TULSA, Okla. (February 5, 2016) Legendary Mid-South car owner Bobby Sparks will bring his familiar No. 91 back on the road with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network for the first time since 2009.
“I’m ready. I’m really ready to be back out on the road with the ASCS,” said Sparks, of Olive Branch, Miss., about his return as a car owner with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour in 2016.
A mentor of many over the years including Darren Stewart, Tim Crawley, Wayne Johnson, and Gary Taylor just to name a few, Mr. Sparks will bring Illinois’ up and comer Steven Russell to the driver’s seat in 2016 for his bid at being the 2016 Brodix Rookie of the Year.
“I’m pumped about his kid. He really wants to do it. His Dad really wants to do it and it’s great because that’s been my biggest issue for the last several years is not having any help. They all can show up at the racetrack and everything’s fine, but once we leave, it’s all on me and I’m getting to old for that,” said Sparks who makes the 2016 season his 45th year in motorsports.
The son of Jerry Russell, long time car builder and fabricator who founded Eagle Chassis and later came out with the JR1 brand, Steven has been racing going on 15 years, coming from Quarter Midgets starting at age four, to Micros at age nine, and finally Sprint Cars at 15 years of age, starting off in 305cid competition before progressing to higher horsepower.
Currently 19 the Marketing Major at Lincoln Land Community College is the youngest driver on the National Tour in 2016 and joins Josh Baughman in the hunt for Brodix Rookie of the Year.
“This is a great opportunity, especially with someone like Bobby [Sparks] who has done this for so many years. Plus, I’ll have Bobby and my Dad with me so I’ll have two great coaches.”
Asked what it would mean to earn the title of Brodix Rookie of the Year in 2016, Steven replied, “It would mean a lot and I think it would open up a lot of doors. Even the greats had to earn a Rookie of the Year somewhere.”
Steven would like to thank car owner, Bobby Sparks, as well as his Father, Jerry Russell, for the opportunity to be a part of the Sparks Racing No. 91 as well as his sponsors, MRC Construction, FSR Radiators, Huggins Cams, Ostrich Racing Engines, Car and Fleet, Pro Tech, FK Rod Ends, Hoosier, Penske Shocks, Engler Machine and Tool, Simpson, Fibreworks Composites, K1 Race Gear, Mahan Fiberglass, Wilwood, Maxwell Industries, XYZ Machining, BMRS, DMI, and TSR. Steven Russell can be found on Facebook.
The 2016 season is the 25th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing across the United States for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network. For continued updates, and to see the full lineup of events for American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to the Regional Tours, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
- Bryan Hulbert on Feb 05, 2016
- Article Date: 2/5/2016