Jason Johnson Emerges in Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals Preliminary!

Lonnie Wheatley, MESQUITE, Texas (March 25, 2011) – Jason Johnson emerged from a wild battle with Jeff Swindell and Sam Hafertepe, Jr., for his first Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters win of the season in Friday night’s 38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals 25-lap preliminary feature.

 

Fresh off finishing off the World Series Sprintcar owner’s point title for Alan Haynes in Australia, Johnson reached victory lane in his first stateside start to lock into Saturday’s $6,000-to-wini Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals finale along with runner-up Hafertepe and “B” Main transfers Brady Bacon and Danny Lasoski who rallied from deep in the field for third and fourth place finishes, respectively.

 

After swapping the lead with Swindell several times, Johnson assumed the lead for keeps when Swindell popped a left rear tire and looped it in turn four with the white flag in sight.  Instead of a prospective second career ASCS National win, Swindell was credited with a 21^st place finish.

 

Hafertepe was second, Bacon charged from 18^th to third and Lasoski rallied from 20^th to fourth with Michael Dupuy nipping Wayne Johnson at the line for fifth.

 

More to follow….

 

Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters

38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals Preliminary

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – Mesquite, TX

 

Heat Races (Top 16 in Passing Points to "A" Main; Balance to Two "B" Main):

 

Heat One (8 Laps):  1. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 2. 28-Jeff Swindell, 3. 31x-Mark Pace, 4. 1j-Danny Jennings, 5. 31-Brandon Berryman, 6. 21v-Taylor Velasquez, 7. 74x-Joshua Hodges, 8. 10-George White. DNS: 64J-Johnny Miller.

 

Heat Two (8 Laps):  1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 2. 54-Evan Pardo, 3. 14k-Kyle Bellm, 4. 38-Wayne Johnson, 5. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 6. 12$-Michelle Decker, 7. 45-Martin Edwards, 8. 2L-Logan Forler, 9. 23x-Darryl Wills.

 

Heat Three (8 Laps):  1. 23-Seth Bergman, 2. 81-Danny Wood, 3. 99-Brady Bacon, 4. 0-Zach Chappell, 5. 2x-Logan Payne, 6. 33-Danny Lasoski, 7. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 8. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr. DNS: 53-Jack Dover.

 

Heat Four (8 Laps):  1. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 2. 95-Matt Covington, 3. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 4. 71-Channin Tankersley, 5. 51-Beau Smith, 6. 88-Tim Crawley, 7. 57-Shane Stewart, 8. 15T-Travis Elliott, 9. 9-Brian Parker.

 

Heat Five (8 Laps):  1. 45x-Johnny Herrera, 2. 29-Travis Rilat, 3. 11-Jeffrey Newell, 4. 1x-Garry Lee Maier, 5. 2-Dustin Morgan, 6. 15d-Brady Demeree, 7. 5-Brent Swift, 8. 35g-Barry Gifford.

 

Heat Six (8 Laps):  1. 3x-Michael Dupuy, 2. 41-Jason Johnson, 3. 21-Brian Brown, 4. 8-John Carney II, 5. 44w-Austen Wheatley, 6. 35-Rick Wright, Jr., 7. 01-Gary Wright, 8. 28x-Mitch Runge.

 

"B" Main (Top 3 from Each Advance to "A" Main):

 

First "B" Feature (15 Laps):  1. 8-John Carney II, 2. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 3. 14k-Kyle Bellm, 4. 88-Tim Crawley, 5. 2-Dustin Morgan, 6. 74x-Joshua Hodges, 7. 2L-Logan Forler, 8. 12$-Michelle Decker, 9. 01-Gary Wright, 10. 51-Beau Smith, 11. 28x-Mitch Runge, 12. 35g-Barry Gifford, 13. 35-Rick Wright, Jr., 14. 9-Brian Parker, 15. 11-Jeffrey Newell, 16. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 17. 21-Brian Brown. DNS: 64j-Johnny Miller.

