Hoseheads Sprint Car Photos & News

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (May 8, 2008) – With the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series set to put the wraps on four consecutive weekends of racing action with this weekend's Red River Shootout at Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway on Friday night and then Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX, on Saturday night, a look at the season's driver stats through 11 nights of action is in order.

Nine different drivers have already reached O'Reilly ASCoT victory lane through the series initial eleven features of 2008, with 49 different drivers taking at least one checkered flag in some form of heat or feature action.

A total of 171 drivers have competed in at least one O'Reilly ASCoT National event thus far in 2008, with the series averaging 46.4 cars per night.

O’Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour 2008 Stats:

Heat Race Winners (41 winners in 62 Heat Races): Jack Dover 5, Zach Chappell 3, Garry Lee Maier 3, Kenny Adams 2, Eric Baldaccini 2, Brian Brown 2, Dave Calaman 2, Tim Crawley 2, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 2, Jason Johnson 2, Wayne Johnson 2, Danny Lasoski 2, Dustin Morgan 2, Jason Sides 2, Nick Smith 2, Don Young 2, Koby Barksdale 1, Aaron Berryhill 1, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Matt Covington 1, Don Droud, Jr. 1, Terry Gray 1, Josh Higday 1, J. Kinder 1, Greg Leonard 1, Eric Lutz 1, Danny Martin, Jr. 1, Kathryne Minter 1, Daryn Pittman 1, Kevin Ramey 1, Travis Rilat 1, Trey Robb 1, Ryan Roberts 1, Joey Saldana 1, Brian Smith 1, Danny (IN) Smith 1, Gary Taylor 1, Kenneth Walker 1, Scott Winters 1, Gary Wright 1, Joe Young 1.

B Feature Winners (22 Winners in 26 "B" Mains): Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 2, Jason Johnson 2, Wayne Johnson 2, Greg Leonard 2, Aaron Berryhill 1, Brian Brown 1, Zach Chappell 1, Don Droud, Jr. 1, Lewis Jenkins, Jr. 1, Randy Martin 1, Dustin Morgan 1, Daryn Pittman 1, Kevin Ramey 1, Travis Rilat 1, Robert Sellers 1, Tim Shaffer 1, Jason Sides 1, Marshall Skinner 1, Chuck Swenson 1, Scott Winters 1, Gary Wright 1, Don Young 1.

A Feature Winners (9 Winners in 11 "A" Mains): Jason Johnson 3, Kenny Adams 1, Aaron Berryhill 1, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Danny Lasoski 1, Terry McCarl 1, Nick Smith 1, Skip Wilson 1, Gary Wright 1

A Feature Lap Leaders (300 Feature Laps Completed): Jason Johnson 108, Tony Bruce Jr. 41, Gary Wright 29, Skip Wilson 25, Danny Lasoski 23, Nick Smith 23, Terry McCarl 18, Brian Brown 11, Kenneth Walker 7, Kenny Adams 4, Aaron Berryhill 3, Daryn Pittman 3, Trey Robb 3, Garry Lee Maier 2.

A Feature Positions Gained (Top 20): Wayne Johnson 78, Jason Johnson 63, Zach Chappell 47, Gary Wright 41, Travis Rilat 37, Don Droud, Jr. 36, Jason Sides 33, Garry Lee Maier 30, Terry McCarl 26, Eric Baldaccini 21, Kenneth Walker 20, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 18, Greg Leonard 18, Daryn Pittman 18, Aaron Berryhill 13, Andy Shouse 13, Sport Allen 12, Tim Montgomery 12, Nick Smith 12, Tim Shaffer 11.

2008 O’Reilly ASCoT National Points (Top 20 Drivers):

1. 9 / 01-Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,277

2. 94-Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 1,221

3. 41-Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 1,271

4. 50z-Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 1,131

5. 29-Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 1,084

6. 11x-Garry Lee Maier (Cimarron, KS) 1,072

7. B4-Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) 980

8. 15s-Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 948

9. 2-Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 904

10. 7s-Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN) 888

11. 91-Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE) 827

12. 53-Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 751

13. 13-Kathryne Minter (Bedford, TX) 748

14. 5*-Gary Taylor (Sapulpa, OK) 699

15. 71-Chris Tarrant (Greenville, TX) 641

16. 21-Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO) 593

17. 97-Aaron Berryhill (Broken Arrow, OK) 560

18. 15-Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX) 522

19. 75-Don Young (Bartlett, TN) 463

20. 94s-Natalie Sather (Fargo, ND) 459

2008 O’Reilly ASCoT National Points (Top 20 Car Owners):

1. Wright-Cooper Motorsports 9 / 01 – 1,277

2. Mike Hammers 94 – 1,221

3. Lanny Row 41 – 1,217

4. David Chappell 50z – 1,131

5. Travis Rilat 29 – 1,084

6. Scott Brown 11x – 1,072

7. Harry Baldaccini B4 – 980

8. Bobby Sparks 91 – 963

9. Kip Smith 15s – 948

10. Sandra Walker 2 – 904

11. Sides Motorsports 7s – 888

12. Lori Dover 53 – 751

13. Tracy Minter 13 – 748

14. Mike Eubanks 5* - 699

15. Scotty Dobbs 71 – 641

16. Aaron Berryhill 97 – 635

17. Tim & Gina Doogs 21 – 593

18. Sam Hafertepe 15 – 522

19. Cliff Young 75 – 463

20. Brad Sather 94s - 459

The O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series is currently slated for 42 nights of racing action at 22 different tracks throughout a dozen different states, with more than $1,000,000 in purse money and point fund to be distributed during the 2008 season.

The nation's most prominent Sprint Car sanctioning body with a dozen different Regions throughout the United States in addition to the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series, the American Sprint Car Series' (ASCS) 17th year of activity will include approximately 250 nights of racing at more than 100 different race tracks throughout 28 different states and Canada.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at http://www.ascsracing.com/.

Crawford Lands ASCoT Ride; Makes First Start Friday in OKC

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (May 7, 2008) – There will be a new face in the pit area when the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series rolls into Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway this Friday night for the opening leg of the Red River Shootout, as third-generation racer Donnie Ray Crawford has been named the new driver of the Bobby Sparks No. 91 entry.

Following Friday night's card, the Broken Arrow, OK, racer will follow the series to Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX, on Saturday night before finishing out the balance of the season with Sparks on the ASCS National Tour.

The 20-year-old Crawford joins a stellar core group of 13 full-time travelers on the O'Reilly ASCoT National series that includes past champions Gary Wright, Travis Rilat, Zach Chappell, Wayne Johnson and Garry Lee Maier, along with two-time series runner-up Jason Johnson and 2006 Brodix Rookie of the Year Nick Smith. Crawford joins a rookie crop that includes Eric Baldaccini, Kenneth Walker, Gary Taylor, Kathryne Minter and Chris Tarrant.

Taking over the ride currently ranked eighth in ASCoT owner points, Crawford surrenders the ASCS2 Micro Sprint points lead in both the Multi and Non-Wing classes.

Taking top honors in Micro Sprint action at the Tulsa Shootout on a number of occasions in recent years, including besting fields of over 100 entries in both “A” Class and Non-Wing action in 2007, Crawford notched a top-five finish in the 2007 edition of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in his Midget racing debut.

Crawford went on to rank second in 2007 SMRS Midget points, picking off his first feature win along the way at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, MO, on May 28.

This year, Crawford has jumped out to the early ASCS2 points lead in both the Multi and Non-Wing Micro Sprint classes, also adding an SMRS Midget win at Minneapolis (KS) Raceway last Friday night, May 2. Crawford's Midget win came aboard a Midget owned by Mike and Megan Eubanks, who also field Gary Taylor's ASCoT mount.

Crawford got his feet wet in the Sprint Car ranks with three starts in the latter portion of the 2006 season, making an ASCS Sooner Region feature start at Mid-America Speedway before taking in both nights of the Devil’s Bowl Speedway Winter Nationals.

Crawford takes the wheel of the Wells-powered Sparks Construction/RESM Transport No. 91 Eagle that has been piloted over the past several years by Darren Stewart.

Sparks opened the season with Nebraska's Don Droud, Jr., at the helm. But after just one top-ten finish through the opening ten nights of action, the team parted ways prior to last Saturday night's event at Lake Ozark Speedway, where Missouri racer Tim Montgomery filled in for the night by charging from 19th to seventh.

Friday night's O'Reilly ASCoT action at Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway fires off at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday's second leg of the Red River Shootout at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX, going green at 8:00 p.m.

The semi-banked, 3/8-mile State Fair Speedway clay oval is located on the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds near the intersection of N.W. 10th and May Avenue. For more information, contact the track at 405-948-6796.

The high-banked, ½-mile Devil’s Bowl Speedway clay oval is located six miles east of Dallas’ Loop I-635 on US 80, then three miles south on Lawson Road. For more information, contact the track at 972-222-2421.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com

ASCS Sprints on Dirt Open Short Track Challenge Saturday at T-Bird!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (May 5, 2008) – After a wet night at Crystal Motor Speedway this past weekend, the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz try to open the season again this Saturday night at Thunderbird Race Park in Muskegon, MI.

Saturday's card atop the semi-banked, 3/8-mile Thunderbird Race Park also marks the opening leg of the ASCS Sprints on Dirt MAHLE Clevite Short Track Challenge, a race series within the series.

Thunderbird has offered up a variety of different winners in recent years, with seven different winners in the eight ASCS Sprints on Dirt events contested on the Muskegon clay since 2000. Only Howell, Michigan's Steve Irwin has scored more than one win, with a 2006 victory to go along with his first Thunderbird win in 2001.

Ohio's Mike Brecht topped last year's ASCS Sprints on Dirt event at Thunderbird, with other recent winners including Brett Mann in 2005 and Dustin Daggett in 2004.

Warsaw, Indiana's Tim Norman opens up his series championship defense after capturing his second ASCS Sprints on Dirt crown in the past three seasons last year. Last year, Norman outlasted Brett Mann and Ben Rutan in a torrid ASCS Sprints on Dirt championship battle, with Bill Johnson and Gary Fast rounding out the top five. The balance of the top ten in points included Joe Bares, Ryan Ruhl, Ryan Grubaugh, Jake Stebner and Kirk Cheney.

Saturday's action at Thunderbird Race Park is set to go green at 7:00 p.m.

Thunderbird Race Park is located north of Muskegon, MI, on US 31 to Russell Road exit, then one mile north, then 0.5 miles west on Riley Thompson Road. For more information, contact the track at 231-766-3300.

In its 29th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing, the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints On Dirt presented by Victor Reinz will sanction 26 nights of action at 14 different tracks throughout Michigan, Ohio and Ontario.

The ASCS Sprints on Dirt MAHLE Clevite Short Track Challenge is comprised of eight series events on tracks of 3/8-mile or less.

The nation's most prominent Sprint Car sanctioning body with 14 different Regions throughout the United States in addition to the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series, the American Sprint Car Series' (ASCS) 17th year of activity will include approximately 250 nights of racing at more than 100 different race tracks throughout 28 different states and Canada.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

Sweeney Leads The Way into ASCS Gulf South Double

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (May 5, 2008) – With Chris Sweeney holding a narrow point lead, the American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region fires back into action this weekend with a pair of events in southeast Texas.

On Friday night, the series takes to Beaumont's Golden Triangle Raceway Park for the Fifth Annual John Bankston Memorial. Then on Saturday night, it's on to Baytown's Houston Raceway Park for the Sixth Annual Ronald Laney Memorial.

And, as has become tradition, the ASCS Gulf South championship battle is another tight one with just eight points separating the lead trio of Sweeney, Gary Watson and Greg Rilat. The ASCS Gulf South Region championship has been decided by 32 or fewer points on four occasions in the past five years.

While Channelview, TX, shoe Sweeney holds a slight advantage entering the weekend, Beaumont's Watson and Texas City's Rilat are tied for second just eight points out of the lead. Watson edged Rilat by two points for the series title in 2006.

After capturing his first career ASCS win in the series most recent action at Fast Trax Speedway, 17-year-old Channin Tankersley of Highlands, TX, enters the weekend ranked fourth, just 38 points off of Sweeney's lead pace.

College Station's Jimmy Brooks enters the weekend ranked fifth, with the balance of the current top ten including rookie contender Travis Elliott of Alvin, TX, 2005 Gulf South champion Ray Allen Kulhanek (Willis, TX), Tommy Bryant (Conroe, TX), Brandon Corn (Hearne, TX) and defending series champion Brandon Berryman (Missouri City, TX).

