(Photo by B Young Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – LEXINGTON, Tenn. (June 2, 2021) – Marshall Skinner recorded four top-10 finishes in as many nights of racing during the first weekend of the 16th annual USCS Sprint Car Speedweek.
“I passed a lot of cars each night except Sunday,” said Skinner, who started 14th or worse in three of the four main events. “We had pretty good runs. We just didn’t pass many cars in the heat races, which started us further back in the features.
“They haven’t updated the Speedweek points, but we should be near the top. We ran well and rolled the car in the box every night. That’s the main thing.”
Speedweek opened last Friday at Greenville Speedway in Greenville, Miss., where Skinner advanced to a fifth-place finish after starting 16th.
“The track at Greenville was rough due to a lot of rain; it was cowboy-up,” he said. “I didn’t want to tear my race car up and I was just trying to keep my nose clean. Some of the cars I passed were casualties, but it is what it is.”
Skinner had a similar heat race result the following night at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark.
“Riverside started out the same as Friday,” he said. “I started last in the heat race and passed one car. This time it put me starting fifth in the B Main at my home track. But I was able to make it happen in the B Main. The leader got a little timid in lapped traffic and I passed him and about four lapped cars in one corner.
“Then I started 16th in the A Main and finished fifth, just like the night before. But this time not many cars dropped out and I really raced my way forward.”
The series moved on to Old No. 1 Speedway in Harrisburg, Ark., on Sunday night. Skinner started and finished third in his heat race before charging to an eighth-place finish in the feature after lining up 14th.
“The heat race in Harrisburg was pretty much one lane and I couldn’t pass anyone,” he said. “I felt I did pretty well in the feature to move up that much. The dirty air at that track makes it really tough to pass and the race went non-stop.”
Monday night at Lexington 104 Speedway saw Skinner charge to a heat race win after starting fifth before he finished sixth in the A Main.
“Lexington was pretty tough to pass during the feature,” he said. “I was in fifth and got bottled up when the guy in front of me checked up. I got over the cushion and that let Jordon Mallett by me, and I finished sixth.”
Skinner appreciates the help he’s received from a new crew member this season, particularly during four consecutive nights of racing at four different tracks.
“Walker Johnson started helping me this year and he’s been a big help, especially last week,” he said. “He’s a good kid and picks up on things really quick.”
Skinner plans to close out the Speedweek schedule this weekend with races at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, Ala., on Thursday; at Hattiesburg Speedway in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Friday; and at Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram, Miss., on Saturday.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 28 – Greenville Speedway in Greenville, Miss. – Heat race: 6 (7); Feature: 5 (16).
May 29 – Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. – Heat race: 7 (8); B Main: 1 (5); Feature: 5 (16).
May 30 – Old No. 1 Speedway in Harrisburg, Ark. – Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 8 (14).
May 31 – Lexington 104 Speedway in Lexington, Tenn. – Heat race: 1 (5); Feature: 6 (5).
SEASON STATS –
9 races, 0 wins, 4 top fives, 6 top 10s, 8 top 15s, 8 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Thursday at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, Ala.; Friday at Hattiesburg Speedway in Hattiesburg, Miss.; and Saturday at Jackson Motor Speedway in Byram, Miss., with the 16th annual USCS Sprint Car Speedweek
MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sprint26
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marshall-Skinner-Motorsports-207879425896412/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – West Tennessee Expediting
West Tennessee Expediting is a trucking company based in Ripley, Tenn.
“West Tennessee Expediting is a great expediting service for someone who needs something in a hurry,” Skinner said. “I’ve known Jeff Buckner, who owns the company, for about 20 years. Jeff is a big supporter of racing. He’s a former racer and we’re good friends. I really appreciate his assistance this year.”
Skinner would also like to thank J&J Auto Racing, Stinson’s Industrial, Final Touch Auto Collision Center, Gant Concrete Pumping, Big Earl Farms, B&D Towing and Recovery, DHR Suspension, Robert Thorne Landscaping, American Outdoor Inc., CnB Chubby, West Tennessee Expediting, Xtreme Race Graphics, Water & Wastewater Services, Cooper Racing Enterprises, BB&T Racing, FSR Radiators, Hinchman Racewear, FK Rod Ends, Killer Coatings, Bell Helmets, Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Schoenfeld Headers, DMI, Huggins Cams, KDN Promotions, Deatherage Opticians, Custom Heat & Air, Hedger Brothers Concrete, Quality Flooring and Cleaning and Commercial Equipment Co. 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 Jun 02, 2021
- Article Date: 6/2/2021 by Inside Line Promotions