(Photo by Malcolm White Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (April 24, 2017) – Austen Wheatley was on pace to record at least a top-10 finish last Saturday at Cottage Grove Speedway before a broken part sent him on a wild ride.
Wheatley, who was making his third start of the season for Doug Rutz, qualified seventh quickest at the quarter-mile oval before he won a heat race after starting on the outside of the front row.
“I haven’t been there in a couple of years and that place has always had my number for whatever reason,” Wheatley said. “I didn’t feel particularly great all night, but that was more of me than the car. It was a work in progress all night.”
He started the 30-lap main event on the inside of the third row.
“I backed up to ninth or so and we started making our way forward a little at a time,” he said. “We were running sixth with seven laps remaining when the right front hub broke going into turn one. It dug the right front into the ground and it was like someone picked the car up and flung it.”
Wheatley flipped violently before ending with a beat-up race car.
“It ripped the motor out of the car and junked the frame,” he said. “I’m pretty sore. Both my knees, my neck and my right wrist are sore. We’ll probably take a couple of weeks off to heal and regroup.
“I want to thank Doug for the opportunity again. It certainly didn’t end the way we wanted, but everyone is safe and that’s the most important thing.”
QUICK RESULTS –
April 22 – Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore. – Qualifying: 7; Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: DNF (5).
SEASON STATS –
3 races, 1 win, 1 top five, 1 top 10, 2 top 15s, 3 top 20s
UP NEXT –
TBD
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.AustenWheatley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustenWheatley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DownForceDesigns?fref=ts
APPAREL –
Wheatley will have t-shirts and hoodies for sale at every race he competes at this season. For his schedule of races, visit http://www.AustenWheatley.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Redlined Welding & Construction
Redlined Welding & Construction performs welding and construction for fishing boats and processors. Based out of Lake Stevens, Wash., Redlined Welding & Construction is owned and operated by Austen’s father, Shannon Wheatley.
“Redlined Welding & Construction is a family business and we race with a family team so without Redlined Welding & Construction I wouldn’t be able to race,” Austen Wheatley said. “It is the heart and soul of this team.”
Wheatley would also like to thank Downforce Designs, Astro Titanium, Fire-Down Graphics, SpeedMart, Bell and King Racing Products 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 Apr 24, 2017
- Article Date: 4/24/2017 by Inside Line Promotions