(Image Credit: Richard Bales)
TULSA, Okla. (March 8, 2016) In 24 previous years, the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network has never opened the season at the track that help pioneer the rules package for what is now the nation’s largest Sprint Car sanctioning body.
In 2016 however, the Creek County Speedway will be the site of the season opener for the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour’s 25th year of operation with the Sooner State Showdown on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12.
Rounds 21 and 22 in Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour history, 15 drivers have claimed victory at Creek County with Gary Wright and Tim Crawley tied at the top with three. Jason Johnson, with a pair, is the only other driver with multiple wins.
“We’re excited to get this season going. We have a tough lineup of drivers this year, and the schedule keeps building and having it open at Creek County Speedway means a lot to the series, and to the Hahn family,” said ASCS National Director, Matt Ward, whose grandfather, Emmett Hahn, founded the series in 1992.
Also responsible for building Creek County Speedway, Emmett will watch as the Oklahoma oval enters its 31st year of operation.
Going into the series 25th season, 11 drivers have committed to running for the season ending $250,000 guaranteed point fund; of which the champion will take home $60,000.
Looking to take home his second such check is Aaron Reutzel. Taking in events from Arizona to Florida in preparation for the 2016 season, Aaron will take on the tour in his own No. 87 machine. Aaron topped the series seven times in 2015.
Wayne Johnson, who finished runner-up in the 2015 standings, last topped the Lucas Oil ASCS National Championship in 2000. Johnson’s return in 2016 will be solely as a driver, rather than owner/driver as the No. 77x will be replaced with No. 2c. Johnson is currently second in Gary Wright in all time Lucas Oil ASCS feature starts with 392. Johnson last won at the Creek County Speedway on June 16, 1996 with Garry Lee Maier and Gary Wright on the podium.
Year two as an owner/driver, New Mexico’s Johnny Herrera has added to his crew for the 2016 season with Chris Stivers and Christian Kinnison joining the No. 45x team. Herrera topped the ASCS Red River Region at Creek County in 2015.
With two wins to his name already in 2016, Washington’s Seth Bergman reeled off four National Tour wins in 2015, and placed fourth in tour standings. Since 2011, Seth has topped ASCS action at the Creek County Speedway on three occasions with the Sooner, and now Red River Region of the American Sprint Car Series.
Winless in 2015, Matt Covington looks to rectify that as the A-Rock Material No. 95 found a lot a speed as season’s end. Just down the road from Matt’s house, Creek County Speedway is Covington’s home track.
Another driver who considers Creek County Speedway as his home track is Blake Hahn. Taking his fist laps in a Junior Sprint at the quarter-mile, Hahn has wins in Micros and Sprint Cars at the track his grandfather built.
The 2015 Brodix Rookie of the Year, Missouri’s Kyle Bellm enters the season with an all new look to the No. 14k, and new support from Resource Asset Management Solutions (RAMS). Bellm came close to victory at the Skagit Speedway during Dirt Cup, but saw his run shattered after contact with a slower car.
After a broken arm sidelined Sam Hafertepe, Jr. in 2015, the Texas racing ace is back in 2016 with Keith Dobbs Motorsports. Coming back with a vengeance in 2015, Sam cracked off four ASCS wins by season’s end, including the Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals.
Last chasing the Lucas Oil ASCS crown in 2014, Missouri’s Brad Loyet will take on the National Tour in 2016. Returning in the Loyet Motorsports No. o5, Loyet was a force anytime he did run in 2015, topping the Hockett/McMillin as well as posting seven top-five runs in seven starts in 2015.
Eyeing the 2016 Brodix Rookie of the Year title is Josh Baughman and Steven Russell.
A regular in ASCS Regional action for several years, Odessa, Texas racer Josh Baughman has picked up a lot of speed over the past year. With the help of long time mechanic, and shock guru, Wayne Priddy, Baughman will finally take on the full National Tour. Familiar to the grind of travel, Baughman will be tough to beat.
For Steven Russell, the 2016 season will be his first on the road, but he has good teachers. The son of JR1 Chassis builder, and former Eagle Chassis builder, Jerry Russell, the 19 year old college student will be behind the wheel of the Bobby Sparks Racing No. 91. Sparks, who has an owner championship to his credit with Tim Crawley, has been in the game for 45 years.
This weekend’s Creek County Speedway double-header also marks the second year of competition for the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Red River Region presented by Smiley’s Racing Products. Kade Morton topped the series in 2015 in his rookie attempt in a full fuel injected Sprint Car.
The Creek County Speedway is located between Sapulpa and Kellyville, Okla. on Hwy. 66. Friday’s races get underway at 8:00 P.M. with Saturday at 7:30 P.M. For more information on the Creek County Speedway, log onto http://www.creekcountyspeedway.co.
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.
Quick Notes:
Series: Lucas Oil ASCS and ABoOK ASCS Red River
What: Sooner State Showdown
Where: Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, Okla.
When: March 11-12, 2016
Track Information: Creek County Speedway
Location: 18450 W Highway 66 Kellyville, OK 74039
Phone: 918-693-7223
Email: ssgran@aol.com
Website: http://www.creekcountyspeedway.co
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Creek-County-Speedway/184042998335772
Lucas Oil ASCS Winners: Creek County Speedway: Gary Wright 3; Tim Crawley 3; Jason Johnson 2; Brady Bacon, Christopher Bell, Danny Wood, Darren Stewart, Garry Lee Maier, Jeff Swindell, John Hunt, Mike Ward, Pete Butler, Phil Gressman, Wayne Johnson, Zach Chappell;
ASCS National Drivers Online:
Josh Baughman: http://www.joshbaughman.com
Kyle Bellm: http://www.kylebellm.com
Seth Bergman: http://www.sethbergmanracing.com
Matt Covington: http://www.mattcovingtonracing.com
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.: http://www.sam15.com
Blake Hahn: http://www.blakehahnracing.com
Johnny Herrera: http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com
Wayne Johnson: https://www.facebook.com/WayneJohnsonRacing?fref=ts
Brad Loyet: http://www.loyetmotorsports.com
Aaron Reutzel: http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com
Steven Russell: https://www.facebook.com/steven.russell.71066?fref=ts
ASCS Online:
American Sprint Car Series: http://www.ascsracing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lucasoilascs
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lucasoilascs (@lucasoilascs)
Instagram: ASCSRACING
Audio Broadcast: http://www.racinboys.com
Live Scoring (Where Applicable): http://www.ascsracing.com/live and the Race Monitor App
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV Motorsports Network is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network include: Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix. All Heat Races are brought to you by ButlerBuilt Professional Seating Systems. All B-Features are presented by BMRS.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, LucasOilRacing.tv, Carlyle Tools, and General Tire.
Communications for the American Sprint Car Series is provided by Racing Electronics. All events are broadcast online at http://www.racinboys.com.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, KSE Racing Products, Fuel Safe, DMI Rear Ends, BMRS, SpeedMart, Competition Suspension, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Maxwell Industries, Simpson, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley's Racing Products, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection.
- Bryan Hulbert on Mar 08, 2016
- Article Date: 3/8/2016