 

Second “B” Feature (15 Laps):  1. 99-Brady Bacon, 2. 33-Danny Lasoski, 3. 57-Shane Stewart, 4. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 5. 31-Brandon Berryman, 6. 44w-Austen Wheatley, 7. 10-George White, 8. 45-Martin Edwards, 9. 31x-Mark Pace, 10. 21v-Taylor Velasquez, 11. 23x-Darryl Wills, 12. 15d-Brady Demeree, 13. 15T-Travis Elliott, 14. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 15. 2x-Logan Payne, 16. 71-Channin Tankersley, 17. 5-Brent Swift. DNS: 53-Jack Dover.

 

38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals Preliminary “A” Main:

 

“A” Feature (25 Laps):  1. 41-Jason Johnson, 2. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 3. 99-Brady Bacon, 4. 33-Danny Lasoski, 5. 3x-Michael Dupuy, 6. 38-Wayne Johnson, 7. 45x-Johnny Herrera, 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 9. 57-Shane Stewart, 10. 1j-Danny Jennings, 11. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 12. 81-Danny Wood, 13. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 14. 88-Tim Crawley, 15. 95-Matt Covington, 16. 14k-Kyle Bellm, 17. 0-Zach Chappell, 18. 8-John Carney II, 19. 2L-Logan Forler, 20. 1x-Garry Lee Maier, 21. 28-Jeff Swindell, 22. 54-Evan Pardo, 23. 23b-Seth Bergman, 24. 29-Travis Rilat.

 

Lap Leaders: Eric Baldaccini 1-2, Jeff Swindell 3-17, Jason Johnson 18, Jeff Swindell 19-23, Jason Johnson 24-25.

 

Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters Driver Points (Top 15):  1. Shane Stewart 658, 2. Johnny Herrera 637, 3. Brady Bacon 566, 4. Jeff Swindell 564, 5. Tim Crawley 557, 6. Aaron Reutzel 537, 7. Seth Bergman 535, 8. Tony Bruce, Jr. 502, 9. Gary Wright 483, 10. Logan Forler 459, 11. Zach Chappell 445, 12. Dustin Morgan 412, 13. (tie) Mason Moore and Trey Starks 391, 15. Zach Zimmerly 371.

Estes to Step Down from ASCS Post

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (March 22, 2011) – For the past twelve years, Tommie Estes, Jr., has played a significant role in the direction of Sprint Car racing as the competition director of the American Sprint Car Series, garnering the universal respect of drivers and car owners alike throughout the nation in the process.

 

That is a stretch of duty that will come to a close after this weekend’s 38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals in Mesquite, TX, as it was announced today that Estes has elected to step down from his position with the American Sprint Car Series after this weekend’s Spring Nationals.

 

“It’s just time for a change,” Estes commented.  “After racing for 23 years and then another 12 years working with ASCS, I’m ready to do something different for a while.”

 

Following a successful racing career in Sprint Cars, Estes went to work with Emmett Hahn’s American Sprint Car Series in 1999 and has guided the National series along with overseeing the development and maintenance of the Regional tours as well since that time.

 

“I appreciate all the opportunities that Emmett Hahn and his family have given me over the years, being a part of ASCS has been a great experience all around,” Estes explained.  “It’s kind of sad to see it end, but I’m ready for something else.”

 

Hahn, who founded the American Sprint Car Series in 1992 and remains actively involved in the series operations as company President, spoke highly of Estes’ contributions to the series and the sport in general.

 

“Tommie has been an invaluable asset, the American Sprint Car Series wouldn’t be what it is today without all his hard work and dedication over the years,” Hahn explained.  “Tommie has set the bar at his position, the respect he has from every driver and car owner in the pit area is proof of that.”

 

Hahn went on to say, “We appreciate everything Tommie has done for ASCS.  While we regret that he’s leaving, we respect his decision and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

 

No immediate replacement has been announced at this time.

