Swindell & Coons Capture Wins in Western World Opener!
 
Lonnie Wheatley, TUCSON, Ariz. (November 19, 2009) – The 42nd Annual Kronik Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios kicked off with Sammy Swindell and Jerry Coons, Jr., racing to victory lane in Thursday night's 25-lap qualifying features atop the 3/8-mile USA Raceway clay oval.

Sprint Car legend Swindell bested the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters ranks in the 25-lap winged main event to earn the pole position for Saturday night's $15,000-to-win championship finale, with Coons decimating the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region ranks for the pole in Saturday's $5,000-to-win main event.

With 64 drivers taking part in Thursday night's Old Tucson Studios preliminary action, including 39 winged competitors and 25 wingless racers, the second half of the Western World field will take to the track in Friday's Kronik Energy Qualifying event.

Lucas Oil Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters (Winged)
 
After making a last-lap pass of Sam Hafertepe, Jr., to win the night's third winged Sprint Car heat race, Swindell drew the pole position for the main event with 15-year-old northern California shoe Justyn Cox alongside.

With Swindell jumping the first start, the field stacked up on the second start with fourth-row starter Cale Conley getting turned around to bring out the caution.  It got worse for Conley on the next try when he got into a flipping Sean McClelland on the backstretch, with both McClelland and Conley done before a lap was in the books.

With the green flag finally flying, Swindell gunned into the lead with fifth-starter and current Lucas Oil Sprint Car points leader Shane Stewart racing into second past Johnny Herrera upon the completion of the second round.

Swindell and Stewart reached the tail of the field after just six laps and raced through traffic until the caution flew after eleven laps when Herrera clipped an infield tire and spun to a stop in turn two.

Stewart kept pace with Swindell over the next ten-lap stretch of green flag action with the lapped car of Brady Bacon in between the pair until a final caution flew after 21 laps for Seth Bergman, who came to a stop in turn three.

Stewart disposed of Bacon on the final restart and while he kept pace with the fleet Swindell on the top side of the track, was unable to mount a charge.  Swindell flashed underneath the checkered flag aboard Tom Rolfe's Parker-powered No. 10 for his third career Lucas Oil Sprint Car feature win.

Runner-up honors aboard Paul Silva's Wesmar-powered ProBilt Construction/Palmero Properties No. 57 A.R.T. proved good enough for Stewart to put a virtual lock on the $60,000 Lucas Oil Sprint Car championship.

Moving into fifth when Herrera spun on the eleventh round, Wayne Johnson charged up to third on the ensuing restart and kept the Fisher-powered FattFro Motorsports No. 14aj Maxim in the show position the rest of the way, with Gary Wright working up to fourth in the final rounds aboard Scott Brown's ASI-powered Lubbock Wrecker Service No. 9x Maxim.

Ricky Logan rounded out the top five in the Lucas Oil No. 10a, with Jack Dover, 13th-starter Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and 19th-starter Paul McMahan earning starting positions in Saturday's main event by finishing sixth through eighth, respectively.

Jesse Hockett raced from 20th to ninth, with Lucas Wolfe completing the top ten.

Conley, W. Johnson, Swindell, Wright and Herrera topped heat race action for Thursday night's 39 winged competitors, with Bergman and Bacon winning the "B" Mains.

ASCS Canyon Region (Non-Wing)
 
Tucson, AZ, native Jerry Coons, Jr., left little doubt about his first career American Sprint Car Series feature win by unleashing a dominant performance in Thursday night's 25-lap Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region main event at USA Raceway.

Coons took the checkered flag aboard Rex Foster's No. 32 entry with more than a half-lap advantage, lapping all the way up to seventh in the process.  And, if not for a red flag eleven laps into the race, Coons likely would have lapped the entire field.

While he probably didn't need it, Coons caught a break before the green flag even flew on the feature field when scheduled pole starter Travis Rilat pulled to the infield when a leaking fuel valve ignited.  The fire burned through Rilat's safety belts, forcing him pitside and moving Coons to the pole position.

Moving alongside outside front row starter and current ASCS Canyon Region points leader Charles Davis, Jr., Coons gunned into the lead and opened up half-lap advantage in just a handful of laps as Daniel Hutto, R.J. Johnson and Rick Ziehl moved past Davis.

Slicing through traffic, Coons lapped up to eleventh by the time the red flag flew after eleven laps when Dalten Gabbard went yard in turn four.  Gabbard walked away uninjured.

With several lapped cars between Coons and Hutto, it was more of the same over the final 14 circuits as Coons circled the oval at an unmatched pace.

While Coons ultimately took the checkered flag on the heels of the trio battling for positions fifth through seventh, the battle for position well behind him was wild with Robert Ballou wasting little time racing from fifth into second after the lap 12 restart.

Ballou held the runner-up spot to the line, with Arkansas shoe Tim Crawley charging from the 19th starting position to claim the show position. 

After exiting a heat race when his Yeley-owned mount ignited, Jon Stanbrough transferred through "B" Main action along with Crawley and then raced from 18th to fourth in the feature with Ziehl rounding out the top five.

Davis was sixth, while R.J. Johnson took the seventh and final lock-in position to Saturday night's main event as the final car on the lead lap.

Stevie Sussex was eighth, with Casey Shuman and Joshua Hodges competing the top ten.

Rilat, Ballou and Joshua Hodges won Thursday night's non-wing heat races, with Thomas Ogle victorious in the "B" Main.

42nd Annual Kronik Energy Western World presented by Old Tucson Studios

Thursday Night's Old Tucson Studios Qualifier Results

USA Raceway – Tucson, AZ

Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters (Winged Cars)

Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series Western World Thursday Prelim Results (Top 8 Lock into Saturday's "A" Main):

“A” Feature (25 Laps):  1. Sammy Swindell, 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Wayne Johnson, 4. Gary Wright, 5. Ricky Logan, 6. Jack Dover, 7. Sam Hafertepe Jr., 8. Paul McMahan, 9. Jesse Hockett, 10. Lucas Wolfe, 11. Danny Wood, 12. John Carney II, 13. Brady Bacon, 14. Ben Gregg, 15. Darren Long, 16. Justyn Cox, 17. Curtis Evans, 18. Brent Kronfuss, 19. Seth Bergman, 20. Johnny Herrera, 21. Sean McClelland, 22. Cale Conley.

Lap Leaders: Sammy Swindell 1-25.

ASCS Canyon Region (Non-Winged Cars):

ASCS Canyon Region Western World Thursday Prelim Results (Top 7 Lock into Saturday's "A" Main):

“A” Feature (25 Laps):  1. Jerry Coons Jr., 2. Robert Ballou, 3. Tim Crawley, 4. Jon Stanbrough, 5. Rick Ziehl, 6. Charles Davis Jr., 7. R.J. Johnson, 8. Stevie Sussex, 9. Casey Shuman, 10. Joshua Hodges, 11. Daniel Hutto, 12. Bruce St. James, 13. Andrew Reinbold, 14. Thomas Ogle, 15. Seainn Hendricsen, 16. Carson Ditsch, 17. Cody Cambensy, 18. Dalten Gabbard, 19. Chris Bonneau, 20. Travis Rilat (DNS).

Lap Leaders: Jerry Coons, Jr. 1-25.

-end-

Godwin Tops ASCS Rebel Season Finale as Martin Claims Crown
 
Lonnie Wheatley, TAMPA, Fla. (November 14, 2009) – Tyler Godwin put the finishing touches on the 2009 American Sprint Car Series Rebel Region campaign by racing to victory lane in Saturday night's 25-lap season finale atop the 1/3-mile East Bay Raceway Park clay oval.