Friday's action at Golden Triangle Raceway Park goes green at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday's card at Houston Raceway Park firing off at 7:00 p.m.

Golden Triangle Raceway Park is located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 near Beaumont, TX. For more information, contact the track at 409-752-7200.

Houston Raceway Park is located east of Houston on I-10 to Exit 798, then three miles south on State Road 146, then 0.8 miles southeast on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles northeast on FM 565. For more information, contact the track at 281-383-7223.

The ASCS Gulf South Region is set for 26 nights of racing action at eleven different tracks throughout Texas and Louisiana in 2008.

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:

2/29/08 Jason Johnson

9/28/07 Jason Johnson

6/22/07 Michael Dupuy

5/18/07 Brandon Berryman

4/6/07 Jason Johnson

9/29/06 Kevin Ramey

8/18/06 Jason Johnson

6/23/06 Gary Watson

8/19/05 Ray Allen Kulhanek

6/17/05 Ray Allen Kulhanek

4/15/05 Travis Rilat

9/18/04 Kelly Angelette

7/9/04 Stephen Chevallier

* - 9/28/02 Michael Dupuy

* - 9/27/02 Tim Crawley

7/5/02 Buddy Bodden

5/24/02 Jason Johnson

* - 4/5/02 Zach Chappell

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Houston Raceway Park:

3/1/08 Jack Dover

9/29/07 Brandon Berryman

8/18/07 Travis Rilat

5/19/07 Johnny Miller

9/30/06 Ray Allen Kulhanek

8/19/06 Brad Best

6/24/06 Ray Allen Kulhanek

4/8/06 Travis Rilat

8/20/05 Lane Whittington

6/18/05 Ray Allen Kulhanek

7/10/04 Kevin Ramey

* - Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

Clark Leads the Way to USA for ASCS Southwest Region!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (May 5, 2008) – A busy month of May for the American Sprint Car Series Southwest Region continues this Saturday night when the series takes to Tucson's semi-banked, 3/8-mile United Sports Arizona Race Park clay oval.

Saturday's card at USA Race Park marks the third event of the year for the all new ASCS Southwest Region.

While Don Grable and Ben Gregg have reached victory lane in the series opening pair of events, it's Tucson's Ronnie Clark that is out to the early series points lead after posting runner-up finishes in both events thus far.

Clark is just six points ahead of Gregg, with Phoenix shoe Steve Martin another six points back in third. Mesa's Mike Rux, Jr., is fourth, just two points ahead of Cody Cambensy and El Paso's Shawn Sander, who are tied for fifth.

Billy Chester III of Phoenix is just two more points back in seventh, with the balance of the top ten including Glendale's Joshua Williams, John Gaston and Tucson's Jessica Van Dyke.

Saturday's inaugural American Sprint Car Series Southwest Region event at Tucson's USA Race Park is slated to go green at 6:45 p.m.

United Sports Arizona Race Park is located east of Tucson off I-10 Exit 268, then 1.6 mile south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information, contact the track at 520-574-8515.

The ASCS Southwest Region is set for 20 nights of winged Sprint Car racing throughout Arizona in 2008. In addition to events at Tucson's USA Race Park, the series will also be in action at Show Low's Thunder Speedway and Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

ASCS Canyon Region Set for First Stop at Casa Grande!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (May 5, 2008) – The Discount Tire Co. American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region continues a stellar season of racing action this Saturday night with its first stop of the year atop Casa Grande's high-banked, 3/8-mile Central Arizona Raceway clay oval.

It will be a special night for all the Moms in the crowd as well, as Mothers receive a free meal in honor of Mother's Day.

Defending series champion Jeremy Sherman of Surprise, AZ, enters the event atop the point charts after capturing his third feature win of the season this past Saturday night.

Sherman claimed one ASCS Canyon Region in three series stops at Central Arizona Raceway last year, with Chad Boat and Charles Davis, Jr., also earning Casa Grande wins.

Davis enters Saturday's card just 38 points off of Sherman's lead pace, with Nathan High holding down third in points. R.J. Johnson is currently fourth, with Jeremy Reagles rounding out the current top five.

Mike Martin is just two points behind Reagles in sixth, with Josh Pelkey, Mike Leslie, Andrew Reinbold and Thomas Ogle completing the top ten.

Certificates will be awarded to each of the heat race winners, with Racing Optics sponsoring heat race one, MPD Race Products sponsoring heat race two, Winters Performance sponsoring heat race three and Sunoco sponsoring heat race four. Arizona Race Mart sponsors the Trophy Dash, while Sunoco will also award a certificate to each "B" Main winner in ASCS Canyon Region action this year. Parker Store sponsors the Roll for Inversion.

Saturday's Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region action at Central Arizona Raceway is set to go green at 7:00 p.m.

The high-banked, 3/8-mile Central Arizona Raceway clay oval is located is located in Casa Grande, AZ, off I-10 Exit 194, then seven miles east on State Road 287 at the fairgrounds. For more information, contact the track at 520-723-8888.

The Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region brings the best in non-wing Sprint Car racing to Arizona with a full slate of 29 nights of racing in 2008. In addition to events atop both the ½-mile and 1/3-mile ovals at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, the series will also be in action at Tucson's USA Race Park and Casa Grande's Central Arizona Raceway over the course of the season.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

O'Reilly ASCoT Ready for Red River Shootout This Weekend!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (May 5, 2008) – A wildly unpredictable season of racing action for the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series continues with this upcoming weekend's Second Annual Red River Shootout.

On Friday night, the series takes to Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway for the opening night of the Red River Shootout. Then on Saturday night, the ASCoT troops travel south of the Oklahoma-Texas state line to take on the famed Devil's Bowl Speedway clay oval in Mesquite, TX.

This weekend's action wraps up a torrid four weekend stretch of racing action for the nation's premier traveling circuit, with four different drivers posting wins in as many events over the past three weeks.

Among those recent winners were a pair of first-timers in series action, including Texas shoe Skip Wilson, who fought off Wayne Johnson and Tim Crawley at Paris, TX, on April 25, and then Oklahoma's Aaron Berryhill, who battled past Jason Johnson on the white flag lap to win at Missouri's Lake Ozark Speedway this past Saturday night.

Also taking wins in this stretch of events are Jason Johnson, who topped a loaded field at Missouri's Lucas Oil Speedway on April 19, and Nick Smith, who snared his first ASCS National win in two seasons with a triumph at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway on April 26.

The recent string of winners extends the series total to nine different winners through the opening 11 events of 2008.

Thus far, only Jason Johnson has posted multiple wins, with a triumph in Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway Spring Nationals finale in March among his three series triumphs this season.

"The Ragin' Cajun" still finds himself third in points entering the weekend, just four points behind second-ranked Oklahoma City-native Wayne Johnson and 60 markers off Gary Wright's lead pace.

Hailing from Hooks, TX, Wright has posted one feature win in pursuit of an unprecedented fifth consecutive ASCS National championship, with his last-corner pass to win the Devil's Bowl Spring Nationals running his career win total to 120 ASCS National Tour feature wins.

Wright has enjoyed plenty of success at both State Fair Speedway and Devil's Bowl Speedway, racking up a combined total of 28 ASCS National Tour victories at the pair of tracks, including a sweep of last year's Red River Shootout.

Talala, Oklahoma's Zach Chappell, the 2001 series champion, climbed to fourth in points after a strong top-five run at Lake Ozark, with 2003 ASCS National champion Travis Rilat of Forney, TX, cracking the top five.

After suffering early engine problems, Kansas ace Garry Lee Maier slipped to sixth in points, while Keller, TX, racer Eric Baldaccini maintains his lead in the Brodix Rookie of the Year race by ranking seventh in points. Other rookie contenders include Kenneth Walker (ninth), Kathryne Minter (13th), Gary Taylor (14th) and Chris Tarrant (15th).

After making a strong bid for a second consecutive series win Saturday night at Lake Ozark before encountering front end problems, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma's Nick Smith has climbed to eighth. Smith topped an ASCS Sooner Region event at State Fair Speedway on April 11.

The Olive Branch, MS, based Sparks Construction No. 91 entry, currently ranked eighth in Owner points, is expected to be on hand as well. After Don Droud, Jr., opened the season aboard the Sparks ride, Missouri's Tim Montgomery filled in at Lake Ozark by racing from 19th to seventh. No driver has been announced yet for this weekend's double.

The rugged group of ASCoT travelers will be joined by a stout field of rivals over the course of the weekend including past ASCS Sooner Region champions Brian McClelland, Kevin Ramey, Danny Jennings and Andy Shouse among others.

Also making the journey south for the weekend's Red River Shootout will be at least a couple of Northern reps, with reigning ASCS Midwest Region champion Natalie Sather of Fargo, ND, and Nebraska's Jack Dover expected to be on hand.

The Series:

O’Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour (ASCoT)

When & Where:

Friday night, May 9 – State Fair Speedway (7:30 p.m.)

Saturday night, May 10 – Devil's Bowl Speedway (8:00 p.m.)

Track Information:

State Fair Speedway (Oklahoma City, OK) – 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval located on the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds near the intersection of N.W. 10th and May Avenue. Track phone: 405-948-6796.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – ½-mile high-banked clay oval located six miles east of Dallas’ Loop I-635 on US 80, then three miles south on Lawson Road. Track phone: 972-222-2421.

O’Reilly ASCoT State Fair Speedway History:

State Fair Speedway has hosted 26 ASCS National Tour events since 1994, with 22 events in Oklahoma City since the track was reconfigured prior to the 2002 season. Gary Wright has won nine of 22 feature events since the reconfiguration, with Jason Johnson and Kevin Ramey the only other drivers to score multiple wins since that time.

The last time Gary Wright didn’t start an ASCS National Tour feature event, it was at State Fair Speedway on May 9, 2003, when an accident while en route forced Wright's absence. Since that time, Wright has racked up four series titles and has competed in 177 consecutive ASCS National Tour events.

Wright topped three of four ASCS National Tour features at State Fair Speedway last year, foiling Natalie Sather's bid for a first win in the Spring Nationals prelim before Wayne Johnson topped the Spring Nationals finale the following night.

Jason Johnson picked off his second State Fair Speedway Spring Nationals victory in March.

State Fair Speedway ASCS National winners include: Gary Wright 11, Jason Johnson 4, Kevin Ramey 2, Zach Chappell 1, Tommie Estes, Jr. 1, Wayne Johnson 1, Danny Lasoski 1, Wayne Pennington 1, Travis Rilat 1, Darren Stewart 1, Shane Stewart 1, Danny Wood 1.

State Fair Speedway O’Reilly ASCoT Race-by-race Winners: Gary Wright (10/13/94), Tommie Estes, Jr. (5/26/96), Gary Wright (8/11/96), Zach Chappell (7/21/01), Wayne Pennington (5/17/02), Kevin Ramey (6/28/02), Gary Wright (8/23/02), Travis Rilat (5/9/03), Shane Stewart (6/1/03), Gary Wright (6/27/03), Gary Wright (8/1/03), Danny Wood (6/25/04), Gary Wright (7/30/04), Kevin Ramey (5/20/05), Darren Stewart (6/24/05), Gary Wright (7/29/05), Jason Johnson (3/24/06), Jason Johnson (3/25/06), Gary Wright (6/23/06), Jason Johnson (7/14/06), Gary Wright (3/23/07), Wayne Johnson (3/24/07), Gary Wright (5/11/07), Gary Wright (7/20/07), Danny Lasoski (3/21/08), Jason Johnson (3/22/08).

O’Reilly ASCoT Devil's Bowl Speedway History:

Devil’s Bowl Speedway has been hosting the O’Reilly ASCS National Tour since 1994, with 20 different drivers scoring at least one victory in 52 feature events. Gary Wright has claimed 17 of his 120 career ASCS National wins at Devil’s Bowl, including a pair of triumphs in 2007 and a dramatic last corner pass to win this year's edition of the Devil's Bowl Spring Nationals.

Wright also won last year's Devil's Bowl leg of the Red River Shootout, with Jason Johnson sweeping both nights of the Winter Nationals in October.

Devil’s Bowl ASCS National winners include: Gary Wright 17, Jason Johnson 4, Wayne Johnson 4, Danny Jennings 3, Kevin Ramey 3, Shane Carson 2, Terry Gray 2, Garry Lee Maier 2, Mike Peters 2, Travis Rilat 2, Sammy Swindell 2, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Tim Crawley 1, Edd French 1, Johnny Herrera 1, Larry Neighbors 1, Alan Payne 1, Jake Peters 1, Shane Stewart 1, Mike Ward 1.

