For the first time in three years, the American Sprint Car Series National Tour is back in Montana this weekend.
Big Sky Speedway, near Billings, will play host to the Harvey Ostermiller Memorial on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24, featuring a $12,012-to-win/$612-to-start finale on Saturday. It’s the biggest paying Sprint Car event in the track’s history and second-largest Feature purse of the National Tour season behind the 360 Knoxville Nationals.
Friday’s event will pay $3,000 to win and $400 to start. The Sprint Cars will be joined on the racing program by WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds and INEX Legends both nights.
Tickets are available for purchase online in advance by clicking here, or at the track on race day. If you can’t make it, catch every ASCS National Tour race live on DIRTVision.
Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:
BACK TO BIG SKY: The most recent Montana stop for the National Tour in 2021 came at Gallatin Speedway, so this weekend will mark the first Series races at Big Sky since 2019.
The National Tour’s history at the facility dates back to 2013 when Jason Johnson won the Series debut at Big Sky, followed by Jeff Swindell in 2014 and Johnny Herrera in 2015. The Series did not return to the track until a doubleheader weekend in 2019, when Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Blake Hahn split the victories.
If Hafertepe can collect his 10th National Tour win of the season this weekend, he would become the first repeat winner at Big Sky. He isn’t the only driver in the field who knows how to get it done in Billings though, as championship rival Seth Bergman swept a Frontier Region doubleheader in 2020.
Other drivers with past Big Sky experience to lean on include Matt Covington, who has a career-best of fourth in four National Tour starts, and Austyn Gossel, who will look to ride the momentum from back-to-back top 10s last weekend into the track where he finished seventh with the Frontier Region in May.
CHIPPING AWAY: Two months ago, Bergman was fresh off a Speedweek championship that included two wins and four podiums in four races, and the points leader by nearly 200 points looked like the overwhelming favorite for the title.
How things have changed.
Hafertepe’s runner-up effort at Batesville the next weekend kicked off a dream summer for the No. 15H team and a nightmare for the rest of the field. The Sunnyvale, TX driver has now won five-straight full-points races along with a prelim night triumph at the 360 Knoxville Nationals, and the gap is down to 83 points entering Montana.
His margin to Bergman would be much smaller if it weren’t for a streak of consistency out of the No. 23 camp. In full-points events, Bergman’s worst finish of the year is seventh, and he is 12-for-14 in top fives. However, with the run Hafertepe has been on as of late, returning to Victory Lane for the first time in two months may be the only way for Bergman to stop his lead from shrinking further.
WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?: In the first half of Zach Blurton’s rookie season on the National Tour, the No. 2J team had fallen short of Blurton’s own expectations with just two top 10s in 13 races. They were in desperate need of a turnaround, and they got just that last weekend.
Blurton put his years of 305 Sprint Car experience at Dodge City Raceway Park to good use and came home seventh, his best finish of the year to that point. One night later at Lincoln County Raceway, he put the field on notice by beating Hafertepe to win his Heat Race and then held onto third in the Feature for his first podium of the season.
He’ll look to keep the good times rolling this weekend at Big Sky, where he will be making his Sprint Car debut. However, with nearly three-quarters of the Series full-timers doing the same, the even playing field could provide an opportunity for Blurton to continue challenging for his second-career National Tour win.
WILD FRONTIER: The ASCS Frontier Region will be bringing a field of competitors with no lack of Big Sky experience, and they will all be looking to ensure the largest winner’s check on the Montana Sprint Car calendar doesn’t cross the state line.
Phil Dietz sits atop the Frontier Region standings after seven races and is riding a two-race win streak into the weekend, with his latest score coming at Big Sky on Aug. 3. Sitting 32 points behind Dietz in a tie for second are former Series champions Trever Kirkland and Kelly Miller, and while both are winless this season, they are both multi-time Frontier Region winners at Big Sky.
Big Sky has hosted the Frontier Region more than any other track in Series history dating back to the inaugural season in 2013, and the winner’s list includes many national Sprint Car stars. Drivers like Skylar Gee, J.J. Hickle, Jordon Mallett and Devon Borden have all made the trip to Billings and left with a trophy.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24, at Big Sky Speedway in Shepherd, MT
AROUND THE TURN:
The two-week Montana swing for the American Sprint Car Series National Tour concludes next weekend at Electric City Speedway with the Montana Roundup.
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS (TOP 10):
FEATURE WINNERS (6):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 9
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 4
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
QUICK TIME AWARDS (8):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 9
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
HEAT RACE WINS (33):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 5
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 4
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 4
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 4
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 3
Whit Gastineau – Moore, 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
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 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 – Higginsville, MO – 1
DASH APPEARANCES (29):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 13
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 13
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 10
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 6
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 5
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
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 1
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
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (9):
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
PODIUM FINISHERS (22):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 10
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 10
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 6
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 4
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 2
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 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
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 1
TOP 10 FINISHERS (54):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 14
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 14
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 12
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 10
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 9
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 9
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 9
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 6
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 6
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 5
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 4
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 4
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 3
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 3
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 3
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 2
Harli White – Lindsay, 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
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 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
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 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
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, Jun. 1 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1)
Tuesday, Jun. 11 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (2)
Thursday, Jun. 13 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3)
Friday, Jun. 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Seth Bergman (3)
Saturday, Jun. 15 / Tri-State Speedway / Pocola, OK / Seth Bergman (4)
Saturday, Jun. 22 / Batesville Motor Speedway / Locust Grove, AR / Jordon Mallett (1)
Friday, Jun. 28 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4)
Friday, Jul. 19 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (5)
Saturday, Jul. 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
Saturday, Aug. 24 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT
Friday, Aug. 30 / Electric City Speedway / Black Eagle, MT
Saturday, Aug. 31 / Electric City Speedway / Black Eagle, MT
Tuesday, Sep. 10 / Clay County Fair Speedway / Spencer, IA
Friday, Sep. 13 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Saturday, Sep. 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK
Friday, Sep. 27 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Saturday, Sep. 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
