From Peterson Media
Following a week off, Tony Bruce, Jr and his Bruce Racing team were back in action over the weekend for three nights of action during the LoneStar Nationals at the LoneStar Speedway in Kilgore, Texas.
It was a very wild weekend for Bruce, and it got started during heat race action on Thursday night. Lining up for his heat, the u-joint failed on TBJ’s Hinchman/Pro Auto/Oil Medics machine, and he was forced into the B main event, where he would start in the back.
Coming from the tail of the field, TBJ put on quite a dazzling display of passing, as he charged to a fourth place finish, and transferred into the preliminary feature event, where he would start in the 24th spot.
The night continued to be full of excitement, as he spun out on the seventh lap, after working into the top-15, and was forced to restart at the tail again. Over the next 23 laps, TBJ was able to make up some serious ground, as he survived a very rough and tumble track, and scored a seventh place finish.
Returning to action on Friday night, it seemed to go a little more smooth for the Eagle Motorsports/Smiley’s/SWE machine, as TBJ kicked the night off by winning his heat race from the second row, and would go on to pull the three pill for the feature event.
TBJ didn’t quite get the start he was looking for, as he slipped back to the sixth spot initially. Unable to recover, Bruce simply got in line, and ended his night in the sixth spot, but was able to lock himself into the 10th starting spot for the 40-lap feature event on Saturday night.
In fitting fashion from the rest of the weekend, sparks continued to fly on Saturday night, as he was involved in a lap-one crash that sent his machine upside down, thus ending his night.
“We had an eventful weekend to say the least,” Bruce said. “We started off Thursday with a parts failure, and rebounded to a seventh place finish. Friday we didn’t have any issues, and ended up sixth, and unfortunately on Saturday, a couple guys tried winning the race on the first lap, and knocked us out before it got started.”
Bruce would like to thank all of his sponsors, Hinchman Racewear, Pro Auto, Eagle Motorsports, The Oil Medics, Smileys, SWE, Maxwell Industries, FK Rod Ends, Butlerbuilt, Factory Kahne Shocks, Randy’s Racing Filters, DriversWebsites.com, Racinboys.com, Wilwood, Zemco Headers, Hoosier Tires, Pro Powder Coating, Fuel Safe, Bell, Weld Wheels, and ISC Racer’s Tape for their support through the 2012 season.
ON TAP: TBJ will take a week off before returning to action on October 12th, and 13th at the LoneStar Speedway for the 2nd Annual LoneStar Nationals.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay updated with TBJ by visiting his website at
www.tonybrucejr.com, or by following him on twitter @tonybrucejr
SPONSOR SHOUT OUT: SWE
With nearly 30 years in the racing industry, Steve Watt of SWE is a dealer of various parts and components for both sprint cars and midgets to end up parked in victory lane on a nightly basis.
“When myself or Wayne (Priddy) feel like we don’t have the answer, we call Steve Watt.,” said TBJ. “His knowledge is so vast and valuable to our team. SWE has also launched a new line of aluminum race products for winged and non-winged sprint cars for 2012. Give Steve a call when you feel the need learn from one of the best in the business. “