(Photo by Steve Eichelberger)
Inside Line Promotions – ELDON, Mo. (July 6, 2017) – Tony Bruce Jr. scored a trio of top-five finishes last weekend while competing in Missouri.
The action was set to begin on Friday before an ASCS Warrior Region event at Callaway Raceway in Fulton was rained out. Bruce Jr. and the Smith Family No. 86 ventured to Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon on Saturday when the competition started with a run from fifth to third place during a heat race.
That lined the team up on the inside of the sixth row for the ASCS Warrior Region main event.
“The track was pretty good all night and was real racy and we worked our way forward,” Bruce Jr. said. “A 25-lap feature seems to go quick on a small track. We slowly picked them off and started working forward. I was riding in seventh for a while and then got to fifth at the end on a restart. We were passing for fourth at the finish line, but didn’t quite get it.”
Bruce Jr. finished fifth, which gave the team momentum entering Sunday’s ASCS Warrior Region show at Double X Speedway in California. He won a heat race from the pole to earn enough points to lock into the feature redraw, in which the team pulled the No. 3 to start the main event on the inside of the second row.
“We rode in third most of the race,” he said. “It was one of those deals where the fast cars were up front. We got in line and rode in position. I got up to second with three laps to go, but (Jonathan) Cornell got me on the last restart when I spun the tires.”
Bruce Jr. ended third, which tied his season-best result.
The weekend concluded on Monday at Lake Ozark Speedway, where Bruce Jr. won a heat race from the pole for the second straight night. That locked him into the feature redraw. This time he pulled the second-highest number – seven – to start the main event seventh.
“We didn’t draw very good, but we had a real good car,” he said. “By the halfway point we were in second and were in traffic. We were contending for the lead. We didn’t get the opportunity to make a pass before a caution came out. After that it was tough to chase down Brad (Loyet) in open air. I made a mistake with about three laps to go and got into the wall in turns one and two and lost a spot.”
The third-place finish marked Bruce Jr.’s third podium of the season.
“I feel like we’re right where we need to be car-wise,” he said. “One of the biggest things is we’re not catching the redraws like we need to to win races. We have a good car and good speed. We just haven’t had everything go our way. We just need to keep performing well and the wins will come.”
QUICK RESULTS –
July 1 – Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. – Heat race: 3 (5); Feature: 5 (11).
July 2 – Double X Speedway in California, Mo. – Heat race: 1 (1); Feature: 3 (3).
July 3 – Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. – Heat race: 1 (1); Feature: 3 (7).
SEASON STATS –
12 races, 0 wins, 5 top fives, 7 top 10s, 11 top 15s, 12 top 20s
UP NEXT –
TBD
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Lubbock Wrecker Service
With locations in Lubbock and Synder, Texas, Lubbock Wrecker Service has more than 50 years of combined experience providing heavy duty, medium duty and light vehicle towing. For more information, visit http://www.LubbockWrecker.com.
“It’s an honor to be associated with Scott Brown and Lubbock Wrecker Service,” Bruce Jr. said. “They have been involved with racing for a long time and we are fortunate to have them on our team.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Briley Trucking, Wheeler Metals, The Oil Medics, Hinchman Racewear, Eagle Motorsports, Smiley’s Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, Moss Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfeld Headers, Hoosier Racing Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape, Pressure Tek, Tiger Towing (Dave and Paula Debates), Sorrels Auto and Truck Parts (Mitchell Sorrels), Melvin Plumbing (Billy Melvin), Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Wulff Pumps, Miller Auto Supply and Jeff Smith Racing Engines for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
