Osceola, Arkansas (02/02/09) – Fresh on the heels of claiming the Australian Oval Express Formula 500 Championship in early January, Travis Senter Jr. continued his 2009 domination tour as he claimed his second straight East Bay Raceway Winter Nationals Championship in the 600cc Mini Sprint division.
Travis narrowly dodged the ice storm that wreaked havoc in his Osceola, Arkansas hometown and headed to East Bay Raceway in Gibsonton, Florida for the 600cc Mini Sprint Winternationals. Even though it was just in the liquid form, bad weather followed Senter to Florida as the racing program on Thursday, January 29th was nixed by heavy rains.
On Friday, January 30th the weather would cut Senter Jr. some slack as the rains subsided leaving a very wet, 1/3 mile, red clay oval. Adding insult to injury Travis would draw the biggest pill possible at the pill draw, forcing him to start last in the last heat race. He would start 11th on a slimy race track, and fight his way to the heat race win, utilizing the high line of the track. With his heat race win, Travis earned a 4th starting position for the feature event. After narrowly surviving a lap one melee between the front row starters, Travis would be moved to the outside front row for the restart. He would assume the lead at the drop of the green flag and maintain the top spot for the first half of the race as he negotiated heavy lapped traffic. On a mid-race restart, Tim Buckwalter would use the low line to slip by for the top spot. Senter Jr. would pursue the leader for the next several laps before using a daring slingshot move entering turn 3 on the white flag lap to take the lead and to lead the last quarter of a lap to take the win.
The finale on Saturday, January 31st would see Senter Jr. find better luck at the pill draw as he pulled the #2 pill. After starting on the pole of the second race, Travis would race his way to a comfortable win. However, Senter Jr. would soon find himself behind the eight-ball once again, when an invert was drawn for the feature, which pinned him in the 10th starting position. With track conditions that were not conducive to passing for the feature, Travis found the going hard. Travis would fight tooth and nail to record a third place finish in the feature.
Via his feature win, a third place finish, and having the most heat race wins, Travis earned enough points to win his second straight East Bay Winter Nationals 600cc Mini Sprint Championship.
“I’m really pumped about the 2009 season. With the Oval Express Title and the Winter Nationals Title already under our belt, our season is off to a great start, and I’m hoping to have a career season. I’ve once again got to thank my family and my crew, Tommy and Pete, for their incredible support and help!” comments Senter Jr.
Travis Senter Jr. would like to extend a great deal of appreciation and recognition to his sponsors, which include Stallard Chassis USA, FTZ Racing Engines, Keizer Wheels, Senter Farms, Fire Service Plus, Motorstands.com, ARS Shocks, Accurate Machine Works, Xtreme Graphics, ButlerBuilt Seats, Killer Coatings, Braille Batteries, Clayton's Body Shop, Saldana Racing Products, MSR Mafia.com, Hoosier Tire, Intense Fabrication, AIM Sports, Indy Race Parts, Stren-Flex, and Design 500.
For more information on Travis Senter Jr. and Senter Motorsports please visit www.TravisSenter.com .
Travis narrowly dodged the ice storm that wreaked havoc in his Osceola, Arkansas hometown and headed to East Bay Raceway in Gibsonton, Florida for the 600cc Mini Sprint Winternationals. Even though it was just in the liquid form, bad weather followed Senter to Florida as the racing program on Thursday, January 29th was nixed by heavy rains.
On Friday, January 30th the weather would cut Senter Jr. some slack as the rains subsided leaving a very wet, 1/3 mile, red clay oval. Adding insult to injury Travis would draw the biggest pill possible at the pill draw, forcing him to start last in the last heat race. He would start 11th on a slimy race track, and fight his way to the heat race win, utilizing the high line of the track. With his heat race win, Travis earned a 4th starting position for the feature event. After narrowly surviving a lap one melee between the front row starters, Travis would be moved to the outside front row for the restart. He would assume the lead at the drop of the green flag and maintain the top spot for the first half of the race as he negotiated heavy lapped traffic. On a mid-race restart, Tim Buckwalter would use the low line to slip by for the top spot. Senter Jr. would pursue the leader for the next several laps before using a daring slingshot move entering turn 3 on the white flag lap to take the lead and to lead the last quarter of a lap to take the win.
The finale on Saturday, January 31st would see Senter Jr. find better luck at the pill draw as he pulled the #2 pill. After starting on the pole of the second race, Travis would race his way to a comfortable win. However, Senter Jr. would soon find himself behind the eight-ball once again, when an invert was drawn for the feature, which pinned him in the 10th starting position. With track conditions that were not conducive to passing for the feature, Travis found the going hard. Travis would fight tooth and nail to record a third place finish in the feature.
Via his feature win, a third place finish, and having the most heat race wins, Travis earned enough points to win his second straight East Bay Winter Nationals 600cc Mini Sprint Championship.
“I’m really pumped about the 2009 season. With the Oval Express Title and the Winter Nationals Title already under our belt, our season is off to a great start, and I’m hoping to have a career season. I’ve once again got to thank my family and my crew, Tommy and Pete, for their incredible support and help!” comments Senter Jr.
Travis Senter Jr. would like to extend a great deal of appreciation and recognition to his sponsors, which include Stallard Chassis USA, FTZ Racing Engines, Keizer Wheels, Senter Farms, Fire Service Plus, Motorstands.com, ARS Shocks, Accurate Machine Works, Xtreme Graphics, ButlerBuilt Seats, Killer Coatings, Braille Batteries, Clayton's Body Shop, Saldana Racing Products, MSR Mafia.com, Hoosier Tire, Intense Fabrication, AIM Sports, Indy Race Parts, Stren-Flex, and Design 500.
For more information on Travis Senter Jr. and Senter Motorsports please visit www.TravisSenter.com .
