Now that teams have returned home from Montana, the focus shifts to the final run to the championship which begins this week with a trio of race nights.
Action gets underway on Tuesday at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, IA with the Battle of the Blue Ribbon. Three days later, the Series will travel nine hours south to Colcord, OK for the two-night Green Country Clash at the state-of-the-art Arrowhead Speedway on Friday and Saturday night.
Tuesday’s event at Clay County will feature a $4,000-to-win/$400-to-start purse, with the Tri-State Late Model Series, IMCA Sport Mods and IMCA Stock Cars joining the Sprint Cars on the program.
The Friday portion of the Arrowhead event will also pay $4,000 to win and $400 to start, with USRA Stock Cars and Tuners rounding out the itinerary. Saturday’s finale will wrap up with a $10,000-to-win/$500-to-start Feature, while the COMP Cams Super Dirt Series will join the National Tour to make for an entertaining Sprint Car-Late Model doubleheader.
Fans can purchase tickets in advance to Clay County by clicking here and to Arrowhead Speedway by clicking here. Can’t make it? Watch all the action live on DIRTVision.
Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:
THE RACE IS ON: When Seth Bergman made contact with a slower car while running fifth at Electric City, not only did his car flip upside down, but so did the championship battle.
That one mishap caused his lead over Sam Hafertepe Jr. in the standings to go from 96 points entering the night to 40 points when it was over. Bergman’s crash snapped a five-race podium streak, evidence of the consistency that he displayed throughout the summer that made it nearly impossible for Hafertepe to gain major ground, despite winning nine races in the year.
The next chapter of the wide-open title fight will be written at Clay County on Tuesday night, and both drivers will be making their ASCS debut at the track. Bergman has never been to Spencer with any series, while Hafertepe raced there on six occasions during his time with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, picking up a best finish of seventh in 2008.
BACK TO COLCORD: When the Series moves to Arrowhead this weekend, Hafertepe will return to the site of a rare down night from earlier in the year. The five-time National Tour champion jumped the cushion and pounded the wall while battling for the win late in the race on June 14, leaving him in 18th in the rundown. Without that DNF, he could be leading the points entering this week’s events, but instead, the return trip provides an opportunity to avenge the defeat.
On the other hand, Bergman would be happy with a repeat of the June race, as he emerged from the chaos and took the win that night. The victory in his first National Tour start at Arrowhead means he is undefeated in Colcord with two different ASCS divisions – he raced there twice with the Sooner Region in 2014 and took the checkered flag on both nights.
As for others to keep an eye on, look no further than the No. 10 of Landon Britt. The Memphis, TN driver picked up his first and only Series win one year ago at Arrowhead, and he backed it up with another top 10 in June. The last two race weekends have seen a driver claim their first win of the year, and Britt would love nothing more than to continue that streak, especially as he prepares for his home race on tour at Riverside International Speedway at the end of the month.
ALL HAIL HANK: One of the biggest questions throughout the first half of the season was, “When will Hank Davis finally win a race?” and the answer turned out to be Labor Day weekend at Electric City.
The first two triumphs of Davis’ National Tour career both came in impressive fashion, as he destroyed the field on night one to win by nearly six seconds before outdueling Hafertepe late in Saturday’s Feature to take top honors once again.
The victories vaulted the 21-year-old into the lead of the Rookie of the Year standings and the fourth spot in the overall points, a remarkable feat considering he didn’t join TwoC Racing until the third event of the year at Rush County Speedway.
Davis will go for three in a row in his debut at Clay County, but his Great Falls showing proved that he is more than capable of overcoming a lack of experience at a track and finding speed. Once he gets to Arrowhead, the Sand Springs, OK native will have notes from his runner-up finish in June to look at as he goes for his first Series win in his home state.
COVINGTIME: After four-straight finishes off the podium, Matt Covington got to take pictures on the frontstretch again after he finished third in the Montana Roundup finale at Electric City.
The drive cemented his hold on the third spot in the standings behind Bergman and Hafertepe which he has held for most of the season. While the championship is likely out of Covington’s reach, barring a miraculous run to end the season, he now has a red-hot Davis to worry about, who sits 177 points behind him in fourth.
One of Covington’s primary goals for the remainder of the year will be to join Davis in the win column and avoid his first winless season with the Series since 2016. Clay County could be the place to do that, as Covington stands as the only current full-timer with a victory at the track. After taking the checkers in the inaugural National Tour race at the Iowa 3/8-mile in 2021, he backed it up with finishes of fourth in 2022 and second in 2023 to give himself a 2.3 average finish in Spencer, the best of any driver in the field.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, IA
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14 at Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, OK
AROUND THE TURN:
The American Sprint Car Series National Tour will battle with the United Sprint Car Series for two nights at Riverside International Speedway outside Memphis on Friday and Saturday, Sep. 27-28.
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS (TOP 10):
- Seth Bergman (2633 points)
- Sam Hafertepe Jr. (-40)
- Matt Covington (-185)
- Hank Davis (-362)
- Andrew Deal (-467)
- Jason Martin (-473)
- Landon Britt (-483)
- Zach Blurton (-504)
- Kyler Johnson (-537)
- Terry Easum (-601)
FEATURE WINNERS (8):
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
QUICK TIME AWARDS (11):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 10
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 1
Josh McCord – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Alex Sewell – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
HEAT RACE WINS (37):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 7
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 6
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 5
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 5
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 4
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 2
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 2
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Andrew Deal – Caney, 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
DASH APPEARANCES (35):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 17
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 16
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 11
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 10
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 8
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 4
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 4
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 4
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 4
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 3
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 2
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 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
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (12):
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
PODIUM FINISHERS (23):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 13
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 13
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 7
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 6
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
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 1
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 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
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 1
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1
TOP 10 FINISHERS (60):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 17
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 17
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 16
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 13
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 11
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 11
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 10
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 7
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 6
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 6
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 6
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 4
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 4
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 4
Kelly Miller – Stirling, AB – 4
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 4
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 3
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 3
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, 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
Terry McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 2
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 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
Riley Goodno – Knoxville, IA – 1
Gunner Ramey – Sedalia, MO – 1
Miles Paulus – Marshall, MO – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 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
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
Friday, Sept. 13 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Saturday, Sept. 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Friday, Sept. 27 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Saturday, Sept. 28 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Friday, Oct. 11 / Benton Speedway / Benton, MO
Saturday, Oct. 12 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY
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