 

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

R.J. Johnson Leads ASCS Canyon Region to CSP!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (March 21, 2011) – If anyone is going to unseat Charles Davis, Jr., as the Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region champion, R.J. Johnson may just be in a prime position to take command of the top wingless Sprint Car rung in Arizona.

 

After opening the season with a win at USA Raceway on March 12, R.J. Johnson leads the Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region into this Saturday night’s tilt atop the 3/8-mile Canyon Speedway Park clay oval in Peoria, AZ.

 

Canyon Speedway Park is a venue that has been kind to Johnson in recent times, as three of his six series wins last year took place at CSP.  Johnson topped three of the last four ASCS Canyon events at CSP and the last two of the season in Peoria, with Chargin’ Charles Davis, Jr., winning the other pair of events contested at the Phoenix-area oval.

 

While Johnson’s ninth career ASCS Canyon Region triumph earlier this month put him out to the early lead just ahead of two-time series champ and all-time leading Canyon Region feature winner Jeremy Sherman, three-time winged ASCS Southwest champ Rick Ziehl of Las Cruces, Davis and Andrew Reinbold round out the current top five.

 

The balance of the current top ten in Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon points includes Brandon Lane, Matt Rossi, Thomas Ogle, Joshua Hodges and Justin Quinn.

 

Among those looking to bounce back from a rough opening night is Josh Pelkey.  Fourth in last year’s ASCS Canyon points, mechanical gremlins kept Pelkey out of the March 12 “A” Main at USA Raceway.

 

Saturday night’s racing action is set to get under way at 7:30 p.m.

 

Peoria’s Canyon Speedway Park is located 25 miles north of Phoenix on I-17 to Exit 223, then 6.3 miles west.  For more information, contact the track at 602-258-7223.

 

The ASCS Canyon Region brings the best of wingless Sprint Car racing action to fans in Arizona with 18 scheduled nights of competition at Tucson’s USA Raceway and Peoria’s Canyon Speedway Park.

 

The 2011 season marks the 20^th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada.  Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation. 

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

Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals this Weekend for Lucas Oil ASCS!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (March 21, 2011) – Spring is in the air.  And, for several decades now, the first throttle cracks atop the storied ½-mile Devil’s Bowl Speedway clay oval in Mesquite, TX, have signified the official arrival of the upcoming racing season.

 

This year is no different, as the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National series takes to the hallowed circle of clay near Dallas for the 38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals this Friday and Saturday, with Saturday night’s Spring Nationals champion pocketing the $6,000 winner’s share.

 

The weekend double will mark rounds five and six of the 2011 championship chase for the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars after early openers in California and Arizona last month that featured four different winners in as many races, including Kyle Larson, Tim Kaeding, Johnny Herrera and Shane Stewart.

 

Stewart, who topped the Copper on Dirt finale at Tucson’s USA Raceway aboard Paul Silva’s Wesmar-powered Rockstar Energy Drink No. 57 A.R.T., enters this weekend’s Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals atop the early driver’s points chart.

 

A native of Bixby, OK, Stewart opened his 2009 Lucas Oil Sprint Car championship run with a win in the Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals preliminary feature.  It was a triumph that ultimately launched Stewart and Silva to the $60,000 series championship, an amount among the $250,000 points fund that remains in place for the 2011 season.

 

While Stewart holds a 27-point edge over New Mexico’s Johnny Herrera in the driver’s title chase, reigning series champion Jason Johnson sits atop the owner points in an unusual twist to open the 2011 season.

 

With “The Ragin’ Cajun” in Australia to finish off the World Series Sprintcar owner’s championship for Alan Haynes, hotshoes Kyle Larson and Jack Dover filled in last month aboard the JJR No. 41 entry in California and Arizona, respectively, with the No. 41 emerging atop the owner points by just seven markers over Silva’s No. 57 piloted by Stewart.  With the $60,000 first-place share split with $30,000 to the top driver and $30,000 to the top owner as in years past, 2011 could potentially be the first time the $60,000 championship has been split among differing owner/driver combinations.

