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– TUCSON, Ariz. (Nov. 21) – It wasn’t long ago that Seth Bergman set his sights on his first ASCS National Tour win.
“Going into Las Cruces last weekend, I thought we were peaking,” he said. “But the last two weekends were probably our two worst of the season.”
The Snohomish, Wash., resident capped his second stint on the premier 360 sprint car tour by struggling at the 44th annual Western World Championships at USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz., this past weekend.
It started with a high pill draw on his preliminary night at the ASCS National Tour event last Thursday. That lined Bergman up seventh in the first heat race on a wet track. It didn’t bode well and he finished sixth, which relegated him toward the back of the B Main.
“It was a combination of being the first heat race out with the track being that heavy and us not having the best setup,” he said. “I wasn’t able to really drive up on anybody and race them. I was too busy fighting myself.”
The team made a few changes prior to the 12-lap B Main, which transferred the top six to the back of the main event. However, it remained a one-groove track in the middle and Bergman finished seventh to narrowly miss a transfer. He utilized his final provisional of the season to start last – 23rd – in the feature.
“We were better for the main event, but we still weren’t right,” he said. “I got lapped, which to me there isn’t much worse. I wasn’t happy with where we were at with the race car. We just kinda had a bad night all night.”
Bergman finished 17th and his points started him eighth in a B Main on Saturday. With the top three transferring out of the 15-lap consolation, Bergman continued to work on the setup.
“We were better on Saturday than we were all weekend,” he said. “I knew it was going to be tough. It’s easier when the race track has two grooves. But when it’s one groove around the top, it’s tough.
“We were good. The hole we put ourselves in was too hard to get out of. We ended fast, but we just didn’t make the main.”
Bergman finished seventh in the B Main and failed to advance to the feature for only the fifth time all season. He ended up ninth in the ASCS National Tour standings and earned the ASCS Most Improved Driver Award.
“I would have liked to run in the top five,” he said. “It was an up-and-down year. Everybody is saying how much we improved. I want to go back this winter and really work on things and come back with even more improvements to run for the championship next year. I think it’s just a matter of time before we get that first ASCS National Tour win.”
Bergman returned home for the offseason and said he is 80 percent sure that the team will compete on the ASCS National Tour next season.
“We’d like to try to find some additional help cause it’s not cheap by any means,” he said. “We’re really pushing to get back out and continue to improve.
“Also, I really want to thank Pete Peterson, my parents, Mike and all of the people who have supported me this year.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Nov. 17 – USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. – Heat race: 6 (7); B Main: 7 (11); Feature: 17 (23).
Nov. 19 – USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. – B Main: 7 (8).
SEASON STATS –
57 races, 52 features, 4 wins, 20 top fives, 29 top 10s, 33 top 15s, 45 top 20s
FAVORITE NUMBER –
9: Finish in the ASCS National Tour standings.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.sethbergman.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BergmanRacing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Seth-Bergman-Racing/155383751177655
ON THE AIR –
Bergman was on the Lucas Oil ASCS Show by RacinBoys on Oct. 4 after picking up an ASCS Sooner Region victory at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla., on Oct. 1. His interview begins around the 18:20 mark.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=21631
He was also on the Lucas Oil ASCS Show on April 12 after a win at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., on April 8. His segment starts at 52:20.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=18548
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – SpeedMart
Established in 2004, SpeedMart is a leading parts store for sprint car, mini sprint, quarter midget and midget race cars. Located in Burlington, Wash., SpeedMart’s staff has more than 100 years of combined experience. For more information, visit www.speedmartinc.com.
“Shawna Tompkins, who co-owns SpeedMart, has always been supportive of me, always believed in me and told me I had talent ever since I started racing,” Seth said. “We’ve always gone through SpeedMart. They’re very professional and helpful.”
Bergman would like to thank his sponsors, including Superior Marine, Corridor Electric, The Oil Medics, APG Fuel Bladders, Eagle Motorsports and Wesmar Racing Engines for their continued support.