(Photo by Steve Eichelberger)
Inside Line Promotions – CALIFORNIA, Mo. (July 26, 2017) – Tony Bruce Jr. charged toward the front during both ASCS Warrior Region main events last weekend in Missouri.
Bruce Jr. and the Smith Family No. 86 team kicked off the doubleheader on Saturday at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, where maneuvering from seventh to fifth place in a heat race lined Bruce Jr. up 13th in the main event.
“The heats were tough because there were a lot of good cars there,” he said. “We were only able to pass two cars.
“We slowly picked people off in the main event. Eventually the groove was one lane around the top. We made our way up to fifth and had a late-race restart after an open red. We tried to get the car to work on the bottom because everyone was up top. It didn’t work and we lost a spot. It was a gamble, but it was either stay in line and run fifth or try something and if it works out, who knows. I knew I had a lap and if I got passed just to get back in line.”
Bruce Jr. ended with a sixth-place finish.
The weekend concluded the following night at Double X Speedway, where Bruce Jr. finished where he started – fifth – in a heat race. That lined him up 15th in the A Main.
“Being on a tight bullring like that the first half of the race is all about survival and the last half is go out there and get everything you can,” he said. “The first half I let everyone be overly aggressive and we took the spots we could. After all the carnage I think we were sitting around eighth or ninth and then I was able to make some moves the last half of the race to pass cars.”
Bruce Jr. rallied to a fourth-place result, which was his sixth top five of the season.
“Our draw right now is awful because we keep starting toward the back of the heat races and anymore in sprint car racing you have to start in the first two or three rows of the A Main to win,” he said. “We made our way forward in both A Mains and we passed a lot of cars this weekend. We just need to start up front to contend for the wins.”
QUICK RESULTS –
July 22 – Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. – Heat race: 5 (7); Feature: 6 (13).
July 23 – Double X Speedway in California, Mo. – Heat race: 5 (5); Feature: 4 (15).
SEASON STATS –
15 races, 0 wins, 6 top fives, 10 top 10s, 14 top 15s, 15 top 20s
UP NEXT –
TBD
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – The Oil Medics
Located in Fort Worth, Texas, The Oil Medics services diesel trucks and distributes racing oil for sprint car engines and rear ends. For more information, visit http://www.TheOilMedics.com.
“Bill and the entire Jewell family have been more than just a great sponsor, but also great friends,” Bruce Jr. said. “They specialize in truck maintenance and fuel economy, which has saved us hundreds of dollars the past few years in diesel fuel.”
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Briley Trucking, Lubbock Wrecker Service, Wheeler Metals, 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.
