Contact: Shawn Miller
Inside Line Promotions
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Rilat Lands 26th Career Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Feature Victory
Inside Line Promotions – ELMA, Wash. (July 15, 2013) – Things are definitely cruising for Travis Rilat and car owner Richard Saumure as the pair recorded a feature victory for the third consecutive week on Friday.
Rilat scored his 26th career Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour win and his first of the season with the premier 360 sprint car series at Grays Harbor Raceway to kick off a weekend doubleheader, which was taped for a delayed television broadcast by Lucas Oil Productions.
“We just had the car to beat that night,” he said. “I like the bigger, faster tracks. With that cushion around the top, we seem to do pretty good at those.”
Rilat maneuvered from fourth to the runner-up position during his heat race at the 3/8-mile oval. It earned him enough points to advance to the feature redraw and he got the No. 3, which lined him up on the inside of the second row for the 25-lap main event.
With the first two Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour drivers in the championship standings starting on the front row, Rilat made quick work to reach the top spot. He passed Johnny Herrera for the runner-up position on the opening lap and then slid Jason Johnson for the lead in turns three and four on Lap 2.
“I knew it was going to be tough with those two guys starting on the front row,” Rilat said. “They were going to be tough to pass. I was watching that top and I knew the top in (turns) one and two wasn’t cleaned off so it had a decent groove on the bottom. It might last five or 10 laps on the bottom. That’s where I ran until after that restart around Lap 5.”
Rilat railed the cushion for the remainder of the race and was only seriously challenged on a late restart when Johnson attempted a slide job in turn two only to see Rilat power around him en route to the victory.
By finishing in the top four, Rilat was locked into Saturday’s feature redraw, which also included the top-two points earners from the heat races on Saturday. Unfortunately, Rilat was given the highest number – six – in the random draw to start on the outside of the third row for the main event.
He maintained his position for the first several laps until he broke a right rear wheel entering turn one. By the time he was towed to the pits, the race had restarted and he was relegated to a 22nd-place finish.
“I think the lap before I glanced off the wall and I weakened the right rear wheel,” he said. “When I went into turn one it had a curb and pretty good chunk of dirt. I hit that curb pretty good and it folded the right rear wheel up.”
Rilat is slated to compete on Friday and Saturday at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for the 59th annual Gold Cup – an event he won last season.
“That’s kind of an exciting event to go to this weekend being that it’s the home track for Richard and the 39c car,” he said. “That’s where all the sponsors are located and it’s a good time.”
QUICK RESULTS –
July 12 – Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. – Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 1 (3).
July 13 – Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. – Feature: 22 (6).
SEASON STATS –
22 races, 3 wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s, 16 top 15s, 20 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for the 59th annual Gold Cup
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TravisRilat.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TravisRilat29
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Xtreme Oilfield Technology
Located in St. Paul, Alberta, Canada, Xtreme Oilfield Technology began in 2000 by providing general and specialized tank cleaning (door pulls), fluid transfers, well loads and rig work. Xtreme Oilfield Technology has expanded to include body vac units, flushby units, combinations units (vacuum/steamer), water trucks and hydro vac units, and offers equipment rental. For more information, visit XtremeOilfield.ca.
“The people with Xtreme Oilfield Technology are very cool people to hang out with it and we really appreciate their partnership,” Rilat said.
Rilat would also like to thank Carlan Services, Northern Provincial Pipelines, Matt’s Oilfield Services, TriJet Manufacturing Services, Shark Racing Engines, Northern Lights Welding, Camex VP, Rob Wright Building Supplies, Scott Safety, Max Fuel, Jaron Water Hauling, Maxim, Factory Kahne, HRP, Ti22, Weld Wheels, Ben Cook Racing and Smiley’s Racing Products among others for their continued support on Richard Saumure’s No. 39c Maxim.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.