By Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (November 14, 2011) – Three full nights of winged AND wingless ASCS Sprint Car racing makes for an ideal way to close out the 2011 racing season.
And, that’s exactly what’s in store for this coming weekend, as Tucson, Arizona’s USA Raceway hosts the 44th Annual Kronik Energy Drinks Western World Championships on Thursday, Friday and Saturday after a Wednesday evening practice session.
The 20th season of American Sprint Car Series competition will conclude with Saturday night’s 44th Annual Western World Championship finale that includes a $15,000 winner’s share for the winged Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National forces and a $5,000 winner’s cut for the wingless Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region competitors.
The winged portion of the event will also award Sunoco Fuel ASCS Southwest points.
North Dakota’s Donny Schatz vies for his third Western World crown this weekend after taking the $15,000 triumph last year, his first 1999. While Lucas Oil Sprint Car contender Brady Bacon has climbed to third in National points in recent weeks, he’ll try to solidify that National standing while also gunning for a third consecutive win in the wingless portion of the Western World.
There were a total of 119 competitors in last year’s edition of the Western World, including 64 winged Lucas Oil Sprint Cars and 55 wingless Canyon Region Sprint Cars. A similar field of competitors from throughout the nation is expected this weekend.
While a stout field of cars in both the winged and wingless ranks will take a shot at the big money, three ASCS titles will be settled as well over the weekend including the Lucas Oil ASCS National championship as well as the Canyon and Southwest Regional titles.
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters Points Watch: Although Albuquerque’s Johnny Herrera, runner-up to Schatz in last year’s Western World, sliced 61 points off of Shane Stewart’s point lead this past weekend at Las Cruces, the Rockstar Energy Drink pilot is still in the driver’s seat for the top spot.
Bixby, Oklahoma native Stewart can secure his second Lucas Oil Sprint Car title in three years by finishing ninth or better on both his qualifying night and the final night. If he falters on either night though, he could leave the door open for Herrera to come barging through. And, USA Raceway is arguably Herrera’s best track on the Lucas Oil Sprint Car trail, although Stewart won February’s Copper on Dirt finale after Herrera topped the prelim.
As far back as sixth in points not too long ago, 2010 points runner-up Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, OK, has surged to third in points in recent weeks with a fourth-place Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals finale finish followed up by runner-up showings in both I-30 Speedway’s Short Track Nationals and the Las Cruces finale.
Jeff Swindell, on the other hand, has been trending the other direction, burning his final three provisionals in the most recent three events in which they’ve been available. As a result, rather than contending for second with Herrera, Swindell now finds himself trying to hold on to a top-five ranking after a strong early half of the year.
Four-time series champ Gary Wright of Hooks, TX, slipped past three-time champ Tim Crawley of Benton, AR, this past weekend for fifth, with defending series champ Jason Johnson of Eunice, LA, settling into seventh in driver points while his JJR No. 41 team has all but locked up the owner’s portion of the points chase.
Two points is all that separates Washington’s Seth Bergman and Liberal, KS, native Tony Bruce, in the battle for eighth, while rookie shoe Aaron Reutzel of Clute, TX, Zach Chappell of Talala, OK, and Oklahoma City native Wayne Johnson are settled into tenth, 11th and 12th, respectively.
There have been a total of 17 different winners in 31 Lucas Oil National Sprint Car feature events thus far in 2011, quite similar to last year’s total of 19 winners in 35 features.
Sunoco Fuel ASCS Southwest Points Watch: Though he didn’t make either feature cut at Southern New Mexico Speedway this past weekend, Las Cruces’ Rick Ziehl still garnered enough points to essentially sew up his fourth consecutive ASCS Southwest championship. Ziehl merely needs to show up this weekend and at least make an attempt to take one green flag to secure the crown.
Ziehl built his 254 point advantage over Arizona native turned Knoxville, IA, resident Calvin Landis on the strength of six wins over the course of the season, including five out of six over one hot stretch of summer.
