Lucas Oil ASCS Headed For Black Hills Double in Rapid City

TULSA, Okla. (July 19, 2016) What was once one, became two as the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network returns to competition with the "Rushmore Rumble" at the Black Hill Speedway in Rapid City, S.D. on Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23.

Originally a pairing of South Dakota's Black Hills Speedway and Wyoming's Gillette Thunder Speedway, the rodeo in Gillette caused Ed Kirchoff, who promotes both facilities, to move the Wyoming date to Rapid City.

First seeing action with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network in 1998, Oklahoma's Daryn Pittman topped the August 8 event. Returning to the half-mile oval in 2014, Missouri's Brad Loyet added some Black Hills Gold to his pocket. The 2015 stop went to Johnny Herrera who traded wins back and forth with Aaron Reutzel through Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

Pushing closer to the 26th annual Arnold Motor Supply ASCS 360 Knoxville Nationals, the season looks much different than the year before as Sam Hafertepe, Jr. looks to continue his momentum through the "Rushmore Rumble" as the current Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour point's leader has picked up 14 podium finishes in 19 events contested. Going into the South Dakota double header, Sam is on a streak of five consecutive podium appearances to go along with seven straight top-fives and 15 top-tens.

Trailing by 162 markers, Johnny Herrera holds the runner-up spot going into the track that he won at in 2015. Having not finished outside of the top-ten in his last six starts, Herrera has had to fight through engine woes during this year's trip to the Northwest.

Rolling off a pair of wins at the Gallatin Speedway, Blake Hahn enters the weekend the highest he has ever been in Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour standings. Off the lead by 335 points, the battle for the championship may be down to a pair of drivers at this point, but the race to be in the top-five is still very close as Wayne Johnson trails the driver of the No. 52 by only 10 points with Logan Forler on their heels at a 40 point deficit.

Matt Covington, who led the points early on in 2016, has slipped to sixth with Seth Bergman seventh. The pair are only separated by 10 makers going into the weekend. Aaron Reutzel holds eighth. Also a victim of engine woes on the trip to and from the Northwest, Aaron's weekend at the Gallatin Speedway ended early due to a failure under the bonnet of the No. 87. Brad Loyet and Josh Baughman complete the top-ten in tour standings.

Co-Sanctioned with the Brodix ASCS Frontier Region, the top is tied up again as Skyler Gee and Trever Kirkland sit with 569 point each. D.J. Brink holds third with Kelly Miller and David Hoiness completing the top-five in Regional standings.

Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 at the Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D. will open at 5:00 P.M. with races getting underway at 7:00 P.M. (MDT). Admission for the two day "Rushmore Rumble" is $25 per day for adults. Seniors and Military are $20. Kids 6-12 are only $10 and children five and under get into the grandstands for free. More information on the Black Hills Speedway can be found on the track's Facebook page or by calling (605) 786-6476.

For continued updates on the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.

Race Day Information:

What: Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by MAVTV

Where: Black Hills Speedway - Rapid City, S.D.
When: Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23
Times: Open at 5:00 P.M. / Racing at 7:00 P.M. (MDT)
Location: 2467 Jolly Ln. Rapid City, SD
Phone: (605) 786-6476
Website: http://www.blackhills-speedway.com
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Black-Hills-Speedway-290392857705301/?fref=ts

2016 ASCS National Driver Standings (Top 10): 1. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 2,577; 2. Johnny Herrera 2,415; 3. Blake Hahn 2,242; 4. Wayne Johnson 2,232; 5. Logan Forler 2,203; 6. Matt Covington 2,168; 7. Seth Bergman 2,158; 8. Aaron Reutzel 2,097; 9. Brad Loyet 1,498; 10. Josh Baughman 1,380;

2016 ASCS National Winner(s): Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 6 (5/13 - Texas Motor Speedway; 6/12 - Rt. 66 Motor Speedway; 6/18 - Lucas Oil Speedway; 6/25 - Skagit Speedway; 7/1 - Grays Harbor Raceway; 7/2 - Grays Harbor Raceway); Blake Hahn 2 (7/8 - Gallatin Speedway; 7/9 - Gallatin Speedway); Johnny Herrera 2 (3/17-Heart O' Texas Speedway; 6/3-Hartford Speedway); Brad Loyet 2 (6/15 - Lawton Speedway; 6/17 - Mo. State Fair Speedway); Aaron Reutzel 1 (5/14 - Texas Motor Speedway); Wayne Johnson 1 (3/19-Devil's Bowl Speedway); Brandon Hanks 1 (3/25-Cotton Bowl Speedway); Josh Baughman 1 (3/26 - Bronco Raceway Park); Brian Brown 1(5/5-Lakeside Speedway); Bryan Clauson 1 (6/16 - Creek County Speedway); Marc Duperron 1 (6/24 - Skagit Speedway);

ASCS National Drivers Online:

Josh Baughman: http://www.joshbaughman.com
Kyle Bellm: http://www.kylebellm.com
Seth Bergman: http://www.sethbergmanracing.com
Matt Covington: http://www.mattcovingtonracing.com
Sam Hafertepe, Jr.: http://www.sam15.com
Blake Hahn: http://www.blakehahnracing.com
Johnny Herrera: http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com
Wayne Johnson: https://www.facebook.com/WayneJohnsonRacing?fref=ts
Logan Forler: https://twitter.com/ForlerRacing
Brad Loyet: http://www.loyetmotorsports.com
Aaron Reutzel: http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com
Steven Russell: https://www.facebook.com/steven.russell.71066?fref=ts