Bryan Hulbert - TULSA, Okla. (February 13, 2013) Despite his relatively young age, Brad Loyet is no stranger to the world of Sprint Car racing. Behind the wheel for twelve years, Loyet’s claim the fame came with the Lucas Oil POWRi Midgets where the Sunset Hills, Mo. driver claimed three championships.
Advancing to the Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region in 2011, Loyet’s season could be a highlight reel in itself; taking his third POWRi championship and first ASCS Regional title, along with Rookie of the Year, in one shot. After taking the team out west for the final leg of the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real, the decision was made to try for the 2012 Brodix Rookie of the Year the following year.
Loyet succeeded; finishing sixth in points with a 2012 record that included his first win at the Santa Maria Speedway along with 17 top fives’, and 34 top tens’.
With an off season that included the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl National presented by General Tire, Loyet has kept much of everything in tact from his 2012 season saying, “We haven’t made any changes at all. It’s still the same three guys and our truck driver so it’s pretty much identical to what we had last year.”
Having a successful first year on the road with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real, Loyet is anxious for improvement. One advantage, he feels, coming into the 2013 season is “knowing where all the pit gates are” and having now raced at many of the tracks he will be returning too, “We’re looking for a top five in points this year. I think we have a very good chance at contending for the Championship.”
Joined by Miller Truck Lines prior to the Chili Bowl, Brad talked about how Miller came to be a sponsor on the Loyet Motorsports No. o5, “We already had a really great partnership with Vacuworx Global, and it’s one of those deals, where, Vacuworx knew that Miller was interested in doing something and they contacted them and we put this deal together.”
Reflecting on the addition of Miller Truck Lines, Loyet is grateful for the added help, “It a huge help. Anytime you have somebody that wants to put their name on your car for a whole year, it’s, well, it’s a big deal for a guy that didn’t have any sponsors years ago when I first started. You know, this is a dream come true to have so many people backing my efforts.”
Joining a cast of drivers that are among the toughest in the nation, Brad is quick to point out the tour drivers are not the only ones you have to worry about.
Having come from the Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region, Loyet has firsthand experience as a local driver taking on the traveling names. Giving credit to the competition, Loyet explained, “When you think about it, yeah we’ve got the same National guys that we contend with every week in and week out and we’re all capable of winning every single night, but biggest thing a lot of people forget about is the Regional competition we race against is all really tough too.”
Loyet expanded on the Regional competition by saying, “We kind of race on their home turf, and these guys race at these same racetracks all year long and they already know what they need to do.”
Despite the tough list of drivers that comprise the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real, the Missouri driver remains focused on his program, “You can’t really worry about all the other people you’re racing against” explained Loyet. “You’ve just got to worry about your own program and that’s what we’re doing this year and doing the best that we can do, and hopefully the points will take care of themselves, and we can get few wins along the way.”
Loyet Motorsports will again utilize the Maxim Chassis brand with J&D power supplying the engines for the Vacuworx Global / Miller Truck Lines No. o5 with help also provided by ButlerBuilt Seats, Speedway Motors, Penske Shocks, and Weld Racing Wheels.
The 2013 Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real begins at the Tucson International Raceway on Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23. The two day event will be preceded by a practice night on Thursday, Feb. 21 starting at 7pm.
The 2013 season marks the twenty-second 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 American Sprint Car Series, ASCS also consists of nine 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, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, and General Tire.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, PitstopUSA.com, Engler Machine and Tool, Roush Yates Racing Engines, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Fuel Safe, Saldana Racing Products, SBI Fuel Bladders, Maxwell Industries, Print Place, Xtreme Accu-Tach, Simpson, LeJoie Seating, Ti 22 Performance, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, DMI Rear Ends, 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.
Photo Credit: Loyet Motorsports
- Bryan Hulbert on Feb 13, 2013
- Article Date: 2/13/2013