 

Absent from the initial four events due to his Australian commitments, Johnson will be back aboard the JJR No. 41 this weekend as he tries to add a second Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals championship after besting a 67-car field in 2009.  Johnson also topped the Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals in 2007.

 

Nebraska’s Jack Dover, the reigning Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals champion, is expected to be back aboard the familiar 3D Auto Transport No. 53 this weekend after filling in aboard the JJR No. 41 for runner-up honors at last month’s Copper on Dirt.

 

Also back after missing the initial four events of the season and the last half of 2010 is Travis Rilat, whose first start since suffering critical burns in a shop accident last July netted a runner-up finish in the ASCS Lone Star season opener on March 12.  Rilat, the 2003 ASCS National champion, topped the 2006 edition of the Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals.

 

Stewart holds an early edge in the Lucas Oil Sprint Car title chase over veteran contenders Herrera and Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN), with three-time series champion Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) and 23-year-old Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) rounding out the current top five.

 

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon is currently sixth in points, with other title contenders including leading Brodix Rookie of the Year contender Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX), four-time series champion Gary Wright (Hooks, TX), Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS), Mason Moore (Princeton, CA), Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA), Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) and Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK).

 

Sammy Swindell bested a field of 62 entries to win last year’s Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals that was shortened to one night due to winter weather activity, with other recent Spring Nationals winners including Jason Johnson (2009), Gary Wright (2008), Jake Peters (2007) and Kevin Ramey (2006).

 

A similar field is expected this weekend as Sprint Car teams from throughout the nation converge upon the famed Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

 

The Series: 

 

Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters

 

When & Where: 

 

Friday night, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. – 38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals

Saturday night, March 26 at 8:00 p.m. – 38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals

 

Track Information:

 

Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – ½-mile, high-banked clay oval located six miles east of Dallas' I-635 on I-20, then three miles north on Lawson Road.  Lawson Road north of the track (and south off of US 80) has been closed for repair, so fans and racers are urged to use I-20 and then go north on Lawson.  Track phone: 972-222-2421.

 

Lucas Oil ASCS Devil’s Bowl History:

 

Devil’s Bowl Speedway has been hosting the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series since 1994, with 21 different drivers scoring at least one victory in 63 feature events.  Gary Wright has claimed 20 of his 126 career Lucas Oil National Sprint Car wins at Devil’s Bowl, including a Spring Nationals triumph in 2008.

 

Only Jason Johnson has posted multiple series wins over the past two seasons at Devil’s Bowl with two wins in seven tries including a score in last October’s Winter Nationals preliminary.  Other winners over the past two seasons at Devil’s Bowl include Jack Dover, Sammy Swindell, Kevin Ramey, Gary Wright and Shane Stewart.

 

Sammy Swindell dominated last year’s weather-shortened one-night edition of the Spring Nationals after successive years in which Tony Bruce, Jr., gave up the lead on the final lap to Gary Wright in 2008 and then Jason Johnson in 2009.

 

Devil’s Bowl Lucas Oil ASCS winners include:  Gary Wright 20, Jason Johnson 8, Wayne Johnson 4, Kevin Ramey 4, Danny Jennings 3, Sammy Swindell 3, Shane Carson 2, Terry Gray 2, Garry Lee Maier 2, Mike Peters 2, Travis Rilat 2, Shane Stewart 2, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Tim Crawley 1, Jack Dover 1, Edd French 1, Johnny Herrera 1, Larry Neighbors 1, Alan Payne 1, Jake Peters 1, Mike Ward 1.

 

Devil’s Bowl Lucas Oil ASCS 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), Jason Johnson (5/10/08), Gary Wright (7/17/08), Jason Johnson (10/17/08), Gary Wright (10/18/08), Shane Stewart (3/20/09), Jason Johnson (3/21/09), Gary Wright (10/17/09), Kevin Ramey (10/19/09), Sammy Swindell (3/19/10), Jason Johnson (10/15/10), Jack Dover (10/16/10).