Devil’s Bowl O’Reilly ASCoT Race-by-race Winners: Shane Carson (6/21/94), Alan Payne (5/12/95), Mike Ward (7/23/95), Mike Peters (9/1/95), Sammy Swindell (9/2/95), Sammy Swindell (9/3/95), Wayne Johnson (6/18/96), Terry Gray (7/6/96), Terry Gray (11/1/96), Johnny Herrera (11/2/96), Shane Carson (4/5/97), Wayne Johnson (6/18/97), Edd French (10/31/97), Mike Peters (11/1/97), Gary Wright (6/19/98), Gary Wright (10/3/98), Garry Lee Maier (10/4/98), Gary Wright (7/8/99), Garry Lee Maier (7/30/99), Gary Wright (10/1/99), Gary Wright (10/2/99), Gary Wright (7/21/00), Gary Wright (10/6/00), Larry Neighbors (4/20/01), Gary Wright (7/20/01), Gary Wright (10/6/01), Travis Rilat (4/19/02), Jason Johnson (6/7/02), Wayne Johnson (10/4/02), Gary Wright (10/5/02), Kevin Ramey (4/18/03), Tim Crawley (10/17/03), Gary Wright (10/18/03), Shane Stewart (10/23/04), Danny Jennings (3/18/05), Danny Jennings (3/19/05), Danny Jennings (6/9/05), Gary Wright (10/21/05), Gary Wright (10/22/05), Kevin Ramey (6/24/06 – Spring Nationals makeup feature), Kevin Ramey (6/24/06 – Summer Nationals), Gary Wright (7/13/06), Jason Johnson (10/13/06), Travis Rilat (10/14/06), Wayne Johnson (3/16/07), Jake Peters (3/17/07), Gary Wright (5/12/07), Gary Wright (7/19/07), Jason Johnson (10/12/07), Jason Johnson (10/13/07), Tony Bruce, Jr. (3/14/08), Gary Wright (3/15/08).

Current O’Reilly ASCoT Points (After 11 of 42 Nights):

Top Fifteen: 1. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,277, 2. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 1,221, 3. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 1,217, 4. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 1,131, 5. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 1,084, 6. Garry Lee Maier (Cimarron, KS) 1,072, 7. Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) 980, 8. Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 948, 9. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 904, 10. Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN) 888, 11. Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE) 827, 12. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 751, 13. Kathryne Minter (Bedford, TX) 748, 14. Gary Taylor (Sapulpa, OK) 699, 15. Chris Tarrant (Greenville, TX) 641.

2008 O’Reilly ASCoT Feature Winners:

Jason Johnson 3, Kenny Adams 1, Aaron Berryhill 1, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Danny Lasoski 1, Terry McCarl 1, Nick Smith 1, Skip Wilson 1, Gary Wright 1.

O'Reilly ASCoT – A Look Ahead:

June 20 Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)

June 24 I-90 Speedway (Hartford, SD)

June 28 Dakota State Fair Speedway (Huron, SD)

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

Sherman Takes ASCS Canyon Region Caskey Tribute Win

Lonnie Wheatley, PHOENIX, Ariz. (May 3, 2008) – Defending Discount Tire Co. American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region champion Jeremy Sherman padded his current series points lead by winning Saturday night's 30-lap Tribute to Kole Caskey atop Manzanita Speedway's 1/3-mile clay oval.

Starting from the pole position, Sherman gunned into the lead at the outset and never looked back en route to recording his third series victory of the season aboard Fred Bryan's Wesmar-powered F&E Development No. 77 Sherman creation.

Sherman was chased to the line by Charles Davis, Jr., with Andrew Reinbold taking the show position. Mike Colegrove claimed Hard Charger honors by racing from 17th to fourth, with Shon Deskins rounding out the top five.

Bob Ream, Jr., was sixth, with Jeremy Reagles, R.J. Johnson, Mike Leslie and Jay Ervine completing the top ten.

Reagles, Sherman and Davis topped heat race action, with Colegrove winning the "B" Main. Nathan High won the Trophy Dash.

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region Results from Manzanita Speedway:

Trophy Dash: 1. 12-Nathan High, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 4. 15-R.J. Johnson.

Heat One: 1. 44-Jeremy Reagles, 2. 00-Nick Aiuto, 3. 76-Mike Leslie, 4. 21-Jay Ervine, 5. 26az-Bobby Taylor, 6. 28-Stevie Sussex, 7. 5x-Jody Wirth, 8. 7-Steve Tellas, 9. 20s-Derek Sell.

Heat Two: 1. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 2. 15-R.J. Johnson, 3. 8-Bob Ream, Jr., 4 20-Shon Deskins, 5. 16-Mike Martin, 6. 2-Mike Colegrove, 7. 62-Jeff Henry, 8. 48-Thomas Ogle. DNS: 96-Carson Ditsch.

Heat Three: 1. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 2. 34-Josh Pelkey, 3. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 4. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 5. 12-Nathan High, 6. 16k-Ronnie Smith, 7. 61-Justin Fisher, 8. 74-Derek Williams, 9. xxx-Zach Sawyers.

"B" Feature: 1. 2-Mike Colegrove, 2. 61-Justin Fisher, 3. 16-Mike Martin, 4. 62-Jeff Henry, 5. 7-Steve Tellas, 6. 74-Derek Williams, 7. 5x-Jody Wirth, 8. 20s-Derek Sell, 9. xxx-Zach Sawyers, 10. 48-Thomas Ogle. DNS: 96-Carson Ditsch.

“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 4. 2-Mike Colegrove, 5. 20-Shon Deskins, 6. 8-Bob Ream, Jr., 7. 44-Jeremy Reagles, 8. 15-R.J. Johnson, 9. 76-Mike Leslie, 10. 21-Jay Ervine, 11. 16-Mike Martin, 12. 12-Nathan High, 13. 28-Stevie Sussex, 14. 62-Jeff Henry, 15. 26az-Bobby Taylor, 16. 00-Nick Aiuto, 17. 16k-Ronnie Smith, 18. 5x-Jody Wirth, 19. 20s-Derek Sell, 20. 7-Steve Tellas, 21. 74-Derek Williams, 22. 34-Josh Pelkey, 23. 61-Justin Fisher, 24. 11-Seainn Hendricsen.

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Jeremy Sherman 1,022, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 984, 3. Nathan High 956, 4. R.J. Johnson 930, 5. Jeremy Reagles 922, 6. Mike Martin 920, 7. Josh Pelkey 896, 8. Mike Leslie 866, 9. Andrew Reinbold 855, 10. Thomas Ogle 841.

Gregg Garners ASCS Southwest Win at USA Race Park

TUCSON, Ariz. (May 3, 2008) – Ben Gregg notched his first career American Sprint Car Series feature win by topping Saturday night's 25-lap feature at United Sports Arizona Race Park.

Gregg raced to the checkered flag in front of new series points leader Ronnie Clark, with Shawn Sander, Lorne Wofford and Billy Chester III rounding out the top five.

John Gaston was sixth, with Steve Martin, Chuck Buckman, Cody Cambensy and Perry McMillin completing the top ten.

ASCS Southwest Region Feature Results from USA Race Park:

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 22b-Ben Gregg, 2. 94-Ronnie Clark, 3. 48-Shawn Sander, 4. 18-Lorne Wofford, 5. 4c-Billy Chester III, 6. 22J-John Gaston, 7. 20az-Steve Martin, 8. 61-Chuck Buckman, 9. 94T-Cody Cambensy, 10. 27-Perry McMillin, 11. 41-Joshua Williams, 12. 22-Mike Rux, Jr., 13. 11T-Steve Lohn, 14. 66-Jessica Van Dyke, 15. 42-Dennis Riley, 16. 33-Rick Ziehl, 17. 7az-Bobby Collister.

ASCS Southwest Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Ronnie Clark 292, 2. Ben Gregg 286, 3. Steve Martin 280, 4. Mike Rux, Jr. 268, 5. Cody Cambensy 266, 6. Billy Chester III 264, 7. Joshua Williams 260, 8. John Gaston 258, 9. Jessica Van Dyke 248, 10. Rick Ziehl 246.

Taylor Trumps ASCS Sooners Again at Mid-America

Lonnie Wheatley, SOUTH COFFEYVILLE, Okla. (May 3, 2008) – Gary Taylor racked up his second consecutive American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region win by wiring the field in Saturday night's 25-lap main event at Mid-America Speedway.

Piloting Mike and Megan Eubanks' Wesmar-powered Tel-Star Communications No. 5* Triple X, Taylor jumped into the outset and then survived a skirmish in lapped traffic to secure the win.

Starting from the front row outside, Taylor outgunned polesitter Rafe Essary for the lead at the drop of the green. Lapped traffic came into play in less than a handful of laps, and at the midway point Taylor and Sapulpa's Danny Smith crossed paths.

“I made a move to keep up my momentum and I got into Danny Smith and turned him around," Taylor explained. "I feel bad for doing that, but when you get out in front you don’t know if anyone is close so you just try and keep your speed going.”

Taylor survived the close call and with several lapped cars between him and his chasers, he withstood another pair of late cautions before dashing away to a near straightaway victory over Jamie Passmore, who snared runner-up honors after starting eighth.

Texas shoe Kolt Walker assumed the ASCS Sooner Region points lead by claiming the show position, with defending series champion Brian McClelland and Michael Brown rounding out the top five.

The balance of the top ten included Matt Covington, Sheldon Barksdale, 18th-starter Joe Wood, Jr., Travis Jenkins and Justin Melton.

McClelland, Covington and Essary each earned heat race victories.

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Results from Mid-America Speedway:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 87-Brian McClelland, 2. 20-Rick Barksdale, 3. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 4. 5$-Danny Smith, 5. 11-Justin Melton, 6. 4am-Travis Jenkins.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 95-Matt Covington, 2. 5*-Gary Taylor, 3. 61-Earnest Jennings, 4. 85s-Forrest Sutherland, 5. 72-Sherman Davis, 6. 15k-Kerry McAlister.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 26-Rafe Essary, 2. 15b-Michael Brown, 3. 45k-Kolt Walker, 4. 20s-Sheldon Barksdale, 5. 11z-Zack Beeler. DNS: 03-Joe Wood, Jr.

"A" Feature (25 Laps): 1. 5*-Gary Taylor, 2. 4J-Jamie Passmore, 3. 45K-Kolt Walker, 4. 87-Brian McClelland, 5. 15B-Michael Brown, 6. 95-Matt Covington, 7 20S-Sheldon Barksdale, 8. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 9. 4AM-Travis Jenkins, 10. 11-Justin Melton, 11. 85s-Forrest Sutherland, 12. 5$-Danny Smith, 13. 61-Earnest Jennings, 14. 11Z-Zack Beeler, 15. 72-Sherman Davis, 16. 26-Rafe Essary, 17. 20-Rick Barksdale, 18. 15K-Kerry McAlister.

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Kolt Walker 544, 2. Brian McClelland 505, 3. Matt Covington 461, 4. Michael Brown 451, 5. Kerry McAlister 437, 6. Sherman Davis 435, 7. Justin Melton 429, 8. Travis Rilat 416, 9. Gary Taylor 412, 10. Joe Wood, Jr. 398.

ASCS Patriot Opener at Fulton Not Yet Completed

Rich Vleck, FULTON, N.Y. (May 3, 2008) - The 2008 ASCS Patriot Season is underway, but the first race is not yet in the books.

A fantastic opening event at the Fulton Speedway was rain-shortened on Saturday, as the heavy band of rain that wreaked havoc on much of the Northeast hit the 3/8-mile oval just before the ASCS Patriot A-Main.

Plans are still being finalized for the date of completion for the 25-lap A-Main as part of the A-Verdi King of CNY Series. The date will be announced soon and will definitely be held later in the season.

With an impressive 34 cars in the pit area to begin the sixth season of ASCS Patriot competition, four competitive heats, along with a pair of B-Mains and the first “Four Laps of Fame Dash” got the season started on the right foot; the second step though ended up in a puddle of water.

Tommy Wickham captured the first heat race over Justin Barger, with Don Adamczyk impressively scoring the win in the second National Parts Peddler Heat. Jared Zimbardi held off Chuck Hebing in a wildly entertaining heat three, while Jason Barney withstood the charges of Bobby Breen to score the win in the final heat.

Jeff Cook and Bryan Howland battled for the win in the Riverside Bar and Grill Four Laps of Fame, with Cook coming out on top. Blake Breen and Ray Preston would pick up the wins in the B-Mains.

