Lonnie Wheatley, CLUTE, Texas (March 25, 2015) – Aaron Reutzel put together another strong weekend aboard the Shark-powered BC Fundz/Basic One Services No. 87 Triple X Sprint Car with a pair of podium finishes in ASCS Southwest competition during this past weekend’s Copper on Dirt at Tucson’s USA Raceway.
After a runner-up finish in the Friday night prelim and a third-place run in the Saturday finale, the current Lucas Oil ASCS National points leader turns his attention to this weekend’s $5,000-to-win 305 Shootout at Las Cruces’ Southern New Mexico Speedway.
Returning to the track this past weekend where he posted his first career Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour podium finish in 2011, Reutzel once again found the USA Raceway clay oval to his liking in the Wren Motorsports/Momentum Racing Suspensions machine.
“The track was awesome, it was fun to race on,” Reutzel said of the 3/8-mile oval. “It was up on the fence both nights.”
After winning his Friday night heat, Reutzel found himself starting 12th in the Dissolvealloy Frac Ball Revolution machine after the redraw.
“We had to start 12th and actually got up to third pretty quick,” Reutzel says. “There was a late restart but (Dusty) Zomer was in his own zip code, he was good. We were a little too loose, I actually pounded the fence a couple of times.”
Reutzel ended up second in the final Friday rundown in the Danny Sander Construction/ButlerBuilt machine after a Zomer penalty, locking into Saturday night’s Copper on Dirt finale.
“We tried to change our car up some for Saturday so we could roll the middle a little better,” Reutzel said.
Reutzel redrew a seven to start fourth row inside, but that seven wasn’t lucky this time.
“Everyone in line ahead of me spun their tires or got sideways so we lost a couple of spots right at the start,” Reutzel explained.
The Clute, TX, racer didn’t stay back there long though, driving the Lone Star Hydro Maintenance/Wright Way Logistics entry to the head of the pack in short order.
“It was starting to take just a little bit of rubber near the end of the race, I ran (Logan) Forler down for second, got up under him but didn’t quite get him,” Reutzel recounts. “Forler moved down then closed in on Zomer the exact same way, but just like me, he didn’t quite get by.”
“It was a good weekend, we got another couple of good finishes against a strong field of cars, so we’re happy with it,” Reutzel concludes.
After sitting in El Paso for a couple of days to watch the weather, Reutzel and crew will try to take the $5,000 winner’s share in this weekend’s 305 Shootout at Southern New Mexico Speedway.
“We’re already here and it kinda sets us up travel-wise for the next couple of weekends, hopefully we can make it a good payday,” Reutzel wraps up.
2015 Quick Stats: 14 races, four wins, nine top-fives, nine top-tens.
Up Next: The $5,000-to-win “305 Shootout” at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, NM, this Friday and Saturday.
Keep Track: Keep track of Aaron Reutzel’s on-track action including schedule and results at http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aaron-Reutzel-Racing/117666254913127 or on Twitter at @AaronReutzel. You can also e-mail Aaron at aaronreutzel@yahoo.com.
If you would like Aaron Reutzel Racing press releases e-mailed directly to you, send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
Penning the recurring series of “The Wheatley Chronicles” articles on www.sprintcarmania.com, Lonnie Wheatley provides media, public relations and more for select tracks, drivers and events. For more information, Wheatley may be contacted at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
(Photo courtesy of Patrick Shaw)
- Lonnie Wheatley on Mar 25, 2015
- Article Date: 3/25/2015 by Lonnie Wheatley