Inside Line Promotions – OSKALOOSA, Iowa (Aug. 6, 2013) – Tony Bruce Jr. made himself quite a few fans on Monday at Southern Iowa Speedway.
Bruce Jr. accepted the Front Row Challenge during the first time the popular event was sanctioned by the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour. After finishing second in the King of the Hill, which was won by Tasker Phillips – who promptly turned down the challenge of starting at the back of the feature for the chance to win $30,000 – Bruce Jr. negotiated with promoter Terry McCarl to earn $85 per car he passed before accepting the challenge to the roar of the crowd.
“All the way back in January when they announced the Front Row Challenge was going to be an ASCS race I said I’d take the challenge if I had the opportunity,” Bruce Jr. said. “We gave it all we had and got up to fifth.”
After advancing from fourth to second place during his heat race, Bruce Jr. was seventh in points to earn a spot as one of the top eight drivers in the King of the Hill. He defeated Tyler Drueke in the two-lap quarterfinal and then beat NASCAR star Tony Stewart in the semifinal to face Phillips in the final.
Despite a heavy track throughout the night and Bruce Jr. taking the challenge, he maneuvered through the field in the main event. He made a late pass to secure a fifth-place finish, which earned him more than $1,600 from McCarl for the cars he passed in addition to his winnings. Bruce Jr. also received a set of Hoosier Racing Tires, an HRP top wing, a seat insert from ButlerBuilt, $1,000 off a shock dyno and a $500 credit from BMRS.
“Hopefully I put on a show for the fans,” Bruce Jr. said. “I came up a few spots short from taking all of Terry McCarl’s money.
“Just catching everybody at the right time was the key. Making sure when they went to the bottom I went to the top and when they went to the top I went to the bottom. It was super wet and super tacky.”
It was his 15th top-five result of the season and started the week on a bright note after a challenging 360 Knoxville Nationals.
A miscue last Friday during Bruce Jr.’s preliminary night at the 23rd annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals hindered his weekend.
“We drew good and that’s always important at the Nationals,” he said. “We probably didn’t lay down a good enough qualifying lap as early as we went out. Going into the heat race we had some pretty high expectations and unfortunately we had a mistake with our team. We left a plug wire off. There’s no way you can race at Knoxville with seven cylinders. From then our whole Knoxville Nationals was an uphill battle.”
After qualifying 13th quickest, Bruce Jr. surrendered his fourth starting position during his heat race when he pulled into the work area on the parade lap to get the plug wire put back on. Bruce Jr. was forced to start at the back and worked his way to seventh, which put him in the B Main.
Bruce Jr. placed fourth in the consolation to transfer to the main event, which he finished 18th after starting last – 24th.
“I’d say the track wasn’t conducive for a lot of passing,” he said. “Everybody was pretty fast and had a good race car. We got everything we could get and that’s where we ended up.”
After the preliminary nights were tallied, Bruce Jr. started 17th in the B Main during Saturday’s finale for the $10,000-to-win event.
“We were able to pass some cars,” he said. “I was trying to gain some more spots and I slipped out of the groove and let some people by me. When you get to the Knoxville Nationals most B Mains are tougher than any A Main you’re in during the season. You can’t have any setbacks and we had one and that’s all it takes.”
Bruce Jr. finished 17th in the B Main.
He is slated to compete for Mike Ochs No. 1x during the 53rd annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Wednesday through Saturday at Knoxville Raceway.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 2 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 7 (4); B Main: 4 (4); Feature: 18 (24).
Aug. 3 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – B Main: 17 (17).
Aug. 5 – Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa – Heat race: 2 (4); King of the Hill: Defeated Tyler Drueke in quarterfinal, Defeated Tony Stewart in semifinal, Lost to Tasker Phillips in final; Feature: 5 (24).
SEASON STATS –
41 races, 3 wins, 15 top fives, 25 top 10s, 35 top 15s, 39 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday through Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the 53rd annual FVP Knoxville Nationals
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.tonybrucejr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonybrucejr
VIDEO –
Here is a link for RacinBoys’ footage of Bruce Jr.’s victory at Boyd Raceway on April 26: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wx3nrOFTDyg
APPAREL –
Bruce Jr. has black and white t-shirts in adult sizes for sale at his race trailer at each of his races. For his schedule, visit http://www.TonyBruceJr.com/schedule.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Lubbock Wrecker Service
With locations in Lubbock and Synder, Texas, Lubbock Wrecker Service has more than 50 years of combined experience providing heavy duty, medium duty and light vehicle towing. For more information, visit http://www.LubbockWrecker.com.
“It’s an honor to be associated with Scott Brown and Lubbock Wrecker Service,” Bruce Jr. said. “They have been involved with racing for a long time and we are fortunate to have them join our team for the 2013 season.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank The Oil Medics, Wheeler Metals, Briley Trucking, Hinchman Racewear, Eagle Motorsports, Smiley’s Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfield Headers, Hoosier Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape and Pressure Tek for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.
- Tony Bruce on Aug 06, 2013
- Article Date: 8/6/2013 by Inside Line Promotions