(Photo by http://www.OpenWheelPhotos.com)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 27, 2014) – Tony Bruce Jr. made the most of his only appearance at Knoxville Raceway prior to this week’s 24th annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals.
Bruce Jr. learned some valuable information from his laps around the half-mile oval last Saturday that he can put to use during his preliminary night this Thursday.
“We learned more or less what we need to do with the engine and its fueling and gear,” he said. “Track conditions and weather does play a pretty good part in it, but we can just fine tine what we need to do with it from there.”
Bruce Jr. noted that qualifying is his focal point heading into the $10,000-to-win event.
“A good qualifying time is going to be huge,” he said. “Everything is based off qualifying with the points situation. Then making it through the heat race. If you qualify good and make it through the heat race, you’re sitting pretty for the rest of the week.”
Bruce Jr. met half of that equation last Saturday at Knoxville Raceway, where he timed in eighth quickest before finishing one spot out of a lock-in position in his heat race.
“We had a good qualifying time and unfortunately we didn’t make it out of the heat race,” he said. “That pretty much cost us the rest of the night. It was one of those deals where I didn’t get a good start and that pretty much finished the night off for us.”
After winning the B Main to transfer to the back of the main event, Bruce Jr. decided to test during the 18-lap main event.
“On the start of the A Main I played it safe and didn’t get too aggressive,” he said. “I stayed back there to see if we could track cars down and pass them. I felt like we had a really good car and some good speed. I’m not disappointed with the handling. I just have to do a better job of taking advantage of our situations.”
Bruce Jr. ended with a 15th-place finish, which marked his 25th top 15 of the season.
In addition to this weekend’s 360 Knoxville Nationals Thursday through Saturday, Bruce Jr. will compete with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour next Monday, Aug. 4, at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for the Front Row Challenge. He took the challenge last year – giving up the pole position to start last in the main event – and rallied from 24th to fifth place.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 26 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 6 (5); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 15 (21).
SEASON STATS –
37 races, 3 wins, 8 top fives, 21 top 10s, 25 top 15s, 35 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Thursday and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the 24th annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals; and Monday at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for the Front Row Challenge 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.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
VIDEO –
Click on the link for a video by Thriller Productions that highlights Bruce Jr.’s Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour triumph at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on March 21: http://vimeo.com/89899519
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Hinchman Racewear
With more than 80 years in the industry, Hinchman Racewear prides itself on safety, experience, innovation, quality and customer service. For more information on how Hinchman Racewear can protect you, visit http://www.HinchmanRacewear.com.
“When looking for safety and innovation, look no further than Hinchman Racewear,” Bruce Jr. said. “With great customer service and a passion for keeping drivers protected, it’s no wonder why they are the leaders in the custom suit industry. I choose Hinchman to keep me safe and I encourage all drivers to do the same.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Lubbock Wrecker Service, Wheeler Metals, Briley Trucking, The Oil Medics, 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 Jul 27, 2014
- Article Date: 7/27/2014 by Inside Line Promotions