Inside Line Promotions - NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (May 20, 2014) - The pavement debut couldn't have gone much better for Tyler Thomas last Saturday.
Thomas rallied to record a podium finish during his first career race in a pro late model for Tim Russell at New Smyrna Speedway.
"Tim and his whole crew worked their butts off and gave me a great car," Thomas said. "I really appreciated all that and I'm excited to go back down there."
Following a pair of practice sessions, the event began with Thomas qualifying eighth quickest.
"It was actually pretty good," he said. "I think fifth through eighth were within one or two hundredths of a second. The car was working good. Typically I'm not the greatest qualifier, but I was pretty pleased with it."
That started Thomas on the outside of the fourth row for the 50-lap main event.
"The first 15 laps or so I just spent getting comfortable and trying to set people up to pass," he said. "It was a little different than dirt where you can search around and find different grooves. You're kinda locked down to one groove (on pavement)."
Thomas had picked up a pair of positions near the midpoint of the race when there was a caution.
"On the restart I got by two cars and then I got to third with about 13 laps to go," he said. "The last 13 laps I was on the second-place driver's bumper trying to find a way to get around him."
Thomas ended with the third-place result.
"To finish third with guys that have been racing there forever and obviously have way more experience, I'm pretty happy with that," he said.
Thomas will return to New Smyrna Speedway next month.
This Saturday and Sunday he will get back to midget racing at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis., for the Thiel Memorial and World Championship with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and Badger Midget Auto Racing Association.
QUICK RESULTS -
May 17 - New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. - Qualifying: 8; Feature: 3 (8).
SEASON STATS -
11 races, 0 wins, 4 top fives, 5 top 10s, 9 top 15s, 10 top 20s
UP NEXT -
Saturday and Sunday at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis., for the Thiel Memorial and World Championship with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
MEDIA LINKS -
Website: http://www.TylerThomasMotorsports.com
Twitter: https://Twitter.com/TylerThomas91
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tyler-Thomas-Motorsports/154971717863656
APPAREL -
Thomas has t-shirts for sale at his race trailer during every event this season. For his schedule, visit http://www.TylerThomasMotorsports.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Bell Helmets
Bell Racing USA LLC is the world's leading auto racing and karting helmet company. More champions in all forms of racing have worn Bell Helmets than any other brand. The Bell name is synonymous with innovation, technology, engineering excellence and superior helmet performance. For more information, visit http://www.BellRacing.com.
"I've been using Bell Helmets for the past five years and I don't think there is anything else out there I'd rather wear," Thomas said. "They've always been comfortable and are a very safe helmet."
Thomas would also like to thank BT Machine Inc., Triple X Race Components, Quick Racing Products, Haynes Equipment, Thriller Photo, Alpinestars, Factor 1 Racing and Esslinger Engineering for their continued support.
Thomas rallied to record a podium finish during his first career race in a pro late model for Tim Russell at New Smyrna Speedway.
"Tim and his whole crew worked their butts off and gave me a great car," Thomas said. "I really appreciated all that and I'm excited to go back down there."
Following a pair of practice sessions, the event began with Thomas qualifying eighth quickest.
"It was actually pretty good," he said. "I think fifth through eighth were within one or two hundredths of a second. The car was working good. Typically I'm not the greatest qualifier, but I was pretty pleased with it."
That started Thomas on the outside of the fourth row for the 50-lap main event.
"The first 15 laps or so I just spent getting comfortable and trying to set people up to pass," he said. "It was a little different than dirt where you can search around and find different grooves. You're kinda locked down to one groove (on pavement)."
Thomas had picked up a pair of positions near the midpoint of the race when there was a caution.
"On the restart I got by two cars and then I got to third with about 13 laps to go," he said. "The last 13 laps I was on the second-place driver's bumper trying to find a way to get around him."
Thomas ended with the third-place result.
"To finish third with guys that have been racing there forever and obviously have way more experience, I'm pretty happy with that," he said.
Thomas will return to New Smyrna Speedway next month.
This Saturday and Sunday he will get back to midget racing at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis., for the Thiel Memorial and World Championship with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and Badger Midget Auto Racing Association.
QUICK RESULTS -
May 17 - New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. - Qualifying: 8; Feature: 3 (8).
SEASON STATS -
11 races, 0 wins, 4 top fives, 5 top 10s, 9 top 15s, 10 top 20s
UP NEXT -
Saturday and Sunday at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis., for the Thiel Memorial and World Championship with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
MEDIA LINKS -
Website: http://www.TylerThomasMotorsports.com
Twitter: https://Twitter.com/TylerThomas91
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tyler-Thomas-Motorsports/154971717863656
APPAREL -
Thomas has t-shirts for sale at his race trailer during every event this season. For his schedule, visit http://www.TylerThomasMotorsports.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Bell Helmets
Bell Racing USA LLC is the world's leading auto racing and karting helmet company. More champions in all forms of racing have worn Bell Helmets than any other brand. The Bell name is synonymous with innovation, technology, engineering excellence and superior helmet performance. For more information, visit http://www.BellRacing.com.
"I've been using Bell Helmets for the past five years and I don't think there is anything else out there I'd rather wear," Thomas said. "They've always been comfortable and are a very safe helmet."
Thomas would also like to thank BT Machine Inc., Triple X Race Components, Quick Racing Products, Haynes Equipment, Thriller Photo, Alpinestars, Factor 1 Racing and Esslinger Engineering for their continued support.