Landis is 61 points ahead of Alamogordo’s Kyle McCutcheon in the race for second, with McCutcheon 55 ahead of Peoria, Arizona’s Dalten Gabbard and Gabbard 60 ahead of Scottsdale’s Lance Norick.
The best battles among the top ten are among Norick and Joshua Williams for fifth (separated by 21 points) and then Jordan Stetson, Joshua Hodges and Joey Chester (21 between the three at 1,681, 1,662 and 1,660). John Carney II moved into the tenth spot over this past weekend’s with Steve Stone’s absence.
Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Points Watch: The Jeremy Sherman of old resurfaced in 2011, as he’s reeled off five wins, 14 top-fives and 15 top-tens in 15 events in an effort to capture his first series crown since 2008.
As solid as Sherman has been though, two-time and reigning champion Charles Davis, Jr., has remained within striking distance despite only reaching victory lane one time. Sherman enters this weekend with a 71-point advantage and can put the championship out of Davis’ reach with finishes of eighth or better on both his qualifying night and the final night.
With four wins but several DNF’s along the way too, R.J. Johnson is pretty well entrenched in third, with Ronnie Clark holding just a 27-point advantage over Andrew Reinbold in the race for fourth.
In the battle for sixth, Bruce St. James is just 14 points ahead of Mike Martin with Josh Pelkey another 19 points back. Ryan Linder is 19 points ahead of Justin Quinn in the battle for ninth, while Brian Hosford can still crack the top ten with a solid Western World.
The Series:
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters ($15,000-to-win winged portion)
Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region ($5,000-to-win non-wing portion)
When & Where:
Wednesday, November 16, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Practice at USA Raceway
Thursday, November 17, at 7:00 p.m. – 44th Annual Kronik Energy Drink Western World Championships Sunoco Fuels Qualifying Night
Friday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m. – 44th Annual Kronik Energy Drink Western World Championships Kronik Energy Drinks Qualifying Night
Saturday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. – 44th Annual Kronik Energy Drink Western World Championships feature events
Track Information:
USA Raceway (Tucson, AZ) – 3/8-mile, clay oval located east of Tucson off I-10 Exit 268, then 1.6 mile south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. Track phone: 520-574-8515.
Event Format:
Split fields for Thursday and Friday preliminary events (half the winged cars on Thursday, second half on Friday / half the non-wing cars on Thursday and other half of Friday), run under standard ASCS format of heat races with passing/finishing points to determine feature lineups.
Thursday and Friday “A” and “B” Feature finishes determine Saturday night Western World Championships feature lineups.
Past Western World Winners:
Donny Schatz added a second WWC title last year by topping the winged portion, while Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon topped the wingless portion for the second year in a row after becoming the 26th different Western World champion in 2009.
Steve Kinser has claimed the most Western World titles with seven triumphs including wingless wins in 1982 and 1983 followed by winged wins in 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992 and 1996.
Ron Shuman is next on the list with five Western World triumphs, all of the wingless variety, with other drivers posting multiple Western World wins including Lealand McSpadden (3), Sammy Swindell (3), Bud Kaeding (2), Mark Kinser (2) and Jan Opperman (2).