 

Current 2011 Points:

 

Top 15 Driver Points:  1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 545, 2. Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) 518, 3. Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN) 475, 4. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 455, 5. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 448, 6. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 431, 7. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 421, 8. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 418, 9. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 398, 10. (tie) Trey Starks (Puyallup, WA) and Mason Moore (Princeton, CA) 391, 12. Zach Zimmerly (West Linn, OR) 371, 13. Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA) 365, 14. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 349, 15. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 347.

 

Top 15 Owner Points:  1. Jason Johnson Racing #41 – 552, 2. Paul Silva #57 - 545, 3. Herrera/Main #45x - 518, 4. Swindell Group #28 - 475, 5. Mike Ward #88 - 455, 6. Petersen Motorsports #23 - 448, 7. Brady Bacon Racing/Tel-Star #99 - 431, 8. Kenny Reutzel #87 - 421, 9. Cooper/Sperry #01/51 - 418, 10. Bruce Racing #18 - 398, 11. (tie) Harley Van Dyke #5h and Terry Starks #55 – 391, 13. Steve Forler #2L - 365, 14. Randy Washburn #0 – 349, 15. M&M Motorsports #2 - 347.

 

2011 Feature Winners:

 

Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series: Johnny Herrera 1, Tim Kaeding 1, Kyle Larson 1, Shane Stewart 1.

 

Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:

 

April 15 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)

April 16 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)

May 6 – Tri-City Speedway (Pontoon Beach, IL)

May 7 – Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, AR)

 

Lucas Oil ASCS on the Web:

 

Those unable to catch all the action in person can listen to every Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters live at www.racinboys.com.

 

Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.

 

Lucas Oil ASCS on TV:

 

The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in ten one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network and MavTV.

 

The full schedule of events to be aired on VERSUS and broadcast dates will be released soon.

 

The events from Thunderbowl Raceway, Kings Speedway and USA Raceway will be aired as follows;

Thunderbowl Raceway (Feb. 9) – 4/16/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET

Kings Speedway (Feb. 12) – 4/23/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET

USA Raceway (Feb. 18) – 5/1/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET

USA Raceway (Feb. 19) – 5/14/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET

 

The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for 37 nights of racing action at 16 different tracks throughout the nation, with the country's top Sprint Car drivers set to battle it out for their share of the $250,000 points fund.

 

The 2011 season marks the 20^th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada.  Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation. 

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

Waynesfield Raceway Park Event Added to Schedule

TULSA, Okla. (March 21, 2011) - The 2011 Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP schedule has now changed to fill the TBA listed for Saturday May 28 with an appearance at Waynesfield Raceway Park. The Waynesfield, OH, 1/3-mile oval will fill the Saturday portion of the three-day Memorial Day tour of Ohio for the co-sanctioned events between the NRA Sprint Invaders and the Sprints on Dirt.

 

The holiday weekend will start with the only appearance of the year for the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP in Ohio at the beautiful Limaland Motorsports Park on May 27. The Waynesfield event will follow and the weekend will be completed with a visit to Tony Stewart’s infamous Eldora Raceway in Rossburg, OH, on Sunday, May 29.

 

This should complete the 2011 schedule for the series with the opener just over a month away at Crystal Motor Speedway on Saturday April 30. For more information please look to www.ascsracing.com.

Lucas Oil Sprint Cars Set for Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (March 17, 2011) – After opening the 2011 season with a pair of February weekends on the left coast, the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National series fires back to life with next weekend’s 38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals in Mesquite, TX.

 

The series takes to the storied ½-mile Devil’s Bowl Speedway clay oval near Dallas for two full nights of action on Friday and Saturday, March 25-26, with the 38^th Annual Spring Nationals champion pocketing the Saturday night winner’s share of $6,000.