While Godwin became the seventh different series feature winner of the year in as many events, Danny Martin, Jr., secured the ASCS Rebel Region championship with a third-place showing aboard the Martin Structures No. 00 Shaw.

Godwin led throughout to post his second career ASCS Rebel win, with Greg Leonard taking advantage of a late miscue by Gene Lasker to snare runner-up honors.

Martin claimed the show position to take the title by 68 markers over sixth-place finisher Matt Kurtz.

Michael Miller and Jeff Van Dusen rounded out the top five, respectively, with Kurtz, Bob Auld, A.J. Maddox, Frank Carlsson and Mike Schroeder completing the top ten.

Heat race victories were claimed by Brian Maddox and Van Dusen.

“A” Feature (25 Laps):  1. Tyler Godwin, 2. Greg Leonard, 3. Danny Martin, Jr., 4. Michael Miller, 5. Jeff Van Dusen, 6. Matt Kurtz, 7. Bob Auld, 8. A.J. Maddox, 9. Frank Carlsson, 10. Mike Schroeder, 11. Casey Hines, 12. Brian Maddox, 13. Gene Lasker, 14. Aubrey Black, 15. Mark Beldock, 16. Frank Beck III. DNS: Shane Kreidler.

ASCS Rebel Region Points (Top Ten):  1. Danny Martin, Jr. 852, 2. Matt Kurtz 784, 3. Bob Auld 713, 4. Aubrey Black 596, 5. Brian Maddox 512, 6. Frank Beck III 442, 7. Matt Linder 430, 8. Nick Bashford 402, 9. Tim Perry 400, 10. Tyler Godwin 361.

-end-

The Tradition Continues – Western World Championships One Week Away
 
Lucas Oil Sprint Car Champion Among Titles to be Determined

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (November 13, 2009) – Tony Bruce, Jr., snared a $15,000 gem by besting a 101-car field in last weekend's 22nd Annual Short Track Nationals at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway.

Now, one more $15,000 victory prize awaits the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, as the series wraps up a highly-competitive 2009 campaign with next weekend's 42nd Annual Kronik Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios at Tucson's USA Raceway on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 19-21.

While just one weekend remains between Shane Stewart and the $60,000 Lucas Oil Sprint Car title, the ASCS Southwest championship will also be determined as will the non-wing Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region title.  The Canyon Region regulars will take on a host of invading forces in the $5,000-to-win non-wing portion of the Western World.

Hailing from Bixby, OK, Stewart carries a 24-point lead over 2008 series champ Jason Johnson of Eunice, LA, into next weekend's $15,000-to-win tilt atop the 3/8-mile USA Raceway.

Stewart and Johnson lead a stellar group of 16 full-time Lucas Oil Sprint Car travelers that will divvy up the record $250,000 points fund in the Sunday, November 22, ASCS Awards Banquet presented by Brodix at Old Tucson Studios.

Along with Stewart and Johnson, other Lucas Oil Sprint Car contenders include Gary Wright (Hooks, TX), Travis Rilat (Forney, TX), Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN), Tim Crawley (Benton, AR), Danny Wood (Norman, OK), Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS), Jack Dover (Springfield, NE), Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO), Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK), Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK), Darren Long (Elida, OH), Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) and Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA).

Snohomish, WA, native Gary Taylor will try to hold on to the 15th position in points or possibly gain a position by finishing out the season aboard Brian Parker's No. 9 entry, while car owner Bobby Sparks will try to maintain a top fifteen car owner ranking with Jonathan Allard at the wheel.

The Lucas Oil contenders along with semi-regulars Brady Bacon, Dustin Morgan, Matt Covington and Ricky Logan will face a variety of strong contenders including five-time Chili Bowl champ Sammy Swindell, ASCS Northwest champ Roger Crockett, ASCS Rocky Mountain champion Jake Ossenfort, Civil War Sprint Car champion Sean Becker, Eric Baldaccini, Brian Brown, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Johnny Herrera, Danny Lasoski, Joey Saldana and Lucas Wolfe among others.

With the ASCS Southwest title also hanging in the balance in the winged portion of the event, Rick Ziehl of Las Cruces, NM, holds a 12-point advantage over Ben Gregg in his quest for a second consecutive series title.  Other top ASCS Southwest forces include Joshua Hodges, John Gaston, Ronnie Clark, Mike Martin, Charles Davis, Jr., John Van Horn, Jessica Van Dyke and Cody Cambensy.

On the wingless side, Charles Davis, Jr., tries to put the finishing touches on the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region championship as he carries a 40-point lead over R.J. Johnson into the weekend.

The top Canyon Region forces will face a variety of invaders including Jesse Hockett, who swept last year's ASCS Canyon Region portion of the Western World.  Other top invaders include the likes of Jon Stanbrough, Robert Ballou, Jerry Coons, Jr., Dave Darland and Brady Bacon among others.

Next weekend's 42nd Annual Kronik Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios marks the first time for the event to be held at Tucson's USA Raceway, with the event shifting to Tucson after Manzanita Speedway's closure earlier this year.

A total of 117 entries have been submitted thus far, including 68 in the winged Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series ranks and 49 wingless Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region competitors, with more expected by the time action commences next week.

The Series: 

Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters ($15,000-to-win winged portion)

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region ($5,000-to-win non-wing portion)

When & Where – USA Raceway's Western World Championships: 

Wednesday, November 18, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Practice at USA Raceway

Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. – 42nd Annual Western World Championships Old Tucson Studios Qualifying Night

Friday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. – 42nd Annual Western World Championships Kronik Energy Qualifying Night

Saturday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. – 42nd Annual Kronik Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios championship features

Sunday, November 22 at 12:00 p.m. – 18th Annual ASCS Awards Banquet presented by Brodix at Old Tucson Studios

Track Information: USA Raceway (Tucson, AZ) – 3/8-mile, clay oval located east of Tucson off I-10 Exit 268, then 1.6 mile south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales.  Track phone: 520-574-8515.

Event Format:

Split fields for Thursday and Friday preliminary events (half the winged cars on Thursday, second half on Friday / half the non-wing cars on Thursday and other half of Friday), run under standard ASCS format of heat races with passing/finishing points to determine feature lineups.

Thursday and Friday "A" and "B" Feature finishes determine Saturday night Western World Championships feature lineups.

Past Western World Winners:

Tennessee's Kevin Swindell became the 25th different winner of the Western World by topping the 2008 edition of the event last November, adding his name to a prestigious list of past winners that includes his father Sammy Swindell, who won the event in both 1980 and 1989.

Steve Kinser has claimed the most Western World titles with seven triumphs including wingless wins in 1982 and 1983 followed by winged wins in 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992 and 1996.

Ron Shuman is next on the list with five Western World triumphs, all of the wingless variety, with other drivers posting multiple Western World wins including Lealand McSpadden (3), Bud Kaeding (2), Mark Kinser (2), Jan Opperman (2) and Sammy Swindell (2).

The Western World has been run as a winged event on a dozen previous occasions, most recently in 1999.

