Inside Line Promotions
– WHEATLAND, Mo. (Sept. 26) – It was a long, long weekend for Channin Tankersley.
The 20-year-old from Highlands, Texas, nearly spent as much time traveling to and from the Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., than he did in racing the ASCS National Tour events last weekend.
“We got in late Thursday night and then left on Saturday after the races,” he said. “I drove until 3 a.m. and then pulled over. My dad woke up at 7 a.m. and we didn’t get home until 8 p.m.”
It wasn’t much smoother at the track. In his first ASCS National Tour race in six months, Tankersley drew the highest number in the pill draw on Friday night. That started him last – ninth – in his heat race.
On a fast, one-lane track, Tankersley finished eighth.
“We were really free in the heat race and it kind of messed us up because we couldn’t pass,” he said.
Tankersley made progress and charged from 13th to sixth in his B Main, which transferred the top two to the back of the feature.
“I tightened the car up, which helped out a lot,” he said. “The car was really good at the first half of the race. But the right rear tire blistered about three quarters of the way through and we fell off a little bit. I went from being pretty fast to an average car.”
The team took a similar setup into Saturday’s race, which started off a lot better with a low pill draw. However, after a lengthy rain delay before the competition began, the pill draw didn’t matter. Once Tankersley got on the gas in his heat race, which he started on the outside of the front row, the car failed to take off right away.
“It ran fine in hot laps,” he said. “When we went out for the heat race, I’m guessing something broke in the engine. I ran in second place for two laps before there was a caution. When I went to restart, it didn’t want to go at all so I just pulled it in.”
Tankersley finished eighth in his heat race, which relegated him to 17th in a B Main that only transferred the top two. Between the races the team found the high speed was messed up.
“The high speed is pretty much the heart of the engine,” he said. “We put a new one on and thought that fixed the problem. When we fired it up, it sounded fine.
“It felt fine until I got on the gas. It just wasn’t running right.”
Tankersley pulled into the pits before his B Main started in an effort to avoid further damaging the engine.
He returns to the track on Saturday to conclude the ASCS Gulf South Region schedule at Battleground Speedway, which is only a few minutes from his home.
Tankersley is sixth in the standings – only 21 points out of the top five.
QUICK RESULTS –
Sept. 23 – Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. – Heat race: 8 (9); B Main: 6 (13).
Sept. 24 – Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. – Heat race: 8 (2); B Main: DNS (17).
SEASON STATS –
25 races, 20 features, 2 wins, 8 top fives, 11 top 10s, 12 top 15s, 17 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, with the ASCS Gulf South Region
FAVORITE NUMBER –
21: Points out of fifth place in the ASCS Gulf South Region standings heading into the finale this Saturday.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tankersley71
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Griffith Truck & Equipment
Located in Channelview, Texas, Griffith Truck & Equipment buys and sells specialty trucks and heavy equipment, including utility trucks, yardmules, truck tractors and trailers to name a few. For more information, visit www.griffithtruck.com.
“Bruce Griffith pretty much started my sprint car racing career and he put me on the ASCS National Tour in 2010,” Tankersley said. “Griffith Truck & Equipment has been a huge support for me the past few years and I recommend for anyone interested in trucks and heavy equipment, check out Griffith Truck & Equipment.”
Tankersley would like to thank his sponsors, including Custom Vinyl Designs and Miller’s Machine & Welding for their continued support.