With the 22 qualified starters staged at the track entrance, the massive weather system moved in and reached a point of no return, forcing the postponement of the feature.

With the new ASCS redraw format being employed, Don Adamczyk will start the feature on the pole, with Chuck Hebing starting to his outside.

More information on the make-up date will be found at www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.

ASCS Patriots Results: 5/3/07, Fulton Speedway, Fulton, NY.

National Parts Peddler Heats (8 Laps Each)-

Race 1: 1. Tommy Wickham (75), 2. Justin Barger (32), 3. Tim Kelly (12), 4. Doug Norrie (92m), 5. Doug Emery (33), 6. Daniel Lampron (52L), 7. Brandon Warner (10B), 8. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 9. Chris Weiss (29).

Race 2: 1. Don Adamczyk (21), 2. Alain Bergeron (8B), 3. Bryan Howland (51), 4. Adm Gordon (18), 5. Blake Breen (8), 6. Jared Fink (21F), 7. T.J. Newton (57), 8. Dave Wickham (80).

Race 3: 1. Jared Zimbardi (35), 2. Chuck Hebing (45), 3. Jeff Cook (10), 4. Mike Stelter (36), 5. Gary Troutman (44), 6. Geoff Quackenbush (25x), 7. Brad Knab (38), 8. Joe August Jr. (44).

Race 4: 1. Jason Barney (87), 2. Bobby Breen (9), 3. Lance Yonge (17J), 4. Michael Parent (25), 5. Ray Preston (22), 6. Normand Beaudreault (50), 7. Scott Kreutter (52), 8. Joe Magner (27), 9. Jimmy Broderick (5).

Riverside Bar and Grill Four Laps of Fame Dash (4 Laps)- 1. Jeff Cook (10), 2. Bryan Howland (51), 3. Bobby Breen (9), 4. Lance Yonge (17J), 5. Doug Emery (33), 6. Doug Norrie (92m).

B-Main 1 (10 Laps, 3 Transfer)- 1. Blake Breen (8), 2. Jared Fink (21F), 3. Brandon Warner (10s), 4. Adam Gordon (18), 5. Joe Magner (27), 6. Brad Knab (38), 7. Normand Beaudreault (50), 8. Chris Weiss (29), 9. Dave Wickham (80).

B-Main 2 (8 Laps, 3 Transfer)- 1. Ray Preston (22), 2. Chris Muhleisen (10M), 3. Geoff Quackenbush (25x), 4. Gary Troutman (44), 5. Jimmy Broderick (5), 6. Daniel Lampron (52L), 7. Joe August Jr. (44a), 8. T.J. Newton (57), 9. Scott Kreutter (52).

A-Main Starting Lineup-

Row- Inside, Outside

1- Don Adamczyk, Chuck Hebing

2- Tommy Wickham, Alain Bergeron

3- Jason Barney, Tim Kelly

4- Jared Zimbardi, Justin Barger

5- Jeff Cook, Bryan Howland

6- Bobby Breen, Lance Yonge

7- Doug Emery, Doug Norrie

8- Mike Stelter, Michael Parent

9- Blake Breen, Ray Preston

10- Jared Fink, Chris Muhleisen

11- Brandon Warner, Geoff Quackenbush

DNQ- Adam Gordon (18), Joe Magner (27), Brad Knab (38), Normand Beaudreault (50), Chris Weiss (29), Dave Wickham (80), Gary Troutman (44), Jimmy Broderick (5), Daniel Lampron (52L), Joe August Jr. (44a), T.J. Newton (57), Scott Kreutter (52).

Berryhill Bests O'Reilly ASCoT at Lake Ozark!

Lonnie Wheatley, ELDON, Mo. (May 3, 2008) – Aaron Berryhill's tenacity on the low side of Lake Ozark Speedway's 1/3-mile clay oval paid dividends on Saturday night as the Broken Arrow, OK, racer made a white-flap lap pass of Jason Johnson en route to capturing his first career O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series feature win.

Berryhill and Johnson dueled for the lead over more than half the distance before Berryhill finally took command on the 29th of 30 laps, taking the checkered flag aboard the Wesmar-powered Americash Advance No. 97 Eagle in front of 17th-starter Gary Wright, who relegated Johnson to third on the final lap.

"Wow, I'm pretty fired up right now!" Berryhill exclaimed in victory lane. "This is my first ASCS win, it's been a long time coming."

After gridding the feature field inside the fourth row, Berryhill had scratched his way into second behind pole starter and race long leader Jason Johnson by the time the race's final caution flag flew after 16 laps.

And an epic battle was on from there, with Johnson riding a perilous cushion as Berryhill treaded lightly on the low side, all the while with Zach Chappell and "B" Main transfer Gary Wright in their wake.

"I kept working and working on the bottom and then I caught up to him (Johnson), that's when I started thinking he was beatable," Berryhill explained.

Berryhill proved it to be true, willing his way into the lead on the bottom side of turns one and two as the leaders battled through traffic on the 29th lap and holding the advantage over the final lap and a half to become the ninth different ASCoT National feature winner through eleven events this year.

The feature got off to an awkward start when front row outside starter Jonathan Cornell bicycled in turns one and two, sending the balance of the field scrambling. While Cornell saved his machine, Eric Todd spun to the infield exiting turn two with race-ending front-end damage.

The second try to get the race was successful, with Johnson gunning into the lead. Johnson never had a chance to rest easy though, as third-starter Nick Smith immediately applied the pressure as he chased a second consecutive series win with fifth-starter Chappell right there with the lead duo.

Smith pulled alongside Johnson a time or two before clipping an infield tire and knocking off a torsion stop eight laps in, falling back in the field a lap before Mark Shirshekan spun in turn two.

After Smith made a quick trip to the work area, Johnson led the way in front of Chappell, Berryhill and Wright, who had needed just nine laps to blitz from 17th to fourth. With Chappell testing the flexibility of the retaining walls a time or two, Berryhill moved into second on the low side and was already harassing Johnson for the point when the caution flew after 16 laps for Curtis Evans, who spun to stop in turn one with front end woes.

With Johnson on the top side and Berryhill down low, little more than a car-length ever separated the duo over the final rounds. Berryhill edged ahead of Johnson to officially lead lap 18, with Johnson back in front the next time by as they surged back and forth throughout each lap.

Berryhill found the break he needed in lapped traffic entering turn one on the 29th lap and wrestled the lead away from keeps. Wright, who had battled past Chappell for third and stalked the lead duo in the final laps, slid under Johnson on the final lap to take runner-up honors aboard the Wright-Cooper Motorsports Carry All Services/Richwood Construction No. 01 Maxim.

Johnson settled for the show position in Lanny Row's Wesmar-powered The Shop Motorsports No. 41 Eagle, with Chappell fourth in the Legend's Bar-B-Que No. 50z Maxim.

Transferring from "B" Main action along with Wright, Wayne Johnson charged from 20th to round out the top five aboard Mike and Tim Hammers' Fisher-powered H&H Enterprises No. 94 Maxim, outdueling Nebraska's Jack Dover over the final rounds for the position.

Dover was sixth, while Tim Montgomery raced from 19th to seventh in a one-night stand aboard the Sparks No. 91. Travis Rilat crossed the stripe eighth, with Garry Lee Maier charging from 25th to ninth after a blown engine while leading the fifth heat race forced the use of a provisional. Jonathan Cornell completed the top ten in his first ASCS National Tour feature start.

J. Kinder, Chappell, Berryhill, Dover, Smith and Eric Baldaccini topped heat race action for the 47-car field, with Wright and Randy Martin winning the twin "B" Mains.

Rex Combs flipped on the opening lap of the first heat race. Combs was uninjured, but done for the night. Brad Roberts also escaped injury when he flipped on the final lap of the second "B" Main.

O’Reilly ASCoT Lake Ozark Speedway Results:

Heat Races (Top 16 in passing points to “A” Main; Balance to 2 "B" Mains)

Brodix Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 88-J. Kinder, 2. 28-Jonathan Cornell, 3. 2w-Kenneth Walker, 4. 11-Tyler Thompson, 5. 8-Jeff Wingate, 6. 13-Kathryne Minter, 7. 1x-Brad Ryun, 8. 4-Rex Combs.

Wesmar-Shaver Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 50z-Zach Chappell, 2. 3b-Brad Greer, 3. 33-Austin Alumbaugh, 4. 2-Ryan Marsch, 5. 19s-Steven Cross, 6. 5ma-Mallory Armfield, 7. 1-Brad Roberts, 8. 18w-Chris Walker.

Brodix Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 97-Aaron Berryhill, 2. 41-Jason Johnson, 3. 3x-Matt Sutton, 4. 3-Mark Shirshekan, 5. 48-David Brown, 6. 71-Chris Tarrant, 7. 9c-Tony Crank, 8. 93-Taylor Walton.

Wesmar-Shaver Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 53-Jack Dover, 2. 29T-Eric Todd, 3. 29-Travis Rilat, 4. 1p-Curtis Evans, 5. 22-Dustin Barks, 6. 43-Frank Brown, 7. 11x-Garry Lee Maier. DNS: 10T-Clint Todd.

Heat Five (8 Laps): 1. 15s-Nick Smith, 2. 21h-Terry Hinck, 3. 4J-Jon Corbin, 4. 01-Gary Wright, 5. 94-Wayne Johnson, 6. 91-Tim Montgomery, 7. 86-Josh Fisher, 8. 61a-Toby Brown.

Heat Six (8 Laps): 1. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 2. 18-Tim Newman, 3. 14-Randy Martin, 4. 6-Bryan Grimes, 5. 23F-Matt Fox, 6. 65-Jordan Goldesberry, 7. 14k-Kyle Bellm.

"B" Mains – Top 3 From Each Advance to “A” Main

First "B" Feature (12 Laps): 1. 01-Gary Wright, 2. 91-Tim Montgomery, 3. 6-Bryan Grimes, 4. 71-Chris Tarrant, 5. 11-Tyler Thompson, 6. 23F-Matt Fox, 7. 2-Ryan Marsch, 8. 10T-Clint Todd, 9. 93-Taylor Walton, 10. 9c-Tony Crank, 11. 1x-Brad Ryun, 12. 86-Josh Fisher, 13. 13-Kathryne Minter, 14. 48-David Brown, 15. 3x-Matt Sutton. DNS: 4-Rex Combs.

Second "B" Feature (12 Laps): 1. 14-Randy Martin, 2. 94-Wayne Johnson, 3. 2w-Kenneth Walker, 4. 4J-Jon Corbin, 5. 65-Jordan Goldesberry, 6. 19s-Steven Cross, 7. 43-Frank Brown, 8. 14k-Kyle Bellm, 9. 8-Jeff Wingate, 10. 61a-Toby Brown, 11. 5ma-Mallory Armfield, 12. 1-Brad Roberts, 13. 18w-Chris Walker, 14. 22-Dustin Barks. DNS: 11x-Garry Lee Maier.

O’Reilly ASCoT "A" Main Event:

“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 97-Aaron Berryhill, 2. 01-Gary Wright, 3. 41-Jason Johnson, 4. 50z-Zach Chappell, 5. 94-Wayne Johnson, 6. 53-Jack Dover, 7. 91-Tim Montgomery, 8. 29-Travis Rilat, 9. 11x-Garry Lee Maier, 10. 28-Jonathan Cornell, 11. 88-J. Kinder, 12. 33-Austin Alumbaugh, 13. 15s-Nick Smith, 14. 6-Bryan Grimes, 15. 86-Josh Fisher, 16. 2w-Kenneth Walker, 17. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 18. 3b-Brad Greer, 19. 18-Tim Newman, 20. 14-Randy Martin, 21. 1p-Curtis Evans, 22. 21h-Terry Hinck, 23. 3-Mark Shirshekan, 24. 13-Kathryne Minter, 25. 29T-Eric Todd.

Lap Leaders: Jason Johnson 1-17, Aaron Berryhill 18, Johnson 19-28, Berryhill 29-30.

Note: Garry Lee Maier and Kathryne Minter utilized O'Reilly ASCOT provisionals and Josh Fisher used an O'Reilly WOW provisional to start the "A" Main.

O’Reilly ASCoT Points (Top Fifteen): 1. Gary Wright 1,277, 2. Wayne Johnson 1,221, 3. Jason Johnson 1,217, 4. Zach Chappell 1,131, 5. Travis Rilat 1,084, 6. Garry Lee Maier 1,072, 7. Eric Baldaccini 980, 8. Nick Smith 948, 9. Kenneth Walker 904, 10. Jason Sides 888, 11. Don Droud, Jr., 827, 12. Jack Dover 751, 13. Kathryne Minter 748, 14. Gary Taylor 699, 15. Chris Tarrant 641.

