Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (October 18, 2010) – The American Sprint Car Series makes a much awaited return to Muskogee’s historic Thunderbird Speedway as the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region puts the wraps on its 2010 season this Saturday night.
It will mark the first ASCS event in more than ten years atop the long-lived ½-mile clay oval, with Wayne Johnson taking the last Thunderbird win in the form of an ASCS National event in June of 2000.
Looking to put the finishing touches on his second American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner championship and celebrate yet another birthday in style is Tulsa’s Sean McClelland, who claimed his first Sooner crown in 2005.
After a full year on the Lucas Oil ASCS National trail in 2009, McCelland returned to the Sooner ranks this season and has posted nine top-fives and eleven top-tens in a dozen events, including wins at Lawton Speedway (July 10) and Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville (September 11).
Carrying a gaudy 132-point advantage into Saturday night’s action, McClelland needs merely to show up and attempt to make a green flag to secure the title.
In McClelland’s wake, 2009 ASCS Sooner champion Joe Wood, Jr., of Oklahoma City is just 40 points ahead of fellow OKC shoe Andy Shouse in the battle for second. Shouse was a Sooner Region co-champion in 2004.
Shouse is just four points ahead of Sapulpa’s Kenneth Walker, who made his way back to the Sooner circles in 2010 after three years of Lucas Oil ASCS National competition.
Third-generation shoe Donnie Ray Crawford of Broken Arrow, OK, enters the finale ranked fifth in points, with fellow series contenders such as two-time champion Brian McClelland of Tulsa and Guthrie’s Michelle Decker taking on all variety of invaders.
Thunderbird Speedway hosted four ASCS National events from 1998 to 2000, with Gary Wright winning the first three events before Wayne Johnson reached victory lane on June 9, 2000.
Saturday night’s American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region action at Muskogee’s Thunderbird Speedway is set to get under way at 7:00 p.m.
Thunderbird Speedway is located in Muskogee, OK, 2.1 miles east of US 69 on Okmulgee Street to B Street, then 0.9 miles south. For more information, contact the track at 918-869-6955 or 918-682-7977.
Saturday marks the 13th night of 2010 competition for the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region at nine different tracks throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.
- Lonnie Wheatley on Oct 19, 2010
- Article Date: 10/19/2010