Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (July 6, 2009) – The Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters continues a five-weekend spate of activity with its third annual stop at Hartford, South Dakota's I-90 Speedway this Saturday night.
And, with the series en route to the Northwest for its inaugural events in Washington and Oregon over the ensuing two weekends, it's a familiar face atop the championship point charts as four-time series champion Gary Wright of Hooks, TX, has climbed to the top spot following this past weekend's Rock 'N Roll 50.
While denied victory lane in the seven points-paying events thus far, "The Texan" has finished no lower than sixth and claimed a slim points lead after recording finishes of fifth and fourth this past weekend.
Wright, who finished second to Tony Bruce, Jr., at I-90 Speedway last year, carries a slim six-point lead over Louisiana's Jason Johnson and Oklahoma native Shane Stewart into Saturday's tilt atop the high-banked, 3/8-mile Hartford, SD, dirt oval. Johnson topped the series stop at I-90 in 2007 after taking a Regional win a year earlier, while Shane Stewart earned a Regional win at I-90 in 2007.
The lead trio of Wright, Johnson and Stewart has established themselves as the early favorites for the $60,000 Lucas Oil Sprint Car championship as $250,000 will be distributed to the top 15 in final points as season's end.
While the battle for the top spot is an intense one with just six points separating the top three, every position among the top ten is being heavily contested. While 97 points out of the lead, Travis Rilat of Forney, TX, is just seven points ahead of California native Paul McMahan, with Arkansas shoe Tim Crawley one more point back after sweeping the weekend's Rock 'N Roll 50 in West Memphis.
Just nine points behind Crawley in seventh is Oklahoma's Danny Wood with single-point increments between each driver from seventh to tenth including Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) and Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS).
Missouri's Jesse Hockett is just outside the top ten, with other series contenders expected to make the trip to South Dakota and then to the Northwest including Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK), Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA), Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK), Aaron Berryhill (Broken Arrow, OK), Darren Long (Elida, OH), Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK), Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO), Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA), Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR) and Kathyrne Minter (Bedford, TX).
In addition to being a critical step to the Lucas Oil title, Saturday's card at I-90 Speedway will also award ASCS Midwest and ASCS Northern Plains points. Chad Humston holds the current Midwest lead over Jason Danley and Mike Boston, while Danley holds the edge over Humston and Jody Rosenboom in Northern Plains points.
Averaging 53.1 cars per event thus far in 2009, this weekend marks the third of five consecutive weekends of series competition. Following Saturday's stop at I-90 Speedway, the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters moves on Washington's Grays Harbor Raceway Park on July 17-18 and then Oregon's Cottage Grove Speedway on July 24-25.
The Series:
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters
When & Where:
Saturday night, July 11 at 8:00 p.m. – I-90 Speedway
Track Information:
I-90 Speedway (Hartford, SD) – 3/8-mile, high-banked dirt oval located three miles west of Hartford on SR 38. For more information, contact the track at 605-528-6380.
Lucas Oil ASCS I-90 Speedway History:
The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series took to the I-90 Speedway oval last for the first time in 2007 and it was Jason Johnson awarded the victory after apparent winner Sam Hafertepe, Jr., came up light at the scales. Last year, Tony Bruce, Jr., held off Gary Wright for his second career series win.
I-90 Speedway ASCS National winners include: Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Jason Johnson 1.
I-90 Speedway Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-Race Winners: Jason Johnson (6/19/07), Tony Bruce, Jr. (6/24/08).
Current Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters Points:
Top Twenty: 1. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 996, 2. (tie) Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) and Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 990, 4. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 899, 5. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 882, 6. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 881, 7. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 872, 8. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 871, 9. Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 870, 10. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 869, 11. Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 785, 12. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 752, 13. Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 728, 14. Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) 666, 15. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 644, 16. Trey Robb (Newcastle, OK) 632, 17. (tie) Aaron Berryhill (Broken Arrow, OK) and Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK) 625, 19. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 607, 20. Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK) 599.
Brodix Rookie of the Year Points (Top Ten): 1. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 882, 2. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 871, 3. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 752, 4. (tie) Aaron Berryhill (Broken Arrow, OK) and Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK) 625, 6. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 607, 7. Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK) 599, 8. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 585, 9. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 574, 10. Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR) 564.
2009 Lucas Oil ASCS Feature Winners:
Tim Crawley 2, Jason Johnson 2, Jack Dover 1, Travis Rilat 1, Shane Stewart 1. Non-point feature winners (Speedweek); Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Zach Chappell 1, Tim Crawley 1, Nick Smith 1, Gary Wright 1.
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:
July 17/18 – Grays Harbor Raceway Park (Elma, WA)
July 24/25 – Cottage Grove Speedway (Cottage Grove, OR)
August 6-8 – ASCS Knoxville Nationals (Knoxville, IA)
Lucas Oil ASCS on the Web:
Those unable to catch all the action in person can listen to every Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters live at www.racinboys.com.
Also, the Lucas Oil ASCS Show airs on www.racinboys.com each Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET, recapping the previous week's events while also previewing upcoming action.
Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.
Lucas Oil ASCS on TV:
The Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in ten one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network
Events to be aired on VERSUS include the following:
The schedule of Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters events to be aired on VERSUS is as follows:
Event Date – Track (Location) – Air Date & Re-Air Date (All Times Eastern)
Mar. 20 – Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – 5/2/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 5/7/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 21 – Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – 5/23/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 5/27/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
May 23 – Jetmore Motorplex (Jetmore, KS) – 8/1/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 8/5/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
May 24 – Jetmore Motorplex (Jetmore, KS) – 8/1/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 8/6/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
July 3 – Riverside Speedway (W. Memphis, AR) – 8/8/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 8/13/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
July 4 – Riverside Speedway (W. Memphis, AR) – 9/20/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 9/24/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 10/1/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 10/10/09 @ 3:00 p.m.
Aug. 7 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 10/18/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 10/22/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Aug. 8 – Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) – 11/15/09 @ 5:00 p.m. & 11/19/09 @ 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 – Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) – 11/29/09 @ 4:00 p.m. & 12/3/09 @ 4:00 p.m.
The Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for approximately 33 nights of racing action at 17 different tracks throughout the nation, with the country's top Sprint Car drivers set to battle it out for their share of the $250,000 points fund.
The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.
- Lonnie Wheatley on Jul 07, 2009
- Article Date: 7/7/2009