Past Western World Championship Winners (Wing / Non-Wing)
2010 – Donny Schatz (w) / Brady Bacon (nw)
2009 – Sammy Swindell (w) / Brady Bacon (nw)
2008 – Kevin Swindell (nw)
2007 – Jerry Coons, Jr. (nw)
2006 – Josh Wise (nw)
2005 – Dave Darland (nw)
2004 – Bud Kaeding (nw)
2003 – Tony Elliott (nw)
2002 – Bud Kaeding (nw)
2001 – Jeremy Sherman (nw)
2000 – Jay Drake (nw)
1999 – Donny Schatz (w)
1998 – Tyler Walker (w)
1997 – Mark Kinser (w)
1996 – Steve Kinser (w)
1995 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1994 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1993 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1992 – Steve Kinser (w)
1991 – Danny Lasoski (w)
1990 – Steve Kinser (w)
1989 – Sammy Swindell (w)
1988 – Mark Kinser (w)
1987 – Steve Kinser (w)
1986 – Bobby Davis, Jr. (w)
1985 – Steve Kinser (w)
1984 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1983 – Steve Kinser (nw)
1982 – Steve Kinser (nw)
1981 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1980 – Sammy Swindell (nw)
1979 – Tim Green (nw)
1978 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1977 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1976 – Bubby Jones (nw)
1975 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1974 – Rick Ferkel (nw)
1973 – Earl Wagner (nw)
1972 – Jan Opperman (nw)
1971 – Jan Opperman (nw)
1970 – Jerry McClung (nw)
1969 – Bob Huebner (nw)
1968 – Bob Cleberg (nw)
Western World Qualifying Nights:
As of last Friday, November 11, entries that had been received had been split as follows. More entries have been received since that time and more will be filed before action begins on Thursday. All qualifying night assignments are tentative and subject to change.
Thursday – Sunoco Fuel Qualifying Night
Lucas Oil ASCS Winged Sprint Cars:
0 Zach Chappell
1 Sammy Swindell
2L Logan Forler
2p Alex Pettas
5w Lucas Wolfe
8az Jordan Stetson
9 Gary Wright
15 Bud Goodwin
15h Sam Hafertepe, Jr.
20 Donny Schatz
21 Brian Brown
23 Seth Bergman
33x Henry Van Dam
37 Matt Mitchell
39c Paul McMahan
45x Johnny Herrera
57 Shane Stewart
74x Joshua Hodges
77 Dalten Gabbard
79 Calvin Landis
81 Danny Wood
87 Aaron Reutzel
ASCS Canyon Region Wingless Sprint Cars:
2 Dustin Morgan
6c Rex Calderwood
8 Bob Ream, Jr.
9x Ryan Linder
16s Stevie Sussex
17 Stephen Spiak
19 Ronnie Smith
20z Rick Ziehl
21 Jeremy Sherman
27n Nick Aiuto
32b Brian Hosford
50 Charles Davis, Jr.
51 R.J. Johnson
74 Derek Williams
91 Jody Williams
93 Justin Quinn
94 Jerry Coons, Jr.
97 Jon Stanbrough
99 Brady Bacon
Friday – Kronik Energy Drink Qualifying Night
Lucas Oil ASCS Winged Sprint Cars:
1m Danny Lasoski
2 Dustin Morgan
05 Brad Loyet
5 Kyle McCutcheon
5h Mason Moore
11 Roger Crockett
11c Matt Covington
15c Joey Chester
18 Tony Bruce, Jr.
20z Rick Ziehl
28 Jeff Swindell
41 Jason Johnson
41w Joshua Williams
44k Koty McGullam
53 Jack Dover
57s Joey Saldana
57x Steve Stone
77f Kyle Larson
78 Jody Williams
88 Tim Crawley
90 Lance Norick
99 Brady Bacon
ASCS Canyon Region Wingless Sprint Cars:
4 Tracy Hines
6 Ronnie Clark
7 Mike Spencer
7k Bruce St. James
9 Brandon Lane
9s Johnny Shelton
12 Josh Pelkey
16 Mike Martin
19 Andrew Reinbold
20 Levi Jones
37 Matt Mitchell
45x Johnny Herrera
48T Thomas Ogle
68 Bryan Swinehart
74x Joshua Hodges
77 Dalten Gabbard
78 Chris Bonneau
96 Carson Ditsch
99a James Aragon
Lucas Oil ASCS USA Raceway History:
The Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National series broke ground in Arizona with the 2009 running of the Western World Championships at USA Raceway, a blockbuster event that gained momentum in 2010. The series got an early start with USA Raceway’s Copper on Dirt in February, with Johnny Herrera and Shane Stewart taking the wins.
