tim Montgomery 1, Mike Peters 1, Travis Rilat 1, Nick Smith 1, Billy Vielhauer 1
Lucas Oil Sprint Car National Contenders: Shane Stewart tries to shake off the effects of his first DNF of the season in the recent Jackson Nationals and regain the ground he lost to Albuquerque’s Johnny Herrera in the process.
While Stewart still holds a 78-point advantage over Herrera in the driver’s portion of the $60,000 title chase, the DNF proved more costly on the owner side of things where Jason Johnson’s JJR No. 41 entry moved 86 points ahead of Paul Silva’s No. 57.
Stewart and Johnson lead a rugged cast of Lucas Oil Sprint Car National title contenders that includes Herrera, Jeff Swindell, Brady Bacon, Wright, Tim Crawley, Seth Bergman, leading Brodix Rookie of the Year contender Aaron Reutzel, Tony Bruce, Jr., and Zach Chappell.
ASCS Regional Presence: Also a points race for the Speedway Motor ASCS Warrior Region, there will be a strong presence of Regional contenders over the course of the weekend. And, that presence won’t be confined to just the Warrior forces.
At least two 2011 ASCS Regional champions will be in action over the course of the weekend including Springfield, Nebraska’s Jack Dover and Glenpool, Oklahoma’s Matt Covington. Dover, who had last year’s event at Lucas Oil Speedway well in hand until an unfriendly nod from Lady Luck dictated otherwise, finished off the Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest championship this past weekend while Covington claimed The Oil Medics ASCS Lone Star crown after the August 19 finale at Cowtown. Both 21-year-olds spent the entire 2010 season in the Lucas Oil ASCS National trail.
At least two more potential Regional champs will be in action as well, as Warrior point leader Brad Loyet will try to move one step closer to his first Sprint Car title and current Gulf South points leader Ray Allen Kulhanek is reportedly making the long trek from southeast Texas.
Already a champion in the Midget ranks, 23-year-old Loyet of Sunset Hills, MO, carries a 227-point advantage over Randy Martin into the weekend in his pursuit of the Warrior crown. Loyet could potentially double up with a Midget title as well, as he holds a slight 10-point lead in the POWRi Midget title chase.
For the second year in a row, Conroe’s Kulhanek has overcome a slow start and is now in the driver’s seat heading into next weekend’s Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South season finale at Highland’s Battleground Speedway. Kulhanek holds a 39-point edge over Tommy Bryant as he tries for a third Gulf South crown after mixing it up with the National forces this weekend.
Free Bar-B-Que You Say: That’s right, after Thursday’s practice session from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., there will be a free Bar-B-Que at Lucas Oil Speedway for all those with pit passes. The track’s bar will be open as well as the Hockett / McMillin Memorial weekend gets under way in festive style.
The Series:
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters with the Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region
When & Where:
Thursday night, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. – Practice from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday night, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. – Lucas Oil Speedway
Saturday night, September 24 at 6:30 p.m. – Lucas Oil Speedway
Track Information:
Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) – 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 miles south of US 54 of SR 83. Track phone: 417-282-5984.
Lucas Oil ASCS Lucas Oil Speedway History:
The Lucas Oil Sprint Cars first took to the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” in September of 2006 with return visits over each of the past three years after the 2007 event fell victim to rain. Brian Brown defended the Missouri turf in the series 2006 debut at Lucas Oil Speedway, with Jason Johnson and Shane Stewart taking Lucas Oil Speedway wins en route to Lucas Oil ASCS National titles in 2008 and 2009 before Tim Crawley won last year.
Lucas Oil Speedway Lucas Oil ASCS Winners include: Brian Brown 1, Tim Crawley 1, Jason Johnson 1, Shane Stewart 1.
Lucas Oil Speedway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-Race Winners: Brian Brown (9/30/06), Jason Johnson (4/19/08), Shane Stewart (9/26/09), Tim Crawley (9/25/10).
Jesse Hockett / Daniel McMillin Memorial Event History:
The Inaugural Daniel McMillin Memorial took place in 2007 at California, Missouri’ s Double X Speedway before shifting to Lake Ozark Speedway the following year. Jason Johnson won the initial three McMillin events. Following Jesse Hockett’s passing in May of 2010, the event became the Hockett / McMillin Memorial event last year with Zach Chappell taking the win. This year marks the first time for Lucas Oil Speedway to host the event, now a multi-night affair.
Past Winners:
2007 – Jason Johnson (Double X Speedway)
2008 – Jason Johnson (Lake Ozark Speedway)
2009 – Jason Johnson (Lake Ozark Speedway)
2010 – Zach Chappell (Lake Ozark Speedway)
Current 2011 Points:
Top 15 Driver Points: 1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 2,132, 2. Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) 2,054, 3. Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN) 1,976, 4. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 1,935, 5. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,863, 6. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 1,848, 7. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,756, 8. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 1,689, 9. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 1,672, 10. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 1,666, 11. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 1,510, 12. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 1,196, 13. Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA) 1,091, 14. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 877, 15. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 827.
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters Owner Points (Top 15): 1. Jason Johnson Racing #41 – 2,218, 2. Paul Silva #57 – 2,132, 3. Herrera/Main #45x – 2,054, 4. Swindell Group #28 – 1,976, 5. Bacon/Tel-Star #99 – 1,935, 6. Mike Ward #88 – 1,848, 7. Petersen Motorsports #23 1,756, 8. Kenny Reutzel #87 – 1,689, 9. Bruce Racing #18 – 1,672, 10. Randy Washburn #0 – 1,510, 11. Gary Wright #9 – 1,267, 12. Bryan Sundby #38 – 1,196, 13. Steve Forler #2L – 1,091, 14. M&M Motorsports #2 – 877, 15. Cooper/Sperry #01/51 – 872.
Brodix Rookie of the Year Points: 1. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 1,689, 2. Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA) 1,091.
Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Points (Top 10): 1. Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, MO) 1,897, 2. Randy Martin (California, MO) 1,670, 3. Jonathan Cornell (Sedalia, MO) 1,657, 4. Kyle Bellm (Nixa, MO) 1,626, 5. Mark Shirshekan (Farmington, MO) 1,571, 6. Cody Baker (Lone Jack, MO) 1,509, 7. Josh Stephens (Buckner, MO) 1,382, 8. Tyler Blank (California, MO) 1,229, 9. Austin Alumbaugh (Higginsville, MO) 1,063, 10. Miranda Arnold (Sedalia, MO) 1,010.
2011 Feature Winners:
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series: Jason Johnson 5, Johnny Herrera 2, Wayne Johnson 2, Shane Stewart 2, Jack Dover 1, Lee Grosz 1, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 1, Tim Kaeding 1, Kyle Larson 1, Jeff Swindell 1, Sammy Swindell 1, Gary Wright 1.
Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region: Brad Loyet 3, Brian Brown 2, Jack Dover 2, Danny Lasoski 2, Kyle Bellm 1, Wayne Johnson 1, Brian McClelland 1, Randy Martin 1, Mark Shirshekan 1.
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:
October 13/14/15 – Lone Star Speedway (Lone Star Sprint Nationals)
October 21/22 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals)
October 27/28/29 – I-30 Speedway (24th Annual Short Track Nationals)
November 11/12 – Southern New Mexico Speedway
November 17/18/19 – USA Raceway (44th Annual Western World Championships)
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 (RAINED OUT) – 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 slated for 38 nights of racing action at 15 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 scheduled 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.