Past Western World Championship Winners (Wing / Non-Wing)
2008 – Kevin Swindell (nw)
2007 – Jerry Coons, Jr. (nw)
2006 – Josh Wise (nw)
2005 – Dave Darland (nw)
2004 – Bud Kaeding (nw)
2003 – Tony Elliott (nw)
2002 – Bud Kaeding (nw)
2001 – Jeremy Sherman (nw)
2000 – Jay Drake (nw)
1999 – Donny Schatz (w)
1998 – Tyler Walker (w)
1997 – Mark Kinser (w)
1996 – Steve Kinser (w)
1995 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1994 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1993 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1992 – Steve Kinser (w)
1991 – Danny Lasoski (w)
1990 – Steve Kinser (w)
1989 – Sammy Swindell (w)
1988 – Mark Kinser (w)
1987 – Steve Kinser (w)
1986 – Bobby Davis, Jr. (w)
1985 – Steve Kinser (w)
1984 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1983 – Steve Kinser (nw)
1982 – Steve Kinser (nw)
1981 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1980 – Sammy Swindell (nw)
1979 – Tim Green (nw)
1978 – Lealand McSpadden (nw)
1977 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1976 – Bubby Jones (nw)
1975 – Ron Shuman (nw)
1974 – Rick Ferkel (nw)
1973 – Earl Wagner (nw)
1972 – Jan Opperman (nw)
1971 – Jan Opperman (nw)
1970 – Jerry McClung (nw)
1969 – Bob Huebner (nw)
1968 – Bob Cleberg (nw)

The 2009 WWC Entries:

There are currently 68 Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series entries for the $15,000-to-win winged portion and 49 Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region entries for the $5,000-to-win wingless portion, with more expected over the next week to battle it out for the overall purse that is well in excess of $100,000.

Lucas Oil Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters Entries:

Thursday
1 Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK)
1p Curtis Evans (Norburne, MO)
2m Mike Melwicks (Richmond, BC, CAN)
3d Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN)
3s John Carney II (El Paso, TX)
5az John Van Horn (Tucson, AZ)
6 Ronnie Clark (Tucson, AZ)
7 Darren Long (Elida, OH)
9 Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA)
9x Gary Wright (Hooks, TX)
10 Sammy Swindell (Germantown, TN)
10a Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR)
13 Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO)
15h Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX)
20ks Kyle Sager (Alto, NM)
22 Jesse Baker (Grants, NM)
22b Ben Gregg (Phoenix, AZ)
22j John Gaston (Phoenix, AZ)
23 Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA)
41w Joshua Williams (Glendale, AZ)
44k Koty McGullam (Marana, AZ)
45 Martin Edwards (Mesquite, TX)
45x Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM)
53 Jack Dover (Springfield, NE)
57 Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK)
57x Lucas Wolfe (Lemogne, PA)
66 Jessica Van Dyke (Tucson, AZ)
71 Bob Schaeffer (New Castle, CO)
77m Billy Chester III (Chino Valley, AZ)
93 Dustin Morgan (Collinsville, OK)
93k Brent Kronfuss (Bozeman, MT)
94 Danny Wood (Norman, OK)
99 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
99j Jake Ossenfort (Rapid City, SD)

Friday
01 Kaylene Verville (Avondale, AZ)
1x J.T. Imperial (Mesa, AZ)
2 Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK)
2sb Sean Becker (Carmichael, CA)
4 Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX)
5a Thomas Ogle (Waddell, AZ)
7d William Riley (Sierra Vista, AZ)
11 Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO)
11c Roger Crockett (Medford, OR)
11T Steve Lohn (Tucson, AZ)
17 Bruce Griffith, Jr. (Highlands, TX)
18 Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS)
20az Steve Martin (Phoenix, AZ)
20L Andrew Reinbold (Gilbert, AZ)
20z Rick Ziehl (Las Cruces, NM)
21 Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO)
23n Stephen Allard (Chico, CA)
25c Chad Groves (Bend, OR)
26b Bobby McMahan (Sacramento, CA)
29 Travis Rilat (Forney, TX)
32 Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ)
33 Danny Lasoski (Higginsville, MO)
34 Calvin Landis (Knoxville, IA)
35a Joey Saldana (Brownsburg, IN)
41 Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA)
42 Rick Boughan (Lima, OH)
55 TBA
71 Channin Tankersley (Highlands, TX)
74x Joshua Hodges (Tijeras, NM)
77 Colt Treharn (Los Lunas, NM)
77e William Eggiman (San Ysidro, CA)
88 Tim Crawley (Benton, AR)
94j Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
95 Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK)

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region Non-Wing Entries:

Thursday
1 Jon Stanbrough (Brownsburg, IN)
5d Jerry Johnston (Albuquerque, NM)
6c Rex Calderwood (Phoenix, AZ)
7k Bruce St. James (Phoenix, AZ)
8 Daniel Hutto (Tucson, AZ)
8az Jordan Stetson (Tucson, AZ)
11 Seainn Hendricsen (Glendale, AZ)
12 Nathan High (Goodyear, AZ)
16b Robert Ballou (Rocklin, CA)
17 Steve Spiak (Albuquerque, NM)
19 Andrew Reinbold (Gilbert, AZ)
27n Nick Aiuto (Camp Verde, AZ)
29 Travis Rilat (Forney, TX)
32 Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ)
41 Rick Ziehl (Las Cruces, NM)
48T Thomas Ogle (Waddell, AZ)
50 Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ)
51 Cody Cambensy (Tucson, AZ)
52 TBA
52 Stevie Sussex (Waddell, AZ)
74x Joshua Hodges (Tijeras, NM)
77 Dalton Gabbard (Peoria, AZ)
77m R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ)
78 Chris Bonneau (Peoria, AZ)
97 Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ)
 
Friday
2az Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO)
3 Harris Brooks (Phoenix, AZ)
3x Jimmy Crawford (Newberry Park, CA)
5m Brian O'Donnell (Glendale, AZ)
6 Ronnie Clark (Tucson, AZ)
6s Bryan Swinehart (Prescott Valley, AZ)
7 Mike Leslie (Litchfield Park, AZ)
7az Brian Hosford (Gilbert, AZ)
9 Brandon Lane (Gilbert, AZ)
16 Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ)
21 Johnathon Henry (Stockton, CA)
26az Bobby Taylor (Oro Valley, AZ)
27h Jeremy Huebner (Tucson, AZ)
36 Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
37 David Bezio (El Cajon, CA)
44 Jeremy Sherman (Surprise, AZ)
45x Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM)
55 Tony Everhart (El Cajon, CA)
61x Bo Baker (Grants, NM)
77s Brian Schuler (El Cajon, CA)
82 Sean Teeters (Tucson, AZ)
93 Dustin Morgan (Collinsville, OK)
99 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
XXX Zach Sawyers (Gilbert, AZ)

Lucas Oil Sprint Cars USA Raceway History:

None – This will mark the series first visit to Tucson's USA Raceway, which serves as the home facility to both the winged ASCS Southwest and non-wing ASCS Canyon Regions.

Current Points:

Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters Driver Points:

Top Twenty: 1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 2,428, 2. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 2,404, 3. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 2,378, 4. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 2,267, 5. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 2,216, 6. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 2,193, 7. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 2,170, 8. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 2,132, 9. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 2,113, 10. Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 2,111, 11. Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 1,834, 12. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 1,768, 13. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 1,659, 14. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 1,627, 15. Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) 1,611, 16. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,537, 17. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 1,355, 18. Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK) 1,344, 19. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 1,268, 20. Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR) 1,124.

Brodix Rookie of the Year Points (Top Five): 1. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 2,216, 2. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 2,113, 3. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 1,659, 4. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 1,627, 5. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,537.

ASCS Southwest Region Driver Points (Top Ten):  1. Rick Ziehl (Las Cruces, NM) 1,118, 2. Ben Gregg (Phoenix, AZ) 1,106, 3. Joshua Hodges (Tijeras, NM) 1,078, 4. John Gaston (Phoenix, AZ) 1,070, 5. Ronnie Clark (Tucson, AZ) 1,062, 6. Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ) 1,023, 7. Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) 985, 8. John Van Horn (Tucson, AZ) 931, 9. Jessica Van Dyke (Tucson, AZ) 927, 10. Cody Cambensy (Tucson, AZ) 857.

