Inside Line Promotions – KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Aug. 6, 2021) – Gunner Ramey is ready to tackle his first career 360 Knoxville Nationals appearance this weekend with preliminary action on Friday prior to the finale on Saturday at Knoxville Raceway.
The Terry Doogs Racing driver is confident following solid appearances at two fast dirt ovals within the last few days. He raced with the Sprint Invaders on Sunday at Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo., where he notched his second top five of the season with a third-place finish. Two days later Ramey got a final tune-up at Lakeside Speedway, where he advanced from 21st to 14th during the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour feature.
The action began with a second-place result in a heat race and a fifth-place outing in the dash at Randolph County Raceway. The feature inversion lined Ramey up on the outside of the third row for the main event.
“Randolph County is always super fast when we show up and typically we run the top,” he said. “It was different this weekend. We found a little moisture on the bottom and that’s where we ran most the night. The leaders were racing really hard late in the race and what started out as a straightaway-length lead they had, we cut it in half by the finish.”
Ramey’s third-place run tied his season-best performance.
The Sedalia, Mo., driver was back behind the wheel on Tuesday at Lakeside Speedway, where a seventh-place finish in a heat race lined him up on the inside of the 11th row in the A Main.
“We struggled in the heat race at Lakeside and missed the setup so we had to start deep in the feature,” he said. “We made some adjustments before the feature and got the car hooked up well on the bottom before it gradually got tighter as the race went on. We finished 14th from 21st so it was nice to pass some cars, but it would have been great if we had started out with better track position.”
Ramey now eyes what he calls the “biggest weekend of the year for 360 sprint car racing and the biggest race of my career.” He will use the knowledge he has built up in his five career starts at Knoxville Raceway to take aim at his first-ever start in the 31st annual My Place Hotels 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank.
“It’s going to be tough, and if I’m honest, I’m a little nervous just because everyone who shows up there is so good and fast, including the local drivers who are there every week,” he said. “I grew up going to Knoxville and watching, and now to be racing there in the 360 Nationals is exciting.”
Ramey elected to qualify on Friday night so that he could watch and learn from other drivers on Thursday night as they navigate the famed half-mile dirt oval.
“I definitely want to make the A Main on my qualifying night,” he said. “That will set the tone for the rest of the weekend and help set us up well for the big night on Saturday.
“I think we’re going into the Nationals with some realistic goals. I think by qualifying well on Friday and getting in the invert that would really help us out on Saturday trying to make the big show. We’re doing everything we can to be as good as we can be and if we can make the A Main on Saturday that would be awesome.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 1 – Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo. – Heat race: 2 (2); Dash: 5 (4); Feature: 3 (6).
Aug. 3 – Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. – Heat race: 7 (4); Feature: 14 (21).
SEASON STATS –
19 races, 0 wins, 2 top fives, 5 top 10s, 11 top 15s, 17 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the 31st annual My Place Hotels 360 Knoxville Nationals presented by Great Southern Bank
MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gunnerramey_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RameyRacing28
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gunnerramey_/
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“There is a sign inside Impact Signs, Awnings, Wraps that says ‘A business with a good sign is a sign of a good business,’” Ramey said. “I’ve realized how big of an impact marketing tools, whether it’s a vehicle wrap, a sign or an awning, make on a business. Impact Signs does a tremendous job with its services and helping their clients make the most of their marketing dollars.”
Ramey would also like to thank STAX, Next LED, Starline Brass, Sure Coat Powder Coating, Retrieving Freedom, Embry Snow Removal, G&T Farms, Mid-Mo Equipment, Ostrich Racing Engines, T.R. Welding, Rockwell Security and Terry Doogs Racing 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 Aug 06, 2021
- Article Date: 8/6/2021 by Inside Line Promotions