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– HANFORD, Calif. (Oct. 16) – Tommy Tarlton did what Tommy Tarlton does best: he didn’t mix words after a pair of great finishes.
“I gave away two more races,” he said.
The Easton, Calif., native picked up a pair of top fives last weekend – he has 29 in 39 races this season – but was candid about letting two opportunities at victory slip away in the closing laps.
“I did a lot of passing and got passed a little bit,” he said. “But when I got passed, it was at the wrong time. It’s tough to finish them off.”
Tarlton wrapped up the Ocean Sprints campaign with a runner-up performance at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif., last Friday. It also sealed a second-place finish in the series and halted his charge toward three consecutive Ocean Sprints championships. Veteran Ronnie Day claimed the crown by 27 points.
“I’m happy Ronnie won because Ronnie actually taught me how to drive at Ocean Speedway,” Tarlton said. “When I was really young, I watched him blaze around that place and asked him how he did that. I’ve learned a lot from Ronnie. If anybody is going to beat me there, it’s ok that it is him.”
However, Tarlton entered the night tied with two other drivers for the most series’ victories this season – three – and was out to be the winningest driver in Ocean Sprints competition. After qualifying fifth and finishing second in his heat race, Tarlton was slated to start the feature in third place.
It didn’t take him long to find the lead and Tarlton checked out when given the chance. However, with approximately five laps remaining, air started leaking out of the right rear tire. Tarlton could feel the difference it made in the car and he tried to hold on as it tightened up each lap.
“I got really tight and I literally was passed coming to the white flag,” he said. “So that sucked, but it was exciting for the fans at least.”
A tight race car also plagued Tarlton late in the feature on Saturday at the famed Cotton Classic. While leading the King of the West Sprint Car Series finale at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif., Tarlton couldn’t keep his car in the rubber on the bottom off turn four.
“We were really good,” he said. “We passed all the fast cars. We were the car to beat.
“I knew where I needed to run. I knew where the groove was. I just couldn’t get there.”
Tarlton was passed for the top spot with approximately five laps remaining and he lost second place at the stripe when a lapped car slowed in front of him.
“I ended up getting passed right at the flag,” he said. “It’s one of those things where I could tell he was there beside me so it was either wreck or slow up and take third place. If it was for the lead, I would have wrecked across the finish line.”
Tarlton settled for third, which was his fourth straight top-five finish.
He’ll wrap up the season this Friday and Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., for the prestigious Trophy Cup. Tarlton won the event in 2000.
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 14 – Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 2 (3); Feature: 2 (6).
Oct. 15 – Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif. – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 4 (3); Dash: 6 (8); Feature: 3 (6).
SEASON STATS –
39 races, 38 features, 9 wins, 29 top fives, 31 top 10s, 33 top 15s, 36 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., for the Trophy Cup
FAVORITE NUMBER –
4: Consecutive top-five finishes, including two runner-up performances.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.tommytarlton.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/tommytarlton21
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001286852863
APPAREL –
Tarlton has black t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats, and white women’s shirts available for purchase at every race he attends. For information on where you can get them, visit http://www.tarltonandson.com/tarlton-racing-schedule.
ON THE AIR –
Tarlton was a guest on the Lucas Oil ASCS Show by Racinboys on May 3. Click on the link below to listen. Tarlton’s interview begins around the 32-minute mark.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=18831
He was also a featured guest on the Dirt Cast podcast on June 29. The link is below:
http://dirtcast.com/2011/06/29/tommy-tarlton-ascs-sprint-cars-ocean-sprints-6-29-11/
Check out the link below to see highlights of Tarlton’s King of the West Sprint Car Series’ win at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., on May 14.
Here are a couple of videos from Tarlton’s victory and runner-up performance with the King of the West Sprint Car Series at the Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif., on July 1-2:
http://vimeo.com/25952465 and http://vimeo.com/25950506
Here is a link to Tarlton spinning around on the back of his car during a heat race at Ocean Speedway on July 8:
Check out this link to an in-car video of Tarlton winning the B Main at the Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore., on July 13:
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Corporate America Lending
Located in Fresno, Calif., Corporate America Lending is a mortgage broker. This is the third year owner Ron Cook has been a major sponsor for the team.
“He’s one of the best in the business in California,” Tarlton said. “It’s awesome to be sponsored by someone who runs such a high-profile business. I’m excited to have his banner as a primary sponsor for our race team.”
Tarlton would like to thank his sponsors, including Tarlton and Son, Inc., Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino, Bandy & Associates, Sharp Insurance & Bonding, Simpson and BG Products for their continued support.