From Bryan Hulbert
Tulsa, OK — (March 14, 2014) — The season’s first stop at the half-mile Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas is within sight for the drivers of the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real.
The 41st running of the Spring Nationals and second Matt Clevenger Memorial will take place Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22 at the Mesquite oval, which was the site of Kyle Bellm’s first Protect the Harvest A-Feature triumph in the rain shortened 2013 event.
In terms of overall visits to the Devil’s Bowl, the coming Spring Nationals is the 53rd event sanctioned under the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour banner since the series first began visiting in 1994. The weekend potentially represents race number 76 and 77 for the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour, which has seen 26 drivers emerge triumphantly. Gary Wright tops that list with 20 wins to his credit.
A quick overview of the current top 15 in tour standings heading into the Spring Nationals shows Rico Abreu leading the way. Running a varied schedule of 410cid and 360cid events in 2014, the California driver will stick to his home state as the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour heads to Texas.
Christopher Bell holds second after earning a pair of podiums in the season opener aboard the Brandon Berryman owned No. 31b. Brian Brown, who topped the 2013 Winter Nationals, sits third with Roger Crockett fourth. With limited funding, Crockett’s season will be based primarily around his home state of Oregon. Jason Johnson is the highest running full time tour regular at this point in the Mesilla Valley Transportation No. 41 owned by Stenhouse, Jr. Racing and co-owned by Curb / Agajanian Performance Group.
Running the Buffalo Wild Wings entry when able, non-wing ace Bryan Clauson is currently tied with Johnny Herrera for sixth. Brad Loyet enters the Spring Nationals eighth with Sam Hafertepe, Jr. ninth. The Sunnyvale, Texas driver, is also running a mixed schedule in 2014. Seth Bergman currently holds tenth in the Oil Field Equipment and Manufacturing No. 23 powered by A.S.I. Racing Engines.
Logan Forler, who plans to run a regional/national schedule in 2014, sits eleventh, with 2014 tour Rookie Blake Hahn twelfth in the Griffith Truck and Equipment No. 17. After a rough start to the season that cost Jeff Swindell a full-point provisional, the Tennessee driver is thirteenth in the Heartland Catfish No. 94 with Ohsweken Speedway promoter, Glenn Styres, fourteenth. Returning to full time national competition for the first time since 2012, Matt Covington currently rounds out the top 15 in the T&L Foundry No. 95.
The Spring Nationals also represents the start of the Smiley’s Racing Products Lone Star Region’s 2014 season. Matt Covington is the defending champion of the region.
The 41st Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals and Matt Clevenger Memorial opens both nights at 6:00 P.M. (CT) with racing set to begin at 8:00 P.M. Pit Gates will open at 2:00 P.M. both nights.
Support Classes for the Spring Nationals will include Limited Modifieds and Modifieds on Friday, March 21 with the Modifieds swapped out for the Racesaver 305 powered by A.S.I. Racing Engines on Saturday, March 22. For more information on the Devil’s Bowl Speedway including directions, lodging, and ticket information log onto http://www.devilsbowl.com or call 972-222-2421.
Past Devil’s Bowl Winners (Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour: Win Totals):
Gary Wright 20, Jason Johnson 10, Wayne Johnson 6, Kevin Ramey 4, Danny Jennings 3, Sammy Swindell 3, Garry Lee Maier 2, Jeff Swindell 2, Johnny Herrera 2, Mike Peters 2, Shane Carson 2, Shane Stewart 2, Terry Gray 2, Travis Rilat 2, Brian Brown-2, Alan Payne, Danny Lasoski, Edd French, Jack Dover, Jake Peters, Kyle Bell, Larry Neighbors, Mike Ward, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Tim Crawley, Tony Bruce, Jr.
The Series:
Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real
Event:
41st Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals and Matt Clevenger Memorial
When:
Friday, March 21 – Open at 6:00 P.M. / Racing at 8:00 P.M.
Saturday, March 22 – Open at 6:00 P.M. / Racing at 8:00 P.M.
Where:
Devil’s Bowl Speedway
11711 Lawson Rd.
Mesquite, TX 75181
Contact Information:
Website: http://www.devilsbowl.com
Email: info@devilsbowl.com
Phone: 972-222-2421
Event Coverage:
Online audio will be available at http://www.racinboys.com. Live broadcasts are brought to you by Lucas Oil and presented by the McCarthy Auto Group, located in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Line-ups, finishes, and further updates are provided throughout each race night at http://www.facebook.com/
Live Timing and scoring is available at most Lucas Oil ASCS events via Race Monitor that is available in the App Store of your Smart Phone or Tablet.
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2014 A-Feature Winner(s): Rico Abreu-2
2014 Lucas Oil ASCS Driver Standings (Top 10): 1. Rico Abreu 300; 2. Christopher Bell 284; 3. Brian Brown 265; 4. Roger Crockett 254; 5. Jason Johnson 241; 6. Bryan Clauson 238; 7. Johnny Herrera 238; 8. Brad Loyet 321; 9. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 219; 10. Seth Bergman 218;
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The 2014 season marks the twenty-third year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, which brings the best of Sprint Car racing to dozens of different tracks throughout the nation. Anchored by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV include: Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, iON Camera, Smokey Mountain Moonshine, C&R Radiator, Hawk Performance Products, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, and General Tire.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, KSE Racing Products, SpeedMart, Competition Suspension, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Saldana Racing Products, Maxwell Industries, Print Place, Simpson, The Joie of Seating, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley’s Racing Products, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection Systems.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com as well as Twitter (@LucasOilASCS) and Facebook. News and information can also be sent to you with the ASCS E-News by texting ASCS to 22828 with any mobile device.