(Photo by Patrick Grant / http://www.OpenWheelPhotos.com)
Inside Line Promotions – WHEATLAND, Mo. (June 21, 2015) – Tony Bruce Jr. reached the Winner’s Circle for the first time this season on Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway, which hosted the final race of the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour’s Sizzlin’ Summer Speedweek.
“Any time you get to win a race, especially an ASCS National Tour race, it’s definitely a confidence booster and let’s you know you’ve still got it,” he said.
Bruce Jr. and the One 8 Motorsports team opened the event by charging from sixth to second place in a heat race, which earned the most overall points during heat race competition and a spot in the feature redraw.
“We had a really good car in the heat race and was able to advance to put ourselves in the redraw,” he said. “We pulled a decent pill and the car was perfect from the get-go in the A Main.”
Bruce Jr., who started on the outside of the second row for the main event after drawing the No. 4 in the redraw, quickly maneuvered to the bottom of the track and into the lead on Lap 2.
“I knew I had to take advantage of them reworking the bottom of the race track in the first few laps,” he said. “I made sure I hit the bottom and we got the lead and pulled away.”
Bruce Jr. maintained the top spot for the remainder of the race despite one scary moment in traffic.
“Somebody tagged the back straightaway wall and came across the race track,” he said. “I had to check up and it got chaotic. I anticipated a caution so I eased up and there was no caution. The car cleared the race track. It got a little intense. Kyle (Bellm) made a good run and I could see him pull along side of us, but I made sure to hit my marks.”
The victory marked his fourth straight season with at least one Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour triumph and the sixth season in the last seven years. It also propelled him to a runner-up finish in the Speedweek standings – only seven points behind the winner.
Bruce Jr. started last weekend on Friday at Salina Speedway in Salina, Okla., where he advanced from third to win a Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour heat race. That locked him into the feature redraw and the No. 3 selection lined him up on the inside of the second row for the main event.
“We had a good heat race and that put us in front of the A Main,” he said. “We just missed the setup. We were struggling so bad to get down the straightaways. We didn’t have enough speed and momentum. We hung on for what we could get. We hovered around third for a long time and as the race went on the car went away.”
Bruce Jr. ended with a sixth-place result.
A pair of Sizzlin’ Summer Speedweek races in Oklahoma on Wednesday and Thursday were cancelled because of the weather.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 19 – Salina Speedway in Salina, Kan. – Heat race: 1 (3); Feature: 6 (3).
June 20 – Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. – Heat race: 2 (6); Feature: 1 (4).
SEASON STATS –
23 races, 1 win, 5 top fives, 12 top 10s, 16 top 15s, 20 top 20s
UP NEXT –
TBD
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
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.
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, The Oil Medics, Hinchman Racewear, 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 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 Jun 21, 2015
- Article Date: 6/21/2015 by Inside Line Promotions