From Bryan Hulbert
AMARILLO, Texas (June 10, 2017) — Earning his first victory with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series National Tour presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network on March 22, 2013 at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway, the “Lone Star State” delivered Kyle Bellm his second career National Tour score this past Saturday during Night 2 of the 2017 ASCS Sizzlin’ Summer Speedweek at Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo, Texas.
“Man, what a day,” chuckled the driver of the R.A.M.S. No. 14k. “It’s been a long time since I stood in National Tour Victory Lane, it’s been a year since I won an ASCS Regional race, so we we’re pretty hard up for one. You know, Hahn’s a great driver, his tire just let go. I was doing everything I could to keep the car straight. I knew it was going to be that kind of race.”
Gridding the field third, Bellm protected the position as the track moved from the high grove to the middle with rubber starting to set in, a restart on Lap 7 after Sam Hafertepe, Jr. lost his left-rear tire, Bellm was looking at the rear bumper of John Carney II who trailed Blake Hahn for the lead.
With the focus on keeping the car as straight as possible, Hahn was able to keep Carney at bay as the pair began finding the tail of the field. Giving the No. 11x a chance to close within striking distance, Bellm continued to hold his position in third.
Slowed again on Lap 16, the top three remained unchanged as further back, drivers worked to hold the narrow racing groove. To the final five laps, tires began to smoke heavily as drivers began putting a little more leg into it. Running the No. 52 down, John Carney II moved by Hahn off the fourth turn on Lap 21, but the lead would disappear as fast as it appeared with Carney’s right rear coming apart.
Advancing Hahn back to the point with Bellm in tow, it was all about survival. To the white flag, Bellm began to pressure the No. 52. Edging low on Hahn, the lead was within Bellm’s grasp with the top spot eventually dropping right into his hands as Hahn’s tires retired.
Advancing the No. 14k to the point, Bellm raced under the checkered flag as a massive crash broke out on the back stretch. All drivers involved were unharmed. With Bellm crossing under the checked flag, the race was official. .Johnny Herrera ended up second in the MVT No. 45x from sixth with Matt Covington coming from eighth to third. Wayne Johnson was fourth with Josh Baughman advancing from 12th to complete top five.
Seth Bergman was sixth with Skylar Gee seventh. From 13th, Aaron Reutzel came up to eighth. Earning the CP-Carrillo Hard Charger of the Night, Justin Henderson rolled to ninth after starting 19th with Paul Solomon tenth.
Three Heat Races went to Jake Bubak, Johnny Herrera, and Seth Bergman. No provisional starts were utilized. The Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network heads for the next round of Speedweek on Tuesday, June 13 at the famed Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas. More information on the event can be found at http://www.devilsbowl.com.
For continued updates on the American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to the seven regional tours that make up the over 150 dates across the ASCS Nation, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
Race Results:
Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
Route 66 Motor Speedway – Amarillo, Texas
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Speedweek – Night 2
Car Count: 21
Heat Races: (All entrants advance to the A-Feature)
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 74B-Jake Bubak, [1]; 2. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [6]; 3. 99-Skylar Gee, [2]; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [5]; 5. 17W-Harli White, [4]; 6. 26M-Fred Mattox, [3]; 7. 1-Justin Henderson, [7]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 45X-Johnny Herrera, [1]; 2. 52-Blake Hahn, [7]; 3. 7-Paul Solomon, [2]; 4. 17-Josh Baughman, [3]; 5. 83-Chris Solomon, [4]; 6. 77X-C.J. Hulsey, [6]; 7. 20G-Jake Greider, [5]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 23-Seth Bergman, [1]; 2. 14K-Kyle Bellm, [2]; 3. 95-Matt Covington, [4]; 4. 11X-John Carney II, [7]; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [5]; 6. 93-Dustin Morgan, [3]; 7. 77-Colt Treharn, [6]
Protect the Harvest A-Feature:
A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 14K-Kyle Bellm, [3]; 2. 45X-Johnny Herrera, [6]; 3. 95-Matt Covington, [8]; 4. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [5]; 5. 17-Josh Baughman, [12]; 6. 23-Seth Bergman, [4]; 7. 99-Skylar Gee, [9]; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [13]; 9. 1-Justin Henderson, [19]; 10. 7-Paul Solomon, [10]; 11. 52-Blake Hahn, [1]; 12. 93-Dustin Morgan, [18]; 13. 77-Colt Treharn, [20]; 14. 83-Chris Solomon, [15]; 15. 11X-John Carney II, [2]; 16. 17W-Harli White, [14]; 17. 26M-Fred Mattox, [17]; 18. 74B-Jake Bubak, [7]; 19. 20G-Jake Greider, [21]; 20. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [11]; 21. 77X-C.J. Hulsey, [16]
Lap Leader(s): Blake Hahn 1-20; John Carney II 21; Kyle Bellm 22-25
CP-Carrillo Hard Charger: Justin Henderson +10
FSR High Point Driver: Blake Hahn
Provisional(s): N/A