Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 26, 2011) – The 2011 racing season finishes with a bang as the 27th Annual Speedway Motors Tulsa Shootout takes place this weekend at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
More than 700 entries from throughout the nation and beyond will take to the 1/5-mile clay oval, each vying for Golden Drillers in the eight classes of competition that include six Micro Sprint Car classes along with the Chevy ECOTech Midgets and the 1200cc Mini Sprints.
Last year’s edition of the event, the first all-open wheel version of the Tulsa Shootout, attracted a micro world record of 715 competitors. A similar number is expected this weekend.
After Wednesday’s move-in day, practice follows on Thursday with heat races and qualifiers for the Non-Wing Outlaw and “A” Class divisions getting under way at approximately 4:30 p.m. The remaining six divisions (Outlaw, Non-Wing, Restricted “A” Class, Junior Sprints, Chevy ECOTech Midgets and 1200cc Mini Sprints) will take to the track for heat races on Friday beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Semi-mains in all classes get under way at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, with the championship feature events set for Saturday night at approximately 6:45 p.m.
Among the current entries is reigning Outlaw Micro Sprint winner Blake Hahn of Sapulpa, OK, who will try to become the first back-to-back winner in the headline Outlaw class since Pete Frazier accomplished the feat in 1993 and 1994. In fact, since Frazier won again in 1998, only Indiana’s Rodney Stealy has repeated in the Outlaw class with wins in 2004 and 2006. Other recent Outlaw class winners include Kevin Bayer (2009), Brady Bacon (2008) and Jerrod Wilson (2007), each of whom are set to vie for another Golden Driller this weekend.
Hahn will also defend his title in the Non-Wing Outlaw class after completing a sweep of the two Outlaw classes last year. Also set to defend Tulsa Shootout titles are Andrew Deal (“A” Class) and Koen Shaw (Non-Wing). Dalton Wiseley topped last year’s Restricted “A” Class main event, while Josiah Ribeiro claimed Junior Sprint honors for the second year in a row.
After Kevin Bayer won the inaugural Chevy ECOTech Midget main event at the 2010 Tulsa Shootout, Tulsa’s Mike Ward made a last-corner pass of Tim Crawley to take top honors last year. Washington’s Derek Holmood is set to defend his Tulsa Shootout title after taking the top spot as the 1200cc Mini Sprints debuted at the Shootout last year.
Grandstand tickets are available for Friday’s action for $15, with Saturday’s grandstands tickets just $20. Children ages 6-11 are just $5 each day. After Thursday night’s Non-Wing Outlaw and “A” Class heat races, approximately 80-90 more heat races and qualifiers on Friday will set the stage for Saturday’s semi-mains and main events.
For more information, contact the Tulsa Shootout at 918-838-3777 or check on-line at www.tulsashootout.com.