Inside Line Promotions - TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 21, 2019) - Tony Bruce Jr. was fast during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals last week when 350 drivers invaded the River Spirit Expo Center.
Bruce Jr. had a stout Team Eights race car, powering from seventh to third place in a heat race and from fifth to second place in a qualifier on Tuesday during preliminary action. That ranked him sixth in points out of more than 60 competitors to line him up on the outside of the third row for the A Main.
"We were way too tight," he said. "We had fallen a few spots on the start. Then I bounced off the wall and nearly spun out. I got in too hard and the next thing I know I bounced off the wall and then I bounced off the wall again a few laps later. I think we would have run around the top 10. We weren't perfect, but I think we would have been able to stay near where we were if those two incidents hadn't happened."
Bruce Jr. salvaged a 17th-place result after the two mid-race incidents. That relegated him to the seventh starting position in a D Main on Saturday.
"We tried a few different things and we were really good throughout the whole race, but I started running out of fuel with four laps to go," he said. "We weren't prepared for the hot lap session plus packing the track in because they had reworked it. That really bit us."
Bruce Jr. finished where he started and missed a transfer to a C Main by only two positions.
Fellow Team Eights driver Seth Bergman was in action on Thursday, advancing from fifth to fourth place in a heat race and from ninth to seventh place in a qualifier. That sent him into the B Main and he ended eighth, which was only a few spots shy of transferring into the main event. Bergman's weekend ended in a crash during an F Main on Saturday.
Bruce Jr. noted he hopes to compete in a handful of midget races this season. He is slated to kick off the regular season March 15-16 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, during the 46th annual ASCS Spring Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
QUICK RESULTS -
Jan. 15 - River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla. - Heat race: 3 (7); Qualifier: 2 (5); Feature: 17 (6).
Jan. 19 - River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla. - D Main: 7 (7).
Jan. 17 - River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla. - Heat race: 4 (5); Qualifier: 7 (9); B Main: 8 (5).
Jan. 19 - River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla. - F Main: DNF (12).
UP NEXT -
March 15-16 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, for the 46 th annual ASCS Spring Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS -
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Wheeler Metals
Established in 1968, Wheeler Metals is a sheet metal business that offers a variety of products for professional and amateur builders. Wheeler Metals has three locations in Muskogee, Okla., Rogers, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. For more information, visit http://www.WheelerMetals.com.
"When I moved to the Tulsa area a few years back we built a brand new shop," Bruce Jr. said. "We always strive as a race team to find the best products for the situation and that was no different selecting the company to build our building. Wheeler Metals was the perfect fit for our needs. From 10x10 pole barns to 100x100 full metal buildings, they have it all. I challenge anyone to find a building company that will work the customers' needs like they do."
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Briley Trucking, Lubbock Wrecker Service, Eagle Motorsports, Hinchman Racewear, The Oil Medics, Smiley's Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, Moss Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfeld Headers, Hoosier Racing Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape, Pressure Tek, Tiger Towing (Dave and Paula Debates), Sorrels Auto and Truck Parts (Mitchell Sorrels), Melvin Plumbing (Billy Melvin), Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Wulff Pumps, Miller Auto Supply and Jeff Smith Racing Engines for their continued support.
Bruce Jr. had a stout Team Eights race car, powering from seventh to third place in a heat race and from fifth to second place in a qualifier on Tuesday during preliminary action. That ranked him sixth in points out of more than 60 competitors to line him up on the outside of the third row for the A Main.
Bruce Jr. salvaged a 17th-place result after the two mid-race incidents. That relegated him to the seventh starting position in a D Main on Saturday.
"We tried a few different things and we were really good throughout the whole race, but I started running out of fuel with four laps to go," he said. "We weren't prepared for the hot lap session plus packing the track in because they had reworked it. That really bit us."
Bruce Jr. finished where he started and missed a transfer to a C Main by only two positions.
Fellow Team Eights driver Seth Bergman was in action on Thursday, advancing from fifth to fourth place in a heat race and from ninth to seventh place in a qualifier. That sent him into the B Main and he ended eighth, which was only a few spots shy of transferring into the main event. Bergman's weekend ended in a crash during an F Main on Saturday.
Bruce Jr. noted he hopes to compete in a handful of midget races this season. He is slated to kick off the regular season March 15-16 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, during the 46th annual ASCS Spring Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
QUICK RESULTS -
TONY BRUCE JR.:
Jan. 15 - River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla. - Heat race: 3 (7); Qualifier: 2 (5); Feature: 17 (6).
Jan. 19 - River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla. - D Main: 7 (7).
SETH BERGMAN:
Jan. 17 - River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla. - Heat race: 4 (5); Qualifier: 7 (9); B Main: 8 (5).
Jan. 19 - River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla. - F Main: DNF (12).
UP NEXT -
March 15-16 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, for the 46 th annual ASCS Spring Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS -
Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Wheeler Metals
Established in 1968, Wheeler Metals is a sheet metal business that offers a variety of products for professional and amateur builders. Wheeler Metals has three locations in Muskogee, Okla., Rogers, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. For more information, visit http://www.WheelerMetals.com.
"When I moved to the Tulsa area a few years back we built a brand new shop," Bruce Jr. said. "We always strive as a race team to find the best products for the situation and that was no different selecting the company to build our building. Wheeler Metals was the perfect fit for our needs. From 10x10 pole barns to 100x100 full metal buildings, they have it all. I challenge anyone to find a building company that will work the customers' needs like they do."
Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Briley Trucking, Lubbock Wrecker Service, Eagle Motorsports, Hinchman Racewear, The Oil Medics, Smiley's Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, Moss Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfeld Headers, Hoosier Racing Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape, Pressure Tek, Tiger Towing (Dave and Paula Debates), Sorrels Auto and Truck Parts (Mitchell Sorrels), Melvin Plumbing (Billy Melvin), Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Wulff Pumps, Miller Auto Supply and Jeff Smith Racing Engines for their continued support.
