Nearly a month after its last stop at Arrowhead Speedway, the American Sprint Car Series National Tour will get back on track this weekend with the only visits of the season to Missouri and Kentucky.
Action gets underway on Friday night at Benton Speedway where the Series will do battle for the first time since 1996. Teams will then cross the Mississippi River and head east toward Paducah International Raceway to cap off the weekend on Saturday night.
Both races will pay a standard $4,000-to-win/$400-to-start purse. The Sprint Cars will be joined on the racing program by Mod Lites, Micro Sprints and the Spectator Class at Benton, and 602 Late Models, Street Stocks and Micro Sprints at Paducah.
Tickets to both races will be available at the track on race day. Can’t make it? Catch every lap live on DIRTVision.
Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:
BACK IN BENTON: It’s been almost three decades since the Series last stopped at Benton, but that streak comes to an end on Friday night.
The first visit came in the National Tour’s third season in 1995, with Gary Wright taking the checkers. Fellow Sprint Car legend Terry Gray went to Victory Lane in the first of two Benton races in 1996, while Jerrod Hull took his first of two National Tour wins on July 4, 1996, and has held the title of most recent Benton winner ever since.
Rarely is everyone flying blind into a night of racing, but that’s exactly what will happen on Friday night – none of the National Tour full-timers have ever raced a 360 Sprint Car around the Missouri 3/8-mile.
The last time that was the case was back on May 31 at Rush County Speedway. Current points leader Seth Bergman scored the victory that night, and if he can once again be the first to master a new facility, it could bring him one step closer to his first Series championship.
BLUEGRASS BASH: For the fourth time in Series history and first time in six years, the National Tour will invade the Bluegrass State on Saturday night.
The first two National Tour races in Kentucky came in 1998 at Thunder Ridge Raceway in Prestonsburg, with Daryn Pittman and Gary Lee Maier splitting the wins in the two-night event. Twenty years later, the Series made its debut at Paducah with a race that saw Matt Covington hold off motorsports legend Tony Stewart for the win.
The two drivers Covington is chasing in the standings also have notes to look back on from that night, as Bergman finished fourth while Sam Hafertepe Jr. trailed in 18th. The only other full-timer with past Paducah experience is Jason Martin, who finished fourth with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 2007.
And while Rookie of the Year hopeful Hank Davis may be making his Paducah debut, his crew chief and mentor Wayne Johnson finished fifth there in 2018. If that wasn’t reason enough for the Sand Springs, OK native to be optimistic, the high-banked 3/8-mile is rather similar to Electric City Speedway, where Davis dominated the weekend and took his first two Series wins earlier this season.
SINCE WE’VE BEEN GONE: The National Tour may have been idle since the Green Country Clash finale at Arrowhead Speedway on Sept. 14, but that doesn’t mean teams have been in hibernation in the weeks since.
A pair of drivers bolted their 410 engines between the frame rails to compete with POWRi and both found success. Hafertepe won on Sept. 21 at Creek County Speedway for his 14th Sprint Car triumph of the season and third of the year at Creek County following his National Tour win on June 13 and a local score on May 11. With the season finale taking place at the ¼-mile bullring, his Creek County success this season could put him in prime position if he is within striking distance of Bergman come November.
Meanwhile, Martin continued his hot streak stemming from his Arrowhead win, finishing eighth at I-70 Speedway on Sept. 28 before collecting a pair of top fives at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track on Oct. 4-5. That means his top 10 streak is now at five races dating back to night one at Arrowhead, and he plans on extending it to seven this weekend.
Elsewhere, Bradley Fezard finished a season-best second with the ASCS Hurricane Area Super Sprints at Greenville Speedway on Oct. 5, while Austyn Gossel joined the ASCS Western Plains Region at El Paso County Raceway on Sept. 28 and came home ninth.
WHO’S NEXT: There has been no lack of parity on the National Tour over the last two months, as the last six races have been won by five different drivers.
It was also the first Series win of the season for all five of them, and a long list of drivers enter this weekend’s events with their sights set on extending that streak.
Covington once again sits atop that list, and when it comes to the No. 95 team, the question remains the same – when will he finally win his first National Tour race of 2024? His 2018 victory at Paducah proves he knows how to get the job done there, and the unpredictability of the return to Benton should mean his chances are as good as anyone’s on Friday night as well.
If not Covington, then who? The possibilities include Andrew Deal, whose recent outings include a top five at Clay County Fair Speedway and a 22nd-to-ninth charge on night two at Arrowhead. Additionally, fellow freshman Zach Blurton will be looking to recover from a pair of rough nights at Arrowhead and rediscover the speed he showed in August that brought him his first two podium runs of the year.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday, Oct. 11 at Benton Speedway in Benton, MO
Saturday, Oct. 12 at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, KY
AROUND THE TURN:
The American Sprint Car Series National Tour will travel south to Memphis for the rescheduled World Short Track Challenge at Riverside International Speedway on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19.