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region Non-Wing Points (Top Ten):  1. Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) 1,024, 2. R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ) 984, 3. Nathan High (Goodyear, AZ) 962, 4. Johnathon Henry (Stockton, CA) 890, 5. Stevie Sussex (Laveen, AZ) 889, 6. Ronnie Clark (Tucson, AZ) 885, 7. Andrew Reinbold (Gilbert, AZ) 859, 8. Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ) 835, 9. Bruce St. James (Phoenix, AZ) 782, 10. Jeremy Sherman (Surprise, AZ) 758.

2009 Feature Winners:
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series: Jason Johnson 4, Shane Stewart 3, Tim Crawley 2, Wayne Johnson 2, Terry McCarl 2, Travis Rilat 2, Gary Wright 2, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Roger Crockett 1, Jack Dover 1, Kevin Ramey 1. Speedweek winners; Tony Bruce, Jr., Zach Chappell, Tim Crawley, Nick Smith and Gary Wright.

ASCS Southwest Region: Johnny Herrera 3, Rickey Hood 2, John Gaston 1, Ben Gregg 1, Rick Ziehl 1.

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region Non-Wing: Charles Davis, Jr. 3, Jesse Hockett 2, R.J. Johnson 1, Rick Ziehl 1. 

Parking: RV parking will be available Tuesday, November 17.  Pit Parking will begin Wednesday, November 18, at 8:00 a.m.

Tickets: Ticket pricing, seating charts and purchasing information can be found online at www.usaraceway.net/Uploads/WesternWorldTickets.pdf or by calling the USA Raceway office at 520-574-8515.

Hotel Information can be found at www.usaraceway.net/lodging.php or by calling the Tucson Airport Courtyard by Marriott at 520-573-0000

The Brodix ASCS Awards Banquet: The 18th Annual American Sprint Car Series Awards Banquet presented by Brodix will follow directly on the heels of USA Raceway's 42nd Annual KRONIK Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios.

Open to all racers, teams and fans, tickets are available for just $20 and may be obtained by calling USA Raceway at 520-574-8515. Tickets must be ordered by Tuesday, November 17.

More information regarding Old Tucson Studios is available at www.oldtucson.com

-end-

ASCS Rebel Region Season Finale Saturday at East Bay

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (November 10, 2009) – Danny Martin, Jr., will try to finish off the 2009 American Sprint Car Series Rebel Region campaign in exactly the same manner in which he started it; by standing in victory lane at East Bay Raceway Park.

The semi-banked, 1/3-mile clay oval in Tampa, FL, hosts the season ending event for the ASCS Rebel Region this Saturday night.

Sarasota, Florida's Martin, who won the series season opener at East Bay on January 31, carries a 62-point advantage into the night in his attempt to put the finishing touches on the 2009 ASCS Rebel Region championship.  Martin can secure the crown by simply making Saturday night's feature cut.

Jacksonville, FL, shoe Matt Kurtz enters the event ranked second and could sneak away with the title by finishing sixth or better in the main event if Martin were to miss the feature.

Bob Auld, Aubrey Black and Matt Linder round out the current top five in ASCS Rebel points.

Six drivers have reached ASCS Rebel victory lane in as many events this season.  In addition to Martin, other feature winners this year include Kurtz, Linder, Terry Gray, Gary Edwards and Jesse Hockett.

Saturday's racing action at East Bay Raceway Park is set to go green at 6:30 p.m.

East Bay Raceway Park is located off I-75 Exit 250, then two miles west, then 1.2 miles north on US 41, then right 1.3 miles on Old US 41 to Burts Road.  For more information, contact the track at 813-677-7223.

-end-

Against All Odds – Bruce Goes Back-to-Back in Short Track Nationals!
 
Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 7, 2009) – Tony Bruce, Jr., of Liberal, KS, overcame all variety of odds to pocket the hefty $15,000 winner's share in Saturday night's 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires 40-lap championship finale atop I-30 Speedway's high-banked, ¼-mile clay oval.

Bruce survived some unpredictable opening laps that had the capacity crowd abuzz, took command on the fifth round and then worked traffic to perfection in the final stages to secure his first Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters triumph of the season.

The driver of the Rider-powered No. 18 Maxim beat Wayne Johnson, Shane Stewart, Travis Rilat and a rallying Sammy Swindell to the stripe to become just the third repeat winner in the history of the prestigious event, joining the elite ranks of four-time STN winner Gary Wright and three-time STN champ Steve Kinser.

Bruce also became just the third back-to-back winner of the Short Track Nationals, a feat previously accomplished only by Kinser in the inaugural two editions two decades ago (1988 and 1989) and most recently by Wright in 2003 and 2004.

"I don't think anybody picked us to win this thing, they all thought last year was a fluke," an enthused Bruce commented in victory lane.  "We showed 'em though, the No. 18 is for real."

While the stellar 101-car field of entries from throughout the nation as well as Mexico would have seemingly been enough to deal with, the Bruce team faced another major obstacle after a hot-lapping incident set them into scramble mode.

"It tore out the entire rear end, driveline, you name it," Bruce commented of the pre-race hot lap troubles.  "My guys did a great job just getting everything back to together and the car was still great after that, I just had to drive the wheels off of it."

Which is exactly what Bruce did after a fifth-place finish in the Odus Pack Building Materials Dash for Cash landed him inside the third row of the $78,950 feature event that included a minimum of $2,200 for each of the 22 starters.

Sammy Swindell earned the pole position for the main event by winning that Dash, with Oklahoma's Danny Wood running second to earn the front row starting position.  Along with those one-two Dash finishes came the opportunity to take the COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge that would result in a starting position of fourth, sixth, eighth or tenth depending upon the card drawn, which would have upped the winner's share to $20,000 upon acceptance.

Swindell wasted little time offering up a response of "No", preferring to keep the pole starting position although he would soon be faced with an even bigger, unanticipated challenge.  Given the same offer, Wood kidded, "Should I take the challenge or keep my job, I think I'll keep my job," in reference to Wayne Johnson's acceptance of the Challenge last year and subsequent dismissal.

As the green flag flew on the feature field with Swindell and Wood leading the way, the veteran duo battled through the opening circuit with Wood edging into the lead upon the completion of the first round.

After a Tommy Worley, Jr., spin in turn four after two laps, Sammy Swindell battled into the top position on the third round before another caution flew when fourth-starter Tim Crawley biked it and bounced to a stop in turn four. 

Among the pre-race favorites, Crawley was towed to the pit area with apparent race-ending front-end damage.

But, as the field paced under the caution laps, Swindell's left rear tire began losing air pressure.  And, when action resumed, Swindell struggled in turns one and two with Wood pouncing into the lead on the low side as Swindell wrestled his machine.  The ensuing chaos sent 2006 event winner Jason Johnson tumbling off the turn two embankment as he tried to navigate around the jumbled cars of Swindell, Wayne Johnson and Tony Bruce, Jr.

While Swindell made a quick trip to the work area to reinflate the left rear tire and remove the faulty bleeder that could have cost him the $15,000 winner's share before rejoining the fray, Crawley was able to rejoin the action as well.

Wood found himself out front again after all the early dramatics in front of 1997 STN king Wayne Johnson and Bruce.  Wood wasn't there for long though, as Bruce needed little more than a lap to charge by both Sooner State reps on the high side for the lead.

After a Ricky Logan spin in turn four with five rounds in the record books, Bruce and Wood battled for the point over the next several laps as eighth-starter Shane Stewart soon battled into third only to lose several positions when he did a quick 360-degree spin in turn two after trying to squeeze underneath Wood.

Another four laps later, the red lights flickered when Paul McMahan launched off of turn two in wild fashion after contact with Jonathan Allard.  McMahan endo'd over the retaining fence off the backstretch and landed against the nose of Wayne Johnson's tow rig, walking away uninjured.

