Inside Line Promotions – SALINA, Okla. (Aug. 18, 2013) – Tony Bruce Jr. is used to battling back after a rough start.
The theme for most of this season has been rebounding from a high pill draw. However, on Saturday at Salina Highbanks Speedway with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour, Bruce Jr. was forced to overcome a mechanical failure after drawing the lowest pill to start on the pole of the first heat race.
“It was weird because I was trying to test out the bottom on the start in (turns) three and four since we were on the pole,” he said. “I took off and everything was fine. They came across the radio and told us to line up. I got on the gas again and it dropped a cylinder. Instead of trying to diagnose exactly what’s wrong, we just went ahead and elected to change engines.”
Bruce Jr. was unable to compete in his heat race, which relegated him to start 12th in the B Main. But it didn’t take long for Bruce Jr. to find the lead in the consolation race, which transferred the top six to the back of the feature. He powered to his third B Main victory of the season to start the main event 17th.
“In the B Main, it’s always a little nerve wracking,” he said. “You want to make sure you don’t have problems and are fast enough to transfer. Luckily we were fast enough to win it.
“We were able to find some lines on the race track that were able to use. In (turns) one and two the cushion was getting far up the race track. In that B Main I started working the middle and bottom in (turns) one and two. It was a little greasy still, so I knew the track was going to come in during the A Main.”
Bruce Jr. capitalized on the track time as he quickly worked his way into the top 10 within the first handful of laps of the feature.
“It helped in the A Main because I was able to pick off a lot of cars in the bottom of (turns) one and two,” he said. “It worked out in our favor.”
He rallied into the top five by the midpoint of the feature and was up to third before a caution with nine laps remaining.
“In all reality, we didn’t need to see a caution at all,” he said. “We were running a different line than most people were. Once that caution came everybody knew to get to the bottom in (turns) one and two. I missed the bottom and let two guys get back around us. Unfortunately when I showed those guys the bottom they went down there.”
Bruce Jr. lost two positions on the restart and held on for a fifth-place finish, which earned him the PitStopUSA.com Hard Charger Award.
“I definitely think we would have had a shot (at winning),” he said. “There was a time there about halfway we were a full second faster than the entire field. To be honest, I never liked to say we would have won a race. Without a caution I dang sure think we would have had a chance to try.”
Bruce Jr., who is sixth in the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour standings – only two points out of fifth – is slated to head to I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., on Thursday and Lexington 104 Speedway in Lexington, Tenn., on Saturday with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 17 – Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla. – Heat race: 7 (1); B Main: 1 (12); Feature: 5 (17).
SEASON STATS –
45 races, 3 wins, 16 top fives, 26 top 10s, 36 top 15s, 40 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Thursday at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., and Saturday at Lexington 104 Speedway in Lexington, Tenn., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
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 – Wheeler Metals
Established in 1968, Wheeler Metals is a sheet metal business that offers a variety of products for professional and amateur builders. Wheeler Metals has three locations in Muskogee, Okla., Rogers, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. For more information, visit http://www.WheelerMetals.com.
“When I moved to the Tulsa area a few years back we built a brand new shop,” Bruce Jr. said. “We always strive as a race team to find the best products for the situation and that was no different selecting the company to build our building. Wheeler Metals was the perfect fit for our needs. From 10x10 pole barns to 100x100 full metal buildings, they have it all. I challenge anyone to find a building company that will work the customers’ need like they do.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Lubbock Wrecker Service, The Oil Medics, 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 18, 2013
- Article Date: 8/18/2013 by Inside Line Promotions