(Photo by Casey Jones)
Inside Line Promotions – DU QUOIN, Ill. (Dec. 19, 2016) – Tony Bruce Jr. produced his career-best result in a midget last Saturday during the Junior Knepper 55 at Southern Illinois Center.
Bruce Jr., who was driving for Team Eights and was tackling only his seventh career midget event, opened the night by winning a USAC Midget Racing Series heat race after overcoming a slow start.
“We started on the outside of the front row and didn’t get as good of a start as we wanted,” he said. “The track was one lane around the bottom so we got shuffled to third on the opening lap. I tried to stay patient and run consistent laps and we were able to get around the two guys in front of us to win.”
That ranked Bruce Jr. third in overall points out of nearly 50 competitors following heat race competition and it started him on the outside of the third row in his qualifier.
“Again we started on the outside and didn’t get a great start,” he said. “I rode in sixth for a bit before I started picking cars off one by one. The track had a bottom and a top groove come in so we could maneuver around.”
Bruce Jr. advanced to a third-place result, which ranked him fourth in overall points and locked him into the fourth starting position for the 55-lap main event.
“Even though we had good starting positions we started every race on the outside all night,” he said. “We fell back to sixth on the first lap of the feature. I made it up to fourth and was battling for third when I made a couple of mistakes. I went to the bottom and a guy went around me so I moved up the track, but a couple more got by me. I fell back to eighth, but we got a late caution that allowed me to take a breath and refocus.”
Bruce Jr. rebounded to rally into fifth place before fellow Team Eights driver Chad Wheeler made a late-race pass. The sixth-place result still marked a career-best effort for Bruce Jr.
“We are very happy with how the night went and our momentum entering the Chili Bowl next month,” he said. “Chad and I debriefed and for only our fourth race together we feel pretty good. We definitely have the speed. I just need to do better about being patient. With more experience I think we’ll continue to do better.”
Bruce Jr. will return to action Jan. 10-14 at River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla., for the 31st annual Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire.
QUICK RESULTS –
Dec. 17 – Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Ill. – Heat race: 1 (2); Qualifier: 3 (6); Feature: 6 (4).
UP NEXT –
Jan. 10-14 at River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla., for the 31st annual Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
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 Briley Trucking, Lubbock Wrecker Service, 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, Pressure Tek, Tiger Towing (Dave and Paula Debates), Sorrels Auto and Truck Parts (Mitchell Sorrels), Melvin Plumbing (Billy Melvin), Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Wulff Pumps, Miller Auto Supply and Jeff Smith Racing Engines 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 Dec 19, 2016
- Article Date: 12/19/2016 by Inside Line Promotions