(Photo by Scott Frazier)
Inside Line Promotions – WHEATLAND, Mo. (June 25, 2014) – Brandon Hanks showcased the speed needed throughout the Bob Westphal Memorial Cup Speedweek.
The only things missing were a little luck and more experience throughout the four-race week with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
“As a whole I’d probably rate it a B-plus,” he said. “Every single night we were fast. I’m happy with it. I know we didn’t reach our goal with locking in every night and finishing in the top 10, but we were close. I have a big confidence boost after last week. We have speed. It’s just circumstances, whether it’s a mistake on my part or the luck of the draw.”
The busy week kicked off last Wednesday at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, Okla., where Hanks was forced to use his first series provisional of the season to start at the back of the feature after he finished seventh in his heat race and charged from 11th to fourth in a B Main.
“We actually ended up turning over in the feature,” he said. “Danny Wood spun right in front of me and we couldn’t get stopped. When I hit him I turned over and had to go to the back again. We had a real good car. We were really, really loose at first. I moved the wing into the trunk and it was so much better. Later on the track took rubber and we were able to hold our own.”
Hanks rallied from last – 23rd – to finish 15th.
On Thursday, Hanks tackled Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla. After winning his heat race from the outside of the front row, Hanks advanced into the feature redraw. He pulled the No. 4 in the random draw to start the main event on the outside of the second row.
“We stayed in the top 10 most of the race,” he said. “We had the car, like a lot of people, super tight. We expected the race track to go away, but it got better. I’ve never seen that. Creek got faster and had more grip. There was a hole in turn three. Every time I’d go into turn three the car would bicycle and get on two wheels. It was a learning process. I learned to calm down and slow down to go faster.”
Hanks ended with an 11th-place result.
The team ventured to Outlaw Motorsports Park in Wainwright, Okla., on Friday, when Hanks finished seventh in his heat race and had a power steering line break in a B Main. He was forced to take another series provisional to start at the back of the feature.
“It was all the way around the top on both ends,” he said. “It was pretty hard to pass. When the leader put me a lap down we kept catching cautions. We were all running the same speed around the top. After every restart, and we had so many, I’d let them have their race and then I’d move back up and get back in there with them.”
Despite losing his brakes early in the race, Hanks maneuvered from 23rd to finish 14th.
The weekend wrapped up on Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway.
“Lucas Oil is by far my favorite race track,” he said. “I always feel confident going there. They don’t call it the diamond of the dirt tracks for nothing.”
Hanks powered from ninth to fourth in his heat race, which gave him a spot in the feature redraw. He pulled the No. 5 and started the main event on the inside of the third row.
“I was trying to run the bottom because everybody else was trying to run the top,” he said. “I was trying to find something different. It was so fast on the top I finally moved up there. We were pretty much sixth through eighth the entire feature.”
Hanks maintained a top 10 throughout the race before capping his night with an eighth-place result, which marked his second top 10 of the season with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour and his eighth overall.
He is set to compete this Saturday at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., for the Hooker Hood Classic.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 18 – Lawton Speedway in Lawton, Okla. – Heat race: 7 (4); B Main: 4 (11); Feature: 15 (23).
June 19 – Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla. – Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 11 (4).
June 20 – Outlaw Motorsports Park in Wainwright, Okla. – Heat race: 7 (8); B Main: DNF (8); Feature: 14 (23).
June 21 – Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. – Heat race: 4 (9); Feature: 8 (5).
SEASON STATS –
23 races, 0 wins, 2 top fives, 8 top 10s, 15 top 15s, 17 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., for the Hooker Hood Classic
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.HanksMotorsports.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Brandon_K_Hanks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hanks-Motorsports/135263046488177
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – J&J Auto Racing
Located in McKenzie, Tenn., J&J Auto Racing has manufactured sprint car chassis and racing parts for more than 40 years. For more information, visit http://www.JandJAutoRacing.com.
“I want to thank Jack and Bonnie Elam for all the help they’ve given me and all the advice throughout the years,” Hanks said. “Not only are they some of the nicest people, but they build great, fast and reliable race cars.”
Hanks would also like to thank Performance Powder Coating, D&B Farms, Blue City Neon Signs & Graphics, RE Enterprises, Hinchman Racewear, Walls Paint and Body Shop, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems and Wesmar Racing Engines 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 25, 2014
- Article Date: 6/25/2014 by Inside Line Promotions