Lucas Oil ASCS Championship Battle heads to Arizona
Bryan Hulbert – SOMERTON, Ariz. (November 3, 2013) All the miles, all the laps, all the strategy comes down to a single weekend as the stage is set for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real season finale on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 at the Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. just outside Yuma.
Presented by the Cocopah Resort and Casino, A first day purse of $3,000 to win on Friday, will give way to a staggering $20,000 to win on Saturday night with a possible $5,000 bonus on the line for series points leader Jason Johnson.
The final two rounds of the Cocopah Cup Challenge, the opening rounds in March saw the three time series champion sweep the weekend’s $3,000 and $10,000 to win features. If Johnson can repeat that success, his total bank from the three-eighths mile Arizona oval in 2013 will be $41,000.
Following a weekend of ups and down in the fight for the season ending $60,000 champions check, challenger Johnny Herrera nearly saw all hopes at the title dashed when the MVT No. 45x was involved in a three car melee on the start of Friday’s Protect the Harvest A-Feature at the El Paso Speedway Park. Retreating to the work area, several teams jumped in to complete repairs on Herrera’s mangled machine as track crews went to work patching the catch fence that lines the front straight-a-way. Axles, Wings, Shocks, and a myriad of bolt on parts were exchanged and Herrera was able to come from the tail to tenth while Johnson placed sixth.
Saturday night at the Southern New Mexico Speedway was Jason Johnson’s turn it seemed. Tipping over in his Heat Race trying to avoid the spinning No. 17w of Cole Wood, crews were able to get Johnson back to the track with time to spare. Transferring to the A-Feature, the start sent to the Waco Metals No. 41 back to the work area after colliding with the flipping No. 41x of Cody Mansfield. Wings and a handful of bolt on parts saw the No. 41 returning to the racing surface with Johnson rallying to ninth with Herrera placing third.
A 66 point advantage over Herrera going into the weekend, the difference stands at 56 between the top two point earners going into the season finale.
Third sitting Jeff Swindell placed the Heartland Catfish No. 94 second Friday night. Running in the top five in the closing laps Saturday night, mechanical issues in the final rounds relegated Swindell to tenth to bring his advantage over Brad Loyet to 67 points who suffered a DNF Saturday.
A difference of 67 from third to fifth going into the weekend’s events in El Paso and Las Cruces, the advantage stands now at 97 as Tony Bruce, Jr. was forced to utilize his final two Bonus Point Provisionals of the season. Climbing to tenth in El Paso, Bruce was forced out of the race when the fuel cell ruptured in the closing laps resulting in a sixteenth place finish. Despite the use of his provisional on Saturday, the TBJ Promotions No. 18 clawed from twenty-third to sixth to remain within striking distance of a run on Loyet for fourth 30 points behind.
Logan Forler has all but secured sixth in tour standings. His season to date includes a personal best at two wins, 10 top fives’, and 26 to ten finishes. Seth Bergman, comfortably seventh, has also posted a season best record at one win, 9 top fives’, and 25 top tens’.
Dustin Morgan, with 7 top fives’, and 22 top tens’ will end his season eighth with rookies Cole Wood and Brandon Hahn taking the final spots in the top ten.
The final rounds of the 2013 season will be preceded by a Fanfest on Thursday, November 7 at the Cocopah Resort and Casino directly across the street from the Cocopah Speedway starting at 4:00 P.M. (MT). A press conference, live music, car show, and food will all be a part of the Thursday evening event on the front lawn of the Cocopah Resort and Casino.
Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 will have front gates opening at 5:00 P.M. with races getting underway at 7:00 P.M. Pits are scheduled to open at 2:00 P.M. both days. The weekend will filmed for a later broadcast on MAVTV.
The Series:
Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real
When and Where:
Cocopah Speedway
County 15th & US 95
Somerton, AZ 85350
Thursday, November 7 – Fanfest stating at 4:00 P.M. at the Cocopah Resort and Casino.
Friday, November 8 – Gates Open at 5:00 P.M. (MT) / Racing at 7:00 P.M.
Saturday, November 9 – Gates Open at 5:00 P.M. (MT) / Racing at 7:00 P.M.
Contact Information:
Website: http://www.cocopahspeedway.com
Email: info@cocopahspeedway.com
Phone: 928-344-1563
Series History: Cocopah Speedway
The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real has visited the Cocopah Speedway four times beginning in 2012. Three drivers have earned National Tour wins at the three-eighths mile oval. Past Winners: Dustin Morgan (3/9/12), Danny Wood (3/10/12), Jason Johnson (3/1/13 and 3/2/13)
Event Coverage:
Online PPV will be available both nights at http://www.racinboys.com for $15 per night, or, $25 for both nights. Live broadcasts are brought to you by Lucas Oil and presented by the McCarthy Auto Group, located in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Line-ups, finishes, and further updates are provided throughout each race night at http://www.facebook.com/lucasoilascs and http://www.twitter.com/lucasoilascs
Live Timing and scoring is available at most Lucas Oil ASCS events via Race Monitor which is available in the App Store of your Smart Phone or Tablet.
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2013 “A” Feature Winners: Jason Johnson-8, Jeff Swindell-5, Johnny Herrera-4, Roger Crockett-3, Brian Brown-4, Danny Lasoski-3, Logan Forler-2, Brad Loyet-2, Tony Bruce, Jr.-2, Sammy Swindell-2, Kyle Bellm, Jack Dover, Seth Bergman, Jonathan Cornell, Travis Rilat, Justin Henderson, Shane Stewart, Tim Crawley, Anthony Nicholson, Christopher Bell, David Gravel
2013 Lucas Oil ASCS Driver Standings (Top 10) 1. Jason Johnson 5,063; 2. Johnny Herrera 5,007; 3. Jeff Swindell 4,837; 4. Brad Loyet 4,770; 5. Tony Bruce, Jr. 4,740; 6. Logan Forler 4,616; 7. Seth Bergman 4,502; 8. Dustin Morgan 4,220; 9. Cole Wood 3,987; 10. Brandon Hahn 3,314;
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The 2013 season marks the twenty-second year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, which brings the best of Sprint Car racing to dozens of different tracks throughout the nation and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, ASCS also consists of nine different Regions throughout the nation.
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV include: Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, iON Camera, Smokey Mountain Moonshine, C&R Radiator, Hawk Performance Products, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, and General Tire.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, PitstopUSA.com, Engler Machine and Tool, Roush Yates Racing Engines, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Fuel Safe, Saldana Racing Products, SBI Fuel Bladders, Maxwell Industries, Print Place, Xtreme Accu-Tach, Simpson, LeJoie Seating, Ti 22 Performance, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, DMI Rear Ends, Rod End Supply, Smiley’s Racing Products, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection Systems.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com as well as Twitter (@LucasOilASCS) and Facebook. News and information can also be sent to you with the ASCS E-News by texting ASCS to 22828 with any mobile device.