By Bryan Hulbert
MESQUITE, Texas (March 29, 2014) – For the second time in four races, a first time winner emerged with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real as Patrick Stasa led the distance to claim the title of Spring Nationals Champion at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
Asked if he could find the words to describe the win, Stasa replied, “Oh man, there’s no way. Running against Christopher Bell; him on the high side there, I almost let him have it with the lapped cars.” Thanking sponsors and crew, Stasa later added, “I haven’t even won a regional race, so winning this national race is big for me.”
Earning the pole of the 30 lap, Protect the Harvest A-Feature, Stasa jumped to the lead over Christopher Bell, opening his advantage to over a second before the caution flew on Lap 2 for the stalled No. 87 of Aaron Reutzel.
Back at speed, Stasa again began to pace away from the field with Matt Covington and John Carney II in pursuit of Bell for the runner up spot. Working past Covington for third on a Lap 7 restart the El Paso driver began working on the Berryman Motorsports No. 31b, taking the position on Lap 12.
A straight-a-way removed from the lead, slower traffic brought Carney to Stasa’s back bumper in a matter of laps. Looking to the inside-line for the pass several times on Stasa, the Young Tool No. 19 held the top spot as the dueling drivers allowed Bell to begin closing the gap.
Working off turn-four to complete Lap 23, the leaders saw their night nearly coming to an abrupt end as Brandon Hanks slowed suddenly down the front straight-a-way. Hard on the brakes and trapped between the front stretch walls, Stasa narrowly missed the right-rear of Hanks with Carney nearly over the back of the No. 19; allowing Bell to nearly grab the lead.
“I kind of threw the Hail Mary there going down the front stretch. They all had to check up, and it gave me a big ‘ol run,” commented Bell on the near pileup. “I drove it off into one on the top and jut got beat down there on the bottom.”
Carney worked back to second with five to go.
“I shouldn’t have been so patient on that. I wasn’t sure what to do and I really didn’t want to wreck, so I really waited a little too long and that let Bell get in there. If I would have just jammed it though there, I might have got the lead right then,” said Carney.
Carney challenge for the lead in the final two laps, but wouldn’t have enough to get around the Print Place No. 19. Christopher Bell took the final podium step. Matt Covington came from eighth to fourth with prelim night winner, Tony Bruce, Jr. making up the top five.
Jason Johnson came from thirteenth to sixth. Travis Rilat crossed seventh with Kolt Walker from fourteenth to ninth. Jeff Swindell rounded out the top-ten after starting eighteenth.
Three Heat Races went to Aaron Reutzel, Blake Hahn, and John Carney II. The night’s line B-Feature was won by Brad Loyet.
Patrick Stasa’s win counted double as the Ft. Worth, Texas driver scored the highest points for the Smiley’s Racing Products Lone Star Region, followed by Carney, Rilat, Walker, and Edwards as the top five point earners.
The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real heads next to the I-30 Speedway in Little, Rock, Ark. on Saturday, April 12. For updates and information regarding the American Sprint Car Series, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real
Smiley’s Racing Products Lone Star Region
41st Spring Nationals – Finale
Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Mesquite, Texas
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Car Count: 27
Heat Races presented by SpeedMart – 8 Laps, winners plus top 10 in passing points to A-Feature.
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel[2]; 2. 45-Martin Edwards[1]; 3. 19-Patrick Stasa[5]; 4. 29T-Travis Rilat[7]; 5. 23-Seth Bergman[6]; 6. 3H-Brandon Hanks[8]; 7. (DNF) 12W-Dale Wester[3]; 8. (DNF) 29-Brandon Hahn[4]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Blake Hahn[1]; 2. 11-Joe Wood Jr[2]; 3. 41-Jason Johnson[3]; 4. 12M-Kolt Walker[5]; 5. 45X-Johnny Herrera[4]; 6. 94-Jeff Swindell[7]; 7. 3-Raven Culp[8]; 8. 4X-Shawn Petersen[6]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 74B-John Carney II[1]; 2. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[2]; 3. 14-Michael Lang[4]; 4. 28-Channin Tankersley[3]; 5. 05-Brad Loyet[6]; 6. 10W-George White[8]; 7. 17X-Josh Baughman[7]; 8. 58-Gary Floyd[5]
Smiley’s Racing Products B-Features – Top 6 advance to the A-Feature.
B Feature 1 (10 Laps): 1. 05-Brad Loyet[1]; 2. 94-Jeff Swindell[5]; 3. 3H-Brandon Hanks[2]; 4. 45X-Johnny Herrera[4]; 5. 10W-George White[3]; 6. 17X-Josh Baughman[7]; 7. 4X-Shawn Petersen[9]; 8. 3-Raven Culp[6]; 9. 58-Gary Floyd[10]; 10. (DNF) 29-Brandon Hahn[11]; DNS 12W-Dale Wester
Protect the Harvest A-Feature
A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 19-Patrick Stasa[1]; 2. 74B-John Carney II[6]; 3. 31B-Christopher Bell[2]; 4. 95-Matt Covington[8]; 5. 18-Tony Bruce Jr[5]; 6. 17-Blake Hahn[3]; 7. 41-Jason Johnson[13]; 8. 29T-Travis Rilat[7]; 9. 12M-Kolt Walker[14]; 10. 94-Jeff Swindell[18]; 11. 45-Martin Edwards[11]; 12. 45X-Johnny Herrera[20]; 13. 23-Seth Bergman[16]; 14. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[10]; 15. 14-Michael Lang[12]; 16. 17X-Josh Baughman[22]; 17. (DNF) 3H-Brandon Hanks[19]; 18. (DNF) 05-Brad Loyet[17]; 19. (DNF) 10W-George White[21]; 20. (DNF) 11-Joe Wood Jr[9]; 21. (DNF) 28-Channin Tankersley[15]; 22. (DNF) 87-Aaron Reutzel[4]; 23. (DNF) 29-Brandon Hahn[23]
Lap Leader(s): Patrick Stasa, 1-30
KSE Hard Charger: Jeff Swindell +8
Hawk Performance Fastest Lap: Patrick Stasa – 14.126 seconds
CSI Rebound: Dale Wester
Provisional(s): Brandon Hahn (P2)
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2014 A-Feature Winner(s): Rico Abreu-2, Tony Bruce, Jr. – 1, Patrick Stasa – 1
2014 Lucas Oil ASCS Driver Standings (Top 10): 1. Christopher Bell 549; 2. Tony Bruce, Jr. 459; 3. Jason Johnson 458; 4. Matt Covington 457; 5. Johnny Herrera 448; 6. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 443; 7. Seth Bergman 441; 8. Brad Loyet 427; 9. Blake Hahn 422; 10. Jeff Swindell 413;
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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.
Racesaver 305 Feature: 1. Raven Clup, 2. Robert Vetter, 3. C.J. Duarate, 4. Martin Edwards, 5. Logan Payne, 6. Dalton Stevens, 7. Johnny Miller, 8. Tony Bruce, Jr., 9. Bobby Ruffin, 10. Justin Zimmerman, 11. Caleb Martin, 12. Brad Queen, 13. Ricahrd Miller, 14. Justin Fifield, 15. Michael Lang, 16. Dustin Gates, 17. ShawnPetersen, 18. Tucker Doughty, 20. Jeff Day, 21. Joshua Hemby, 22. Russell Shoulders, 23. Scott Peterson, 24. Derek Silvers, 25. Zane Lawrence.