By Fully Injected Motorsports:
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (October 22, 2024) – The Dirt Oval @ Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, has certainly been kind to Clute, Texas’ own Aaron Reutzel, continuing his winning ways at the Chicago suburb oval with a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series triumph on Friday, October 18 – his first with the Greatest Show On Dirt since 2021. Impressive enough, the Route 66 victory – leading every circuit of the 25-lap contest – was Reutzel’s third in a row, mastering the All Star Circuit of Champions on back-to-back occasions before the $12,000 Outlaws score.
“This is awesome,” Reutzel said. “It’s been a long time. Just not going up and down the road like I used to you kind of lose your race craft a little bit. This feels great. I couldn’t feel more excited. My entire family is here. This is the first Outlaw win they’ve ever seen. Brian and Lisa Ridge, this is their first true Outlaw win. I just couldn’t be more happy to get it for them. They deserve it. They’ve given me everything. This one is definitely for them.”
Although Reutzel, ace of Brian and Lisa Ridge’s Folkens Brothers Trucking, Don Long & STC, B And L Holdings, American Table, Commercial Edge, No. 87 sprint car, led every circuit, there was some late race drama to overcome, as World of Outlaws championship contender, David Gravel, did his best to sneak by Reutzel while the Texan contended with a lapped car.
“I just had a lapped car make an erratic lane change,” Reutzel said of the final lap. “I knew I needed to do something, so I hurried up and went back to the top, and I just slid into it too hard. I’m glad we came out on top of that. That would’ve really sucked to lose it that way.”
ON DECK:
Tentatively, Ridge & Sons Racing and Aaron Reutzel [No. 87] will continue their 2024 campaign with a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series doubleheader – The Bull Ring Blitz – at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas, on Friday and Saturday, October 25-26.
2024 STATISTICS & HIGHLIGHTS:
Earned a King of the 360s preliminary victory at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday, February 14; finished fifth in the $10,000-to-win finale (February 16). Finished fifth from 22nd (Hard Charger Award) in World of Outlaws visit to Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas, on Friday, March 15. Finished third in World of Outlaws start at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, Texas, on Saturday, March 23. Rallied from 19th to finish eighth (WoO) at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri, on Saturday, April 13. Earned second victory of 2024 in Knoxville Raceway’s season opener on Saturday, May 4. Finished fourth during High Limit Racing start at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, on Friday, May 10. Won 360 Sprint Car main event at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, May 11. Finished 3rd in 410 Sprint Car main event at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, May 11. Earned POWRi Outlaw 410 victory at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa, on Friday, May 17. Finished second at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, May 18. Earned victory (360) and runner-up finish (410) at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, May 25. Finished second during 360 competition at Knoxville Raceway on Friday, May 31. Finished fourth during 410 competition at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, June 1. Earned back-to-back top-fives at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, June 8; fourth during 410 action and first during 360 action. Finished tenth with World of Outlaws at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, June 15. Won 360 main event at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on Saturday, June 29. Finished second in 410 sprint start at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, July 6. Won Knoxville Raceway 360 main event (fifth of season) on Saturday, July 13. Finished third in Knoxville Raceway 410 main event on Saturday, July 13. Won second Knoxville Raceway 410 main event of the season Saturday, July 20. Won 360 main event at Jackson Motorplex on Thursday, July 25. Finished within the top-ten twice at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, July 27; second during 360 action and eighth during 410 action. Finished fourth during World of Outlaws Jackson Nationals twice; Friday, August 16, and Saturday, August 17. Won 360 main event in Knoxville Raceway’s Season Championship Night. Won Night Before The Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway on Friday, September 6. Victorious in ASCS National Tour competition at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa, on Tuesday, September 10. Swept Texas Motor Speedway’s POWRi Fall Doubleheader on Friday and Saturday, October 4-5. Scored World of Outlaws victory at Dirt Oval @ Route 66 on Friday, October 18.
Stats:
Wins: 17
Top-Fives: 35
Top-Tens: 41
SPECIAL THANKS:
Ridge & Sons Racing and Aaron Reutzel would like to thank all of their marketing partners: Folkens Brothers Trucking, Don Long & STC, B And L Holdings, American Table, Commercial Edge, Rasmusson Service Center, The P.O. Box, and Bargain Barn.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/83RSRRacing
X: https://twitter.com/RSR_883
News coverage: www.fullyinjected.com
BROADCAST COVERAGE:
Watch Knoxville Raceway online at www.dirtvision.com.
Watch the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series online at www.dirtvision.com.
Watch the High Limit Sprint Car Series online at www.floracing.com.
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CONTACT:
Tyler Altmeyer
Photo Credit: Trent Gower
#FIMotorsports
altmeyer119@gmail.com
info@fullyinjected.com
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