(Photo Credit: Jeff Bylsma)
TULSA, Okla. (August 18, 2014) - Our weekly review of the American Sprint Car Series looks back at events with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real along regional competition with the American Bank of Oklahoma Sooner, Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South, Smiley's Racing Products Lone Star, Speedway Motors Midwest, and the ASCS Frontier Region.
To date, 115 of a scheduled 127 race nights have been completed, accounting for 132 ASCS sanctioned events in 2014. This past weekend added a first time winner for the season, and a first time winner overall for ASCS. The season total for winners stands at 61 across all ASCS action.
The Winners:
Friday, August 15, 2014
• Tommy Bryant (Gulf South / Lone Star) - The yearly meeting between the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South and Smiley's Racing Products Lone Star Region kicked off at the Heart O' Texas Speedway in Waco with Tommy Bryant picking up his first ASCS Regional victory of the season. The Cooper Motorsports No. 28 led start-to-finish.
• Joe Ramaker (Frontier) - For the fifth time this season, Joe Ramaker topped action with the ASCS Frontier Region, this time at the Gallatin Speedway in Belgrade, Mont. For Ramaker, the win is his thirteenth with the series and nineteenth overall in ASCS competition.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
• Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Nationals / Sooner) - A wild night at the Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla. ended with Sam Hafertepe, Jr. posting his second Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour win of the season. Hafertepe's win also popped the Wells Racing Engines No. 15h back into the top five in ASCS driver points.
• Josh Baughman (Gulf South / Lone Star) - If didn't take long for Josh Baughman to back up his first ASCS triumph on July 12 at the Abilene Speedway. Taking on the half-mile Devil's Bowl Speedway with the ASCS Gulf South and Lone Star Regions, the Energy Equipment No. 17 came from sixth to win at the famed oval. Being a co-sanctioned race, Baughman's win counted in each region.
• Isaac Schreurs (Midwest) - Proof that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, Isaac Schreurs won for the first time in ASCS competition this Saturday night at the Park Jefferson International Speedway.
• Kelly Miller (Frontier) - The Canadian driver was the class of the field, leading all 25 laps at the BMP Speedway on Saturday night for his first Frontier Regional victory of the season, and second overall since its inception in 2013.
News and Notes from the Weekend:
• Defying the Odds - It was mentioned that Isaac Schreurs won with the Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region on Saturday night. What wasn't mentioned earlier is that Isaac is paralyzed. Losing the use of his legs following a Motocross accident at the age of 14, Schreurs utilizes hand-controls to manipulate his No. 612 machine. It was more than just a win Saturday as Isaac led start-to-finish at the Park Jefferson International Speedway; it was a win that was cheered by all in the stands and a true triumph of the human spirit to overcome all obstacles. Isaac was carried from his car by his Father to Victory Lane, where friends and family rejoiced in his accomplishment. From everyone with the American Sprint Car Series, congratulations Isaac and we hope it is the first of many wins.
• Hard Crash - That's one way of describing the hit Mike Goodman took into the Catch Fence at the Salina Highbanks Speedway on Saturday night. Racing hard for the lead with Jason Johnson, contact between the pair sent the No. 11am flying exiting the second turn. Both drivers were okay.
• Another Hard Hit - Jack Dover has found a slump, and unfortunately it's an expensive one for the No. 53. Racing to third at the Park Jefferson Speedway, Dover entered the third turn on Lap 18 with the front axle snapping; sending Dover flipping hard. Thankfully, the Nebraska native was unharmed.
• When the lights go out - Thankfully the track lights stayed on, but events were put on hold Saturday night when a power surge knocked out the power to the Press Box, and in turn the safety lights around the track. Quick work by the track crew brought the lights back on.
• Rain wins again - The Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region was scheduled to invade the Sprint Invaders on Sunday, but, according to officials nearly two inches of rain fell at the Quincy Raceways within 24 hours of the race.
• Leading the way - Friday night at the Gallatin Speedway was stacked with leaders. Four to be exact according to Andrew Kunas as Phil Dietz led the opening lap, Jerry Brey the second, then Phil Dietz from Lap 3 through 22, then finally Joe Ramaker who led the remainder with Dietz stalking the Idaho veteran through traffic.
• Eric Baldaccini - It has been a few days since Eric Baldaccini was at an ASCS event as a competitor. In fact, the last time the 2010 Lone Star Regional Champion raced with the American Sprint Car Series was on October 8, 2011. This past weekend when the Gulf South and Lone Star Region met at Waco and Mesquite, the Keller, Texas driver suited up in the Challenger Drilling No. 0 and posted a pair of top-tens.
• First Start in America - Making his first start in ASCS competition this past weekend was Australia's Scott Bogucki. While he may not have had the results he was looking for, Bogucki posted to his Facebook thanking Shawn and Lindsey Petersen for the chance to drive one of their No. 4x machines.
Coming up:
This weekend will be the calm before the storm so to speak. The Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real will head to the Riverside International Speedway for the inaugural Mid-South Showdown presented by TBJ Promotions on Thursday, August 21. The following night will see the National Tour in action at the Lexington 104 Speedway in Lexington, Tenn.
ASCS Lone Star and Sooner action meets up for the first time at the Red River Speedway in Wichita Falls, Texas on Friday, August 22 with the Sooner Region continuing to the Lawton Speedway on Saturday, August 23.
West Texas ASCS 305 competition also continues this weekend with El Paso on Friday night and Las Cruces on Saturday.
Speaking of "the storm", Labor Day Weekend will feature 10 ASCS sanctioned events in three nights from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, August 31 in Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, and Missouri.
Labor Day Weekend 2014 - Schedule of Events:
8/29/2014 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT (Frontier)
8/29/2014 - Jackson Speedway - Jackson, MN (National/Midwest)
8/30/2014 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT (Frontier)
8/30/2014 - Jackson Speedway - Jackson, MN (National/Midwest)
8/30/2014 - Leesville 171 Speedway - Leesville, LA (Gulf South)
8/30/2014 - Randolph County Raceway - Moberly, MO (Warrior)
8/30/2014 - Tucson International Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Southwest)
8/31/2014 - Electric City Speedway - Great Falls, MT (Frontier)
8/31/2014 - Randolph County Raceway - Moberly, MO (Warrior)
8/31/2014 - Tucson International Raceway - Tucson, AZ (Southwest)
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 Aug 18, 2014
- Article Date: 8/18/2014