From Andrew Kunas
Coeur, d’Alene, ID — (May 27, 2015) — After bad weather twice thwarted efforts by the Frontier Region of the American Sprint Car Series to kick off its 2015 season the tour will make its third try to get things going with events scheduled this Friday and Saturday nights at Billings Motorsports Park.
This weekend’s events are to make up the originally scheduled season opening events that were cancelled on May 8th and 9th. The races scheduled for May 15th and 16th at Electric City Speedway in Great Falls, Montana were also cancelled (and also rescheduled for June 5th and 6th).
Hopefully, the third time’s the charm.
Defending ASCS Frontier Region champion Joe Ramaker of Chotaeu, Montana is eager to begin his title defense aboard his Ramaker Racing No. 98 machine at a track where he scored two of his six main event wins on his way to the championship in 2014. He took wins in June and July and was on the podium two other times at Billings, but he’ll have stiff competition waiting to go after him this weekend.
Quilcene, Washington’s J.J. Hickle hopped aboard the Peterson Racing No. 23n based out of Great Falls, Montana late last season and scored a pair of victories, including the opening night of the Dan Laber Memorial at Billings. Hickle is expected to be back in the No. 23n this weekend and should be one of the favorites to find victory lane on either night along with Ramaker. Hickle already has a win to his credit this season racing in his home state of Washington back in April.
2013 series champion Phil Dietz had mixed feelings towards his 2014 season. He finished third in the point standings and failed to win a race but he finished second five times and looked strong towards the end of the season in the Dietz Prevost Racing No. 72. The four-time Montana sprint car champion out of Laurel, Montana will look to start off the season on a strong note aboard new equipment at his home track.
Former Big Sky Sprints champion Trever Kirkland of Helena, Mont. will also be in new equipment aboard his No. 37 machine. Kirkland picked up a win at Gallatin Speedway last July and eventually finished fourth in the points. David Hoiness, out of Billings, will have a new look on the Hoiness Racing No. 27dd as well and will look to improve on his seventh place points finish (despite missing two races) from last season. Hoiness finished second in the season finale at Billings, also the site of his first career sprint car victory.
South Dakota’s D.J. Brink, who won the second night of the Dan Laber Memorial in dominating fashion to close out the 2014 season at Billings, is also planning to race this weekend.
Other drivers expected to be on hand include Jeremy Mccune, Joe Perry, Kelly Miller, Bryan Brown, Shad Petersen, Adam Speckman and Josh Ostermiller. Cars and drivers are expected from Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota , Alberta and Washington this weekend.
Racing is scheduled for 7:00 both nights at Billings Motorsports Park, located north of the city on U.S. Hwy 87 just past the town of Shepherd.
The Frontier Region of the American Sprint Car Series, presented in part by Speedmart Inc. is a winged 360 dirt sprint car tour racing around the state of Montana and beyond. More information on the ASCS Frontier Region can be found online at frontier.ascsracing.com or you can follow the series on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ascsfrontier. The national website of the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by MAVTV American Real is http://www.ascsracing.com.
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American Sprint Car Series – Fronter Region
2015 schedule *subject to change*
May 29 – Billings Motorsports Park – Shepherd, MT
May 30 – Billings Motorsports Park – Shepherd, MT
June 5 – Electric City Speedway – Great Falls, MT
June 6 – Electric City Speedway – Great Falls, MT
June 12 – Gallatin Speedway – Belgrade, MT
June 13 – Billings Motorsports Park – Shepherd, MT
June 19 – Electric City Speedway – Great Falls, MT
June 20 – Electric City Speedway – Great Falls, MT
July 17 – Electric City Speedway – Great Falls, MT (with ASCS National Tour)
July 18 – Billings Motorsports Park – Shepherd, MT (with ASCS National Tour)
July 31 – Gallatin Speedway – Belgrade, MT
August 1 – Billings Motorsports Park – Shepherd, MT
August 14 – Gallatin Speedway – Belgrade, MT
August 15 – Billings Motorsports Park – Shepherd, MT
September 4 – Electric City Speedway – Great Falls, MT (21st Annual Montana Roundup)
September 5 – Electric City Speedway – Great Falls, MT (21st Annual Montana Roundup)
September 6 – Electric CIty Speedway – Great Falls, MT (21st Annual Montana Roundup)
September 11 – Sheridan Speedway – Sheridan, WY
September 12 – Gallatin Speedway – Belgrade, MT (Gibson Guitar Big Sky Supernationals)
September 18 – Billings Motorsports Park – Shepherd, MT (Dan Laber Memorial)
September 19 – Billings Motorsports Park – Shepherd, MT (Dan Laber Memorial)