TULSA, Okla. (July 21, 2014) - North and back as the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real wrapped up their trek through Montana and South Dakota this past weekend as the Regions of the American Sprint Car Series raced though Oklahoma and Missouri while other battled with the unstoppable fury of Mother Nature.
Working closer to the 24th running of the Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals, the season has seen 101 race nights completed for 115 ASCS sanctioned events. Early in the second half of the season for the ASCS Nation, 87 nights of racing remain in the lineup in both 305cid and 360cid competition.
The Winners:
Friday, July 18, 2014
• Brad Loyet (ASCS National) - Making the trip to the Black Hills Speedway for the first time in 16 years, the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real saw a field of 27 drivers making the trip to the half-mile oval as Brad Loyet saw through the dust to find his third National Tour triumph of the 2014 season.
• Mickey Walker (Sooner Region) - Earning your first ASCS victory is always memorable, but getting it off the final turn of the final lap makes it even better as Mickey Walker led only the last 150 feet at the Creek County Speedway for his first ASCS triumph.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
• Dustin Morgan (Sooner Region) - When the rubber's on the bottom, it may be time to do some hunting as Dustin Morgan put the name "Full Blown Chaos" to good use Saturday night, jumping to the high-side to grab the win at the Lawton Speedway. The win is Morgan's third in ASCS competition, and first with the ASCS Sooner Region.
• Jonathan Cornell (Warrior Region) - The make-up from the July 5 rain out at the Randolph County Raceway, a field of 21 Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region drivers made the trip to the high-banked three-eighths mile oval with Jonathan Cornell taking his fourth ASCS victory in as many races with the Warrior Region.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
• Jonathan Cornell (Warrior Region) - Make it five in a row with the Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region, and eight in a row overall for Jonathan Cornell, who topped the field at the Double X Speedway in California, Mo.
And now, the rest of the weekend:
• The Weather - It wasn't to kind of the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region, as Friday night at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park was called off by 9:00 A.M. due to nearly three inches of rain on the ground. By Noon on Friday, the events for Saturday at the Leesville 171 Speedway had also been called for nearly four inches of rain. The Carolina 305 Region tried for the second time to get their first race in, but will now have to wait until Saturday, July 26 after rains washed out the Harris Speedway.
• The Dust - Indeed, events at the Black Hills Speedway were dusty during the A-Feature. To the credit of the facility, the only bad spot on the track that was making substantial dust was exiting turn four. The dust was primarily from the track's apron. Despite the haze, the race was actually pretty good with lots of passing and three lead changes. Word is, a guardrail is in the works to line the infield for next season.
• Back-to-Back - Jason Johnson and Aaron Reutzel might have been seeing déjà vu at the Black Hills Speedway as Johnson crossed second with Reutzel third for the second race in a row. This marks the sixth time Jason Johnson has finished on the podium in 2014 and fourth that Aaron Reutzel has placed on the podium.
• Without a DNF - So far, Jason Johnson is the only driver in the National Tour Top 10 that has not received a DNF this season. In 2013, Johnny Herrera went the full season without a failure to receive the night's checkered flag.
• Moving Up - Several drivers posted impressive passing efforts over the weekend. Aaron Reutzel fought from fourteenth to third at the Black Hills Speedway and at one point was racing with Jason Johnson for second in slower traffic. Johnny Herrera clawed out of the B-Feature and raced to fifth. Local racing legend, Randi Miller, was another good mover from fifteenth to seventh.
• Ricky Stangl - The driver of the No. 24s was another big mover of the weekend, coming from twenty-first to tenth at the Randolph County Raceway on Saturday, and then pushed from sixteenth to seventh at the Double X Speedway on Sunday.
• Hard Crash - Anyone who was at Creek County Speedway on Friday night saw Alex Sewell take a nasty tumble. The Broken Arrow driver was fine, and made the show on Saturday in Lawton where the No. 8 picked up a third place finish.
Coming Up:
This weekend, the National Tour takes a break before heading into the Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals, but regional events will be in action. The Frontier Region is in action at the Gallatin Speedway in Belgrade, Mont. on Friday, July 25 followed by the Billings Motorsports Park on Saturday, July 16.
The ASCS Southwest Region makes their return to the Tucson International Raceway on Saturday, July 26 and we'll see if the third time's a charm for the Carolina ASCS 305 Region at the Harris Speedway in Harris, N.C.
For a complete listing of ASCS events in 2014, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
The 2014 season marks the twenty-third year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, which brings the best of Sprint Car racing to dozens of different tracks throughout the nation. Anchored by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV include: Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, iON Camera, Smokey Mountain Moonshine, C&R Radiator, Hawk Performance Products, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, and General Tire.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, KSE Racing Products, SpeedMart, Competition Suspension, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Saldana Racing Products, Maxwell Industries, Print Place, Simpson, The Joie of Seating, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley's Racing Products, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection Systems.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com as well as Twitter (@LucasOilASCS) and Facebook. News and information can also be sent to you with the ASCS E-News by texting ASCS to 22828 with any mobile device.
- Bryan Hulbert on Jul 22, 2014
- Article Date: 7/22/2014