TULSA, Okla. (June 2, 2014) – The month of May has come to a close with a night of racing for every day of the week and almost as many winners in the ASCS Nation. Bringing the year’s total of 52 nights of competition, co-sanctioned events brings the series overall to 59 ASCS sanctioned events.
ASCS Southwest at the Central Arizona Speedway in Casa Grande, Ariz., ASCS 305 in west Texas and Southern New Mexico, along with ASCS Midwest and ASCS National with co-sanctioned stops at the Salina Speedway in Salina, Kan. and the Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb. for the Hinchman Racewear Eagle Nationals highlight this week’s review.
Topping the Field:
Friday, May 30, 2014
• Jeff Swindell (ASCS National) – The third visit for the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real to the Salina Speedway, Jeff Swindell became the third winner in as many races at the Kansas oval. After a bobble in slower traffic on the closing lap, Swindell narrowly held off Jason Johnson for the win.
• Wes Wofford (ASCS 305) – The second time victory lane has been visited by Wes Wofford in 2014, the Alamogordo, N.M. shoe topped the field of ASCS 305 competitors at the El Paso Speedway Park in El Paso, Texas.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
• Brad Loyet (ASCS National) – The Eagle Nationals saw 34 drivers checking in, and Missouri’s Brad Loyet holding off Johnny Herrera in lapped traffic before having to power around a slide job thrown by the No. 45x exiting the final turn for his fourth career Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour triumph.
• Alex Pettas (ASCS Southwest) – Visiting the high-banked Central Arizona Speedway in Casa Grande, Ariz. on Saturday night, Alex Pettas parked the No. Ti64 in victory lane for the first time against the ASCS Southwest Region.
• Wes Wofford (ASCS 305) – It didn’t take long for Wes Wofford to grab his third win of the season with a short trip north to the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M.
A few points from the weekend:
• “Slide Job City” – That might be the understatement of the weekend as the Salina Speedway again offered drivers of the American Sprint Car Series a track worthy of the record books with drivers forced to lay down slide jobs after slide job at the three-eighths mile Kansas oval. While most were clean, you had to make them close to make the move work and a few were just a little too close.
• First Timers – Maybe not in terms of overall ins for Jeff Swindell and Brad Loyet, but this past weekend saw the pair post their first wins of the season against the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour. The true first timer was Alex Pettas who snagged his first victory in an ASCS sanctioned event.
• Sam Hafertepe, Jr. – The Texas veteran joked in his post race interview about “hanging off the chalkboard” when the line-up was posted. but wasted little time making up for his sixteenth place start spot on Saturday night; placing third at the Eagle Raceway. Given a caution in the closing laps, the outcome could have been very different.
• New Leader – For the first time, Brad Loyet finds himself atop the point standings with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour. Loyet is the third driver to lead the standings in 2014.
• Track Prep – After three drivers ended up on their lid in Heat Races on Saturday at the Eagle Raceway, event promoter, Tony Bruce, Jr., made the call for the track to be tilled and re-packed before the features. It was a good call as it allowed the track to widen nearly all the way to the wall.
• Podiums – Three drivers place on the podium multiple times this past weekend. Brad Loyet placed third on Friday at the Salina Speedway before topping the Eagle Nationals on Saturday. Wes Wofford swept the weekend with the ASCS 305 Region in Texas and New Mexico and Royal Jones placed third both nights.
• All Tied Up – The ASCS Southwest Region is all tied up these days with Rick Ziehl and Ryan Linder even at the top of the charts. With a single win on the season, the nod for the lead currently goes to Ziehl.
• Midwest Shake Up – The points in the Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region saw a shake up over the weekend. Having to miss Friday night in Kansas, Jack Dover has fallen to third with Jordan Boston and Billy Alley moving to the top two spots. Boston’s advantage is only five over Alley.
• Rest in Peace “Speedy” Bill – The American Sprint Car Series holds in our heats the family of “Speedy” Bill Smith. The founder of Speedway Motors, which supports our Midwest and Warrior Regions, as well as the Tulsa Shootout, passed away on Friday, May 30 at the age of 84.
Coming Up: The month of June kicks off with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour and Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region taking to the clay in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas.
The Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real makes the trip to the Lexington 104 Speedway in Lexington, Tenn. on Friday, June 6 then heads to the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. on Saturday, June 7.
The Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region hits up the Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco on Friday, June 6 then the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas on Saturday, June 7.
For a complete listing of every ASCS event in 2014, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com
The 2014 season marks the twenty-third 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. Anchored by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, ASCS also consists of ten 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, KSE Racing Products, SpeedMart, Competition Suspension, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Saldana Racing Products, Maxwell Industries, Print Place, Simpson, The Joie of Seating, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, 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.