(Photo Credit: George Levy)
TULSA, Okla. (July 28, 2014) - Regional competition in the American Sprint Car Series took center stage this past weekend as the ASCS Southwest and Frontier Regions took to the track at three facilities in Arizona and Montana.
The weekend saw two drivers returning to Victory Lane and added a new winner to the ASCS ranks.
The Winners:
Friday, July 25, 2014
• Trever Kirkland (Frontier Region) - It's not common to see anyone sneak by Joe Ramaker, but Trever Kirkland did just that in the closing laps at the Gallatin Speedway in Belgrade, Mont. Friday night for his first ASCS score.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
• Joe Ramaker (Frontier Region) - Finishing second Friday night was enough to light a fire under Joe Ramaker who led all by three laps on Saturday night at the BMP Speedway. The win is Ramaker's fourth on the season and twelfth overall with the Region.
• Joshua Williams (Southwest Region) - For the second time in 2014, Joshua Williams found victory at the Tucson International Raceway with the ASCS Southwest Region. Williams found the lead at the mid-point in the race and never looked back.
A few notes on the weekend:
• Left Rear Down - Had the left rear tire on Ryan Linder's machine not gone down at Tucson, the race may have played out very different. Posting a picture to Facebook the following day, little remained of the Hoosier that let go on Lap 12.
• Rickey Hood - More and more, Rickey Hood is the "Ageless Wonder" as the crafty veteran charged from twentieth to fifth Saturday night with the Southwest Region in Tucson. This marks the second race in a row that Hood has been the night's Hard Charger, running from fifteenth to fifth at the Arizona Speedway on July 5.
• Ream is Rolling - Bob Ream, Jr. seems to have this winged stuff figured out. The former non-wing champion has made seven A-Features with the Southwest Region in 2014 and has not finished outside the top-five yet.
• Hard Hit - Leroy Brush might still be seeing stars after taking a vicious hit during his Heat Race at the Gallatin Speedway on Friday. The hit was hard enough to strip the frame from the front engine plate forward. Brush was unhurt.
• Back in Front - It didn't take long for Joe Ramaker to regain the points lead with the ASCS Frontier Region. After two hard nights against the National Tour, Ramaker closed to the gap on Kelly Miller to four points on Friday night, then put his account to the black by 11 on Saturday.
• Overall Ziehl - Speaking of hot streaks, Rick Ziehl is also posting his share of top-fives this season in both ASCS 360cid and 305cid competition. Ziehl has 13 top fives' between the two sanctions and has not finished outside the top ten in 14 starts.
• Fighting Back - Not in the terms of fists, but overcoming adversity. As reported by ASCS Frontier Regional P.R. Director, Andrew Kunas, Saturday night at BMP Speedway saw Phil Dietz cut a tire running second. Forcing the caution, a trip to the work area brought the No. 72 to the tail where Dietz powered back to finish fourth.
• Quick Thank You - Many thanks need to be given to the ASCS Regional Directors who take the time to promote the sport of Sprint Car racing. These are the people who get screamed at by upset drivers, their crew, their wives, girlfriends, mistresses', cousins, brothers, and anyone else left who feels they need to scream. Trust me when I say, the pay is not enough to endure some of the frustration, but the rewards often outweigh the grief otherwise they would have quit years ago. Please take some time to appreciate what these people do and give them a pat on the back for helping to keep the sport of Sprint Car racing alive.
Coming Up:
It's finally here, the 24th annual Arnold Motor Supply ASCS Knoxville Nationals at the 19th Annual Casey’s General Stores/Musco Lighting Front Row Challenge presented by Don Long’s Searsboro Telephone Company.
Things kick off in Knoxville on Thursday, July 31 and run through Saturday, August 2. The Front Row Challenge is scheduled for Monday, August 4 at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa.
Tickets for the Arnold Motor Supply ASCS Knoxville Nationals are on sale at http://www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
Front Row Challenge tickets can be purchased by calling (515) 957-0020.
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 28, 2014
- Article Date: 7/28/2014