Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (March 4, 2014) – Although the results weren’t what Tony Bruce Jr. hoped, he was satisfied with the direction of One 8 Motorsports after the season-opening weekend.
Bruce Jr. rallied from a B Main last Friday and Saturday during the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour season opener at Cocopah Speedway.
“It was kind of a learning experience to wear the crew chief hat as well as still drive,” he said. “It was one of those weekends I learned a lot about getting back in the routine of making the calls on the setup for the race cars. I know what to do. I’ve just got to believe in myself.”
Bruce Jr. opened the weekend by finishing where he started – fourth – in his heat race on Friday. That started him fourth in a B Main, which he charged forward to win.
“In the heat race we weren’t fast enough to move forward,” he said. “In the B Main I felt like we had a really good car.”
After starting 17th in the main event, Bruce Jr. was caught up in a crash.
“Unfortunately, someone got crossed up in front of us and I had to spin to avoid them and we collected someone,” he said. “We junked a whole bunch of stuff on the race car and our night ended sooner than it should have. It’s just part of racing and that’s what happens sometimes when you start in the back.”
Bruce Jr. restarted the race, but quickly pulled to the infield with a 23rd-place result.
On Saturday, the team was met by fast track conditions after a three-hour rain delay.
“We were so fast in hot laps,” he said. “I wish we wouldn’t have been as fast so I would have known to make some changes. We were so tight in the heat race I couldn’t rotate the corners at all. Luckily we made it out of the B Main.”
After placing fourth in his heat race, Bruce Jr. earned the third-and-final transfer in a B Main. He then started 21st in the 30-lap feature.
“I felt like we had one of the fastest cars on the race track in the A Main,” he said. “The only problem was we started so far back. A caution came out right after we were lapped. I was able to stay with the leaders the rest of the race. All in all, it’s not the results that we wanted, but I felt like we had a really fast car.”
Bruce Jr. ended with a 17th-place finish.
The next Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event is scheduled for March 21-22 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas.
QUICK RESULTS –
Feb. 28 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 4 (4); B Main: 1 (4); Feature: 23 (17).
March 1 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 4 (3); B Main: 3 (5); Feature: 17 (21).
SEASON STATS –
2 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 1 top 20
UP NEXT –
March 21-22 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
LIVE COVERAGE –
To keep up to speed with Bruce Jr. at every Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event, visit http://www.RacinBoys.com for free, live audio. Additionally, RacinBoys will provide live Pay-Per-View video at select races.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
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’ needs like they do.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Lubbock Wrecker Service, Briley Trucking, The Oil Medics, Hinchman Racewear, Eagle Motorsports, Smiley’s Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, Moss Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfeld Headers, Hoosier Racing 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 and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Mar 04, 2014
- Article Date: 3/4/2014 by Inside Line Promotions