(Photo by Malcolm White Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – ALGER, Wash. (Aug. 31, 2014) – Austen Wheatley is ready to move on to a busy week of five World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series races following a sour outing last Friday at his home track.
Wheatley endured several issues on the opening night of the World of Outlaws doubleheader at Skagit Speedway that culminated with a wild crash.
“I blew up in qualifying,” he said. “It smoked it pretty good. It was laying down on the first lap and on the second one it let go.”
Wheatley managed to time in 14th quickest, which was only two positions out of the heat race inversion. He was slated to line up fifth, but was late to staging as the team scrambled to change the engine between qualifying and the heat race.
After being penalized one row and forced to start seventh, Wheatley picked up a spot to place sixth and earn a lock-in position for the main event.
“I got rolling and was being patient on the bottom,” he said after starting the feature 14th. “I think we were 10th or 11th. I got under Steve Kinser because he entered on the middle. He came across my nose and I got in the standing water on the bottom. The car got sideways and came up the track and Trey (Starks) hit me.”
Wheatley rolled over once following the collision and he was unable to restart the race. He was credited with a 21st-place finish.
“I don’t understand how it’s slick with blowing dust on the top and there’s standing water on the bottom,” he said. “We’ve been in some wrecks lately and with a busy week coming up we decided not to race on Saturday at Skagit.”
Wheatley is slated to compete with the World of Outlaws on Monday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash.; on Tuesday at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore.; on Wednesday at Southern Oregon Speedway in White City, Ore.; and on Friday and Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., for the Gold Cup.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 29 – Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. – Qualifying: 14; Heat race: 6 (5); Feature: 21 (14).
SEASON STATS –
40 races, 1 win, 6 top fives, 7 top 10s, 9 top 15s, 15 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Monday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash.; Tuesday at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore.; Wednesday at Southern Oregon Speedway in White City, Ore.; Friday and Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., for the Gold Cup with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.AustenWheatley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustenWheatley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DownForceDesigns?fref=ts
APPAREL –
Wheatley will have t-shirts and hoodies for sale at every race he competes at this season. For his schedule of races, visit http://www.AustenWheatley.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Astro Titanium
Established in 1999, Astro Titanium manufactures quality titanium fasteners for sprint cars and midgets. Based out of Noti, Ore., owner Dave Sims has developed his business into a titanium leader on a national scale. For more information, visit http://www.AstroTitanium.com.
“Astro Titanium and Dave Sims have been with me since the beginning of my career,” Wheatley said. “Anytime we have a problem, we call Dave up and he helps. He’s a really personable guy and his products work great.”
Wheatley would also like to thank Redlined Welding & Construction, Downforce Designs, The Oil Medics, Fire-Down Graphics, SpeedMart, Bell and King Racing Products 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 31, 2014
- Article Date: 8/31/2014 by Inside Line Promotions