Bryan Hulbert - Mesquite, TX (March 20, 2012) - With four rounds of competition in the books the 2012 season for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV turns to the “Lone Star State” for a pair of nights at the famed Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
Having hosted the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV since 1994 the Devils Bowl Speedway has seen action 67 times. The 2011 event saw Jason Johnson take the preliminary night victory while Sam Hafertepe Jr. took the finale. Gary Wright leads the way in all time wins at the Devil’s Bowl with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV having visited victory lane 20 times.
Hosting rounds five and six of the 2012 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour, the most unique half-mile clay oval in the world will see action on Friday March 23rd and Saturday March 24th with the 39th annual Spring Nationals.
Leading the charge into Mesquite, Texas is Jason Johnson. Showing the way by 31 markers, “The Ragin Cajun” stated the 2012 season off having to overcome engine problems that forced Johnson into a B-Feature. Even so, the AccuDoc/Roush Yates 41 has not finished outside the top 10 in the first four nights of competition with three of those nights in the top 5 to go along with a single win at the Copper Classic.
Currently second in the national standings is Wayne Johnson. After only running a limited schedule in 2011, the first champion of the new millennium is back on the full tour in 2021 and has been the picture of consistency. Winless in his first four starts, the City Vending/Oil Medics 77 has finished no worse than fifth since the season started.
Occupying the show position heading into this weekend’s event is Brady Bacon. After a pair of runner up finishes at the Copper Classic put the Fatheadz 99 atop the leader board, the following pair of nights in Yuma, Arizona would not be so kind as Bacon found himself finishing twelfth and seventh respectively. None the less Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native is the first to admit that the 2012 season has already started much better than 2011.
Riding fourth going into the Devil’s Bowl is Tony Bruce Jr. Since teaming back up with Wayne Priddy, Bruce has come out swinging; taking the season’s first checkered at Canyon Speedway Park and effectively putting the Oil Medics 18 at levels that are leaps and bounds beyond what Bruce saw in 2011; a season that Tony admits was the worst he has ever had.
Rounding out the top five in points is Dustin Morgan. Always a strong contender at any Lucas Oil ASCS event, the Tulsa, Oklahoma racer has consistently been denied victory; that was until recently. With the experienced Jimmy Jones turning the wrenches coupled with the determination of Morgan the ARK Wrecking 2 finally broke into victory lane at Cocopah Speedway.
Drivers rounding out the top ten in points include Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Johnny Herrera who suffered a flip during the season opener. Four time national champion Gary Wright is seventh with Danny Wood eighth after a spectacular race winning pass on the final lap at Cocopah Speedway two weeks ago. Seth Bergman and Aaron Reutzel currently round out the top ten.
Brodix Rookie of the Year contenders Brad Loyet and Logan Forler currently sit twelfth and twenty-second after a less than ideal start to their 2012 season.
The Series:
Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV
When & Where:
Friday March 23rd - 39th Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals - Pits open at 5pm / Racing at 8pm
Saturday March 24rd - 39th Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals - Pits open at 5pm / Racing at 8pm
Track Information:
Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – ½-mile, high-banked clay oval located six miles east of Dallas' I-635 on I-20, then three miles north on Lawson Road. Lawson Road north of the track (and south off of US 80) has been closed for repair, so fans and racers are urged to use I-20 and then go north on Lawson. Track phone: 972-222-2421. Track Website: www.devilsbowl.com
Lucas Oil ASCS Devil’s Bowl History:
Devil’s Bowl Lucas Oil ASCS winners include: Gary Wright 20, Jason Johnson 8, Wayne Johnson 5, Kevin Ramey 4, Danny Jennings 3, Sammy Swindell 3, Shane Carson 2, Terry Gray 2, Garry Lee Maier 2, Mike Peters 2, Travis Rilat 2, Shane Stewart 2, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Tim Crawley 1, Jack Dover 1, Edd French 1, Sam Hafertepe Jr. 1, Johnny Herrera 1, Danny Lasoski 1, Larry Neighbors 1, Alan Payne 1, Jake Peters 1, Mike Ward 1.
