From Inside Line Promotions –
Tucson, AZ — (March 11, 2014) — The season couldn’t have started on a much tougher note for Austen Wheatley, who collided with an infield tire as he was getting up to speed to qualify.
“I think it would have been quick on the bottom to qualify there, but I just misjudged it,” he said.
The minor miscue last Wednesday during the opening night of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series doubleheader at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas caused a broken front end and Wheatley was spun around, ultimately stopping against the wall in turn four.
“I think it was the first night for half the field,” he said. “They all got that first night to test and tune. Thursday was like a catch-up night for me.”
Wheatley scratched from the remainder of Wednesday’s event and he returned to the half-mile oval on Thursday, when he qualified 28th quickest before placing eighth in his heat race. Wheatley ended the night with an 11th-place result in the Last Chance Showdown.
“I think there was some good speed, but I made a lot of mistakes,” he said. “On half miles you want to be as straight as possible. Your previous corner affects the next one. You don’t want to scrub a whole bunch of speed off. It’s really easy to lose time on the big tracks.”
The team headed to Tucson International Raceway on Saturday for the NAPA Wildcat Shootout and Wheatley started the night by timing in 28th quickest.
“Qualifying can basically make or break your night,” he said.
That started him last in a heat race and Wheatley advanced to place ninth, which sent him to the Last Chance Showdown. After starting ninth, Wheatley rocketed to seventh in the opening laps and was on the rear bumper of the sixth-place car, which was the final transfer to the main event.
“I caught the pack and was one spot out,” he said. “You weren’t going to pass him if you were just following him. And you weren’t going to slid someone because of the wind. Had the wind not been a factor that would have been a whole different race. I tried to hit the bottom and the wind blew me right off of it and I got freight trained.”
Wheatley lost a couple of positions and ended with a ninth-place result.
He is set to return to action this Friday and Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.
“As far as going to Tulare, we should be good,” he said. “It’s a lot easier to race because the corners are so quick and it’s so tight. You can be really aggressive and take chances.”
Fans can watch Wheatley and the World of Outlaws action at Thunderbowl Raceway via live Pay-Per-View on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit http://www.DIRTVision.com.
QUICK RESULTS –
March 6 – The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas – Qualifying: 28; Heat race: 8 (7); B Main: 11 (8).
March 8 – Tucson International Raceway in Tucson, Ariz. – Qualifying: 28; Heat race: 9 (10); B Main: 9 (9).
SEASON STATS –
2 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 0 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.AustenWheatley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
APPAREL –
Wheatley will have t-shirts and hoodies for sale at every race he competes at this season. For his schedule of races, visit http://www.AustenWheatley.com.