By Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (September 26, 2011) – The Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region finishes off its tenth year of competition with this Saturday night’s season-ending championship event atop the 3/8-mile Battleground Speedway clay oval in Highlands, TX.
And, it will be Ray Allen Kulhanek trying to put the finishing touches on second consecutive series championship and third of his career after claiming his first Gulf South crown in 2005.
A three-way battle for the top spot has brewed all season long between Kulhanek, Tommy Bryant and George White, with Kulhanek’s win in the most recent event at Baytown’s Royal Purple Raceway allowing him to open up a 39-point advantage entering Saturday’s finale.
Kulhanek can clinch the championship with a finish of ninth or better on Saturday night. However, Bryant will have the opportunity to capture the crown if Kulhanek finishes tenth or lower.
While Bryant still has a shot at Kulhanek, George White clings to slim championship hopes as well. But, now 77 points out of the lead, White needs Kulhanek to miss Saturday’s feature cut. White would then have to win to overtake Kulhanek or finish second to tie him and have Bryant finish 14th or worse.
While Kulhanek, Bryant and White settle the championship picture, Brandon Berryman and Chris Sweeney round out the current top five in points with the rest of the top ten including Channin Tankersley, Travis Elliott, Greg Rilat, Michael McNeil and Beau Smith.
Jason Johnson has topped the last two Gulf South events at Battleground Speedway, including the series stop at the Highlands oval in April
With 21 nights of Gulf South action logged into the books, Gary Wright is atop the win column with five victories. Kulhanek, Tankersley, Travis Rilat, Jason Johnson and Marshall Skinner have each claimed two wins, with single scores posted by Berryman, Aaron Reutzel, Michael Dupuy, Kolt Walker, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and Matt Covington.
Saturday’s green flag at Battleground Speedway flies at 7:00 p.m.
Highlands’ high-banked, 3/8-mile Battleground Speedway dirt oval is located east of Houston off I-10 exit 787, then four miles north. For more information, contact the track at 832-421-7223.
The Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region is slated for 28 nights of racing action at eleven different tracks throughout Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in 2011.
Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Battleground Speedway:
4/30/11 – Jason Johnson
8/21/10 – Jason Johnson
3/6/10 – Brian Brown
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.