From Inside Line Promotions
Owasso, OK — (January 17, 2012) — TBJ Promotions is expecting a banner year in 2012.
Entering his fourth season in the promotional business, TBJ Promotions Founder Tony Bruce Jr. has put together a vigorous schedule of six ASCS National Tour races during a 10-week span next spring.
“We’re definitely going to be busy, but I’m very excited to showcase TBJ Promotions, the ASCS National Tour and sprint car racing at these events,” he said. “Each year I try to build on the previous and I think 2012 is set up to be our best.”
It kicks off with the 4th annual Rock ‘N Roll 50 at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., on April 28. The high-banked, ¼-mile, which is the oldest continually operated dirt track in the country (since 1948), hosts the only 50-lap feature on the ASCS National Tour.
Tim Crawley of Benton, Ark., won the first two features before last year’s event was washed out by a flood. He also won the inaugural preliminary night and Bruce Jr. claimed the preliminary race in 2010. Each season Crawley earned a customized Gibson guitar as the winner’s trophy, which will again be the prize next season.
“It was frustrating that weather got the best of us last year,” Bruce Jr. said. “A lot of drivers, including myself, look forward to that event. I’m excited to continue the race in such a historic venue.”
The 4th annual Steve King Memorial is next on the TBJ Promotions’ calendar. The two-day event is slated for Memorial Day Weekend – May 26-27 – at The Great American Dirt Track in Jetmore, Kan., which is the semi-banked, 3/8-mile track where the late Steve King cut his teeth in a sprint car.
“I got my first laps in a sprint car there as well and Steve was always a friend to me,” Bruce Jr. said. “It’s a special event to the community, the Steve King Foundation and TBJ Promotions. It’s great to honor Steve with great racing at his home track.”
Five of the six features (including preliminary nights) have been won by either Jack Dover or Brady Bacon. After Travis Rilat claimed the inaugural preliminary night in 2009, Dover won the finale in 2009 and the preliminary night last season. Bacon swept in 2010 and won the finale last season.
The winner of the finale each year is rewarded with a unique pedal bike, which is designed like a tractor in remembrance of King – an avid farmer when he was away from the track.
Two weeks later, TBJ Promotions hosts the famed Eagle Nationals at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb., on June 8-9. It will be the third season that TBJ Promotions has been in charge of the Eagle Nationals, which dates back to 1981.
“Eagle Raceway is a high-banked, 1/3-mile oval that creates some of the most exhilarating racing of the season,” Bruce Jr. said. “I think every driver looks forward to the stout competition. If you win the Eagle Nationals, you definitely have something to brag about.”
Dover won last year’s finale after the preliminary night was rained out. Jason Johnson claimed the finale in 2010 with Danny Wood winning the preliminary night.
The season concludes for TBJ Promotions on July 3 with the inaugural US 36 Nationals presented by RacinBoys at US 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo. TBJ Promotions is teaming with Scott Traylor Promotions for the midweek event at the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval.
“We are really looking forward to this event and working with Scott Traylor Promotions,” Bruce Jr. said. “US 36 Raceway is a lot like Eagle Raceway and I think the type of racing we will see is similar. It will be side-by-side competition until the checkered flag.”
For more information about TBJ Promotions and the events, as well as to find discounted tickets, visit www.tbjpromotions.com.
TBJ PROMOTIONS – TBJ Promotions is a full-service promotional company with an emphasis on sprint car racing. Owned and operated by Tony Bruce Jr., TBJ Promotions runs the Rock ‘N Roll 50 at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. (April 28), the Steve King Memorial at The Great American Dirt Track in Jetmore, Kan. (May 26-27), the Eagle Nationals at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb. (June 8-9) and the US 36 Nationals presented by RacinBoys at US 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo. (July 3). For more information, visit www.tbjpromotions.com.