The frenzied opening 15 circuits were followed by 25 non-stop green flag laps.  Bruce held off Wood on the lap 16 restart, with Wayne Johnson, ninth-starter Travis Rilat and a resurgent Stewart moving past Wood by the 20th round as Swindell sliced through the field, even bouncing off brother Jeff at one point along the way in turn two.

Into traffic by the 22nd circuit, Bruce was flawless over the final rounds, never allowing Johnson the opportunity to close the narrow gap and mount a serious challenge.

Bruce took the checkered flag a half dozen car-lengths ahead of Johnson's Fisher-powered Fattfro Motorsports No. 14aj Maxim mount, with current Lucas Oil Sprint Car points leader Stewart battling back into the show position aboard Paul Silva's Wesmar-powered ProBilt Construction No. 57 A.R.T. in the final circuits.

Rilat crossed the stripe fourth in the Shark-powered F&J Construction No. 29 Triple-X, with Swindell rallying from the tail of the field to round out the top five in the Parker-powered Tom Rolfe Trucking No. 10.

Allard earned STN Rookie of the Year honors by racing from 13th to sixth in the Bobby Sparks No. 91 Eagle, with Wood slipping to seventh in the H&H Enterprises No. 94 over the final half of the race.

After losing an engine on his qualifying night, Jesse Hockett charged from 20th to eighth in the Tom Buch/VKCC Motorsports No. 13 JEI, with fellow Show-Me Stater Jerrod Hull in ninth.  Making his first STN appearance since 1989, Indiana's Danny Smith completed the top ten aboard one of two Doc Sloan entries.

Four drivers made their first career STN championship feature start including event rookies Allard and Donnie Ray Crawford (15th) along with Nebraska's Jack Dover (16th) and Mexico's Don Grable, whose number was drawn among the non-qualifiers for the 22nd starting position.  Grable was credited with a 21st place finish after an early exit followed a lap three spin.

Marshall Skinner battled amongst the top five much of the way before clipping an infield tire in the closing laps and pulling to the infield.

After battling from deep in the field after heat race action to earn an eleventh place finish on his qualifying night, Derek Hagar was awarded the Shed Road Auto Parts Josh Howard Determination Award.

A 14th-place finisher in his first STN championship feature start since 1999, Ricky Logan's number was drawn to receive a lightened Dart engine block from Wells Racing Engines, an award worth approximately $4,000.

After 17 top-ten finishes in 17 previous STN championship feature events, four-time event winner Gary Wright missed the cut for the main event.  "The Texan" was the only driver ranked among the current top ten in Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters points to not make it into Saturday night's main event.

With the top three finishers from both the Thursday and Friday night preliminary feature events locked into Saturday night's main event, 92 drivers returned to battle for the remaining positions through a series of ten heat races and eight qualifying races.  Double passing points were added to preliminary night point totals with the top six in total points earning positions 7-12 in the main event (McMahan, Stewart, Rilat, Skinner, Crawford and D. Smith) and the balance lined up in eight Last Chance Qualifying Races with the winners advancing to the finale.

Lane Whittington, Gary Taylor, Kevin Ramey, Donovan Peterson, McMahan, Ray Allen Kulhanek, Matt Covington, Hagar, Stewart and Jeff Swindell won Saturday night's heat races, with Claud Estes, Brandon Moseley, Mark Shirshekan and Kaley Gharst all getting upside down without injury.

Jeff Swindell, Tommy Worley, Jr., Allard, Hull, Logan, Hockett, Dover and A.G. Rains all won Qualifying Races to advance to the main event.

The first Qualifying Race got off to a brutal start with at least two cars tumbling down the frontstretch in a melee that eliminated Anthony Nicholson, Garry Bell and Lewis Jenkins, Jr.  Clipped in the right shoulder by part of another car, Jenkins had to be cut out of his car and transported to a local hospital where he underwent successful surgery for a damaged deltoid muscle.  

With 18 states and Mexico represented among this year's 101-car field, more than $107,000 in cash was paid out over the course of the 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires Championship Finale Results:

Locked in from Preliminary Features:  14aj-Wayne Johnson, 41-Jason Johnson, 10s-Sammy Swindell, 88T-Tim Crawley, 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 94-Danny Wood.

Twenty-first starting position awarded to I-30 Speedway track champion Justin Sturch (track champion provisional), 22nd position awarded to Don Grable via draw of drivers that competed in both preliminary and Saturday night competition.

22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires Championship “A” Feature:

A Feature (40 Laps):  1. Tony Bruce Jr., 2. Wayne Johnson, 3. Shane Stewart, 4. Travis Rilat, 5. Sammy Swindell, 6. Jonathan Allard, 7. Danny Wood, 8. Jesse Hockett, 9. Jerrod Hull, 10. Danny Smith, 11. Jeff Swindell, 12. Tim Crawley, 13. Justin Sturch, 14. Ricky Logan, 15. Donnie Ray Crawford, 16. Jack Dover, 17. Marshall Skinner, 18. A.G. Rains, 19. Tommy Worley Jr., 20. Paul McMahan, 21. Don Grable, 22. Jason Johnson.

Lap Leaders: Danny Wood 1-2, Sammy Swindell 3, Wood 4, Tony Bruce, Jr. 5-40. 

Lucas Oil Sprint Car Presented by K&N Filters Points (Top Twenty):  1. Shane Stewart 2,428, 2. Jason Johnson 2,404, 3. Gary Wright 2,378, 4. Travis Rilat 2,267, 5. Paul McMahan 2,216, 6. Tim Crawley 2,193, 7. Danny Wood 2,170, 8. Tony Bruce, Jr. 2,132, 9. Jack Dover 2,113, 10. Jesse Hockett 2,111, 11. Sean McClelland 1,834, 12. Kenneth Walker 1,768, 13. Darren Long 1,659, 14. Chad Corken 1,627, 15. Gary Taylor 1,611, 16. Seth Bergman 1,537, 17. Brady Bacon 1,355, 18. Gavin Punch 1,344, 19. Wayne Johnson 1,268, 20. Ricky Logan 1,124.

-end-

The Cajun Rages on Short Track Nationals Night Two
 
Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 6, 2009) – For the second night in a row at I-30 Speedway's 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, it was a former past event winner gracing victory lane as Jason Johnson captured his fourth Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters triumph of the season in Friday night's 25-lap preliminary feature.

"The Ragin' Cajun" chased down race-long leader Tim Crawley for the point on the 19th round and paced the final circuits for his ninth overall ASCS feature win of the year aboard Lanny Row's Wesmar-powered The Shop Motorsports No. 41 Eagle.

"It's a pretty emotional time for us right now with Lanny having to park the car at the end of the year," Johnson commented in victory lane.  "We've been blessed to have these last four years together, it's been the best part of my career and we'd love to finish it on a strong note."

Johnson beat Crawley to the stripe, with Danny Wood surviving a last-corner skirmish for the third and final lock-in position to Saturday night's $15,000-to-win, $2,200-to-start STN championship main event.

Johnson, Crawley and Wood join Thursday night's top three finishers (Wayne Johnson, Sammy Swindell and Tony Bruce, Jr.) in Saturday's Odus Pack Building Materials Dash for Cash to determine the alignment of the front three rows of the main event while the balance of the 101-car field battles it out for the remaining positions.

Johnson, who captured the STN crown in 2006, earned the pole position for Friday night's feature with 1998 winner Crawley alongside.  Crawley burst into the early lead and checked out, while fourth-starter Wood made his way around Johnson as well in the opening rounds.

Johnson battled back around Wood for second around the midway point and soon reeled in Crawley, edging ahead on the 19th circuit.

The pair battled for the point until the caution flew with 22 laps in the books for Jeff Swindell, who looped it in turn four after working forward from 12th to fifth.

