Inside Line Promotions
– WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (Nov. 7) – It was a hard pill to swallow for Tony Bruce Jr.
“I feel like I left one on the table,” the Liberal, Kan., native said. “I feel like I gave another one away.”
Bruce Jr. was one of the fastest at the USCS Flip Flop 50 last weekend at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., where he finished third in the first feature and crashed out of the second main event while racing for Clifford and Don Young for the final time this season.
“I think Clifford was more excited in that second feature when I came in with a broken car,” Bruce Jr. said. “I really wish I could have picked up a win this season with Clifford and Don, and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity and support.”
The weekend began with Bruce Jr. winning his heat race on Friday, which put him fourth in overall points. The top eight competed in a heads-up dash and Bruce Jr. finished third, which is where he lined up for the first of Saturday’s two features.
It was in that first main event that Bruce Jr. felt he let a golden opportunity slip away. While running third most of the race on the high-banked, ¼-mile oval, Bruce Jr. closed to the bumper of the top two cars on a restart with approximately eight laps remaining.
“I had an opportunity to slide both the leader and second place,” he said. “I went in like I was going to pull a slide job, but I just kind of let them back by on the top. I just slid it to the middle of the race track and didn’t do anything.”
It was the last chance for Bruce Jr., who finished third – his sixth top five of the season. Since the second feature was inverted, Bruce Jr. started it 19th.
“It was really hard to pass in the second feature because it was right around the top,” he said. “The cushion was right on the wall. There really wasn’t even a cushion. The wall just had so much dirt packed against it.”
Bruce Jr. was around 10th when he pulled into the pits with approximately five laps remaining because of a flat right rear tire.
“I pretty much just killed the right side of the car,” he said. “I bent the front end and messed up the right front and right rear tires. After hitting the wall five or six times, parts and pieces finally gave away.”
Bruce Jr. was credited with a 16th-place result.
He will race this Friday and Saturday at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., with the ASCS National Tour.
For live updates of Bruce Jr. and all of the competition throughout the weekend, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.
QUICK RESULTS –
Nov. 4 – Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. – Heat race: 1 (2); Dash: 3 (4).
Nov. 5 – Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. – Feature #1: 3 (3) Feature #2: 16 (19).
SEASON STATS –
57 races, 49 features, 1 win, 6 top fives, 21 top 10s, 33 top 15s, 46 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., with the ASCS National Tour
FAVORITE NUMBER –
4: Result in the B Main in both ASCS National Tour races last season at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., to miss a transfer by only two positions.
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 – Smiley’s Racing Products
Established in 1968, Smiley’s Racing Products offers all parts necessary to operate a race team and is a Hoosier tire dealer. With locations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, Smiley’s Racing Products is associated with various motor sports teams. For more information, visit www.smileysracing.com.
“We’ve been with Smiley’s Racing Products from Day 1,” Bruce Jr. said. “It has been a long-lasting relationship and there has always been mutual respect on everything. They are the longest partner that we’ve ever had. The first day we bought stuff for my race car we bought it at Smiley’s Racing Products and have been with them ever since.”
Bruce Jr. would like to thank his sponsors, including The Oil Medics, TBJ Promotions, Travelwizer.com, Ticketmob.com, LRB Manufacturing, Hoosier, Maxwell Industries and Steve Watt Enterprises for their continued support.