 

Bixby, OK, native Shane Stewart, last month’s Copper on Dirt winner at Tucson’s USA Raceway, is out to the early lead in the $60,000 championship points chase over a pair of veteran contenders vying for their first Lucas Oil Sprint Car crowns, Johnny Herrera and Jeff Swindell.

 

While Stewart, the 2009 Lucas Oil Sprint Car champion, added his 23^rd career series triumph on February 19 to open up a 27-point advantage, Albuquerque’s Herrera returns to the site of his first career ASCS National triumph next weekend.  Herrera, a two-time Knoxville Raceway champion, scored his first series win at Devil’s Bowl in 1996 before adding wins last November and then last month at Tucson.

 

Memphis shoe Jeff Swindell is expected to bring Roush/Yates Ford power to the Bowl, with three-time ASCS National champion Tim Crawley and Washington’s Seth Bergman rounding out the current top five in points.

 

Other series title contenders include 2010 runner-up Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK), leading Rookie shoe Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX), four-time series champion Gary Wright (Hooks, TX), Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS), Mason Moore (Princeton, CA), Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA), Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) and Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK).

 

Also, set for his 2011 series debut is reigning Lucas Oil Sprint Car champion Jason Johnson of Eunice, LA.  While “The Ragin’ Cajun”, missed the initial four events to finish off the World Series Sprintcar owner’s championship for Alan Haynes in Australia, the JJR No. 41 was on hand with Kyle Larson in California and then reigning Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals champion Jack Dover in Arizona.  While Johnson has spotted his rivals four nights of competition in driver points, his JJR No. 41 entry sits atop the owner point charts entering next weekend’s Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals.

 

Sammy Swindell bested a field of 62 entries to win last year’s Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals that was shortened to one night due to winter weather activity, with other recent Spring Nationals winners including Shane Stewart (2009), Gary Wright (2008), Jake Peters (2007) and Kevin Ramey (2006).

 

The Series: 

Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters

When & Where: 

Friday night, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. – 38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals

Saturday night, March 26 at 8:00 p.m. – 38^th Annual Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals

 

Track Information:

Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) – ½-mile, high-banked clay oval located six miles east of Dallas' I-635 on I-20, then three miles north on Lawson Road.  Lawson Road north of the track (and south off of US 80) has been closed for repair, so fans and racers are urged to use I-20 and then go north on Lawson.  Track phone: 972-222-2421.

 

Lucas Oil ASCS Devil’s Bowl History:

Devil’s Bowl Speedway has been hosting the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series since 1994, with 21 different drivers scoring at least one victory in 63 feature events.  Gary Wright has claimed 20 of his 126 career Lucas Oil National Sprint Car wins at Devil’s Bowl, including a Spring Nationals triumph in 2008.

Only Jason Johnson has posted multiple series wins over the past two seasons at Devil’s Bowl with two wins in seven tries including a score in last October’s Winter Nationals preliminary.  Other winners over the past two seasons at Devil’s Bowl include Jack Dover, Sammy Swindell, Kevin Ramey, Gary Wright and Shane Stewart.

Sammy Swindell dominated last year’s weather-shortened one-night edition of the Spring Nationals after successive years in which Tony Bruce, Jr., gave up the lead on the final lap to Gary Wright in 2008 and then Jason Johnson in 2009.

 

Devil’s Bowl Lucas Oil ASCS winners include:  Gary Wright 20, Jason Johnson 8, Wayne Johnson 4, Kevin Ramey 4, Danny Jennings 3, Sammy Swindell 3, Shane Carson 2, Terry Gray 2, Garry Lee Maier 2, Mike Peters 2, Travis Rilat 2, Shane Stewart 2, Tony Bruce, Jr. 1, Tim Crawley 1, Jack Dover 1, Edd French 1, Johnny Herrera 1, Larry Neighbors 1, Alan Payne 1, Jake Peters 1, Mike Ward 1.

