(Photo by Casey Jones)
Inside Line Promotions – TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 16, 2018) – Tony Bruce Jr. put himself in a good position to overcome a high draw last Tuesday during the opening night of the 32nd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
Bruce Jr. led Team Eights from seventh to fifth place in a heat race – only a few feet from fourth place – before maneuvering from 10th to sixth in a qualifier. That started him on the inside of the second row for a B Main, which transferred the top four into the back of the main event inside the River Spirit Expo Center.
“We moved forward from deep starting positions in both the heat race and qualifier so we were in a good position going into the B Main,” he said. “Unfortunately, it was short-lived.”
As the green flag was waved and the drivers took off into turn one, the polesitter got on the brakes harder than Bruce Jr. anticipated. He slammed on his and it stalled the engine, stopping him on the track. It forced Bruce Jr. to restart last.
“It was extremely frustrating because you know it has just gone from a great chance of transferring to the A Main to a slim chance,” he said. “We worked hard to move through the field, but it wasn’t enough.”
Bruce Jr. maneuvered from the back of the pack to an eighth-place finish, which narrowly missed a transfer into the A Main.
The event concluded on Saturday, when Bruce Jr. won an F Main after starting on the outside of the front row. He then charged from 13th to seventh in an E Main, but ran out of laps to secure one of the four transfer positions.
“The track isn’t super racy in those mains because they want to set it up for later in the night,” he said. “That helps when you start up front, like we did in the F Main. I was still pleased with our progress in the E Main even though we didn’t transfer. Passing was tough and we did a lot of it in that race.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Jan. 9 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – Heat race: 5 (7); Qualifier: 6 (10); B Main: 8 (3).
Jan. 13 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – F Main: 1 (2); E Main: 7 (13).
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 Jan 16, 2018
- Article Date: 1/16/2018 by Inside Line Promotions