ABC's of the ASCS Patriots

Rich Vleck, TULSA, Okla. (May 1, 2008)- With the ASCS Patriot opener taking place this Saturday at Fulton, it is time for the annual ABC’s of the ASCS Patriots. A huge car count is expected, thanks in part to the $100 bonus given out to the top finisher from each state.

ASCS….Now entering the third year under the ownership of the American Sprint Car Series, the great benefits of this arrangement continues to show itself. Bonus paying races at tracks such as Ohsweken and Sharon have been made possible because of the Tulsa, Oklahoma sanctioning body’s influence. Another benefit will be seen this weekend at Fulton when a new Brodix head is given away to one lucky competitor.

Breen….This one could be for Blake or Bobby. Now entering their fifth season of sprint car competition, the Breen Brothers continue to do what they have done since the first time they were on the track: make a statement every race out and take advantage of opportunities to win races. In the case of Bobby, 2008 will mean high-side racing, which resulted in the win at Ohsweken last year. Blake had a more consistent season than his brother last year and easily could reel off a multi-win season this year.

Cobra….Chuck would work here too. With more ASCS Patriot wins than everyone else combine over the last two years, Hebing has easily become the industry standard and should be considered as such this year. Even though a number of drivers will likely contend with Cobra, there is no question the No. 45 will be up near the front almost every night out.

Don….Don Adamczyk has finished third in points the last two years with a definite improvement in performance. He has run every ASCS Patriot race in the five-year history, but this might be the first year that he ends one in Victory Lane. Look out for him on the short tracks and on those that slick up like Ohsweken.

Eriez….Eriez Speedway returned to the Patriot Schedule last year and the turnout was a raving success. The result is a second show this year, with the first now coming on Memorial Weekend. This 3/8-mile facility features Late Models each week, so when the winged warrior appear, so do the large crowds.

Fulton….Fulton will once again host a pair of ASCS Patriot Shows in 2008, running again on the first Saturday of May and September. This high-banked fan and racer favorite has a wide range of racetracks it can throw at the driver. Both races last year were tackier but if it slicks off you will see a completely different line and perhaps a different driver in Victory Lane.

Genesee….While the ASCS Patriots sanctioned a race at the Batavia, NY oval last year, on July 26 it will be their first stand-alone event. Chuck Hebing figured out this different track from the onset but with Patriots like Kyle Moffit and Scott Kreutter running unorthodox styles in time trials to success, this is another race that might see a surprise winner.

Howland….Bryan Howland has not been able to concentrate on the ASCS Patriot Champion since 2005, the year he won it. The youngster has not won since July of 2006, something that likely will change before the tour gets to its two-year anniversary. Howland already has a near-win in his only sprint start of the year and could be setting up another championship run.

Insinger NY Nationals….Bully Hill may be gone from Black Rock, but the traditional race and the money are not. Insinger Race Fuels has now helped to make Dundee’s largest sprint car race $5,000-to-win. Perhaps the best part of this event is the race will now be run on Friday, August 8, the weekend of Watkins Glen’s NASCAR Race, which might bring some extra bonuses to this ASCS Patriot Event.

Jason….Last year I forgot Jason Barney’s name in one of these rundowns, and didn’t let me forget about it. Barney won at Canandaigua and probably should have won a few others. He came within a single position of claiming the A-Verdi King of CNY crown, a title he will once again vie for this season.

King of CNY…..Speaking of the A-Verdi King of Central New York Series, it is back this year with more energy, more sponsors, and likely more drivers. There is one less race in this year’s edition but $500 more in the point fund. Add to it that the races are pretty well evenly spaced out and you are sure this will be more season-long excitement.

Late Season Excitement….Last year the ASCS Patriot points tabulation ended at the Canadian Nationals; this year there are three points races as Autumn settles in. With a pair of shows at Sharon and the all-new ASCS Patriot Championship on Friday Night of Super DIRT Week at Cayuga County, there will still be plenty of work to do late in the year.

Muhleisen….The Copper Chopper has seen the colors of his car changed, but has not changed the way he goes about his business. With an efficient schedule for the Arkport, NY competitor, watch for him to add to his three career ASCS Patriot Wins, which places him fifth on the all-time list.

New Format….The passing points are still being used, but now the top eight in points after the heat will redraw for their A-Main starting spot, not running the dash. The dashes will now be used for those 9th-14th in passing points, to help give the mid-pack drivers another opportunity to get their car right to charge towards the front.

Ohsweken….The home to four of the biggest nights on the ASCS Patriot Schedule will be at the fastest-growing speedway in the Northeast. The first two races will be held on the American Independence Holiday, which can affect crowds in the states, but in Canada will be great for crowds and will aloud teams to travel in on a Holiday Friday and run two big events. I haven’t even mentioned the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, which will pay a record $8,000-to-win this year.

Preston….Rapid Ray ran the full tour in 2007 and was constantly in the top-10. An unfortunate run at Fulton kept him out of third in points, but he should be a factor to once again battle in the top-five in points this season with his years of experience at nearly every track on the tour.

Quackenbush….Geoff Quackenbush may only be running part time in 2008, but his new wing business will keep his presence on the ASCS Patriot tour this season. If it weren’t for the fourth year sprint car racer, this letter would be much harder.

Ransomville….The Big R will be running on it’s traditional weekend at the end of June again this year and it should be a big one. With Ohsweken taking the night off in a continued partnership with the Patriots, their should be a filled pits with competitors from both sides for the border.

Sharon….With this week’s big announcement that the ASCS Patriots will now sanction the Ollie’s 360 Challenge Race at Sharon, the Eastern Ohio will now play host to three colossal races for the Patriots. Along with this $6,000-to-win race, the other Patriot races will be run in conjunction with the World of Outlaws and for $2,000-to-win.

Troutman….Another year of Patriot competition means another year of the No. 44 of Gary Troutman slinging around the Northeast. “The Big Catch” has a flashy new paint scheme that may transfer into some flashy new results in 2008.

Unbelievable Payouts….As you can see, there are a ton of big-money paying races for the Patriots this season. The Insinger Nationals is $5,000-to-win, the ASCS Northern Summer Nationals at Ohsweken is $3,000-to-win, the Ollie’s 360 Challenge is $6,000-to-win and the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals is $8,000-to-win. That is on top of all the $2,000-to-win races in this year.

VanDusen….Jeff VanDusen picked up the win at Cayuga County Fair Speedway this year and will likely contend for a win at some point throughout the season. While he is still unsure about the plans, you can expect to see the No. 56 at many of the Patriot races in 2008.

Woodhull….The first ASCS Patriot race at Woodhull was added half way though last year. After a caution-free event, the second race was added to the schedule early on. The May 17 race will be the second stop on the Patriot Tour and should bring plenty of competitors to the high banks of the Southern Tier.

Xtra Hot Lap Session….There will still be a dash, but now it will be for those 9th-14th in points. More money will be good for these drivers, but for them to gain leverage on the eight cars ahead of them will not only keep them in contention for the feature win, but make the features much more exciting.

Young Guns….Even though some of the following drivers aren’t that young, these five competitors will all be part of the impressive rookie class: Robbie Shuttleworth, Jimmy Broderick, T.J. Newton, Tim Devendorf and Joe August Jr. Add to it the still-young competitors such as Scott Kreutter and Bobby Breen and you can see that the youth movement is still part of the Patriot Tour.

Zimbardi….If Zimbardi improves this year as much as he did last year, he could be the champion. Three wins each came on nights where also won the heat and the dash. That will be nearly impossible this year under the new ASCS Patriot format, but there is no question he will contend for more wins, if not the title.

For more information, visit www.ASCSpatriotsprints.com or www.ASCSracing.com.

ASCS Notebook – April 30, 2008

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 30, 2008) – The American Sprint Car Series put the wraps on the month of April with an unpredictable weekend of action that featured from some fresh faces in victory lane.

Only Nick Smith had graced an ASCS victory lane before, as fellow ASCoT victor Skip Wilson and Canyon Region conqueror R.J. Johnson both posted first career wins in ASCS competition.

The weekend of O'Reilly ASCoT action opened on Friday at Paris Motor Speedway, marking the series first Parisian outing since 2005. But wicked storms throughout the area made the likelihood of the event actually happening seem quite remote.

Paris proper was hit hard by storms, as was Blossom. Actually located a few miles south of Blossom, the track received just a few drops around 5:00 p.m. as menacing clouds swirled overhead before moving off to the east.

A 20-year veteran of the Sprint Car wars, everything fell into place for Skip Wilson on this night. And he took full advantage, making no mistakes to cash in on his first ASCS triumph over a stacked field that included a half dozen past ASCS National champions.

One night later at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway, Nick Smith added his first National win of the year to a Sooner Region victory at Oklahoma City on April 11. It was Smith's first ASCoT score since his 2005 Rookie of the Year campaign when he took top honors at Missouri's Poplar Bluff Speedway and then Virginia Motor Speedway.

Meanwhile, R.J. Johnson became the fourth different driver to top an ASCS Canyon Region feature with a late move around Charles Davis, Jr., at Manzanita Speedway, in the process denying Davis a third consecutive win.

Throwing his hat into the mix for the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region championship, it is easy to forget that R.J. is just 21 years old. Already carrying the battle scars of seven Chili Bowls, R.J. became legal just ten days earlier.

---Sixteen drivers took in both nights of O'Reilly ASCoT National action at Paris and Little Rock. The 13 full-time ASCoT travelers (Eric Baldaccini, Zach Chappell, Don Droud, Jr., Jason Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Garry Lee Maier, Kathryne Minter, Travis Rilat, Nick Smith, Chris Tarrant, Gary Taylor, Kenneth Walker and Gary Wright) were bolstered on both nights by three-time ASCS National champ Tim Crawley, I-30 Speedway regular Justin Sturch and Memphis racer Don Young.

Skip Wilson and Sooner shoe John Ricketts joined in at Paris to bring the field to 18 cars, with a half dozen or so shying away because of nasty weather.

After missing his first ASCoT event of the year the night before, Jason Sides swapped engines again in time for I-30, with Sooner Region title contender Matt Covington joining in as well. Nine more I-30 Speedway regulars took part (Cody Gardner, Jerry Kamer, Lewis Jenkins, Jr., Jeremy Newkirk, Rick Pringle, Zach Pringle, Tommy Snellgrove, Dave Speer and Joe Young) with seven Memphis-area reps (Brad Bowden, Derek Hagar, Andy McElhannon, Wade Oliver, Marshall Skinner, Lee Sowell and Chris Williams) bringing the I-30 count to 34.

---Friday's 25-lap feature at Paris Motor Speedway ran off in non-stop fashion. It's a good thing too, since a snake had commandeered one of the tow trucks in the infield. What kind, you ask? Nobody determined the make and model, only describing it as, "A big one." Apparently big enough that everyone kept his distance until the snake left the vehicle of its own accord. Welcome to Texas.

---John Ricketts got upside down in the second heat race at Paris. He returned for the feature minus the right side panel on his wing, making a few laps before pulling to the infield. Without a complete wing, a possible journey up the road to Little Rock was ruled out.

---Friday night got off to a rough start for Don Droud, Jr., when a brake caliper was spit out of the Sparks 91. After scrambling to change out the rear end, a u-joint exploded in the heat race, prompting the team to load up for the night. Droud bounced back to finish eleventh at Little Rock.

---Skip Wilson nearly won last year's ASCS Gulf South championship, falling just ten points short of Brandon Berryman at season's end. No point chases for Skip this year, as he'll mix it up in Sooner, Gulf South and National action.

---Don Young ranked as the top earner in passing points at Paris and started fourth row outside in the feature after pulling the eight in the redraw. But after bicycling off the top of turn one, he was forced pitside. Currently leading ASCS Coastal Region points, the 19-year-old Bartlett, TN, racer is set to chase down the Coastal title this year and then pursue ASCoT Rookie of the Year honors in 2009.

---Kenneth Walker and Nick Smith were racing for more than the win at I-30 Speedway on Saturday night, where they exchanged the lead several times over the first half of the race. They were racing to stay in the top ten in ASCoT points after leaving Paris tied for tenth. Following a tenth-place run at Paris for Walker, a sure top-five Little Rock run went up in smoke just four laps short of the checkered flag when a spinning Wayne Johnson left him no place to hide.