Devil’s Bowl Lucas Oil ASCS 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), Jason Johnson (5/10/08), Gary Wright (7/17/08), Jason Johnson (10/17/08), Gary Wright (10/18/08), Shane Stewart (3/20/09), Jason Johnson (3/21/09), Gary Wright (10/17/09), Kevin Ramey (10/19/09), Sammy Swindell (3/19/10), Jason Johnson (10/15/10), Jack Dover (10/16/10).

 

Current 2011 Points:

 

Top 15 Driver Points:  1. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 545, 2. Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) 518, 3. Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN) 475, 4. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 455, 5. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 448, 6. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 431, 7. Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) 421, 8. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 418, 9. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 398, 10. (tie) Trey Starks (Puyallup, WA) and Mason Moore (Princeton, CA) 391, 12. Zach Zimmerly (West Linn, OR) 371, 13. Logan Forler (Eatonville, WA) 365, 14. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 349, 15. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 347.

 

Top 15 Owner Points:  1. Jason Johnson Racing #41 – 552, 2. Paul Silva #57 - 545, 3. Herrera/Main #45x - 518, 4. Swindell Group #28 - 475, 5. Mike Ward #88 - 455, 6. Petersen Motorsports #23 - 448, 7. Tel-Star Communications #99 - 431, 8. Kenny Reutzel #87 - 421, 9. Cooper/Sperry #01/51 - 418, 10. Bruce Racing #18 - 398, 11. (tie) Harley Van Dyke #5h and Terry Starks #55 – 391, 13. Steve Forler #2L - 365, 14. Randy Washburn #0 – 349, 15. M&M Motorsports #2 - 347.

 

2011 Feature Winners:

Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series: Johnny Herrera 1, Tim Kaeding 1, Kyle Larson 1, Shane Stewart 1.

Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters – A Look Ahead:

April 15 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)

April 16 – I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR)

May 6 – Tri-City Speedway (Pontoon Beach, IL)

May 7 – Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, AR)

 

Lucas Oil ASCS on the Web:

Those unable to catch all the action in person can listen to every Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters live at www.racinboys.com.

Official results, championship point updates, photos and race notes will be available at www.ascsracing.com.

Lucas Oil ASCS on TV:

The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters will be featured in ten one-hour shows broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on the VERSUS Network and MavTV.

The full schedule of events to be aired on VERSUS and broadcast dates will be released soon.

 

The events from Thunderbowl Raceway, Kings Speedway and USA Raceway will be aired as follows;

Thunderbowl Raceway (Feb. 9) – 4/16/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET

Kings Speedway (Feb. 12) – 4/23/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET

USA Raceway (Feb. 18) – 5/1/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET

USA Raceway (Feb. 19) – 5/14/11 @ 6:00 p.m. ET

The Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters is currently slated for 37 nights of racing action at 16 different tracks throughout the nation, with the country's top Sprint Car drivers set to battle it out for their share of the $250,000 points fund.

 

The 2011 season marks the 20^th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, with approximately 200 nights of competition at tracks throughout the nation and into Canada.  Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
 

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

R.J. Johnson Takes ASCS Canyon Region Opener at USA!

R.J. Johnson and crew enjoy Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region victory lane after topping Saturday night's season-opening 30-lapper at Tucson's USA Raceway. (Dennis Brownfield photo)

R.J. Johnson (51) picks off a Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region rival in Saturday night's action at Tucson's USA Raceway. (Dennis Brownfield photo)

Lonnie Wheatley, TUCSON, Ariz. (March 12, 2011) – R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, AZ, carried his late season 2010 momentum over to 2011 by winning Saturday night’s season-opening 30-lap Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region main event atop USA Raceway’s 3/8-mile clay oval.

 

A winner in five of the final nine ASCS Canyon Region events of 2010, fifth-starter Johnson took quick advantage of Rick Ziehl’s late misfortune to tally his ninth career Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region triumph and jump out to the early lead in the championship points chase.