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS (TOP 10):
- Seth Bergman (3045 points)
- Sam Hafertepe Jr. (-111)
- Matt Covington (-240)
- Hank Davis (-372)
- Andrew Deal (-506)
- Jason Martin (-526)
- Landon Britt (-577)
- Zach Blurton (-617)
- Kyler Johnson (-629)
- Terry Easum (-732)
FEATURE WINNERS (11):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 9
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 5
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 2
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 1
QUICK TIME AWARDS (12):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 11
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 1
Josh McCord – Bossier City, LA – 1
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
HEAT RACE WINS (40):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 7
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 6
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 6
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 6
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 5
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 4
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 3
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 3
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 3
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 2
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 1
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 1
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Juhl – Tea, SD – 1
Garet Williamson – Columbia, MO – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1
Hunter Schuerenberg – Sikeston, MO – 1
Tanner Holmes – Jacksonville, OR – 1
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Parker Price-Miller – Kokomo, IN – 1
Colton Hardy – Phoenix, AZ – 1
Tanner Thorson – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Brian Brown – Hugginsville, MO – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Garrett Benson – Concordia, MO – 1
DASH APPEARANCES (39):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 20
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 19
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 12
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 12
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 8
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 5
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 5
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 5
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 4
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 4
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 3
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Garrett Benson – Concordia, MO – 2
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 1
Elijah Gile – Phoenix, AZ – 1
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 1
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 1
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 1
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Riley Goodno – Knoxville, IA – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (15):
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 2
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 1
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chase Porter – St. Joseph, MO – 1
Kerry Madsen – Knoxville, IA – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Rich Bailey – Helena, MT – 1
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 1
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 1
Noah Harris – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
PODIUM FINISHERS (24):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 16
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 14
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 7
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 7
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 2
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Kade Higday – Knoxville, IA – 1
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 1
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
TOP 10 FINISHERS (64):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 20
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 19
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 16
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 15
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 14
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 12
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 12
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 8
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 8
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 7
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 6
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 5
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 4
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 4
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 4
Kelly Miller – Stirling, AB – 4
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 4
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 3
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 3
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Terry McCarl – Altoona, IA – 3
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 2
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 2
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 2
Tasker Phillips – Pleasantville, IA – 2
Jamie Ball – Knoxville, IA – 2
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 2
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 2
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 2
Riley Goodno – Knoxville, IA – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 2
Channin Tankersley – Arlington, TX – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Huish – Jetmore, KS – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Fred Mattox – Drumright, OK – 1
Dale Howard – Byhalia, MS – 1
Brad Bowden – Hernando, MS – 1
Michael Day – Farmersville, TX – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Kade Higday – Knoxville, IA – 1
Justin Peck – Monrovia, IN – 1
Gunner Ramey – Sedalia, MO – 1
Miles Paulus – Marshall, MO – 1
Kasey Kahne – Enumclaw, WA – 1
Ryan Giles – Grimes, IA – 1
Kerry Madsen – Knoxville, IA – 1
Alex Hill – Six Nations, ON – 1
Cole Macedo – Lemoore, CA – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Blayne Brink – Gillette, WY – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Emilio Hoover – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
2024 AMERICAN SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Friday, Apr. 19 / Super Bee Speedway / Chatham, LA / Seth Bergman (1)
Friday, May 10 / Red Dirt Raceway / Meeker, OK / Terry Easum (1)
Friday, May 31 / Rush County Speedway / La Crosse, KS / Seth Bergman (2)
Saturday, June 1 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1)
Tuesday, June 11 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (2)
Thursday, June 13 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3)
Friday, June 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Seth Bergman (3)
Saturday, June 15 / Tri-State Speedway / Pocola, OK / Seth Bergman (4)
Saturday, June 22 / Batesville Motor Speedway / Locust Grove, AR / Jordon Mallett (1)
Friday, June 28 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4)
Friday, July 19 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (5)
Saturday, July 20 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (6)
Thursday, Aug. 1 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kaleb Johnson (1)
Friday, Aug. 2 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (7)
Saturday, Aug. 3 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Tyler Courtney (1)
Friday, Aug. 16 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (8)
Saturday, Aug. 17 / Lincoln County Raceway / North Platte, NE / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (9)
Friday, Aug. 23 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT / Seth Bergman (5)
Saturday, Aug. 24 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT / Jake Bubak (1)
Friday, Aug. 30 / Electric City Speedway / Black Eagle, MT / Hank Davis (1)
Saturday, Aug. 31 / Electric City Speedway / Black Eagle, MT / Hank Davis (2)
Tuesday, Sept. 10 / Clay County Fair Speedway / Spencer, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Friday, Sept. 13 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Roger Crockett (1)
Saturday, Sept. 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Jason Martin (1)
Friday, Oct. 11 / Benton Speedway / Benton, MO
Saturday, Oct. 12 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY
Friday, Oct. 18 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Saturday, Oct. 19 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Friday, Oct. 25 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX
Saturday, Oct. 26 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX
Thursday, Nov. 14 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK
Friday, Nov. 15 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
Saturday, Nov. 16 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
