(Photo by Tim's Racing Photos)
Inside Line Promotions – KOKOMO, Ind. (June 15, 2014) – Alex Bright’s results during the USAC Honda National Midget Series Indiana Midget Week certainly don’t mirror his strength.
Issues with the front end of his race car plagued Bright during the marquee week of action throughout “The Hoosier State,” where Bright failed to finish the A Main once.
“We didn’t finish one race so we’re definitely not happy about that,” he said. “The first three nights we had a rocket from qualifying on and I think we had a car that could finish in the top three every night. It was just not our week.”
After Wednesday’s opening night at Gas City I-69 Speedway in Gas City was rained out, the competition started on Thursday at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville. Bright qualified 12th quickest and he charged from fourth to win his heat race.
That started him on the outside of the fifth row in the main event, which ended on the opening lap when he was caught up in a crash in turn one.
“The guy who started on the outside pole spun out,” he said. “I was racing down the frontstretch with another driver. By the time I cleared him there was a wreck in front of me and I had nowhere to go.”
The impact broke Bright’s front end and he was credited with a 21st-place result.
Action resumed on Friday at Bloomington Speedway in Bloomington, where Bright timed in third quickest and he placed fourth in his heat race to lock into the main event. He started the 30-lap feature on the outside of the second row.
“On the first lap somebody slid up in front of me going into turn three,” he said. “It was a close call and I bobbled because of that. I hopped the cushion. By the time I got back on the track I was back in 13th or 14th.”
Bright rebounded and was closing in on a top five in the closing laps when his front end folded going into turn three because of a parts failure. He was relegated to a 20th-place finish.
Saturday at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg kicked off with Bright qualifying seventh quickest before he placed third in his heat race. After the feature inversion, Bright started the main event on the pole.
“I held the lead for the first lap and then Michael Pickens slid me,” he said. “I held on to second running behind him for a while. I went to slide him and we made a little bit of contact. There was a caution there.”
After regaining the lead, Bright held onto the top spot until another driver collided with him with only a few laps remaining.
“He did a bonsai move and hit my front end,” he said. “So I hopped the cushion, tapped the wall, got straightened out and held on to second. It damaged some parts and with one lap to go the right front shock spud broke and that ended my run going into turn three. When it broke going into the turn the front end of my frame dug into the ground and I ended up hitting the cushion and bouncing off it.”
For the third straight night a positive performance was derailed because of the front end issues. This time Bright was less than half a lap from a runner-up result, but he ended in 15th.
The busy week wrapped up on Sunday at Kokomo Speedway, where Bright had his toughest outing from the start.
He qualified 26th quickest to miss the heat race inversion by only two positions. Bright then placed sixth in his heat race and he rallied from 12th to seventh in the B Main, which was one spot shy of a transfer to the main event.
“I think from the wreck at Lawrenceburg something with our car wasn’t right,” he said. “It didn’t feel the same the whole night. We were off.
“If we would have finished all week I think we would have something to show for everybody. We know we’re competitive. We know we’re there with the top cars. We just have to regroup and get everything sorted out.”
Bright is scheduled to race a micro sprint this Wednesday at Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa., and a midget on Sunday at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 12 – Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. – Qualifying: 12; Heat race: 1 (4); Feature: 21 (10).
June 13 – Bloomington Speedway in Bloomington, Ind. – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 4 (6); Feature: 20 (4).
June 14 – Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, Ind. – Qualifying: 7; Heat race: 3 (5); Feature: 15 (1).
June 15 – Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Ind. – Qualifying: 26; Heat race: 6 (7); B Main: 7 (12).
SEASON STATS –
32 races, 4 wins, 15 top fives, 21 top 10s, 22 top 15s, 27 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday at Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa., and Sunday at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa.
MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexBright77
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexBrightRacing
APPAREL –
Bright has new t-shirts available for sale at his race trailer during every race he competes in this season.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – PXP Racewear
PXP Racewear produces high-performance racing underwear made from 50 percent Kermel and 50 percent Lenzing Blend. For more information, visit http://www.PXPracewear.com.
“They have racing fire-retardant underwear, like headsocks, pants, shirts and gloves,” Bright said. “It is the most comfortable racewear that you will ever wear.”
Bright would also like to thank Bell Racing Helmets, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Lightcap Electric, RGR Racing, SPAR Racing Engines, Hyper Chassis, Carlton D. Geesman Contracting, Presidential HVAC, Elite Chassis, Benic Shocks, Fontana Automotive, Diamond Disposal LLC, How Charming LLC and DJ Website Design 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 Jun 15, 2014
- Article Date: 6/15/2014 by Inside Line Promotions