Johnson held steady over the final three rounds to secure the win, explaining that, "Mike (Ward) and Tim are notorious for using a lot softer left rear than we do.  If we'd had a lot of early cautions, we'd have been in trouble."

"With that long run at the start though, we just kept getting better and better as the race went on, these Hoosier tires were working great," Johnson concluded.

Denied a second career STN win last year by an errant brake caliper bolt, Crawley settled for runner-up honors aboard Mike Ward's McCarver-powered Boater Sports No. 88 Maxim. 

"This is our home track and a win here would mean so much to us," Crawley commented.  "It might not completely make up for last year, but it would sure make it easier to forget it."

Wood, the only driver among the six lock-ins that hasn't topped the STN in the past, very nearly lost that third position on the final circuit.

With STN rookie contenders Donnie Ray Crawford and Seth Bergman on his tailtank on the final restart, it was local shoe Zach Pringle making a last-ditch effort for Saturday night glory.

Pringle raced by both Bergman and Crawford and then got into the back of Wood entering turn three on the final circuit.  With cars scrambling in all directions, everyone maintained forward motion with Wood winning the mad dash to the stripe in Mike Hammers' Fisher-powered H&H Enterprises No. 94 Maxim.

"I'm not sure what that was all about, but it darn near turned me right around," Wood commented.  "I'm not even sure who that guy was, but at least we know how to race him in the future."

Crawford reclaimed fourth in the final corner scramble to establish himself as a leading STN rookie contender aboard the Wesmar-powered A&W Motorsports Tel-Star Communications No. 55 Triple-X, with I-30 Speedway shoe Pringle rounding out the top five in the family-owned No. 8z.

Washington's Bergman battled amongst the top five most of the way before crossing the stripe a solid sixth, with Jim Moughan in seventh.  Jerrod Hull was eighth, with Ray Allen Kulhanek and Danny Smith completing the top ten.

Mired at 39th in passing points after struggling in his heat race, Derek Hagar charged from 10th to third in his qualifier to earn the 13th starting position in the feature before finishing out the night in eleventh.

Kulhanek, Jason Johnson, Jeff Swindell, Kenneth Walker, Jonathan Allard and Mark Shirshekan topped heat race action for Friday night's 49-car field, with Don Young, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Crawley and Jack Dover winning the 12-lap Qualifying races.

After just two STN rookie contenders made the feature cut on Thursday night, five rookies filled Friday's feature field.  In addition to top-ten runners Crawford, Bergman and Moughan, California aces Jonathan Allard and Kyle Larson were in the main event.  After a nifty late-race move to win his heat, Allard survived some rough-and-tumble action to finish 14th while Larson was credited with 19th after getting upside down in the final corner as the checkered flag flew.

Four-time STN king Gary Wright had a night worth forgetting.  After a second-place heat race run, Wright spun to a stop on the frontstretch on the second lap of his qualifier after his right front tire was clipped by another car exiting turn four.  Trying to rally from the tail of the field, Wright slapped the wall exiting turn four several laps later, with his mount showing its disapproval by spitting out the driveline in turn one. 

Saturday night's 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires championship finale gets under way at 7:00 p.m.

"A” Feature – Top 3 Finishers Locked into Saturday night’s $15,000 to win STN Finale.

A Feature (25 Laps – Starting position in parentheses):  1. 41-Jason Johnson (1), 2. 88T-Tim Crawley (2), 3. 94-Danny Wood (4), 4. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford (6), 5. 8z-Zach Pringle (9), 6. 23-Seth Bergman (3), 7. 1jm-Jim Moughan (5), 8. 12h-Jerrod Hull (11), 9. 17c-Ray Allen Kulhanek (8), 10. d12-Danny Smith (7), 11. 9jr-Derek Hagar (13), 12. 1g-Cody Gardner (17), 13. 3a-A.G. Rains (15), 14. 91a-Jonathan Allard (10), 15. 12s-Jeff Swindell (12), 16. 75-Don Young (14), 17. 53-Jack Dover (19), 18. 03-Joe Wood, Jr. (16), 19. 77-Kyle Larson (20), 40r-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (18).

Lap Leaders; Tim Crawley 1-18, Jason Johnson 19-25.

-end-

Wayne Johnson Wins Short Track Nationals Opener!
 
Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 5, 2009) – Oklahoma native Wayne Johnson held off a furious last-lap bid from "Slammin'" Sammy Swindell to top Thursday's opening night of I-30 Speedway's 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

While Swindell surged ahead in the final pair of corners of the 25-lapper atop the high-banked, ¼-mile clay oval, Johnson powered off the low side of turn four and wheelied underneath the checkered flag of Joe Clay, Jr., for his second Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters triumph of the season by little more than a car-length.

Johnson led a past STN winners' sweep of the top four positions, with Sammy Swindell and defending race winner Tony Bruce, Jr., also locking into Saturday night's $15,000-to-win, $2,200-to-start STN championship feature event.  Paul McMahan, the event winner in 2002, missed locking in by just one position with a fourth-place showing.

"This car was great in practice last night and I couldn't hardly sleep 'cause I was so anxious to get back out here tonight," the enthused Oklahoma City native related in victory lane after his 28th career Lucas Oil ASCS National triumph.

After racing from sixth to second in his heat race and then from eighth to win his qualifying race aboard the Fisher-powered Fattfro Motorsports No. 14aj Maxim to earn the pole position, Johnson paced all 25 circuits of the night's main event.

But, there was never any room for error with fellow front row starter Tony Bruce, Jr., hounding him over the first half of the race and then Swindell turning up the heat in the closing circuits.

With Johnson working the low side, Bruce worked the topside early on.  Fourth-starter Swindell, who topped the 1990 rendition of the Short Track Nationals, battled past fellow second-row starter Travis Rilat in the early rounds and soon started mixing it up with Bruce for the runner-up spot.

Swindell finally took second away from Bruce just before a caution flew at the midway point for Ricky Logan's turn two spin.  Swindell explained that, "A clod stuck under the throttle early and I kept trying to get it out of the way, I finally got rid of it under that caution."

Aboard the Tom Rolfe Trucking No. 10, Swindell stalked Johnson over the final circuits and tried to pounce for a dramatic last-lap win as the lead duo encountered traffic.  Swindell drove deep into the top side of turn three to briefly edge ahead, but Johnson held strong with a perfect run off the bottom of turn four to secure the victory and establish himself as a favorite to become just the second STN repeat winner since 1993.

"It was back in 1997 when I won this the first time, it wasn't easy then but I think it's even tougher now," Johnson explained.  "Look around, you've got Sammy and Tony Bruce, Jr., it'll be tough to repeat but at least we're locked in and have a good shot at it."

While Swindell finished a close second in his first STN start since a 2004 heartbreaker while leading the final laps, Bruce, Jr., claimed the show position in the Rider-powered No. 18 Maxim.

"Once Sammy got by, I decided I better get to the bottom of the track," the defending STN champion explained.  "I could've pressed the issue up top, but it wasn't worth the risk.  We're locked in and now we'll give 'em hell on Saturday."

McMahan crossed the stripe a close fourth in the J&D Motorsports No. 3d Maxim, with Marshall Skinner posting a strong run by rounding out the top five.

Rilat was sixth, with Gary Taylor's maiden voyage aboard Terry Brown's No. 61a entry netting a seventh-place showing.  Tommy Worley, Jr., was eighth, with current Lucas Oil Sprint Car points leader Shane Stewart advancing from 16th to finish ninth in front of STN rookie shoe Anthony Nicholson.

Eric Baldaccini, Swindell, Rilat, Taylor, Sean McClelland, Brandon Moseley and Logan topped heat race action for Thursday night's 52-car field, with Worley, Swindell, Johnson and Tyler Brown winning the Qualifying races.