Devil’s Bowl Lucas Oil ASCS Race-by-race Winners: Shane Carson (6/21/94), Alan Payne (5/12/95), Mike Ward (7/23/95), Mike Peters (9/1/95), Sammy Swindell (9/2/95), Sammy Swindell (9/3/95), Wayne Johnson (6/18/96), Terry Gray (7/6/96), Terry Gray (11/1/96), Johnny Herrera (11/2/96), Shane Carson (4/5/97), Wayne Johnson (6/18/97), Edd French (10/31/97), Mike Peters (11/1/97), Gary Wright (6/19/98), Gary Wright (10/3/98), Garry Lee Maier (10/4/98), Gary Wright (7/8/99), Garry Lee Maier (7/30/99), Gary Wright (10/1/99), Gary Wright (10/2/99), Gary Wright (7/21/00), Gary Wright (10/6/00), Larry Neighbors (4/20/01), Gary Wright (7/20/01), Gary Wright (10/6/01), Travis Rilat (4/19/02), Jason Johnson (6/7/02), Wayne Johnson (10/4/02), Gary Wright (10/5/02), Kevin Ramey (4/18/03), Tim Crawley (10/17/03), Gary Wright (10/18/03), Shane Stewart (10/23/04), Danny Jennings (3/18/05), Danny Jennings (3/19/05), Danny Jennings (6/9/05), Gary Wright (10/21/05), Gary Wright (10/22/05), Kevin Ramey (6/24/06 – Spring Nationals makeup feature), Kevin Ramey (6/24/06 – Summer Nationals), Gary Wright (7/13/06), Jason Johnson (10/13/06), Travis Rilat (10/14/06), Wayne Johnson (3/16/07), Jake Peters (3/17/07), Gary Wright (5/12/07), Gary Wright (7/19/07), Jason Johnson (10/12/07), Jason Johnson (10/13/07), Tony Bruce, Jr. (3/14/08), Gary Wright (3/15/08), Jason Johnson (5/10/08), Gary Wright (7/17/08), Jason Johnson (10/17/08), Gary Wright (10/18/08), Shane Stewart (3/20/09), Jason Johnson (3/21/09), Gary Wright (10/17/09), Kevin Ramey (10/19/09), Sammy Swindell (3/19/10), Jason Johnson (10/15/10), Jack Dover (10/16/10), Jason Johnson (3/25/11), Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3/26/11), Wayne Johnson (10/21/11), Danny Lasoski (10/22/11).
Current 2012 Points
Lucas Oil ASCS present MAVTV Driver Points (top 20): 1. Jason Johnson 546; 2. Wayne Johnson 515; 3. Brady Bacon 509; 4. Tony Bruce Jr. 495; 5. Dustin Morgan 491; 6. Johnny Herrera 483; 7. Gary Wright 471; 8. Danny Wood 459; 9. Seth Bergman 419; 10. Aaron Reutzel 418; 11. Roger Crockett 413; 12. Brad Loyet 397; 13. Jack Dover 396; 14. Joshua Hodges 388; 15. Matt Covington 386; 16. Dalten Gabbard 386; 17. Mitch Olson 381; 18. Henry VanDam 371; 19. Zach Chappell 370; 20. Lance Norick 360
Lucas Oil ASCS present MAVTV Owner Points (top 10): 1. JJR/Stenhouse 546; 2. Wayne Johnson 515; 3. Brady Bacon 509; 4. Tony Bruce Jr. 495; 5. M&M Motorsports 491; 6. Johnny Herrera 483; 7. Gary Wright 471; 8. Danny Wood 459; 9. Seth Bergman 419; 10. Aaron Reutzel 418
2012 Feature Winners
Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV : Tony Bruce Jr.-1, Jason Johnson-1, Dustin Morgan-1, Danny Wood-1
Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV - A Look Ahead
April 13 Golden Triangle Raceway Park (Beaumont, TX)
April 14 Battleground Speedway (Highlands, TX)
April 27 Salina Highbanks (Salina, OK)
April 28 Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, AR) – Rock ‘N Roll 50
May 11 I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)
May 12 I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)
Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV on the web:
All Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series national events are broadcast live on www.racinboys.com for anyone who is unable to attend the races live.
Official results, points, and race notes are posted at www.ascsracing.com. The Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV can also be found on Facebook.
Lucas Oil ASCS on TV:
A full schedule of tape-delayed races for the 2012 season can found at www.lucasoil.com.
Live Scoring:
Live timing and scoring at every Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV can be found by using the Race Monitor app available on your mobile device. App cost is $4.99. For more information log onto www.race-monitor.com. Scoring listed on Race Monitor is not official.
The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV is scheduled to compete 67 times in 15 states throughout the United States with divers competing for their share of a $250,000 points fund.
The 2012 season marks the 21st 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 and into Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil 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. For information regarding availability and listings in your area log onto www.mavtv.com.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV include: Hoosier Racing Tire, Brodix, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, General Tire, PitstopUSA.com, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, and Hilborn Injection Systems.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.
Photo Credit: Insidelinepromotions.com
- Bryan Hulbert on Mar 20, 2012
- Article Date: 3/20/2012 by Bryan Hulbert