---Wayne Johnson started the night at Paris with a new Fisher powerplant. But after some broken rocker arms in his heat race, it was back to the Wesmar. Johnson closed in on Wilson a couple of times in traffic, but was busier fending off Tim Crawley for the runner-up spot most of the race.

At I-30, Johnson got around Walker for second in the latter stages and was trying to set up Smith for a shot at the lead. But it was Crawley on the move in Mike Ward's No. 88 from the fifth row. Getting a scent of the leader after getting by Walker for third, Crawley got underneath Johnson on the 27th lap with Johnson spinning in turn four after contact.

"He tried to cut down on me the same way he did last night," Crawley explained. "I wasn't up for that again."

---With car owners Mike and Megan Eubanks unable to take in the weekend festivities, Gary Taylor brought in his father from Washington along with former Conklin wrench Mark Matejka from Colorado. Taylor netted eleventh in his first visit to Paris and then made a late charge at I-30 to capture a career best ASCoT finish of third.

---I-30 regular Joe Young captured his first career ASCoT heat race win on Saturday night. And this time, there was no "DQ", as was the case for Mighty Joe during ASCS Speedweek last July at Creek County Speedway where his nose wing was too far forward.

---Four-time series champ Gary Wright found himself at the back of a well-loaded I-30 heat race, leaving "The Texan" to wonder if he may have to work through a "B" Main just to make the show. But when Jason Johnson stopped after a near-spin on the initial heat race start, Wright moved up a row and found the path he needed to earn a position in the redraw along with son-in-law Nick Smith.

The Lauren Smith formerly known as Lauren Wright, not to be confused with Nick's sister Lauren who has carried the Smith name since birth, teased her husband that, "Daddy says he's gonna blow by you real quick if you don't get faster."

Whether that was intended to get Nick's elbows up or not, it did. He took to a narrow topside of the ¼-mile oval and rode it to near perfection for 30 laps. The only miscue was a slight detour off of turn two on the tenth lap that put Kenneth Walker back in front for a few rounds. It was a route similar to the one that Crawley took several times on the way to winning the spectacular Speedweek finale of 2005.

---Falling into the "Strange but True" category, Crawley hasn't won an ASCS National feature event since that memorable Speedweek victory of 2005.

---Hernando, Mississippi's Brad Bowden cracked the top ten at I-30 as he made his first ASCoT appearance of 2008.

---Matt Covington was in the hot seat during hot laps at I-30 Speedway when a fuel line came loose. The 18-year-old bailed out before things became too serious, getting enough heat on his posterior to make for an uncomfortable four-plus hour ride back to the Tulsa area. Covington worked his way past former I-30 Speedway track champ Rick Pringle for the fourth and final transfer from the second "B" Main.

---Until Wayne Johnson's lap 27 spin at I-30, Tommy Snellgrove was the only one of the 24 starters to make an early exit. Kenneth Walker then left on the hook, while Zach Pringle opted to watch the final four-lap dash to the stripe rather than restart as a lapped car separating Smith from Crawley.

---Max Jantz of Max Jantz Excavating was on hand to watch Garry Lee Maier drive to a strong fourth place finish at I-30 Speedway. Jantz is a sponsor on the familiar No. 11x, which has climbed to fourth in points.

---The dilemma: To pursue Brodix Rookie of the Year honors with the O'Reilly ASCoT National series or to chase the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region championship? That is the choice the Eric Baldaccini team is faced with this week.

We'll know the answer on Saturday when the No. B4 pulls into either Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, MO, for National action for Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, OK, for Sooner competition.

---Baldaccini is currently ranked eighth in National points, tops amongst a stout rookie crop that includes Don Droud, Jr., (ninth), Kenneth Walker (11th), Gary Taylor (12th), Kathryne Minter (13th) and Chris Tarrant (16th).

---Baldaccini is currently fifth in Sooner points, although two of those ahead of him are National regulars (Travis Rilat and Garry Lee Maier). Thus, the 20-year-old is effectively third in Sooner points behind Kolt Walker and defending Sooner champ Brian McClelland.

---David Chappell serves as crew chief for Baldaccini. David's son, Zach, reeled off another pair of top-tens over the weekend to climb to fifth in points, just eight points behind Maier.

---With his ASCS Canyon Region win on Saturday, R.J. Johnson jumped from eighth to fourth in points behind Jeremy Sherman, Charles Davis, Jr., and Nathan High. The lead trio in points have each finished among the top five in five of six feature events thus far in 2008.

---DNF's dropped Jeremy Reagles and Thomas Ogle three positions each in Canyon Region points, from fourth and fifth down to seventh and eighth, respectively.

---Jeff Henry picked up his first top-ten of the year with a sixth-place run at Manzanita.

---Yuma's Mike Martin has reeled off four top-ten finishes in a row, including a fifth-place showing Saturday at Manzanita, to climb to fifth in points.

---Saturday's ASCS Canyon Region card at Manzanita Speedway is a Tribute to Kole Kaskey, departed son of Micro racer Ken Caskey and Andrea Caskey.

A 50/50 drawing, raffle, auction and more that includes a Tony Stewart autographed helmet and Jimmie Johnson autographed jacket among other items will benefit the Phoenix Children's Hospital as well as the Driver's Fund of Arizona.

---When the ASCS Sprints on Dirt open the season Saturday night, it will mark the 100th time that Crystal Motor Speedway has hosted a SOD event. Gerry Lippert won the first event in SOD history at Crystal Motor Speedway on May 24, 1980.

Since that time, 40 different drivers have won at least one of the 99 SOD features at Crystal, with all-time series win leader Hank Lower and Dustin Daggett knotted atop the Crystal charts with ten wins apiece. Daggett, the series champion in 2003 and 2004, has enjoyed recent Crystal domination by winning ten of the series most recent 19 events atop the 3/8-mile oval.

---The ASCS Patriots also fire to life on Saturday with the Fulton (NY) Speedway season opener. Two-time and reigning Patriot king Chuck Hebing won last year's Fulton opener, with Justin Barger a Patriot winner at Fulton last September.

---The ASCS Southwest Region is in action over three of the next four Saturday nights at Tucson's USA Race Park beginning this weekend. Ensuing USA cards in May are on the 10th and 24th, with the Southwest Region also taking to Show Low's Thunder Raceway on the 25th.

---Through the month of April, there have been 19 different winners in 28 overall ASCS feature events, with 305 different drivers competing in at least one event so far.

The pace quickens in May with a total of 35 ASCS events slated for the next month.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

SOD Presents Engler Machine and Tool Half Mile Master

TULSA, Okla. (April 29, 2008) - The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints On Dirt presented by Victor Reinz is proud to welcome Engler Machine and Tool as a sponsor for the 2008 season.

In addition to becoming a heat race sponsor, Engler Machine and Tool will also provide a special cash award geared toward high horsepower tracks. The Engler Machine and Tool Half Mile Master will award the driver with the highest points total for the 6 SOD races contested on tracks one-half mile in length.

SOD official Mike Olrich commented, “Engler has a reputation for making a lot of power with their injection units, and it really fits well to tie their sponsorship of SOD to the big horsepower tracks.” The first Engler Machine and Tool Half Mile Master event will be contested at I-96 Speedway on June 7, and include all SOD points event at I-96, Eldora Speedway, and Hartford Motor Speedway.

Engler Machine and Tool was started in 1980 by Tim Engler. His main line of business at that time was plastic injection molds. Over the years he has diversified very widely leaning more towards high performance products. Engler Machine and Tool now builds fuel injection systems, custom made pulling chassis, gears, shafts, specialty CNC products, racing engines and some custom machining.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com. Additional information regarding Engler Machine and Tool is available at www.englermachine.com

ASCS Patriots the Official Sanction of Ollie’s 360 Challenge at Sharon

Rich Vleck, TULSA, Okla. (April 29, 2008) - In what expects to be some of the most exciting sprint car races of the year, the ASCS Patriots are pleased to announce that they will be the sanctioning body for the first leg of the Ollie’s 360 Challenge Series.

Sharon Speedway, who will also play host to a pair of ASCS Patriot races September 20-21, will host the first of three, $6,000-to-win, $500-to-start,Tuesday night specials with their June 17 event. This highly-anticipated race will feature premier talents such as Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Sharon Speedway Part Owner Dave Blaney. With this announcement, names such as Chuck Hebing, Bryan Howland, Jared Zimbardi, and dozens of other ASCS Patriot competitors will also make the tow to Eastern Ohio to kick off the summer.

The ASCS Patriots bring with it a set of quality rules established and refined under the American Sprint Car Series banner. The New York based sprint car tour will also staff the event with years of knowledge and experience in 360 sprint races.

“We are very excited to be the sanctioning body for the first leg of this great series,” noted Patriot Regional Director Mike Emhof. “Since the first day we started working with Sharon it has been a great partnership and this will only continue to build on that relationship, along with ensuring top-notch competition.”

Not only will the winner of this event receive a cool $6,000 and all the accolades that go along with it, they will also have the opportunity to pick up a $50,000 bonus if they can win one of the other two races in this series held at Eldora or Williams Grove.

“The money up for grabs in these races is just phenomenal,” added Emhof. “Whoever wins on the first night will have all the eyes on them over the next two events because they could pick up the $50,000 bonus.”

The NASCAR personalities that are already confirmed for these races will likely ensure one of the largest crowds in ASCS Patriot History. Add to it some other details still being crafted and this has all the makings of this being a must-see event.

Qualifying format will be run under the 2008 ASCS Patriot standard with an open draw for heat race starting spots, passing points and the top-8 in combined heat and passing points redrawing for their starting spot, and a dash for those 9th-14th. While this race will not be counted towards the ASCS Patriot Series Championship, it will count toward the career wins total and count heavily in the winning driver’s bank account.

For more information about this event, please visit www.SharonSpeedway.com or www.ASCSracing.com.

Giddy Up, Color Loco to Sponsor SOD Redraw

TULSA, Okla. (April 29, 2008) - The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints On Dirt presented by Victor Reinz is excited to introduce Giddy Up, Color Loco as the official sponsor for each 2008 SOD main event driver redraw.

The Giddy Up, Color Loco Main Event Redraw will feature an innovative format that will include pairing the top eight drivers in passing points with eight kids from the audience. Each kid will draw a number for their respective driver, setting the first four rows of the main event. Each child will receive a Giddy Up, Color Loco product for their participation.

The first Giddy Up, Color Loco Main Event Redraw will be held during the season opener for the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints On Dirt presented by Victor Reinz May 3rd at the Crystal Motor Speedway in Crystal Michigan. SOD official Mike Olrich stated, “I have three kids of my own and I know how important it is, and how excited the kids get, to be part of the program. Giddy Up, Color Loco is the perfect fit for the redraw, and we look forward to helping promote their products.”

Based in Ann Arbor, MI, Giddy Up, Color Loco is an innovative children’s activities company. Through their cleverly designed family of products they engage and bring an element of magic, surprise, and learning to kids of all ages. Giddy Up, Color Loco is transforming the way kids color!

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com. Addition information regarding Giddy Up, Color Loco is available at www.giddyup.com.

ASCS Sooner Region Ready for Mid-America on Saturday

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 28, 2008) – Bidding to become the first undisputed back-to-back champion in American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region history, Brian McClelland was off to a strong start until an April 12 tumble at Lawton Speedway.

Now, McClelland has some ground to make up as the series fires back to life with Saturday night's card atop the semi-banked, 3/10-mile Mid-America Speedway dirt oval in South Coffeyville, OK.

Saturday's event at Mid-America marks the first of four May events for the ASCS Sooner Region, with ensuing events including a first-time stop at Boyd (TX) Raceway on May 16 followed by the series second round at Cowtown Speedway the next night. The series wraps up the month at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway on May 31.

After winning three features, including an October score at Mid-America, en route to the 2007 ASCS Sooner Region title, Tulsa-area racer McClelland opened up the season in strong form with top-five runs in the season-opener at Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, TX, on April 5 and then Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway on April 11.

But after a wild heat race tumble that forced him to miss the April 12 feature at Lawton Speedway, McClelland is now playing a game of catch-up as he is 37 points behind Kolt Walker, who has established himself as the leading Sooner Region title contender through the opening three events of the season.

With the ASCS Sooner Region averaging 35 cars per event over the opening three nights of the season, Walker and Travis Rilat rank as the only two drivers that have made the cut for all three feature events.

With Rilat in National action this weekend, Walker leads the Sooner forces to Mid-America. The 25-year-old hailing from Graham, TX, has posted a pair of top-ten feature finishes in his first full Sooner campaign, including a run from deep in the field to capture fourth in the Cowtown opener.

