In the inaugural ASCS event at Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kansas, Michael Bookout made his injected sprinter debut. Having raced 2-barrel 360 sprinters with the OCRS the past four years, Bookout and his team are competing in selected ASCS races this year in addition to selected OCRS events.
The evening began with Bookout drawing the highest number in the draw for the heat races, relegating him to a 9th place start in his heat race. In his hot lap practice session, Bookout rocketed his sprinter to the 2nd fastest time of the nine cars in that session. Piloting the Maxim Chassis sprinter in his first racing laps with an injected motor, Bookout passed three other drivers, finishing 6th.
The passing and finishing points were not quite enough to qualify for the "A" Feature, thus putting Bookout on the front row of the "B" Feature. The start of the race saw him jump into the lead and lead for several laps. Two restarts bunched up the racers, each time with Bookout pulling away in the lead. Catching a slick spot in turn two with the power of the sprinter caused Bookout to spin bringing out the caution. The restart saw him starting at the back of the field. While making a pass down low in the turn, another sprinter made contact with Bookout resulting in a flat right front tire and bent axle. The night was over for him with a 9th place finish in the "B" Feature. Bookout received several compliments on his debut and well wishes for the future.
The OCRS and ASCS had races on the same night; the ASCS in Humboldt, Kansas, and the OCRS in Pocola, OK. Unable to be in two places at once, Bookout's absence from the OCRS dropped him a few positions to 9th place in the standings, but still in the top ten for the season.
Races resume for both series in two weeks with the ASCS Red River Region at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO, and the OCRS in Ada, OK.
- Robert Bookout on Apr 24, 2016
- Article Date: 4/22/2016