Marty Stanford flipped exiting turn four in the second heat race, while Billy Melton sailed off the top of turn two on the opening round of the fourth heat race.  Stanford walked away uninjured, while Melton sought further evaluation of an apparent dislocated knee.

Brady Bacon was dicing for the lead early in the second qualifier when he looped it and turned over in turn four, causing just enough wing damage to end his night.  As the field checked up, Scott Reneau got upside down in turn three as well.

Garry Bell got upside down entering turn one as the green flag flew on the third qualifier, with Gary Taylor sailing off the track and onto his side.  While Taylor rejoined the field after replacing a cut right rear tire, Stewart looped it exiting turn two and sent David Gailley for a wild ride.  Some quick repairs put Stewart at the tail with Taylor and the pair advanced to fourth (Taylor) and fifth (Stewart) with ill-handling machines to salvage feature starting berths, and ultimately, top-ten finishes.

After pole starter Jerry Kamer spun in turn one with help at the start of the fourth qualifier, Jesse Hockett assumed the pole and chased outside starter Tyler Brown for several laps until suffering serious engine woes.

Memphis-area rep Nicholson was the best of the night's STN rookie representatives, finishing just one spot ahead of Missouri's J. Kinder, who crossed the stripe eleventh.  Nicholson and Kinder were the only STN rookies to make Thursday night's feature cut.

The second half of the 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires field will take to the track on Friday night, with racing action set to go green at 7:30 p.m.

22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires Thursday Night Results:

“A” Feature – Top 3 Finishers Locked into Saturday night’s $15,000 to win STN Finale.

A Feature (25 Laps):  1. Wayne Johnson, 2. Sammy Swindell, 3. Tony Bruce Jr., 4. Paul McMahan, 5. Marshall Skinner, 6. Travis Rilat, 7. Gary Taylor, 8. Tommy Worley Jr., 9. Shane Stewart, 10. Anthony Nicholson, 11. J. Kinder, 12. Dustin Morgan, 13. Jonathan Cornell, 14. Josh Fisher, 15. Eric Baldaccini, 16. Tyler Brown, 17. Channin Tankersley, 18. Claud Estes, 19. Tommy Bryant, 20. Ricky Logan.

-end-

Short Track Nationals – 22 Starters for the 22nd!

Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 3, 2009) – Since the inception of I-30 Speedway's Short Track Nationals in 1988, the Saturday night championship feature grid has always been built upon 20 starters.  That's something that is about to change for 2009.

With a record field of entries expected to converge upon Little Rock's I-30 Speedway this coming weekend for the 22nd edition of the O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires even after a week's rain delay, track promoter Tracey Clay has opted to add an additional starter or two to make for a 22-car starting field in Saturday night's 22nd Annual STN championship finale.

While well over 100 teams from throughout the nation will vie for the $15,000 winner's share in this weekend's Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters event, another pair of drivers will leave Little Rock with the $2,200 championship feature starter's cut as a result of the added positions.

Currently, 128 entries from 23 different states throughout the nation as well as Mexico have been filed for the prestigious event slated for this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  A Wednesday night Test 'N Tune session will precede the three full nights of racing action.

A 21st-starting position has been built into the Short Track Nationals championship feature format in recent years, traditionally reserved for that year's I-30 Speedway track champion.  And, that 21st position is still reserved for the local ace, which is Justin Sturch this time around.

This year though, the Clay family assures 22 starters for Saturday's grand finale.  If Sturch utilizes his provisional, one name will be drawn for that 22nd starting position.  If Sturch races his way into the original 20-car starting grid, two names will be drawn to fill out positions 21 and 22.  Drivers must have competed in both a qualifying night and Saturday night to be eligible.

Entry Updates:

Another handful of entries were submitted on Monday, including NASCAR Nationwide shoe Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., of Olive Branch, MS.  Stenhouse, who ranks as the youngest feature winner in Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series National event history after posting a Speedweek win in 2004, reeled off three consecutive top-ten STN finishes from 2005 to 2007 after making the feature cut as an event rookie in 2003.

Also among the latest entries is Juarez, Mexico, shoe Don Grable, who topped the inaugural ASCS Southwest Region event in 2008.

With the event postponed from its original dates of October 29-31 due to weather, a pair of driver changes have taken place.  Seventeen-year-old California ace Kyle Larson will take over the Jesse Hockett Racing No. 77 entry originally slated for Kyle Hirst, while Illinois' Kaley Gharst takes the seat vacated by Dale Blaney.

While another handful of entered drivers will likely be unable to compete this weekend due to previous commitments, the odds are still strong that the event record of 108 competitors established in 2007 will fall by the wayside over the next several days.

The pre-entry discount deadline for the 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires has been extended to November 4 along with advance discount tickets for all three nights for just $45.  For more information, contact the track at 501-455-4567.

Pertinent Short Track Nationals Information:

The What:  22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

The Where:  I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR).  I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).

The When:  Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 5-7, 2009.  $15,000 to win the STN finale on November 7, with $2,200 to start the STN championship feature.  Race time is 7:30 p.m. each night.  Test 'N Tune session on Wednesday night, November 4.

The Past Winners:  Tony Bruce, Jr. (2008), Jason Meyers (2007), Jason Johnson (2006), Tim Montgomery (2005), Gary Wright (2004, 2003, 1999 and 1995), Paul McMahan (2002), Jason Sides (2001), Mike Ward (2000), Tim Crawley (1998), Wayne Johnson (1997), Pete Butler (1996), Terry Gray (1994), John Gerloff (1993), Steve Kinser (1991, ’89 and ‘88) and Sammy Swindell (1990).  1992 finale was rained out.

The Entries: The pre-entry discount deadline has been extended to Wednesday, November 4.  Entries filed by then are just $150, with any entries submitted on race day $250.  Entries are available by calling the track at 501-455-4567 or at http://www.i-30speedway.com/stn.html.