Walker and McClelland lead a strong contingent of Sooner forces into Saturday's card that includes the likes of Kerry McAlister (Mustang, OK), Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK), Sherman Davis (Sand Springs, OK), Michael Brown (Lawton, OK) and Justin Melton (Flower Mound, TX) among others.

Saturday's card at Mid-America Speedway goes green at 7:00 p.m.

Mid-America Speedway is located one mile south of the Oklahoma-Kansas state line on US 169, then 0.7 miles west. For more information, contact the track at 918-255-6698.

The American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region is slated for 20 nights of racing action at ten different tracks throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas in 2008.

Past ASCS Sooner Region Feature Winners at Mid-America Speedway:

10/6/07 – Brian Brown

10/5/07 – Brian McClelland

6/9/07 – Kevin Ramey

4/21/07 – Garry Lee Maier

4/20/07 – Garry Lee Maier

10/7/06 – Nick Smith

9/16/06 – Nick Smith

5/13/06 – Sam Hafertepe, Jr.

10/15/05 – Travis Rilat

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

ASCS Sprints on Dirt Fire Off at Crystal!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 28, 2008) - The Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by Victor Reinz kicks off its 29th year of Sprint Car racing action with Saturday night's season-opening event at Crystal Motor Speedway in Crystal, MI.

Saturday's card marks the first of three series stops atop the semi-banked, 3/8-mile Crystal Motor Speedway clay oval with the series to return for the Mid-Season Championship on July 19 and then again on August 30.

Warsaw, Indiana's Tim Norman opens up his series championship defense after capturing his second ASCS Sprints on Dirt crown in the past three seasons last year. Norman has eight career SOD wins at Crystal Motor Speedway, last reaching Crystal victory lane in 2001.

Last year, Norman outlasted Brett Mann and Ben Rutan in a torrid ASCS Sprints on Dirt championship battle, with Bill Johnson and Gary Fast rounding out the top five. The balance of the top ten in points included Joe Bares, Ryan Ruhl, Ryan Grubaugh, Jake Stebner and Kirk Cheney.

Two-time series champion Dustin Daggett has found Crystal Motor Speedway to his liking, winning the last four series events at Crystal including a sweep of last year's three features. The last driver other than Daggett to top an ASCS Sprints on Dirt feature was Steve Irwin, with a July 2006 score.

Saturday's action at Crystal Motor Speedway is set to go green at 7:30 p.m.

Crystal Motor Speedway is located in Crystal, MI, 5.5 miles north of SR 57 on Crystal Road, then east on Sidney. For more information, contact the track at 989-235-5200.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

ASCS Southwest at USA Race Park on Saturday!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 28, 2008) – The American Sprint Car Series Southwest Region kicks off a busy month of May action with Saturday night's event atop the Tucson's semi-banked, 3/8-mile United Sports Arizona Race Park clay oval.

Saturday's second round of the inaugural season of ASCS Southwest Region marks the first of four series events in May.

The ASCS Southwest Region is also set to tackle USA Race Park on May 10 and May 24 before invading Show Low's Thunder Speedway for the first time on May 25.

The ASCS Southwest Region kicked off its initial campaign on March 22 with El Paso's Don Grable besting a competitive field of 18 entries.

Piloting the Casey Minks No. 29 entry, Grable was chased to the line in the opener by Ronnie Clark, Steve Martin, Mike Rux, Jr., and Hawaii's Dennis Krob.

Saturday's inaugural American Sprint Car Series Southwest Region event at Tucson's USA Race Park is slated to go green at 6:45 p.m.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

ASCS Canyon Region Action Continues at Manzanita!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 28, 2008) – The action continues to intensify for the Discount Tire Co. American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region as the series takes to Manzanita Speedway's 1/3-mile in Phoenix, AZ, this Saturday night.

Saturday's "Tribute to Cole Kaskey Night" at Manzanita Speedway marks the seventh night of competition for the ASCS Canyon Region thus far in 2008 and the fifth time on the 1/3-mile.

R.J. Johnson topped this past Saturday night's ASCS Canyon Region feature event, joining Casey Shuman as the second series first-time winner of 2008. Jeremy Sherman and Charles Davis, Jr., have each claimed two feature wins.

Pursuing a second consecutive ASCS Canyon Region championship, Sherman holds a 34-point advantage over Davis, with Nathan High just eight points behind Davis in third.

Johnson jumped from eighth to fourth in points with his feature win, while Mike Martin rounds out the current top five.

The balance of the current top ten includes Josh Pelkey, Jeremy Reagles, Thomas Ogle and Mike Leslie, with Justin Fisher and Andrew Reinbold tied for tenth.

Saturday's Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region action at Manzanita Speedway is set to go green at 7:30 p.m.

Manzanita Speedway is located in Phoenix, AZ, off I-10 Exit 141, then four miles south on 35th Avenue to West Broadway. For more information, contact the track at 602-276-7575.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

A New Season of ASCS Patriot Racing Begins Saturday at Fulton

A $100 Bonus Posted for the Top Finisher From Each State

Rich Vleck, TULSA, Okla. (April 28, 2008) - In what is expected to be a landmark year for the ASCS Patriot Region, the 2008 season gets underway this Saturday at one of the finest facilities on the circuit.

Fulton Speedway will play host to the ASCS Patriot lid-lifter for the second-straight year as the high-banked Central New York enters the month of May with the winged warriors coming to life.

In last year’s season opener, Chuck Hebing survived a major scare in the closing laps, catching the inside berm and at one point having all four wheels clear off the ground, to win his second-straight season opener.

This race might be of larger significance as the winner of the first ASCS Patriot race of the season has gone on to win the series championship each of the last three years. Drivers like Hebing, Howland, Jared Zimbardi, Don Adamczyk and more hope to set themselves up to become the fourth this weekend.

This will also be the first race with the all-new race format; taking the top eight cars in passing points and having them redraw for the feature. The six cars behind them in passing points will now have the opportunity to run the Riverside Bar and Grill Four Laps of Fame Race, which will help them get ready to charge forward in the first 25-lap feature of the year.

The ASCS Patriots have the best rookie class assembled in recent memory as no fewere than five drivers will vie for the Insinger Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Title. Robbie Shuttleworth and Jimmy Broderick move up from mini and micro sprint ranks this year while Brewerton residents Joe August Jr. and Tim Devendorf have short travel to run their first sprint races. Rounding out the known class of 2008 is T.J. Newton, who will split time between his own 360 Late Model and the Eric and Eileen Smith No. 57 Sprint this year.

This will also be the first race of the A-Verdi Storage Containers King of Central New York Series, which began and ended at the 3/8-mile Oswego County clay oval last season. The brand new ASI Racewear t-shirts highlighting that series, along with hoodies, hats, magnets and more will help to fill the Ohsweken Speedway sponsored merchandise trailer that will be on hand.

Early indications are for one of the most impressive car counts of the season, with drivers from both Southern and Northern Ontario, Western New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut already confirmed for this superstar event.

To see the likes of Ray Preston, Dave Wickham, Blake and Bobby Breen, Chris Muhleisen, all the names already mentioned, and much more, the only place to be is Fulton Speedway this Saturday Night, with racing starting at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.ASCSracing.com.

O'Reilly ASCoT at The Lake on Saturday!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (April 28, 2008) – Coming off a weekend that featured a pair of first-time winners for the year, the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series takes to the scenic surroundings of Lake Ozark Speedway near Eldon, MO, this Saturday night.

With eight different winners through the opening ten O'Reilly ASCoT National events of 2008, Saturday's card marks the first series stop atop the high-banked, 1/3-mile Lake Ozark Speedway dirt oval since 2005.

Four-time and reigning series champion Gary Wright of Hooks, TX, leads the contingent of 13 full-time ASCoT competitors into Saturday's event, which should include forty or more entries as the series takes on the Winged Outlaw Warriors for the second time in three weeks.

Vying for an unprecedented fifth consecutive series title, Wright holds a 50-point advantage on the strength of top-ten runs in all ten feature events thus far in 2008, including his 120th career series feature win in the Devil's Bowl Spring Nationals finale on March 15.

Wright enters the event ahead of Oklahoma City native Wayne Johnson, the 2000 ASCS National champion. Johnson, a third-place finisher in last year's points, is still vying for his first series win of 2008.

Just eight more points back in third is Eunice, Louisiana's Jason Johnson, the only driver to capture more than one ASCoT feature win in 2008. Johnson picked off East Bay Raceway Park's $10,000 top prize on February 2 and since has added wins at Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway Spring Nationals finale on March 22 and then at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO, on April 19.

Back on Tour full-time for the first time in several years, 1992 National champion Garry Lee Maier of Cimarron, KS, is off to a strong start by sitting fourth in points, with 2001 National champion Zach Chappell of Talala, OK, just eight points behind him in fifth.

Forney, TX, ace Travis Rilat, the 2003 ASCS National champ, is sixth in points, just ahead of Tennessee's Jason Sides, with 2006 Rookie of the Year Nick Smith of Broken Arrow, OK, tenth in points after his first National win of the season this past weekend.

Twenty-year-old Eric Baldaccini of Keller, TX, enters Saturday's event ranked eighth and tops amongst the Brodix Rookie of the Year crop that also includes Nebraska's Don Droud, Jr. (ninth), Oklahoma's Kenneth Walker (11th) and Gary Taylor (12th), and Texas racers Kathryne Minter (13th) and Chris Tarrant (16th).

Three-time Winged Outlaw Warriors champion Randy Martin of California, MO, leads a healthy contingent of WOW forces into Saturday night's showdown.

This weekend marks the third of four consecutive weekends of racing action for the O'Reilly ASCoT National series. The series wraps up the pivotal month-long stretch of action at Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway and then Devil's Bowl Speedway near Dallas, TX, on May 9-10.

The Series:

O’Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour (ASCoT)

When & Where:

Saturday night, May 3 – Lake Ozark Speedway (7:00 p.m.)

Track Information:

Lake Ozark Speedway (Eldon, MO) – 1/3-mile high-banked dirt oval located south of Eldon on US 54 to SR 52, then 0.1 mile east on SR 52, then 0.5 mile north on Twiggy Lane (frontage road). For more information, contact the track at 573-392-9977.

O’Reilly ASCoT Lake Ozark Speedway History:

The O'Reilly ASCoT National series returns to Lake Ozark Speedway for the first time since 2005, when Missouri hero Jesse Hockett completed a sweep of the Lake Ozark Nationals while Gary Wright exited via the hook.

Lake Ozark Speedway ASCS National winners include: Jesse Hockett 2, Shane Stewart 2.

Lake Ozark Speedway O'Reilly ASCoT Race-by-race Winners: Shane Stewart (9/4/04), Shane Stewart (9/5/04), Jesse Hockett (9/3/05), Jesse Hockett (9/4/05).

Current O’Reilly ASCoT Points (After 10 of 42 Nights):

Top Fifteen: 1. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,131, 2. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 1,081, 3. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 1,073, 4. Garry Lee Maier (Cimarron, KS) 997, 5. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 989, 6. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 950, 7. Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN) 888, 8. Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) 860, 9. Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE) 827, 10. Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 822, 11. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 782, 12. Gary Taylor (Sapulpa, OK) 699, 13. Kathryne Minter (Bedford, TX) 673, 14. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 613, 15. Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO) 593.

2008 O’Reilly ASCoT Feature Winners:

Jason Johnson 3, Kenny Adams 1, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Danny Lasoski 1, Terry McCarl 1, Nick Smith 1, Skip Wilson 1, Gary Wright 1.

O'Reilly ASCoT – A Look Ahead:

May 10 Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX)

June 20 Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA)

June 24 I-90 Speedway (Hartford, SD)

June 28 Dakota State Fair Speedway (Huron, SD)

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

R.J. Johnson Racks Up ASCS Canyon Region Win at Manzanita

Lonnie Wheatley, PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 26, 2008) – R.J. Johnson brought a quick halt to the Charles Davis, Jr., win streak by capturing his first Discount Tire Co. American Sprint Car Series Canyon Region feature win in Saturday night's 30-lap main event atop Manzanita Speedway's 1/3-mile clay oval.

Johnson raced past Davis for the lead in the latter stages aboard Bobby Martin's ProFlyer-powered Arizona Race Mart/Weiler Farms No. 15 Maxim to become the series fourth different winner through the opening six events of the 2008 season.

Gunning for a third consecutive triumph, Davis led much of the way after starting sixth, only to surrender the point in the closing laps to 21-year-old Johnson.

Davis settled for second, with front row outside starter Nathan High taking the show position. Current series points leader and defending champion Jeremy Sherman advanced from ninth to fourth, with Mike Martin rounding out the top five.

