(Photo by Collin Markle Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – CALISTOGA, Calif. (April 13, 2015) – Austen Wheatley earned his best finish of the season with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series twice last weekend.
Wheatley recorded a pair of 18th-place finishes with the premier sprint car series at Calistoga Speedway, which also marked his first two top 20s at the scenic half-mile oval.
“I didn’t feel that great all weekend,” he said. “We were really tight the whole weekend.”
The action began last Saturday as Wheatley qualified 18th quickest – only two spots out of the heat race inversion.
“The first night in qualifying it felt good enough to get in the inversion, but it was a couple of tenths off,” he said.
Wheatley was able to maintain his fifth starting position during a heat race to lock himself into the main event, which he started on the outside of the ninth row.
“I think restarts helped me both nights,” he said. “We had a short-run car both nights. On the first night we got up to 12th or 13th at one point and then we backed up to 18th because we were so tight.”
Wheatley returned to Calistoga Speedway on Sunday. He qualified 33rd quickest before rallying from ninth to fifth place in a heat race to advance into the main event. Wheatley then maneuvered from 24th to an 18th-place result.
“The car was so stuck on the right rear and the curb was gnarly,” he said. “The track was pretty racy. There were two grooves, but the curb would eat you alive if you weren’t free enough.”
Wheatley also competed at Placerville Speedway in Placerville, Calif., last Wednesday with the World of Outlaws. He timed in 28th quickest during qualifying and finished where he started – seventh – in a heat race. Wheatley maneuvered toward a transfer after starting ninth in the Last Chance Showdown, but he was caught up in a crash. He ended seventh in the consolation race.
Wheatley is scheduled to compete at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash., this Saturday. He recorded his first career 410ci feature victory in the United States at the track last season.
“I feel very good about going to Skagit,” he said. “I think we led every local race we went to but one at Skagit last year.”
QUICK RESULTS –
April 8 – Placerville Speedway in Placerville, Calif. – Qualifying: 28; Heat race: 7 (7); B Main: 7 (9).
April 11 – Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif. – Qualifying: 18; Heat race: 5 (5); Feature: 18 (18).
April 12 – Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif. – Qualifying: 33; Heat race: 5 (9); Feature: 18 (24).
SEASON STATS –
12 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 3 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash.
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 Apr 13, 2015
- Article Date: 4/13/2015 by Inside Line Promotions