From Bryan Hulbert
Tulsa, OK — (July 20, 2015) — With the road signs now facing east, the 25th Arnold Motors Supply Knoxville Nationals is within sight, but before black Iowa clay can be seen, the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network sets course for new ground as the National Tour debuts at the Gillette Thunder Speedway in Gillette, Wy. this coming Wednesday, July 22.
A semi-banked, three-eighths mile oval located just east of Gillette, ASCS Regional competition with the former Rocky Mountain Region dotted the yearly lineup with the last ASCS sanctioned event held on August 29, 2009 with Ned Powers parking in Victory Lane.
That’s not to say that currently Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour drivers have not seen action at the Wyoming oval, as an open event held in 2014 attracted Aaron Reutzel and Matt Covington with the T&L Foundry No. 95 of Covington picking up the win. Reutzel had led early on before mechanical failure sent the B.C. Funds No. 87 to the pits.
The 29th state to see action with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour, Aaron Reutzel leads the charge into the mid-week affair, carrying a weekend win at the Electric City Speedway and runner-up at the Billings Motorsports Park into the Gillette Thunder Speedway.
Keeping the No. 87 at bay during the closing laps of Saturday’s feature at the BMP Speedway, Johnny Herrera holds the runner-up spot in National Tour standings. On a streak at the moment, Herrera’s MVT No. 45x has not finished outside the top-five in the series last five outings, a streak which includes two wins.
Hard charging after being forced to the tail for visiting the work area on Saturday night, Seth Bergman holds third in tour standings with Wayne Johnson coming off a podium run this past Saturday holding fourth. Matt Covington currently holds the fifth position.
For fans of the Gillette Thunder Speedway, a recent cancellation of the World of Outlaw Late Models due to Mother Nature will see tickets purchased for the event honored at this Wednesday’s Lucas Oil ASCS debut. As there is a price difference between the two events, fans who present their WoO Late Model ticket at the front gate will receive a $5 refund as the price for admission on July 22 is only $25. Children ages six and under will be admitted free into the grandstands.
Tickets can be purchased the day of the race at the track.
For continued updates on the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.