By Bill Sullivan/Sullivan Images Media
ELK GROVE, CA – While many are focused on turkey, stuffing and coordinating the family gatherings, Elk Grove's Billy Strange has his sights set on a different type of Thanksgiving travels this year. The second generation open wheel racer will log an entry in the upcoming two day Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Nationals at Las Vegas.
"I am really pumped about going to this event," said Strange, who recently capped his California racing season with a strong run in the Trophy Cup at the Tulare Thunderbowl." There will be a lot to learn and absorb. When you race at a big event with this caliber of drivers it exaggerates your short comings. It really tells you what you need to do to improve your program."
The ½ mile track will be one of the biggest Strange has ever raced on before one of the largest audiences in the company of some of the biggest names in the sport. The event spans two different days with a unique format that starts on Friday night in Sin City and wraps up Saturday night to conclude a weekend that will draw a great deal of media attention nationwide.
"The track is the biggest one we've ever raced on," added Strange. "It should be fun and exciting and will definitely teach us a lot as a team and will teach me what I have to do as a driver on a bigger track."
The format of the Lucas Oil ASCS Nationals is much different that Strange is accustomed to. Throughout his racing career, Strange has routinely competed in programs that operate under a tradition qualifying format. This weekend, it will be a brand new game for the entire Strange Motorsports cast and crew.
"The format is very different. I've made this year about improving my qualifying all through the season and with ASCS there is no qualifying. There's nothing to fall back on. You have to race every lap of the qualifiers hard and smart."
Another adversity that Strange and his team must consider this weekend is variations in the rules between ASCS that many of the California tracks and campaigns which he competes in. While Strange has kept a close eye on the ASCS specifications because many of his home tracks like Placerville and Silver Dollar Speedway's are beginning to adopt them, this will mark the first time he straps into a 360 sprint car with such aspects put into place.
"The main thing to contend with is the harder compound right rear tire,'' said Strange. "We've never run it before. We will adapt ok, it's very similar to the situation we faced at the Gold Cup when we had to run on Goodyear Tires to compete with the World of Outlaws."
Strange will be racing in the company of many of the nation's top 360 sprint car drivers. This event will officially wrap up the 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters championship season. The second generation wheelman that began in midget lites will be racing laps with names like Jason Johnson of Eunice, Louisiana. Known as the "Ragin' Cajun," Johnson will be a driver to keep up with this weekend as he looks to clinch the $60,000 ASCS championship title.
Additional drivers that Strange will share real estate with include Western World Champion Donny Schatz of Fargo, North Dakota, Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma who ranks second on the national tour ahead of 2009 ASCS Champion Shane Stewart of Bixby, Oklahoma. While many of the competitors will be new company for Strange, the event will also reunite um with some familiar faces, including one California driver that have been traveling with the campaign and tops the rookie charts on the tour.
The first of those two drivers will be Loomis driver Kyle Hurst who has many California victories to his name and now leads the Brodix Rookie of the Year standings on the ASCS tour. Hirst is 8th in the overall ASCS ranks. Justyn Cox of Clarksburg has been competing with the ASCS as well and is fifth in the Rookie of the Year standings.
"We've raced many events with Kyle Hirst in the past," said Strange. "He's been doing extremely well on the ASCS tour and I'm looking forward to seeing him. It's always nice when you go into one of these new events to have someone you already know and have raced with."
The Las Vegas Sprint Car Super Nationals will be broadcast in several different fashions for those that are unable to catch the event in person. Race fans will be able to listen to the event live on the internet at www.racinboys.com. Live internet pay per view is also available at www.SpeedwayChannel.com. The two day package is $12.95 while a single day viewing is $9.95.
"This is really big deal for us and a great way to wrap our season," said Strange. 'We're already looking forward to a strong year in 2010 and are putting together our sponsorship proposals. Competing in a race like this with this type of exposure is a great way to end the year."
Strange Motorsports is seeking primary sponsorship for the 2011 racing season. In the year to come Strange plans on competing in a variety of high profile events and campaigns including weekly events at Placerville Speedway, the Civil War Series and the traveling Golden State King of the West Series. To learn more about Billy Strange or to contact them about sponsorship opportunities, visit his official website at www.billystrangejr.com.
- Bill Sullivan on Nov 23, 2010
- Article Date: 11/23/2010