 

While Johnson started three rows deep, three-time and reigning winged ASCS Southwest champion Ziehl gunned into the lead from the pole position and led much of the way in pursuit of his second career wingless Canyon Region score before a left front tire dismounted and disabled a brake line at the same time.

 

Johnson pounced into the lead and raced on to the checkered flag in front of 17^th-starter Jeremy Sherman, with Ziehl holding on for the show position.  Two-time and defending ASCS Canyon Region champion Charles Davis, Jr., was fourth, with Andrew Reinbold rallying from 16^th to round out the top five.

 

Brandon Lane was sixth, with Matt Rossi, Thomas Ogle, Joshua Hodges and Justin Quinn completing the top ten.

 

Bob Ream, Jr., Ziehl, Josh Grady and Nathan High topped heat race action for the 28-car field, with two-time series champ Jeremy Sherman winning the “B” Main before charging to runner-up honors in the main event.

 

Ronnie Clark and 2010 ASCS Canyon Rookie of the Year Dalten Gabbard both got upside down in the main event.

 

Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region Results from USA Raceway:

 

First Heat (8 Laps):  1. 8-Bob Ream, Jr., 2. 93-Justin Quinn, 3. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 4. 2-Matt Rossi, 5. 23-Josh Castro, 6. 23b-Brian Hosford, 7. 99-James Aragon.

 

Second Heat (8 Laps):  1. 20z-Rick Ziehl, 2. 51-R.J. Johnson, 3. 6s-Bryan Swinehart, 4. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 5. 97-Kevin Studley, 6. 44k-Koty McGullam, 7. 74b-Derek Williams.

 

Third Heat (8 Laps):  1. 12j-Josh Grady, 2. 74x-Joshua Hodges, 3. 16-Mike Martin, 4. 77-Dalten Gabbard, 5. 21-Jeremy Sherman, 6. 9x-Ryan Linder, 7. 12-Josh Pelkey.

 

Fourth Heat (8 Laps):  1. 62-Nathan High, 2. 9-Brandon Lane, 3. 48T-Thomas Ogle, 4. 6-Ronnie Clark, 5. 8az-Jordan Stetson, 6. 96-Carson Ditsch, 7. 7k-Bruce St. James.

 

“B” Feature (12 Laps):  1. 21-Jeremy Sherman, 2. 32b-Brian Hosford, 3. 23-Josh Castro, 4. 7k-Bruce St. James, 5. 8az-Jordan Stetson, 6. 99-James Aragon, 7. 44k-Koty McGullam, 8. 96-Carson Ditsch, 9. 97-Kevin Studley, 10. 74b-Derek Williams, 11. 12-Josh Pelkey, 12. 9x-Ryan Linder.

 

"A" Feature (30 Laps):  1. 51j-R.J. Johnson, 2. 21-Jeremy Sherman, 3. 20z-Rick Ziehl, 4. 50-Charles Davis, Jr., 5. 19-Andrew Reinbold, 6. 9-Brandon Lane, 7. 2-Matt Rossi, 8. 48T-Thomas Ogle, 9. 74x-Joshua Hodges, 10. 93-Justin Quinn, 11. 16-Mike Martin, 12. 6s-Bryan Swinehart, 13. 7k-Bruce St. James, 14. 12j-Josh Grady, 15. 62-Nathan High, 16. 23-Josh Castro, 17. 6-Ronnie Clark, 18. 8-Bob Ream, Jr., 19. 77-Dalten Gabbard, 20. 32b-Brian Hosford.

 

 

Sunoco Fuel ASCS Canyon Region Points (Top Ten):  1. R.J. Johnson 150, 2. Jeremy Sherman 142, 3. Rick Ziehl 135, 4. Charles Davis, Jr. 130, 5. Andrew Reinbold 125, 6. Brandon Lane 122, 7. Matt Rossi 119, 8. Thomas Ogle 116, 9. Joshua Hodges 113, 10. Justin Quinn 110.