(Photo by All Star Media)
Inside Line Promotions – MOUNT GAMBIER, Glenburnie, South Australia (Feb. 17, 2016) – Travis Rilat kicked off the 2016 season with an international victory for the third straight year.
Rilat picked up his third consecutive Tyson Perez Memorial last Saturday at Borderline Speedway, which hosted the sixth edition of the prestigious Australian Sprintcar All Star Series event.
“It makes it all worthwhile,” he said. “By the time I leave my house in Texas to getting picked up at the airport in Australia is 24 hours. That is the long way to go for a single race. I don’t think I’ve won anything three in a row. That’s definitely an accomplishment. You have to be prepared and luck has to be on your side. We didn’t get into any incidents along the way. With two sets of heat races and a pole shuffle there’s plenty of opportunity for something to go wrong. Lady Luck, or Mr. Tyson Perez, was on our side.”
Rilat opened the event, which he drove for George Smetona with Phil Seymour serving as the crew chief, by qualifying sixth quickest. He then claimed his first heat race after starting on the outside of the front row.
“I had noticed in hot laps the engine was running a little warm,” he said. “I took the lead on the start and won the first heat. The engine was still running warm. We found the problem. We had a water pump that went out. We were able to scrounge through the pits and get it changed before the second heat.”
Rilat then advanced from seventh to sixth place in his second heat race, which put him fifth in overall points and earned a spot in the pole shuffle. Rilat won his first round before losing the second. That lined him up fourth for the 31-lap main event.
“The track got pretty slick,” he said. “They went and cut the top of the track to keep it from taking rubber. That made for a top and a bottom groove for the first three quarters until that top wore off.
“We were patient and pick them off one at a time. We had the first caution and we were running fourth with two or three laps in. I was able to get to third on the restart. Another six or eight laps later I was able to get into second place. Then, a little after halfway, I was able to use the top groove to my advantage coming off turn four and I was able to get around the leader.”
Rilat also was awarded the Hoosier Hero Award, which provided the team with a new right rear tire.
“Once again it was a great trip,” he said. “I want to thank George and Phil for the opportunity to honor my friend. Also, a big thanks to Tyson’s family and friends. It’s a special event and I’m so grateful to be a part of it.”
Rilat is slated to make his season debut in the United States this Thursday through Saturday at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., for the Ronald Laney Memorial.
QUICK RESULTS –
Feb. 13 – Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier, Glenburnie, South Australia – Qualifying: 6; Heat race #1: 1 (2); Heat race #2: 6 (7); Pole Shuffle: 4 (5); Feature: 1 (4).
SEASON STATS –
1 race, 1 win, 1 top five, 1 top 10, 1 top 15, 1 top 20
UP NEXT –
Thursday through Saturday at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., for the Ronald Laney Memorial
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TravisRilat.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TravisRilat29
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“Shop the BOSS was created by Richard Bell, who has been a really good friend,” Rilat said. “He’s got a pretty unique deal going on. As his business has grown and expanded, he’s been able to do a lot more with the team.”
Rilat would also like to thank George Smetona, Phil Seymour, the Perez Family, Sprint Roller Shutters, A Plus Powder Coating, Cols Quality Contracting, Elite Surface Technologies, P&K Rural PTY LTD, Proctor Accounting, Total Steel Australia, PJS Motor Sport and crew, The Kids + Foundation, Shark Racing Engines, Weld Wheels, KSE Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Hoosier Racing Tires, HRP Wings, Goodrich, Penske Racing Shocks and All Star Auto Reconditioning.
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 Feb 17, 2016
- Article Date: 2/17/2016 by Inside Line Promotions