(Photo by Steve Eichelberger)
Inside Line Promotions – GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (June 12, 2017) – Tony Bruce Jr. earned a pair of strong results last weekend during ASCS Warrior Region competition.
Bruce Jr. guided the Smith Racing No. 86 team to a seventh-place result at U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., on Friday before posting a fourth-place finish the following night at Valley Speedway.
The action began last Friday at U.S. 36 Raceway, where Bruce Jr. placed fifth in a heat race.
“I messed up in the heat on the last lap and jumped the cushion and lost a position,” he said. “That cost me two or three rows for a starting position in the A Main.”
Bruce Jr. lined up on the inside of the eighth row for the main event. However, he charged forward to score a seventh-place finish during a race that didn’t have a caution.
“We started further back than we wanted to,” he said. “We had a good car and just ran out of laps. We didn’t have a caution and really needed one or two. It’s a shame we had to start so far back and didn’t get any cautions because I think our car was capable of contending for a win.”
The weekend concluded on Saturday at Valley Speedway, where Bruce Jr. advanced from fourth to third place in a heat race. That was one position shy of making the feature redraw and started Bruce Jr. ninth in the main event.
“I think we had a shot to contend for the win, but we missed the setup,” he said. “The car was way too loose. We were a fourth-place car and that’s about all we could do. I tried everything on the race track I could do. We had no forward grip, especially down the straightaways.”
The fourth-place result gives the team four top 10s in five races this season.
“I feel like we’re going in the right direction,” he said. “That was only our fifth race of the season. The biggest thing for us is that we’re just now getting started. I’m looking forward to racing a lot this week.”
Bruce Jr. will tackle the second half of the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Sizzlin’ Summer Speedweek with races this Wednesday at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, Okla.; Thursday at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla.; Friday at Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo.; and Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 9 – U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo. – Heat race: 5 (4); Feature: 7 (15).
June 10 – Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo. – Heat race: 3 (4); Feature: 4 (9).
SEASON STATS –
5 races, 0 wins, 2 top fives, 4 top 10s, 5 top 15s, 5 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Speedweek: Wednesday at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, Okla.; Thursday at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla.; Friday at Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo.; and Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Wheeler Metals
Established in 1968, Wheeler Metals is a sheet metal business that offers a variety of products for professional and amateur builders. Wheeler Metals has three locations in Muskogee, Okla., Rogers, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. For more information, visit http://www.WheelerMetals.com.
“When I moved to the Tulsa area a few years back we built a brand new shop,” Bruce Jr. said. “We always strive as a race team to find the best products for the situation and that was no different selecting the company to build our building. Wheeler Metals was the perfect fit for our needs. From 10x10 pole barns to 100x100 full metal buildings, they have it all. I challenge anyone to find a building company that will work the customers’ needs like they do.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Briley Trucking, Lubbock Wrecker Service, The Oil Medics, Hinchman Racewear, Eagle Motorsports, Smiley’s Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, Moss Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfeld Headers, Hoosier Racing Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape, Pressure Tek, Tiger Towing (Dave and Paula Debates), Sorrels Auto and Truck Parts (Mitchell Sorrels), Melvin Plumbing (Billy Melvin), Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Wulff Pumps, Miller Auto Supply and Jeff Smith Racing Engines 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.