From Peterson Media
Though he had some struggles early in the week that carried over into The Classic, Shane Stewart and his Monte Motorsports team found something on Sunday night that saw him climb in points, and just narrowly miss out on climbing into the feature event.
“We haven’t been very good lately,” Stewart said. “But my guys keep working hard, and we felt pretty good on Sunday night, but just missed out on the feature, and that’s disappointing to do, especially at the Grand Annual Classic.”
With 100 cars checked into the Premier Speedway for the biggest AU race of the year, Stewart struggled early out of the box as he timed in 56th quickest.
A heat win, and a ninth place heat finish were not enough to qualify the Monster Energy/Milwaukee Tools/GearWrench machine for any Saturday night features, so they were forced to watch as they sat 40th in points.
“Saturday night our car just didn’t feel like it was making any grip, and we weren’t able to move forward and gain any spots.”
Coming back with a fresh attitude on Sunday night, Stewart had his elbows up, as he raced his way to a second place heat finish, before a very impressive heat win, which ultimately shot him all the way up to 22nd in points, and put him in the third row of the B main.
With the track becoming very slick, Stewart and his Prosser Toyota/KRE Engines/Lucas Oil Products machine gave a vallient effort, as he battled hard with David Muir for the final transfer, came up just short, as he finished in the fifth spot.
“Our car was night and day different from Saturday night, and felt great all night,” Stewart said. “We just put ourselves in a bad spot on Saturday night, and were not able to overcome it. I’m hopeful we can continue to race good and get some results moving forward.”
Stewart and his Monte Motorsports team were also in action on Wednesday and Friday night for the President’s Cup as well as the Kings Challenge.
In Avalon, Stewart was 36th quick forcing him into a non-qualifers heat, and he narrowly snuck through that, putting him in the night’s heat race program.
Ninth and fifth place heat finishes put Stewart in the 11th spot in the B, and he again made the transfer to start last in the feature event.
On the opening lap of the feature a wreck ensued in front or Stewart, and he was unable to avoid contact, and his night was over.
Friday night the team was in action for the Kings Challenge, and Stewart got off to a much better start as he timed in fourth quickest over the 60 cars that were checked in.
A heat win, and an eighth place finish put the Bixby, OK driver in the show where he would roll off in the eighth spot.
A very narrow track provided single file action, and Stewart would wind up finishing in the sixth spot.
Shane and his Monte Motorsports team thank Monster Energy, Milwaukee, GearWrench, Prosser Toyota, KRE Engines, Lucas Oil Products, Factory Kahne Shocks, Kaeding Performance, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Miracle Recreation Equipment, Mahle Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, OGIO, GoPro, and DC Shoes.
2013 BY THE NUMBERS- Starts-10, Wins-0, Top 5’s-3, Top 10’s-5.
ON TAP: Shane and the Monte Motorsports team will return to WSS action on Saturday night at Speedway City.
Shane Stewart’s Down Under Tour Schedule-
February
2nd WSS #10 Speedway City, Adelaide
8th WSS #11 Manjimup Speedway, Manjimup, WA
9th WSS #12 Attwell Park Speedway, Albany WA
15th WSS #13 Bunbury Speedway, Bunbury WA
16th WSS #14 Bunbury Speedway, Bunbury WA
22nd WSS #15 Perth Motorplex, Kwinana WA
23rd WSS #16 Perth Motorplex, Kwinana WA
March
2nd Krikke Boys Bunbury Speedway, Bunbury WA
3rd Krikke Boys Bunbury Speedway, Bunbruy WA
9th General 25 Perth Motorplex, Kwinana WA
15th Darley Challenge Sydney Speedway, Parramatta
16th Darley Challenge Sydney Speedway, Parramatta
23rd TBA
29th Easter Trail Maryborough Speedway, QLD
30th Easter Trail Archerfield Speedway, Brisbane
31st Easter Trail Charlton Raceway, Toowoomba
STAY CONNECTED: For all of the latest news on Shane Stewart visit his website at www.shanestewart.com,become a fan of his on facebook at www.facebook.com/