From Bryan Hulbert
Tulsa, OK — (March 24, 2014) — The third installment of the Weekend Rewind for the American Sprint Car Series in 2014 centers around the weather shortened Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals which brought the total number of ASCS sanctioned events in 2014 to 11 with seven different winners at seven facilities in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
• Tony Bruce, Jr. – Seeing as how the Kansas native captured the win on Friday night, it’s only fitting that the rewind begins with the driver of The Oil Medics No. 18. Earning the pole, Bruce paced all 25 laps for his second career victory at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway. His first came on March 18, 2008 ahead of Gary Wright and Jason Sides. The triumph was Bruce’s eleventh overall in ASCS National competition and fourth with the Smiley’s Racing Products Lone Star Region.
• Windshield Time – The Friday portion of the 41st Spring Nationals saw 49 drivers in competition from 13 states including Canada. The Friday event was also the season opener for the Smiley’s Racing Products Lone Star Region.
• Lone Star Leader – El Paso, Texas native, John Carney II, has taken the early lead in the Smiley’s Racing Products Lone Star Region. Topping the West Texas ASCS 305cid Region the past two years, this is the first time Carney has led points in an ASCS 360cid region.
• National Leader – Speaking of points, Christopher Bell currently leads the Lucas Oil ASCS driver standings by 72 markers over Johnny Herrera. Only planning on running Friday night for car owner, Brandon Berryman, as the Lucas Oil POWRi Midgets and Keith Kunz Motorsports commanded the Oklahoma driver to Tulsa’s Port City Raceway on Saturday, where he won Saturday and Sunday at the one-fifth mile oval.
• The Delay – Devil’s Bowl Speedway officials made the call to postpone the second night of the Spring Nationals by one week due to the fact that it had already rained at the track and the forecast called for more. If you’ve never seen the pits at the Devil’s Bowl, they are soft. Really soft. Add water, and they are impassable. Having seen many a rig torn up when needing to be pulled out by tractor, crews are hopeful for a dry weekend.
• Rough Start – The first flip in National Tour competition for 2014 saw James Mosher end up with scrap metal after contact from another car sent the Consolidated Solar Technology No. 12 flipping violently at the start of the first heat. The incident also collected Travis Rilat who was able to make repairs after the second attempt at a start saw Danny Wood upside down after contact from Jordan Weaver’s right rear tire. Wood was thumbs up to crowd and crew once crews were able to get the car away from the concrete and did make a stop to chat with Ms. Weaver about the incident. Danny returned for a B-Feature where he ended up eight after starting fifteenth.
• Matt Covington – The runner up on Friday night, Matt Covington’s run popped the Glenpool, Okla. driver fifteenth to eighth in tour standings. The interesting part about Covington’s trip to the podium is it’s the first time on the silver step in National Tour competition. Matt has seen the gold medal position twice against the Lucas Oil ASCS. He has one third place finish.
• Sam Hafertepe, Jr. – Over the weekend the Sunnyvale, Texas driver revealed that he intends to run the full Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour in 2014. The third time Hafertepe has done so; the driver of the Lone Star Speedway No. 15H is currently third in tour standings, one point behind Herrera for second and one ahead of Jason Johnson.
• Provisional – Johnny Herrera may be second in points, but it also cost the Albuquerque driver a full point provisional to get in Friday’s Protect the Harvest A-Feature where he finished thirteenth after staring twenty-third.
• Blazin’ Racin’ – The Buffalo Wild Wings team has provided three drivers so far in 2014. Bryan Clauson and Sam Hafertepe, Jr. competed at the Cocopah Speedway in the series season opener while Kevin Swindell jumped behind the wheel this past weekend at the Devil’s Bowl. The four-time Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Champion hadn’t been behind the wheel since January, but that didn’t stop him from racing to a third place finish. The Blazin’ Racin’ team currently leads the ASCS Nationals Owner points.
On Deck: As of now, the Saturday portion of the Spring Nationals will take place on March 29. Gates open at 6:00 P.M. (CT) with races getting underway at 8:00 P.M. For updates and information, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com or http://www.devilsbowl.com.
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.