(Image Credit: Danny Clum)
Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 19, 2021) – With entries continuing to roll into the I-30 Speedway track office by the hour, the current count is at 57 pre-entries for this weekend’s 34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.
With the count expected to climb to approximately 70 by the time the first official green flag flies on Friday, a handful of past STN champions are among the current crop of entries for the prestigious event that draws fans and competitors from throughout the nation to the heart of Arkansas.
This weekend’s $10,041-to-win event kicks off with a Thursday night Test ‘N Tune before moving into a Friday preliminary that culminates with a pair of $1,500-to-win “Twin 20” lap feature events. It all sets the stage for Saturday’s championship card that wraps up with the 41-lap STN Championship feature that offers up $800 just to make the starting grid in pursuit of the lucrative winner’s share.
Along with defending race winner Sam Hafertepe, Jr., of Sunnyvale, TX, a pair of two-time STN winners are on the entry list as well along with another duo taking a shot at a second win as well.
Sapulpa, Oklahoma’s Blake Hahn, the current Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour points leader, tries for a third STN win after going back-to-back 2018 and 2019.
Liberal, KS, native Tony Bruce, Jr., makes a return to the Short Track Nationals and eyes a third win as well after racing to victory lane in both 2008 and 2009.
Another pair of entries have past STN glory on the record as well including Tim Crawley and Pete Butler. Crawley tops the charts with 23 career STN championship feature starts including a 1998 win that is the best of 11 career top-tens. Butler was an early rendition winner as well in 1996.
Advance tickets are available online at https://i-30speedway.com/short-track-nationals/, just click the Tickets tab. Two-day advance tickets are $45, a savings of $5 compared to day-of prices.
Current entries are as follows:
0b-Eric Baldaccini (Spring, TX)
0c-Tim Crawley (Benton, AR)
0v-Michael Vaculik (Hot Springs, AR)
0z-Landon Crawley (Benton, AR)
1z-Justin Zimmerman (Athens, TX)
3-Howard Moore (Memphis, TN)
3b-Chris Banja (Beebe, AR)
3g-Paxton Gregory (Poplar Grove, AR)
5L-Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD)
5R-Richard Reynolds (Doyline, LA)
6-Dustin Gates (Haughton, LA)
G6-Cody Gardner (Camden, AR)
9-Chase Randall (Waco, TX)
9jr-Derek Hagar (Marion, AR)
11-Roger Crockett (Medford, OR)
12-Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS)
12m-Greg Merritt (Nesbit, MS)
13-Chase Howard (Nesbit, MS)
14-Jordon Mallett (Greenbrier, AR)
15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX)
15J-Jeremy Middleton (N. Little Rock, AR)
16-Koty Adams (Doyline, LA)
17b-Ryan Bickett (Sioux Falls, SD)
19-Jason Long (Benton, AR)
21b-Brandon Hinkle (Pangburn, AR)
21k-Kevin Hinkle (Cabot, AR)
21m-Spencer Meredith (Olive Branch, MS)
21r-Gunner Ramey (Sedalia, MO)
23b-Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA)
23J-Junior Jenkins (Greenville, TX)
23p-Hunter Poe (Heber Springs, AR)
24-Jeffrey West, Jr. (Memphis, TN)
26-Marshall Skinner (W. Memphis, AR)
27J-Joseph Poe (Scott, AR)
27w-Austin Wood (Memphis, TN)
28-Keith Ainsworth (Munford, TN)
29-Pete Butler (Mabelvale, AR)
30-Joseph Miller (Cove, AR)
38-Rick Pringle (Benton, AR)
42p-Preston Perlmutter (San Antonio, TX)
44h-Ronny Howard (Nesbit, MS)
44m-Chris Martin (Ankeny, IA)
46-Jan Howard (Byhalia, MS)
47-Dale Howard (Byhalia, MS)
47x-Dylan Westbrook (Scotland, ONT)
52-Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK)
63-J.J. Hickle (Quilcene, WA)
67-Hayden Martin (Olive Branch, MS)
69-Jamey Mooney (Heber Springs, AR)
87-Jason Barney (Brewerton, NY)
91a-Ernie Ainsworth (Memphis, TN)
91x-Michael Day (Farmersville, TX)
92-Cody Hays (Wynne, AR)
94-Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN)
95-Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK)
95s-Asa Swindell (Bartlett, TN)
X-Charlie Louden (Camden, AR)
I-30 Speedway is located on the I-30 Frontage Road, eastbound at Exit 126. More information on the Speedway can be found at https://www.i-30speedway.com or by calling (501) 455-4567.
The 2021 season marks the 30th year of competition for the American Sprint Car Series. Spearheaded by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, the ASCS Nation also includes 11 Regional Tours that encompass both wing and non-wing competition.
For other news, notes, and information on any of the tours under the ASCS banner, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com, follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@LucasOilASCS).
