(Photo by Collin Markle Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – STOCKTON, Calif. (March 24, 2015) – Qualifying is an emphasis for Austen Wheatley.
“We’ve got the same speed as everyone else when we race, but when we don’t qualify inside the heat race inversion that puts us in a tough spot,” he said. “We have to improve our qualifying times.”
Wheatley missed making the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series main events at Stockton Dirt Track last Saturday and Sunday in large part because he wasn’t able to qualify inside the inversion.
“The first night wasn’t too bad,” he said. “Our lap times were on pace with everyone, but everyone was pretty similar so it was hard to pass. The track was wide, but it was really fast. We really needed to start toward the front of the heat race or Last Chance Showdown to transfer into the main event.”
Wheatley, who qualified 25th quickest and less than one tenth of a second outside of the heat race inversion, finished where he started in both his heat race – seventh – and the Last Chance Showdown – sixth.
He returned to the track on Sunday and timed in 31st quickest during qualifying, which was approximately a half second outside of the heat race inversion. Wheatley then placed seventh in a heat race and 12th in the Last Chance Showdown.
“We weren’t as close to making the show on Sunday as we were on Saturday, but that’s in large part because our qualifying was off by that extra amount,” he said.
Wheatley will return to action with the World of Outlaws this Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., for the Mini Gold Cup and Sunday at Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif.
“I think we’ll be fine in Chico,” he said. “It fits my style more. I seem to do all right there. Antioch is more of a wild card for me.”
Wheatley’s best result at Silver Dollar Speedway was a fourth-place result in 2011. He placed seventh in the Last Chance Showdown during his lone race at Antioch Speedway in 2013.
QUICK RESULTS –
March 21 – Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif. – Qualifying: 25; Heat race: 7 (7); B Main: 6 (6).
March 22 – Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif. – Qualifying: 31; Heat race: 7 (8); B Main: 12 (11).
SEASON STATS –
7 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 1 top 20
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., for the Mini Gold Cup and Sunday at Antioch Speedway in Antioch, Calif., with the World of Outlaws 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 – Redlined Welding & Construction
Redlined Welding & Construction performs welding and construction for fishing boats and processors. Based out of Lake Stevens, Wash., Redlined Welding & Construction is owned and operated by Austen’s father, Shannon Wheatley.
“Redlined Welding & Construction is a family business and we race with a family team, so without Redlined Welding & Construction I wouldn’t be able to race,” Austen Wheatley said. “It is the heart and soul of this team.”
Wheatley would also like to thank Downforce Designs, Astro Titanium, 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 by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Mar 24, 2015
- Article Date: 3/24/2015 by Inside Line Promotions