(Photo by Trent Gower Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – MONROE, La. (March 15, 2021) – David Gravel guided Big Game Motorsports to its first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory since August 2019 last Saturday during the series debut at The Rev.
Gravel, who is in his first season of piloting the No. 2, was stout throughout the event. He established a new track record during qualifying before winning a heat race to advance into the dash.
“It was a new track, a pretty intimidating looking place with high banking and tight corners,” he said. “We drew the No. 1 and it was a benefit to go out early in qualifying. We have good engines and started off good in qualifying. We won the heat race and drew the No. 4 for the dash. Brad (Sweet) didn’t get a great start so we got right to second. That was huge to run second because that set us up for success in the A Main.”
Gravel’s runner-up result in the dash lined him up on the outside of the front row for the 30-lap main event. He took the lead on Lap 2 and led for 10 laps.
“I was able to control the race a little bit,” he said. “Brad started racing with me seven laps in and it seemed like it never stopped with us racing the rest of the 23 laps. It was a battle. I’m happy to be on the right side of things.”
Gravel relinquished the lead on Lap 12 and on Lap 23, but both times quickly regained the top spot. He was efficient in traffic and held on to score his 59th career World of Outlaws triumph and first with Big Game Motorsports.
“I wanted to get that first win,” he said. “It feels good to be in the mix. We’re right there with everybody. It’s a good confidence and morale builder. Winning a race like that shows we can battle one of the best guys out here right now and beat him.”
The weekend began on Friday at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss., where Gravel qualified 17th quickest after hitting the track late in time trials. However, a run from fifth to second place in a heat race garnered a spot into the dash for Gravel. He again gained three positions to charge from seventh to fourth in the dash.
“The pill draw was a big factor to our struggle in qualifying,” he said. “To claw our way to a dash spot was really good. Then to draw the No. 7 in the dash was a bummer. We were able to get a good start and pick some guys off to run fourth, which was really, really good. The track was on the verge of taking rubber. They did a bunch of work before the feature and we just missed it with the setup.
“I was about fourth or fifth for most of the race. Kasey (Kahne) got us for fifth with about three laps to go so we finished sixth. Looking at it you’re really happy to get that track position and start up front. If we started where we qualified we probably wouldn’t have passed many cars and finished in the back. Working real hard in the heat race and the dash saved us to have a decent feature finish.”
Next up is a trip to Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas, this Friday and Saturday for the Drydene Texas Two-Step Presented by American Lube Supply. Gravel swept the night by setting quick time during qualifying and winning a heat race, the dash and the main event during his most recent visit in April 2018. He finished third during his debut at the oval in 2016.
“I believe I’ve run two races there and finished first and third so it’s a track that’s been good to me,” he said. “One time it rained and the track was heavy and rough. The other time it was slick and wide. Hopefully we get the slick and wide version this weekend.”
QUICK RESULTS –
March 12 – Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss. – Qualifying: 17; Heat race: 2 (5); Dash: 4 (7); Feature: 6 (4).
March 13 – The Rev in Monroe, La. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 2 (4); Feature: 1 (2).
SEASON STATS –
8 races, 1 win, 6 top fives, 7 top 10s, 8 top 15s, 8 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas, for the Drydene Texas Two-Step Presented by American Lube Supply with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigGameMotorspt
THE SHOWDOWN –
THE SHOWDOWN is one of the biggest weeks of racing for winged sprint car drivers. The action begins on June 20 with a $5,000-to-win 410ci winged sprint car event followed by two days of the Huset’s 50. All three nights are hosted by Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D., before Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minn., showcases the famed AGCO Jackson Nationals June 24-26. The final five nights of THE SHOWDOWN are World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series races with a total purse exceeding $500,000. Additionally, if a driver is able to win the final night of the Huset’s 50 and the AGCO Jackson Nationals he or she will bring home a whopping $180,000.
TICKET LINK –
Advanced tickets for THE SHOWDOWN can be purchased at https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=JKMV_PL_MPV&orgid=55369#/?view=list&includePackages=true
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 Mar 15, 2021
- Article Date: 3/15/2021 by Inside Line Promotions