Quick Notes:
Who: Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series & ASCS Mid-South
What: COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tire
Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, Ark.)
When: Friday, October 22, 2021, & Saturday, October 23, 2021
Times (CDT) and Other Info:
Practice: Thursday, October 21, 2021
Pits: 5:00 P.M.
Practice: 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Muffler: ASCS Schoenfeld Required
RACEceiver: 454.000
Night 1: Friday, October 22, 2021
Pits Cleared: 3:30 P.M.
Draw (Pit Gate): 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M
Driver’s Meeting: 6:05 P.M.
Grandstands: 5:00 P.M.
Racing: 7:30 P.M.
Muffler: ASCS Schoenfeld Required
RACEceiver: 454.000
Night 2: Saturday, October 23, 2021
Pits Cleared: 2:30 P.M.
Draw: 5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Driver’s Meeting: 6:05 P.M.
Grandstands: 5:00 P.M.
Racing: 7:30 P.M.
Muffler: ASCS Schoenfeld Required
RACEceiver: 454.000
Prices:
Thursday: $15 Pit Pass
Two-Day Grandstand Pass: $45
Friday: $20 Grandstands | $35 Pits
Saturday: $30 Grandstands | $35 Pits
Kids 12 and under free in the Grandstands both nights
Prices listed are Cash. There is a $1 charge per ticket when using a Debit or Credit Card
Track Contact:
Phone: (501) 455-4567
Address: 12297 I-30 # A, Little Rock, AR 72209
Website: http://www.i-30speedway.com
Social Media: http://www.facebook.com/I-30-Speedway-132861716779250
34th COMP Cams Short Track Nationals Format
Friday Night
Pill draw establishes Hot Lap/Heat Race groups.
The field will be split into Programs “A” and “B” based upon pill draw. The lower half of numbers drawn will comprise Program “A” with the higher half of numbers comprising Program “B”. Both Programs will be contested concurrently, i.e., Program “A” hot laps will be followed by Program “B” hot laps, Program “A” Qualifying will be followed by Program “B” Qualifying and so on.
Each Program will be contested as follows:
Group qualifying (3-4 cars per group) will determine heat race lineups. Qualify only against cars that will be in your hot lap group and subsequent heat race.
Heat races will feature an invert of four with the fastest qualifier among that heat race group starting fourth. Top four (or five if three heat races) from each Heat Race will transfer to corresponding Program main event.
Heat Race winner and fastest qualifier among transfers in that Heat go to the redraw. If the heat race winner is also that heat’s fastest qualifier, only one car will go to the redraw from that heat.
Fastest two overall qualifiers will line up behind the redraw cars. Balance of Main event lineup set by heat race finish and then qualifying time (i.e., 2nd place finishers not in redraw lined up by qualifying time, 3rd place finishers not in redraw lined by qualifying time, 4th place finishers not in redraw lined by qualifying time).
Balance to “B” Mains(s), top two fastest non-transfers awarded first two positions with balance of “B” Main lineups determined according to heat race finishes. If two “B” Mains, two transfer from each. If one “B” Main, four transfer from each.
Two 20-lap “A” Mains will conclude the night (one for Program “A” and one for Program “B”). The top two finishers in each “A” Main will lock into Saturday’s Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash”.
Event points will be awarded on Friday night as follows:
Qualifying per Group – 1st -20, 2nd -18, 3rd – 16, 4th – 14th, etc. (two points per position)
Heat Race Finish – 1st – 30, 2nd – 27, 3rd – 24, 4th – 21, etc. (three points per position)
A Feature Points: 1st – 100, 2nd – 95, 3rd – 91, 4th – 88, 5th – 85, 6th – 82, 7th – 79, 8th – 76, 9th – 73, 10th – 70, 11th – 68, 12th – 66, 13th – 64, 14th – 62, 15th -60, 16th – 58th, 17th – 56, 18th – 54, 19th – 52, 20th – 50.
B Main Non-Transfers – 1st – 48, 2nd -46, 3rd – 44, etc.
Event points will carry over to Saturday night for all with the exception of four lock-ins. Event points will be combined into one Program for Saturday night.
Saturday Night
Draw for heat race starting position (minus the four lock-ins). Passing/finishing points in effect. (100 for 1st, 93 for 2nd, 86 for 3rd and so on at seven points per position. Additionally, 5 points per position gained and minus 1.5 points per position lost).
Saturday Heat Passing/Finishing points are added to Friday night event point totals. Top two in combined points from Friday night and Saturday heat races join the four lock-ins in the Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash”. The next eight in combined points earn “A” Main starting positions 7-14.
The balance of field is split into “B” Mains and “C” Mains as necessary, with three transferring from each “B” Main to complete the 20-car “A” Main event.
21st starting position reserved for I-30 Speedway track champion (Howard Moore) if needed.
The Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash” lineup will be determined by draw. The finish will set the first three rows of the STN championship finale.