USA Raceway Lucas Oil ASCS winners include: Johnny Herrera 2, Donny Schatz 2, Sammy Swindell 2, Tim Kaeding 1, Shane Stewart 1.
USA Raceway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-race Winners: Sammy Swindell (11/19/09), Tim Kaeding (11/20/09), Sammy Swindell (11/21/09), Donny Schatz (11/18/10), Johnny Herrera (11/19/10), Donny Schatz (11/20/10), Johnny Herrera (2/18/11), Shane Stewart (2/19/11).
Current Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National Points:
Top 15 Driver Points: 1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 3,030, 2. Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) 2,954, 3. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 2,838, 4. Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN) 2,787, 5. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 2,725, 6. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 2,709, 7. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 2,612, 8. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 2,485, 9. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 2,483, 10. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 2,372, 11. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 2,195, 12. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 1,951, 13. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 1,712, 14. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 1,524, 15. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 1,456.
Top 15 Owner Points: 1. Jason Johnson Racing #41 – 3,164, 2. Paul Silva #57 – 3,030, 3. Herrera/Main #45x – 2,954, 4. Bacon/Tel-Star #99 – 2,838, 5. Swindell Group #28 – 2,787, 6. Mike Ward #88 – 2,709, 7. Petersen Motorsports #23 2,485, 8. Bruce Racing #18 – 2,483, 9. Kenny Reutzel #87 – 2,372, 10. Randy Washburn #0 – 2,195, 11. Gary Wright #9 – 2,129, 12. M&M Motorsports #2 – 1,524, 13. Danny Wood #81 – 1,456, 14. Jack Dover #53 – 1,340, 15. Bill Covington #11c – 1,320.
Current ASCS Southwest (Winged) Points:
Top Ten: 1. Rick Ziehl (Las Cruces, NM) 2,358, 2. Calvin Landis (Knoxville, IA) 2,104, 3. Kyle McCutcheon (Alamogordo, NM) 2,043, 4. Dalten Gabbard (Peoria, AZ) 1,988, 5. Lance Norick
(Scottsdale, AZ) 1,928, 6. Joshua Williams (Glendale, AZ) 1,907, 7. Jordan Stetson (Tucson, AZ) 1,681, 8. Joshua Hodges (Tijeras, NM) 1,662, 9. Joey Chester (Phoenix, AZ) 1,660, 10. John Carney II (El Paso, TX) 1,458.
Current ASCS Canyon (Wingless) Points:
Top Ten: 1. Jeremy Sherman (Surprise, AZ) 2,093, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) 2,022, 3. R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ) 1,815, 4. Ronnie Clark (Tucson, AZ) 1,698, 5. Andrew Reinbold (Gilbert, AZ) 1,671, 6. Bruce St. James (Phoenix, AZ) 1,597, 7. Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ) 1,583, 8. Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ) 1,564, 9. Ryan Linder (Phoenix, AZ) 1,497, 10. Justin Quinn (Phoenix, AZ) 1,483.
2011 Feature Winners:
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series: Jason Johnson 6, Johnny Herrera 4, Wayne Johnson 3, Shane Stewart 3, Danny Lasoski 2, Sammy Swindell 2, Brady Bacon 1, Matt Covington 1, Tim Crawley 1, Jack Dover 1, Lee Grosz 1, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 1, Tim Kaeding 1, Kyle Larson 1, Daryn Pittman 1, Jeff Swindell 1, Gary Wright 1.
Sunoco Fuel ASCS Southwest Region (Winged): Johnny Herrera 6, Rick Ziehl 6, Matt Covington 1, Joshua Hodges 1, R.J. Johnson 1, Calvin Landis 1, Shane Stewart 1.
Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region (Non-Wing): Jeremy Sherman 5, R.J. Johnson 4, Stevie Sussex 3, Josh Pelkey 2, Charles Davis, Jr. 1.
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:
November 20 – 20th Annual ASCS Awards Banquet presented by Brodix at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, AZ, 6:00 p.m.
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.