(Photo by Paul Arch)
Inside Line Promotions – PORT ROYAL, Pa. (Oct. 11, 2021) – David Gravel capped the Nittany Showdown with a career-best World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series result at Port Royal Speedway last Saturday.
The Big Game Motorsports driver maneuvered from eighth to second place, which was his 38th top five of the season with the series and his fourth podium in the last nine races.
The event began on Friday with Gravel timing in eighth quickest in his group, which started him on the outside of the second row in a heat race.
“On Night 1 we didn’t qualify the way we wanted to,” he said. “We were off on the race car. We went to work for the heat race and got the car a lot better. We were able to race our way into the dash.”
Gravel’s run from fourth to second earned a spot into the dash. Unfortunately, he pulled the second-highest number – seven – to start on the inside of the fourth row. Gravel ended eighth in the dash and lined up eighth for the A Main.
“It’s hard to get going there in the fourth row,” he said. “We pretty much maintained in the A Main. We weren’t bad and weren’t great. We just could hang around and ended up sixth.”
Saturday started on the right note as Gravel set quick time during qualifying for the 17th time this season, which leads the World of Outlaws.
“The track was different to start,” he said. “It was definitely faster and had more grip. In hot laps, qualifying, the heat race and even the dash the track was pretty fast. We were able to quick time and put ourselves in a good position and win the heat race. I drew another terrible pill for the dash with the seven. We weren’t that great at the dash. We tried something a little different there in the feature and it worked out really good. We had a really good race car and I felt like we could pass people and make some stuff happen. It felt really good to finish on a strong note.”
Gravel’s runner-up result was set up by a strong second half of the race.
“The wing going back helped, but typically as the race goes on you’ll want to get the wing back to chase the race track,” he said. “The car liked it. I actually got the wing back too far and it was getting tricky to drive late in the race. You had to be committed to the top. It’s a good thing when it’s around the top and you’re able to pass guys. That shows you’re operating well.”
Gravel remains second in the World of Outlaws standings, but the solid weekend cut the deficit to 92 points with five races remaining.
The team is off this weekend before the next World of Outlaws event on Oct. 22 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., for the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown.
QUICK RESULTS –
Oct. 8 – Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa. – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 6 (8).
Oct. 9 – Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pa. – Qualifying: 1; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 8 (7); Feature: 2 (8).
SEASON STATS –
77 races, 13 wins, 43 top fives, 63 top 10s, 72 top 15s, 75 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Oct. 22 at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., for the FVP Platinum Battery Showdown with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigGameMotorspt
HUSET’S SPEEDWAY –
Huset’s Speedway is a dirt oval located in Brandon, S.D. The track opened in 1954 and has undergone a large renovation within the last few years, making it a premier destination for both marquee racing events and weekly programs. For more information, visit http://www.HusetsSpeedway.com.
JACKSON MOTORPLEX –
Jackson Motorplex is a 4/10-mile dirt track located in Jackson, Minn. It hosts special events from May through September, including races with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Midwest Power Series, Tri-State Late Models and more. For more information, visit http://www.JacksonMotorplex.com.
TICKET LINK –
To purchase online tickets for events at either Huset’s Speedway or at Jackson Motorplex, visit http://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 Oct 11, 2021
- Article Date: 10/11/2021 by Inside Line Promotions