TULSA, Okla. (May 5, 2014) - The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real returned to competition this past weekend with events at the Outlaw Motorsports Park in Muskogee, Okla. and Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark.
The weekend also included ASCS Regional competition in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas. Overall, 154 drivers took part in ASCS sanctioned events over the weekend. To date, 30 races have been contested, accounting for 37 ASCS sanctioned events.
The Winners:
Friday, May 2, 2014
• Aaron Reutzel - The Clute, Texas driver proved that his win at I-30 Speedway with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real was no fluke. Stalking Jason Johnson most of Friday night at the Outlaw Motorsports Park, Reutzel utilized slower traffic to gain the edge for his second consecutive ASCS National triumph.
• Tommy Bryant - The first win of the season for Tommy Bryant came at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas with the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region. Bryant led start to finish for the $2,500 score.
• Robert Herrera - Bi-Weekly racing for the West Texas ASCS 305 Region began this past Friday night at the El Paso Speedway Park with New Mexico shoe Robert Herrera topping the field at the West Texas oval. The win is Robert's second overall and first at El Paso.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
• Derek Hagar - Overjoyed might be the understatement of the year when talking about Derek Hagar winning the Eagle Motorsports Rock 'N Roll 50 on Saturday night. The sixth annual event drew 33 drivers to "The Ditch" with the locals taking first and second. Brad Loyet was the highest finishing ASCS National Tour driver in third. Hagar's victory celebration wasn't as wild as Tim Kaeding, but there were plenty of doughnuts.
• Travis Rilat - Normally the driver for Richard Saumure when the American Sprint Car Series ventures to the Northwest, the No. 39c was the vehicle of choice for Travis Rilat this past weekend against the Gulf South Region. Runner up Friday night, Rilat put all to shame on Saturday at the Battleground Speedway, lapping into the top-five before all was said and done.
• Danny Jennings - The American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region ventured to the Lawton Speedway on Saturday night with Danny Jennings proving unstoppable. The third winner in as many races, Jennings now has 11 Sooner Region wins to his credit.
• Randy Hibbs - The Impact4800.com Open Wheel Showdown at the Lucas Oil Speedway saw a first time winner with Randy Hibbs topping the Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region on Saturday.
• Wes Wofford - Moving to the Southern New Mexico Speedway on Saturday, the West Texas ASCS 305 Region saw Wes Wofford taking the winner's check, and in doing so the Alamogordo driver now leads the overall standings.
· Rick Ziehl - It's been an tough year for the defending Southwest Regional Champion with mechanical failures setting the New Mexico driver back, but Saturday saw everything come together for Ziehl's first win of the season at the Tucson International Raceway. Ziehl led start to finish at the Arizona oval.
And now, the rest of the Weekend:
• Hagar and Crawley - The battle between Derek Hagar and Tim Crawley at the Rock 'N Roll 50 cannot be overstated. There were not enough fingers and toes in the Press Box to count the number of slide jobs and close calls the two Arkansas drivers encountered during the night's 50 lap A-Feature. Between Riverside and the I-30 Speedway, the level of competition is among the toughest the ASCS National Tour will face all season, and the record books reflects that with three of the four custom Gibson Guitars staying in Arkansas. Seth Bergman is the only National driver to win the coveted trophy.
• One more thing about the Rock 'n Roll 50 - Derek Hagar's win over the weekend was also his first against the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour. His best finish before this past weekend was a third at the Lucas Oil Speedway on September 27, 2013.
• "I'm givin' her all she's got" - And Tim Crawley was, enough so that when he was interviewed by Scotty Cook on the Racinboys broadcast, he reported that the temperature gauge had pegged, and was almost wrapped around to zero. Under an open red on Lap 34, the No. 88 was a cloud of steam as the radiator let loose what remained in Crawley's Shark Racing Engine. Seth Bergman also reported his engine running hot, commenting to Cook that the gauge showed his A.S.I. Engine at 260 degrees Fahrenheit during the race.
• Crash at Outlaw - When left fronts meet right rears, the results is never a good one, and Brandon Hahn is still feeling the effects of that after contact with the right rear of Harli White at the Outlaw Motorsports Park. Hahn was knocked unconscious during the ride, which saw the No. 29 nearly clearing the fence in turn-two, but was able to walk away. White returned to compete in the B-Feature.
• An Underdog Story - It should be clarified that Randy Hibbs scored not just his first win at the Lucas Oil Speedway, but his first ASCS victory this past Saturday night. Taking the lead on Lap 14, fifth starting Hibbs outran the likes of Danny Lasoski and Parker Price-Miller for his first ASCS score. As far as points, Randy was high point for the Warrior Region at Springfield, putting him a top the stack at 300 points in the Region's first two events.
• Dominance at Battleground - Travis Rilat's win at the Battleground Speedway was an impressive one to say the least. According to the report provided by Regional Director, Keith Johnson, the Forney, Texas driver lapped into the top five.
• Pair of Podiums - Dustin Morgan has been on a roll lately, posting a pair of podium finishes over the weekend to bring his streak to four. Running closer to home in 2014, Morgan is currently leading the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region standings by 51 markers over Mike Goodman.
On Deck: The Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real makes its return to Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. on Thursday, May 8 for the McCarthy Auto Group KC Klassic. Tickets are on sale athttp://www.tbjpromotions.com.*
The American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region is also in action on Friday, May 9 at the Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla.
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.
