(Photo by Scott Frazier)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 10, 2014) – Tony Bruce Jr. entered the 54th annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s General Stores with only three 410ci races under his belt this season.
That didn’t stop him from putting together a consistent performance during the premier sprint car event at Knoxville Raceway last weekend.
The marquee event kicked off last Friday with Bruce Jr. qualifying 37th quickest despite being one of the final cars to qualify.
“I still feel like our qualifying lap wasn’t as good as we needed to be,” he said. “I really wish our qualifying lap would have been better because it means so much as far as overall points.”
It was good enough to make the heat race inversion and Bruce Jr. powered to a third-place finish in his heat to lock the One 8 Motorsports entry into the main event.
“In the A Main we had the car way too tight,” he said. “I wasn’t able to do much with it. I had a tough time turning in on corner entry and I wasn’t able to rotate the corners as well as we’d like.”
Following a 20th-place result, Bruce Jr. was forced to compete in the non-qualifier event Saturday morning. He won his heat race to advance into the main event, which he started on the inside of the second row.
“We had a little bit too much gear,” he said. “The track got really slick down the straightaways and I had way too much tire spin. It was one of those deals where we weren’t carrying enough speed and I lost a few spots.”
Bruce Jr. ended with a sixth-place finish, which lined him up 16th for the C Main on Saturday night. Unfortunately, he was caught up in a crash entering turn one on the opening lap.
“I was all the way up by the wall and had committed to going in on the top,” he said. “I saw Steve Kinser checking up in front of me. I had nowhere to go. I jumped his right rear tire and got up into the fence. I hit him and got up against the fence and came back down. Luckily I didn’t go over.”
The damage was too much to repair for Bruce Jr., who was unable to restart the race.
He will return to Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour competition this Saturday at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 8 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 37; Heat race: 3 (1); Feature: 20 (19).
Aug. 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa (Friday program) – Heat race: 1 (1); Feature: 6 (3).
Aug. 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – C Main: DNF (16).
SEASON STATS –
44 races, 3 wins, 9 top fives, 23 top 10s, 29 top 15s, 41 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla., 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 – Wheeler Metals
Established in 1968, Wheeler Metals is a sheet metal business that offers a variety of products for professional and amateur builders. Wheeler Metals has three locations in Muskogee, Okla., Rogers, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. For more information, visit http://www.WheelerMetals.com.
“When I moved to the Tulsa area a few years back we built a brand new shop,” Bruce Jr. said. “We always strive as a race team to find the best products for the situation and that was no different selecting the company to build our building. Wheeler Metals was the perfect fit for our needs. From 10x10 pole barns to 100x100 full metal buildings, they have it all. I challenge anyone to find a building company that will work the customers’ needs like they do.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Lubbock Wrecker Service, Briley Trucking, Hinchman Racewear, 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 Aug 10, 2014
- Article Date: 8/10/2014 by Inside Line Promotions