From Bryan Hulberg
The Hose Advantage Store ASCS Southwest Region was the final branch of the ASCS Nation in competition, taking to the Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek.
A weekly look at some of the details from the previous weekend’s events begins now:
• First Time, sort of: It was a weekend for first time regional winners. Knoxville, Iowa’s Jon Agan powered to his first Gulf South victory on Friday night at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park along with Jason Johnson who topped the West Texas 305 Region at the El Paso Speedway Park. Saturday night saw a pair of Non-Wing veterans top the winged world. Brady Bacon added his name to the list of 305 winners in his third attempt at a 305 feature. A state away, Bob Ream, Jr. came from seventh to win his first Hose Advantage Store Southwest Regional event.
• Knock out the Lights: A storm a week earlier didn’t look to have caused any damage to the Golden Triangle Raceway Park, but as races got underway on Friday, a short in the lights made itself known. Having to bring in portable lights for the back straight-a-way, track promoter Glen Johnson saved what could have been a tough loss to swallow.
• How’s the Weather?: Rain in the Gulf South called off Saturday at the Royal Purple Raceway before Brunch. Further north in southern New Mexico, the Weatherman was telling lies as a zero percent chance of precipitation saw scattered showers and very high winds throughout most of the afternoon. The question was raised as to whether or not the races at the Southern New Mexico Speedway had ever been called for wind. The most recent example occurred on March 11, 2006 when 70+ MPH winds called off night two of the National Sprint Tour’s double header at the New Mexico oval.
• Casey Minks Motorsports: A figure in west Texas and southern New Mexico, Casey Minks fielded two cars over the weekend with Aaron Reutzel in one and Brady Bacon in the other. The over the top car owner picked his drivers well as they delivered a pair of top five runs, including a win on the part of Bacon.
• Long Miles: It was interesting to see the results come in over the weekend. In all, drivers from 13 states (AZ, IA, IN, KS, LA, MS, MT, NM, OH, OK, TN, TX, WA) and two countries (United States and Mexico) took part in at least one ASCS event. Montana’s Phil Dietz had to log neatly 1,300 miles to get from Billings to Queen Creek, Ariz.
• Hard Charger: A.S.I. Racing Engines put up a combined $1,000 bonus money for the Hard Chargers in El Paso and Las Cruces. Friday night saw John Carney, II take half that money by advancing 10 spots. Saturday went to Aaron Reutzel who advanced from sixteenth to fifth.
• 14: Is the number of ASCS Region that Jason has earned at least one victory since adding his win at the El Paso Speedway Park with the West Texas ASCS 305 Region.
• No Brakes: Defending Gulf South Regional Champion, Ray Allen Kulhanek, started the A-Feature at Golden Triangle Raceway Park eighth, jumped to fourth, but ended up fifteenth when all was said and done after the brakes on the No. 21t locked up and forced the Conroe, Texas driver to spin.
• Tony Bruce, Jr. is on fire: Not in a good way either as an oil leak caused flames to erupt on the Lubbock Wrecker Service No. 18 during his Heat Race. Playing it safe, Bruce pulled off and worked from the fifth row of his B-Feature, to ninth in the A-Feature.
• Getting Better: The 2013 season for the Hose Advantage Store Southwest Region was a season of rebuilding with car counts in the teens throughout the year. This past weekend, the region saw 20 drivers take to the Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. The 2014 season is the second under the stewardship of Roger Toops.
On Deck: The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real goes into rounds three and four on March 21 and 22 at the 41st Spring Nationals at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas. Shortened to a single day affair in 2013, Kyle Bellm is the reigning champion of the Spring Nationals.
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.