(Photo by Malcolm White)
Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Nov. 11, 2013) – Travis Rilat wrapped up his season last weekend with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour at Cocopah Speedway.
Rilat scored a pair of top 15s driving for Richard Saumure during the final two rounds of the Cocopah Cup Challenge, which concluded with a $20,000-to-win feature on Saturday.
“It was all right,” he said. “It seemed like both nights we started out well and then backed up. Maybe it was our choices of tire compound both nights. Both feature races we started out passing cars and doing well. If you go from hot laps to heat races we were one of the fastest cars both nights. It seemed like halfway through the features we didn’t have the car to make it to the end.”
Rilat opened the weekend by advancing from fourth to second place in his heat race at the 3/8-mile track on Friday. That earned him the 10th-most points of the more than 40 drivers in the heat races and it started Rilat on the outside of the fifth row for the 25-lap main event.
“The first night the left rear and right rear tires sealed over,” he said. “It’s pretty much like going on ice.”
Rilat spent most of the race competing around the top 10 before settling for a 14th-place result.
He returned to the season finale on Saturday and promptly advanced from sixth to third place in his heat race. That started him ninth in the 30-lap feature, but Rilat quickly charged toward the top five. He was up to sixth and challenging for fifth place in the opening laps before the car started to fade.
“Saturday night the car started out really good and just wound up average,” he said. “We didn’t tear anything up, so that’s a plus. But you hope to have a lot better finish. That was sort of a track that suits me. It’s up around the fence and you keep your momentum up. We typically go pretty good at that.”
Rilat ended with a ninth-place finish, which marked his 24th top 10 of the season.
QUICK RESULTS –
Nov. 8 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 14 (10).
Nov. 9 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 3 (6); Feature: 9 (9).
SEASON STATS –
41 races, 5 wins, 16 top fives, 24 top 10s, 26 top 15s, 35 top 20s
VIDEO –
Here is a highlight video by Nathan Prince of Rilat’s Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour victory at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash., on July 12: http://youtu.be/Md1evWDAl30
Here’s a video by Nathan Prince of Rilat’s ASCS Northwest Region Speedweek win at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash., on June 28: http://youtu.be/NAeXAJn8nS0
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TravisRilat.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TravisRilat29
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Xtreme Oilfield Technology
Located in St. Paul, Alberta, Canada, Xtreme Oilfield Technology began in 2000 by providing general and specialized tank cleaning (door pulls), fluid transfers, well loads and rig work. Xtreme Oilfield Technology has expanded to include body vac units, flushby units, combinations units (vacuum/steamer), water trucks and hydro vac units, and offers equipment rental. For more information, visit http://www.XtremeOilfield.ca.
“The people with Xtreme Oilfield Technology are very cool people to hang out with it and we really appreciate their partnership,” Rilat said.
Rilat would also like to thank Carlan Services, Shark Racing Engines, Northern Provincial Pipelines, Matt’s Oilfield Services, TriJet Manufacturing Services, Northern Lights Welding, Camex VP, Rob Wright Building Supplies, Scott Safety, Max Fuel, Jaron Water Hauling, Maxim, Factory Kahne, HRP, Ti22, Weld Wheels, Ben Cook Racing and Smiley’s Racing Products among others for their continued support on Richard Saumure’s No. 39c Maxim.
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.
- Shawn Miller on Nov 11, 2013
- Article Date: 11/11/2013 by Inside Line Promotions