Current Pre-Entries:
#1g Cody Gardner (Benton, AR)
#1jm Jim Moughan (Springfield, IL)
#1k Chris Shirek (Thompson, ND)
#1m Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK)
#1p Curtis Evans (Norburne, MO)
#1xh Randy Hannagan (San Jose, CA)
#1xp Chad Pitts (Little Rock, AR)
#1xx Garry Lee Maier (Dodge City, KS)
#01 TBA
#01n Jeremy Newkirk (Roland, AR)
#2a Randy Hibbs (Savannah, MO)
#2d Dusty Ballenger (Sioux Falls, SD)
#2sb Sean Becker (Carmichael, CA)
#2w Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa. OK)
#3a A.G. Rains (West Memphis, AR)
#3d Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN)
#3m Mark Shirshekan (Farmington, MO)
#3s John Carney II (El Paso, TX)
#03 Joe Wood, Jr. (Oklahoma City, OK)
#4 Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX)
#5h Justyn Cox (Pleasant Grove, CA)
#5k Jerry Kamer (Jacksonville, AR)
#5L Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD)
#6b Kaley Gharst (Decatur, IL)
#6s Raymond Stull (Coldwater, MS)
#6z Jessica Zemken (Sprakers, NY)
#7h Lewis Jenkins, Jr. (Bryant, AR)
#7L Darren Long (Elida, OH)
#7m Kevin Ramey (Fort Worth, TX)
#7s Paul Sides (Bartlett, TN)
#8m Mike Wells (El Paso, TX)
#8s Steve Short (Farmington, MO)
#8x Chris Williams (Memphis, TN)
#8z Zach Pringle (Benton, AR)
#9jr Derek Hagar (Marion, AR)
#9p Brian Parker (Midlothian, TX)
#9s Justin Sturch (Benton, AR)
#9w Lane Whittington (Denham Springs, LA)
#9x Gary Wright (Hooks, TX)
#10a Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR)
#10g Terry Gray (Bartlett, TN)
#10h Josh Higday (Des Moines, IA)
#10s Sammy Swindell (Germantown, TN)
#11c Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO)
#11j Justin Melton (Flower Mound, TX)
#11m Brandon Moseley (Doyline, LA)
#11xs Donovan Peterson (Brookings, SD)
#a12 Tommy Worley, Jr. (Bismarck, MO)
#d12 Danny Smith (Danville, IN)
#12d Dalton Davis (Munford, TN)
#12h Jerrod Hull (Sikeston, MO)
#12s Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN)
#13 Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO)
#14aj Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK)
#14k Kyle Bellm (Nixa, MO)
#14L Michael Lang (Mesquite, TX)
#14T Tyler Brown (Vilonia, AR)
#15h Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX)
#16a Koty Adams (Doyline, LA)
#16n Anthony Nicholson (Bartlett, TN)
#16p Dewayne Prince (Munford, TN)
#17b Ryan Bickett (Ramona, SD)
#17c Ray Allen Kulhanek (Magnolia, TX)
#17w Brad Welborn (Allen, TX)
#18 Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS)
#19 Jay Adams (Olive Branch, MS)
#20 Kyle Sager (Alto, NM)
#w20 Greg Wilson (Benton Ridge, OH)
#21b Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO)
#21T Tommy Bryant (Conroe, TX)
#21TX Brandon Schure (El Paso, TX)
#23b Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA)
#23x Brian Bell (Cordova, TN)
#24c Justin Carver (Millington, TN)
#24g David Gailley (Forney, TX)
#25 Don Grable (Jaurez, MEX)
#26 Marshall Skinner (West Memphis, AR)
#27 Curt Michael (Ocean View, DE)
#28 Jonathan Cornell (Sedalia, MO)
#29h Lyle Howey III (Hartford, SD)
#29r Travis Rilat (Forney, TX)
#32 Garry Bell (Cordova, TN)
#35 Ronnie Blair (Troy, OH)
#39 Brad Bowden (Hernando, MS)
#40a Ernie Ainsworth (Southaven, MS)
#40j Junior Jenkins (Greenville, TX)
#40r Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (Olive Branch, MS)
#41 Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA)
#44w Austen Wheatley (Lake Stevens, WA)
#46 Jan Howard (Byhalia, MS)
#50z Zach Chappell (Talala, OK)
#51b Jimmy Brooks (College Station, TX)
#51s Lee Sowell (Nesbit, MS)
#53d Jack Dover (Springfield, NE)
#53x Andy Gregg (Placerville, CA)
#55 Donnie Ray Crawford (Broken Arrow, OK)
#56 Davey Heskin (St. Michael, MN)
#57 Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK)
#58 Wade Oliver (Milan, TN)
#61a Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA)
#69 Larry Howery (Hearne, TX)
#71 Channin Tankersley (Highlands, TX)
#72 Sherman Davis (Sand Springs, OK)
#74c Brandon Corn (Hearne, TX)
#74e Claud Estes (Godley, TX)
#75 Don Young (Bartlett, TN)
#77 Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, CA)
#83 Tim Shaffer (Aliquippa, PA)
#86 Josh Fisher (Smithton, MO)
#87a Andrew Marshala (Shawnee, OK)
#87m Brian McClelland (Tulsa, OK)
#87r Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX)
#87x Billy Melton (Longview, TX)
#88 Tim Crawley (Benton, AR)
#88b Mike Boston (Omaha, NE)
#88k James Kinder (Holts Summit, MO)
#91a Jonathan Allard (Chico, CA)
#91b Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA)
#91c Cody Darrah (Red Lion, PA)
#91m Marty Stanford (McKinney, TX)
#93 Dustin Morgan (Collinsville, OK)
#94w Danny Wood (Norman, OK)
#94z Zach Zimmerly (West Linn, OR)
#95 Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK)
#97 Aaron Berryhill (Broken Arrow, OK)
#99b Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
#99d Rickey Hood (Millington, TN)
#165 Haley Arnold (Sedalia, MO)

The Series: A premier stop on the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters trail, Shane Stewart has moved 24 points ahead of Jason Johnson in the $60,000 championship chase with Gary Wright just another 16 points back in third.  After the Short Track Nationals, the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars will finish off the season with USA Raceway's 42nd Annual Kronik Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios in Tucson, AZ, on November 19-21.

Current top 20 in Lucas Oil Sprint Car points:  1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 2,278, 2. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 2,254, 3. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 2,238, 4. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 2,117, 5. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 2,066, 6. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 2,043, 7. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 2,020, 8. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 1,982, 9. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 1,963, 10. Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 1,961, 11. Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 1,694, 12. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 1,628, 13. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 1,519, 14. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 1,487, 15. Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) 1,471, 16. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,397, 17. Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK) 1,344, 18. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 1,215, 19. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 1,118, 20. Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR) 974.

The Format:  A version of the popular Sprint Bandits format of heats and qualifying races will be in place.  Each night, Heat Races will be aligned according to the pre-race draw, with the 2009 passing points system in effect.

Approximately half of the STN entrants will battle through Thursday's qualifying program, with the other half racing through Friday night's qualifying program.  Those not locked in after the first two nights (top three from each night) will race through a full card of Heats and Qualifying Races on Saturday night to fill out the November 7 STN championship finale.

Drivers must compete in either Thursday’s prelim or Friday’s prelim to be eligible for passing points on Saturday. 

Saturday's Odus Pack Building Materials Dash for Cash will be aligned by a pill draw conducted in “Cheater’s Day” fashion.  Thursday’s winning driver will draw the first pill then give that pill to the driver of his choice.  Friday’s winner will draw the second pill and give that pill to one of the remaining drivers, and so on until the lineup is determined.

The COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge:  The COMP Cams Gambler’s Challenge offers the pole sitter of the STN championship feature event the opportunity to pull a playing card that will grant a new starting position for the 40-lap finale.  Upon accepting the Gambler's Challenge, the driver will draw the fourth, sixth, eighth or tenth starting position.  If the driver can win from the starting position drawn, a $5,000 bonus will push the overall winner's take to $20,000.

If the pole sitter declines to draw a card, the outside front row starter will be presented with the same COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge.

The driver that takes the COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge is assured an extra $1,000 regardless of finishing position.

The Josh Howard Determination Award:  Bossier City, Louisiana's Shed Road Auto Parts will present a top wing and nose wing from Lightning Wings to a driver that battles through adversity over the course of the intensely competitive weekend.

The Dart Engine Block Presented by Wells Racing Engines:  Wells Racing Engines will present a lightened Dart engine block, a prize worth approximately $4,000, to some lucky ASCS registered driver over the course of the weekend.

The Trade Show & Midway:  This year’s rendition of the Short Track Nationals will also include the Fifth Annual Short Track Nationals Trade Show & Midway.  Fans, drivers & crews will have the opportunity to visit vendor displays, which opens at noon on Thursday and then at 9 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday.  The deadline for guaranteed vendor space is Monday, October 26.

The Tickets:  Advance tickets are on sale through Wednesday, November 4, no advance sales after that. Tickets ordered in advance are just $45 for all three nights.  Day of show prices are $15 on Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday.  To order tickets in advance or for more information, call the track at 501-455-4567 or e-mail orders to racing@I-30speedway.com.  Children's tickets will be available at the event for just $2 on both Thursday and Friday and then $5 on Saturday.  There is a $1 per ticket surcharge for orders placed via credit/debit cards.  Pit passes are $30 on both Thursday and Friday and $35 on Saturday.

For more information regarding the 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, contact I-30 Speedway at 501-455-4567.

-end-