Jeff Henry was sixth, with 13th-starter Josh Pelkey, Jay Ervine, 15th-starter Mike Leslie and 21st-starter Bobby Taylor completing the top ten.

Johnson, Andrew Reinbold and Martin won the heat races, with Justin Fisher topping the "B" Main. High won the Trophy Dash.

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region from Manzanita Speedway:

Trophy Dash: 1. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 12-Nathan High, 4. 19-Andrew Reinbold.

Heat One: 1. 15-R.J. Johnson, 2. 2-Mike Colegrove, 3. 62-Jeff Henry, 4. 12-Nathan High, 5. 8-Bob Ream, Jr., 6. 22-Mike Rux, Jr., 7. xxx-Zach Sawyers, 8. 27n-Nick Aiuto, 9. 74-Derek Williams.

Heat Two: 1. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 4. 34-Josh Pelkey, 5. 76-Mike Leslie, 6. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 7. 48-Thomas Ogle, 8. 5x-Jody Wirth, 9. 96-Carson Ditsch.

Heat Three: 1. 16-Mike Martin, 2. 44-Jeremy Reagles, 3. 78m-Bryan Swinehart, 4. 21-Jay Ervine, 5. 20s-Derek Sell, 6. 7-Steve Tellas, 7. 61-Justin Fisher, 8. 26az-Bobby Taylor, 9. 28-Stevie Sussex.

"B" Feature: 1. 61-Justin Fisher, 2. 48-Thomas Ogle, 3. 27n-Nick Aiuto, 4. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 5. 26az-Bobby Taylor, 6. 5x-Jody Wirth, 7. xxx-Zach Sawyers, 8. 74-Derek Williams, 9. 22-Mike Rux, Jr., 10. 28-Stevie Sussex, 11. 96-Carson Ditsch.

“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15-R.J. Johnson, 2. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 3. 12-Nathan High, 4. 77-Jeremy Sherman, 5. 16-Mike Martin, 6. 62-Jeff Henry, 7. 34-Josh Pelkey, 8. 21-Jay Ervine, 9. 76-Mike Leslie, 10. 26az-Bobby Taylor, 11. 78m-Bryan Swinehart, 12. 61-Justin Fisher, 13. 5x-Jody Wirth, 14. 20s-Derek Sell, 15. xxx-Zach Sawyers, 16. 7-Steve Tellas, 17. 27n-Nick Aiuto, 18. 74-Derek Williams, 19. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 20. 48-Thomas Ogle, 21. 8-Bob Ream, Jr., 22. 44-Jeremy Reagles, 23. 11-Seainn Hendricsen, 24. 2-Mike Colegrove.

Discount Tire Co. ASCS Canyon Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Jeremy Sherman 872, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 838, 3. Nathan High 830, 4. R.J. Johnson 796, 5. Mike Martin 792, 6. Josh Pelkey 790, 7. Jeremy Reagles 786, 8. Thomas Ogle 766, 9. Mike Leslie 734, 10. (tie) Andrew Reinbold and Justin Fisher 711.

Nick Smith Captures Classic I-30 Speedway ASCoT Win

Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (April 26, 2008) – Oklahoma racer Nick Smith broke into O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National victory lane for the first time this season by emerging atop a classic I-30 Speedway duel on Saturday night.

Smith and Kenneth Walker traded the lead several times over the first half of the 30-lapper atop the ¼-mile clay oval before Smith took command for keeps on the 16th circuit, ultimately beating tenth-starter Tim Crawley and eighth-starter Gary Taylor to the checkered flag in Kip Smith's Wesmar-powered Sooner Network Solutions No. 15s J&J.

But, until the race's only caution flew after 26 laps, Smith rarely held an advantage of more than a couple of car lengths over a host of pursuers that included Wayne Johnson, Crawley, Kenneth Walker, Taylor and Garry Lee Maier.

After drawing the pole position for the feature, Walker outgunned Joe Young for the point at the drop of the green flag and led the opening circuit. Fourth-starter Smith was on the move on the top side of the track though, charging past Walker for the lead upon the completion of the second lap.

With Walker, third-starter Wayne Johnson and Maier in tow, Smith soon reached lapped traffic. And when he slipped off the backstretch exiting turn two on the tenth lap, Walker charged back into the lead.

"We were in traffic and I kept telling myself to hit my marks, hit my marks," Smith recalled afterward. "Then that lap I just slipped up a little too high and dropped right off the track."

Smith gathered it back up in time to retain second as he assumed the rule of chaser while Walker vied for his first career ASCS National Tour win aboard Sandra Walker's Wesmar-powered Action Auto Collision No. 2 J&J.

Dicing through heavy traffic, Smith closed in and slid back around Walker for the lead on the 16th lap with Wayne Johnson working past Walker for second three laps later.

Meanwhile, Crawley cracked the top five aboard Mike Ward's McCarver-powered Boater Sports No. 88 Maxim soon after the midway point. And with Taylor on his tailtank, the duo advanced past Maier for fourth and fifth, respectively, on the 20th lap.

Crawley continued marching, battling past Walker for third and setting his sights on the lead duo of Smith and Johnson.

With Smith holding a slim lead, Crawley pulled to Johnson's inside as the duo charged down the backstretch on the 27th lap. Johnson tried to close the door through turns three and four, spinning to a halt in turn four after the resulting contact and collecting fourth-runner Walker and rookie shoe Kathryne Minter in the mix. Johnson rejoined the chase at the tail while Walker's strong run came to a premature end.

With clear track ahead on the restart, the series 2006 Rookie of the Year slipped away and cruised over the final four laps to his third career ASCS National Tour feature win with Crawley settling for second.

"We could have done without that yellow," Crawley surmised. "I think we could have got that one more spot if we'd stayed in traffic."

Brodix Rookie of the Year contender Taylor posted his best career ASCS National Tour finish by claiming the show position aboard Mike and Megan Eubanks' Wesmar-powered Tel-Star Communications No. 5* Triple-X, with Maier fourth in Scott Brown's ASI-powered Lubbock Wrecker Service/Max Jantz Excavating No. 11x Maxim.

Zach Chappell rounded out the top five in the Legend's Bar-B-Que No. 50z Maxim, making a late pass of current series points leader Gary Wright, who settled for sixth. Jason Johnson climbed from 14th to finish seventh, with Travis Rilat, Jason Sides and Brad Bowden completing the top ten.

Young, Maier, Chappell and Wayne Johnson topped heat race action for the 34-car field, with Lewis Jenkins, Jr., and Marshall Skinner winning the twin "B" Mains.

Wade Oliver escaped injury after tumbling off the turn two banking in the second "B" Main.

O’Reilly ASCoT I-30 Speedway Results:

Heat Races (Top 14 in passing points to “A” Main; Balance to 2 "B" Mains)

Brodix Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 12T-Joe Young, 2. 2-Kenneth Walker, 3. 9x-Justin Sturch, 4. 15-Brad Bowden, 5. 9JR-Derek Hagar, 6. 38-Rick Pringle, 7. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 8. 8x-Chris Williams, 9. 13-Kathryne Minter.

Wesmar-Shaver Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 11x-Garry Lee Maier, 2. 29-Travis Rilat, 3. 9-Gary Wright, 4. 41-Jason Johnson, 5. 91-Don Droud, Jr., 6. 51-Lee Sowell, 7. 95-Matt Covington, 8. 75-Don Young, 9. 5k-Jerry Kamer.

Brodix Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 50z-Zach Chappell, 2. 88-Tim Crawley, 3. 7s-Jason Sides, 4. 7h-Lewis Jenkins, Jr., 5. 26-Marshall Skinner, 6. 8z-Zach Pringle, 7. 1g-Cody Gardner, 8. 71-Chris Tarrant.

Wesmar-Shaver Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 94-Wayne Johnson, 2. 15s-Nick Smith, 3. 5*-Gary Taylor, 4. 4-Tommy Snellgrove, 5. 01-Jeremy Newkirk, 6. 1-Andy McElhannon, 7. 58-Wade Oliver, 8. 11c-Dave Speer.

"B" Mains – Top 4 From Each Advance to “A” Main

First "B" Feature (10 Laps): 1. 7h-Lewis Jenkins, Jr., 2. 91-Don Droud, Jr., 3. 9JR-Derek Hagar, 4. 1g-Cody Gardner, 5. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 71-Chris Tarrant, 7. 13-Kathryne Minter, 8. 8x-Chris Williams, 9. 01-Jeremy Newkirk, 10. 51-Lee Sowell.

Second "B" Feature (10 Laps): 1. 26-Marshall Skinner, 2. 8z-Zach Pringle, 3. 4-Tommy Snellgrove, 4. 95-Matt Covington, 5. 38-Rick Pringle, 6. 1-Andy McElhannon, 7. 5k-Jerry Kamer, 8. 75-Don Young, 9. 11c-Dave Speer, 10. 58-Wade Oliver.

O’Reilly ASCoT "A" Main Event:

“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 15s-Nick Smith, 2. 88-Tim Crawley, 3. 5*-Gary Taylor, 4. 11x-Garry Lee Maier, 5. 50z-Zach Chappell, 6. 9-Gary Wright, 7. 41-Jason Johnson, 8. 29-Travis Rilat, 9. 7s-Jason Sides, 10. 15-Brad Bowden, 11. 91-Don Droud, Jr., 12. 7h-Lewis Jenkins, Jr., 13. 26-Marshall Skinner, 14. 94-Wayne Johnson, 15. 9x-Justin Sturch, 16. 12T-Joe Young, 17. 9JR-Derek Hagar, 18. b4-Eric Baldaccini, 19. 1g-Cody Gardner, 20. 13-Kathryne Minter, 21. 95-Matt Covington, 22. 2-Kenneth Walker, 23. 8z-Zach Pringle, 24. 4-Tommy Snellgrove.

Lap Leaders: Kenneth Walker 1, Nick Smith 2-9, Walker 10-15, Smith 16-30.

Note: Eric Baldaccini and Kathryne Minter utilized O'Reilly ASCOT provisionals to start the "A" Main.

O’Reilly ASCoT Points (Top Fifteen): 1. Gary Wright 1,131, 2. Wayne Johnson 1,081, 3. Jason Johnson 1,073, 4. Garry Lee Maier 997, 5. Zach Chappell 989, 6. Travis Rilat 950, 7. Jason Sides 888, 8. Eric Baldaccini 860, 9. Don Droud, Jr. 827, 10. Nick Smith 822, 11. Kenneth Walker 782, 12. Gary Taylor 699, 13. Kathryne Minter 673, 14. Jack Dover 613, 15. Brian Brown 593.

Skip Wilson Pulls Off O'Reilly ASCoT Surprise at Paris!

Lonnie Wheatley, PARIS, Texas (April 25, 2008) – Skip Wilson pulled off what ranks as perhaps one of the biggest upset wins in recent years of O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National competition by topping Friday night's 25-lap main event at Paris Motor Speedway.

Wilson survived some tense moments in lapped traffic to take his first career series win aboard J.B. Cook's Speed Specialties/Bubba's Plumbing No. 65 Avenger just ahead of past ASCS National champions Wayne Johnson and Tim Crawley.

And the win occurred in an event that nearly never happened, as torrential rains drenched much of North Texas in the late afternoon. While the storms narrowly missed Paris Motor Speedway, several teams turned back towards home certain of a rainout.

"We almost didn't come," Wilson explained of the last minute decision. "I'm glad we did though."

A second place heat race finish put Wilson seventh in passing points and into the redraw. And by the time his turn to draw came around, two pills remained: the one and the two. Wilson drew the pole position, with Wayne Johnson slotted into the front row outside.

Twenty-five lightning fast laps later, the Mesquite, TX, veteran racer was standing in victory lane, commenting that, "I'm just kind of amazed right now."

While Wilson led all 25 laps, he had to work for it as several of the nation's top Sprint Car shoes nipped at his heels all the while.

The initial attempt to start the feature was waved off when top heat race passing points earner Don Young bicycled off the top of turn one from his eighth starting slot. Young exited to the pit area before the green flag flew again.

And when the green flag reappeared, it was non-stop for 25 laps.

"My arms were getting awful heavy there at the end, I was getting tired," Wilson explains.

Jumping into the lead at the outset in front of Johnson and fourth-starter Crawley, Wilson set a quick pace and reached traffic just prior to the midway point. And when he got to Justin Sturch in the latter stages, Johnson and Crawley sensed opportunity and moved in for the kill.

"I got hung up there a little,