Inside Line Promotions – LAKE STEVENS, Wash. (March 21) – Devil’s Bowl Speedway is a different track and one many young drivers struggle on.
Not Austen Wheatley, who returns to the famed ½-mile oval in Mesquite, Texas, this weekend for the 38th annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals with the ASCS National Tour.
“It was just something that I took to really quick,” Wheatley said. “I just like it because the corners are so different. Turns three and four are really wide and sweeping, and turns one and two are narrow.”
A year ago at the Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals – and his first time at the track – the 18-year-old from Lake Stevens, Wash., drove from his 12th starting position into the top five early in the feature. He remained a contender until he smacked the frontstretch wall in the closing laps, which damaged his right rear wheel and dropped him to an 11th-place finish.
“It sucks in really quick,” he said. “It’s kind of a narrow frontstretch, so it can be hard not to hit. But Devil’s Bowl is one of my favorite places to go. Our 360 engine program is pretty good. Hopefully that’ll show up at Devil’s Bowl.”
Last June in an ASCS Lone Star Region versus Sooner Region event at the track, Wheatley drove from 20th to fourth and eventually settled on a seventh-place finish after his right rear tire lost pressure in the final laps.
With those two stellar races and a recent stint driving his 410 engine with the World of Outlaws, Wheatley is more than optimistic about his return to Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
“The 410 engine kind of helps you with a 360,” he said. “A 410 is more power and harder to control. When you get back in a 360 with less power, it’s easier to control and you can push the limit further. It’s almost easier to drive a 360 after you’ve been in a 410 for awhile.
“With a good draw and a little luck, I hope we’ll be in the running for another top finish both nights.”
For live updates of Wheatley and the 38th annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com/liveupdates throughout the weekend.
SEASON STATS –
3 races, 1 feature, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 1 top 20
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, for the 38th annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals with the ASCS National Tour
FAVORITE NUMBER –
11: The position Wheatley finished in last year’s Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, in his first race at the famed track.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.austenwheatley.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MiniWheats44w
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Fire-Down Graphics
Based in Monroe, Wash., Fire-Down Graphics provides graphics for helmets and race cars. Owner Brent Anderson crewed for various World of Outlaws teams before focusing on his business. For more information, visit www.firedowngraphics.com.
“I think they make the coolest helmets ever,” Austen said. “Brent Anderson is one of the best helmet designers around and the car always look great, too.”
Wheatley would like to thank his sponsors, including Wolfweld, The Oil Medics, SpeedMart, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Astro Titanium, DMI, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Goodyear and Redlined Welding & Construction for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.
- administrator on Mar 21, 2011
- Article Date: 3/21/2011