34th Annual STN Championship feature is scheduled for 41 laps.
Format details tentative and subject to change in best interest of the program.
ASCS Online:
American Sprint Car Series: http://www.ascsracing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lucasoilascs
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lucasoilascs [@lucasoilascs]
Instagram: LucasOilASCS
Broadcast: FloRacing.com
Live-Scoring [Where Applicable]: MRP Live
2021 Driver Standings [Top 10]: 1. Blake Hahn 4,810; 2. JJ Hickle 4,758; 3. Matt Covington 4,618; 4. Dylan Westbrook 4,578; 5. Ryan Bickett 3,747; 6. Travis Reber 3,220; 7. Scott Bogucki 3,120; 8. Colby Thornhill 2,954; 9. Alex Hill 2,582; 10. Ryan Timms 2,398;
2021 A-Feature Winners: Blake Hahn – 6 [4/17 – Park Jefferson Speedway]; 5/15 – Volunteer Speedway; 6/24 – Skagit Speedway; 7/9 – Gallatin Speedway; 7/30 – Tulsa Speedway; 9/11 – I-80 Speedway]; JJ Hickle – 5 [3/19 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway; 3/20 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway; 6/20 – Grays Harbor Raceway; 7/18 – Lucas Oil Speedway; 10/16 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway]; Ryan Timms – 5 [5/30 – Lake Ozark Speedway; 7/25 – Riverside Int. Speedway; 7/27 – Creek County Speedway; 7/29 – 81-Speedway; 7/31 – Outlaw Motor Speedway]; Matt Covington – 4 [5/8 – I-96 Speedway; 7/16 – U.S. 36 Raceway; 7/25 – I-30 Speedway; 9/14 – Clay Co. Fair Speedway]; Scott Bogucki – 4 [5/21 – Tri-City Speedway; 5-29 – Lake Ozark Speedway; 7/10 – Gallatin Speedway; 9/10 – I-80 Speedway]; Giovanni Scelzi – 2 [August 6 – Knoxville Raceway; August 7 – Knoxville Raceway]; Dylan Westbrook – 2 [July 28 – Caney Valley Speedway; September 5 – Lake Ozark Speedway]; Dominic Scelzi – 2 [June 25 – Skagit Speedway; June 26 – Skagit Speedway]; Sam Hafertepe, Jr. – 2 [8/3 – Lakeside Speedway; 8/5 – Knoxville Raceway]; Derek Hagar – 2 [9/16 – Lucas Oil Speedway; 9/17 – Lucas Oil Speedway]; Blane Heimbach – 1 [5/1 – Selinsgrove Speedway]; Cam Smith – 1 [6/19 – Grays Harbor Raceway]; Dale Howard – 1 [7/23 – Batesville Motor Speedway]; Jason Martin – 1 [August 27 – WaKeeney Speedway];
ASCS National Tour Drivers Online:
Seth Bergman [Snohomish, WA.]: http://www.sethbergmanracing.com
Ryan Bickett [Ramona, SD]: https://www.facebook.com/rynotrucking
Scott Bogucki [McLaren Vale, S. Aust.]: https://www.facebook.com/ScottBogucki89
Devon Borden [Raymond, WA]: https://www.facebook.com/DevonBordenRacing
Matt Covington [Glenpool, OK]: http://www.mattcovingtonracing.com
Roger Crockett [Broken Arrow, OK]: http://www.rocketdesignsllc.com
Blake Hahn [Sapulpa, OK]: http://www.blakehahnracing.com
JJ Hickle [Quilcene, WA]: https://www.facebook.com/JJHickleRacing
Alex Hill [Six Nations, Ontario, Can.]: https://twitter.com/alexhill77x
Travis Reber [Rapid City, SD]: https://bit.ly/2P3Ok2r
Colby Thornhill [Enumclaw, WA]: https://www.facebook.com/colby.thornhill.92
Dylan Westbrook [Scotland, Ont. Can.]: https://twitter.com/westbrook47x
Garet Williamson [Columbia, MO.]: https://twitter.com/garetw3
ASCS Sponsors:
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV Motorsports Network is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto http://www.mavtv.com for more information.
Sawblade.com is the official SawBlade of the American Sprint Car Series and title sponsor of every National Tour A-Feature and Victory Lane. For more information, log onto https://www.sawblade.com and follow Social Media at @SawBladecom on Twitter, on Instagram at Sawblade.com_, and Facebook.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented the MAVTV Motorsports Network include Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix. All Heat Races are brought to you by SCE Gaskets. All B-Features are presented by BMRS.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, Geico, SRI, General Tire, MAVTV Motorsports Network, MAVTV Plus, and General Tire.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by SCE Gaskets, K&N Filters, BMRS, SpeedMart, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, MyRacePass.com, Weld Wheels, Maxwell Industries, Simpson, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley’s Racing Products, and Triple X Race, Co.