From David Smith Jr.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. (July 24, 2017) – It’s race number ten on the 2017 race season for the Sprint Series of Oklahoma IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car Series presented by Smiley’s Racing Products as the tour will make their second and final appearance of the season at Wichita Speedway in Wichita Falls, Texas this coming Friday night.
And while the official updated point standings for the SSO won’t be released until midday on Friday by IMCA, the battle for the points lead has tightened just a bit.
Coming into this past Friday night’s racing action at Elk City Speedway (OK), Fairview, Oklahoma’s Jake Martens had a 22-point advantage over defending series champion Andy Shouse. However, Shouse finished third, four spots ahead of Martens (seventh) which, unofficially, should cut the deficit for Shouse down to 18 points out of the lead.
The battle for third has also heated up as Chad Koch, who came into Elk City with an 18-point advantage over Joe Wood, Jr. finished a disappointing 21st while Joe Wood, Jr. finished second and unofficially has taken over the third position in the point standings by just two points.
This will be the fifth event SSO has competed at the Wichita Falls oval in its two-year history and John Carney II leads the way with two victories. Other drivers who have reached victory lane are Brandon Long and Wood. The average car count for those four previous visits is 33; the highest coming at the series inaugural event last March 4th (44 cars) and the lowest 19 cars back on April 3rd of last year.
Martens, Shouse, Koch, Wood and Long are all expected to compete, as are fellow touring regulars Loyd Clevenger, Cody Whitworth, Brandon Anderson, Blake Dacus, Chris Kelly, Jerry Jumper and Blake Scott.
A strong cast of “young-guns,” who are in the first year aboard sprint car, are also expected to make the tow across the southwestern Oklahoma/Texas state line include: Justin Fisk, Tristan Oakes, Dillon Laden, Tanner Conn, Cody Jarvis, Justin Mowery, Chase Smith and Steven Shebester – who picked up his first-career sprint car victory last Saturday night.
A host of Texas drivers are also expected to compete.
Gates open at 6:00 PM with race action slated for an 8:00 PM start time. Grandstand admission prices are just $12 while all pit passes will be $35.
For more race information call (940) 257-7936 and check out their official website www. Wichitaracewaypark.net or their facebook page: Wichita Speedway.
To learn more about the Sprint Series of Oklahoma, call Jim Messmer (405) 417-2202 or Ernie Messmer (405) 818-9007. You can receive daily updates on the series by accessing their official facebook page: Sprint Series of Oklahoma.