For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
March 8th, 2014

Busy Rodney Sanders Finds Victory Lane at The Dirt Track at TMS

Happy, Texas (03/08/14) – It was a very busy weekend for Rodney Sanders as he traveled to Texas Motor Speedway (Justin, Texas) for the annual Port-A-Cool Texas World Dirt Track Championship, and competed in all three divisions of Limited Modified, Modified, and Super Late Models. Despite pulling a rare triple duty assignment, it was a very successful weekend with Rodney claiming a win and a pair of top five's across the three competing divisions.

In the Limited Modified division, an impressive 111 entries were on hand to chase the $2,000 payday.  Rodney drew the fifth starting spot for his preliminary heat race on Friday night and went on to win it, earning him the seventh starting spot for the A-Main Qualifier.  A seventh to fourth in the preliminary feature earned Sanders the outside pole for Saturday night's finale.  The defending USMTS Champion and Open Wheel Modified standout dominated the 30 lap feature, using the high line to take the lead on lap three and never looking back from there. Steve Whiteaker Jr. finished second followed by John Whittington, Dough Esterling, and Travis Johnson.  The victory was his third overall of the 2014 season.

“I felt like if I didn’t mess up and I hit my mark every time, we’d be in pretty good shape,” Sanders said.  “I didn’t really know, but I was looking at the board and I knew (Steve) Whiteaker Jr. and (John) Whittington were both good runners.  I didn’t know for sure where they were at and if I had a good lead or not so I was just trying to go as good as I could.”

A stacked field of sixty-six Open Wheel Modified competitors was in the pit area, and Rodney started the weekend on Friday evening by advancing from the seventh starting spot to a second place run in his heat race, which positioned him fourth spot for the A-Main Qualifier.  Sanders recorded a fourth place finish in Friday night's preliminary feature which locked him into the second spot for Saturday's $3,000-to-win finale.  When action ratcheted up on Saturday, Rodney battled for the lead for much of the event before crossing the finish line in third behind race winner Cade Dillard and Jason Hughes. John Whittington and Chris Brown completed the remainder of the top five.

In a last minute decision, Rodney piloted future father-in-law Jason Krohn's #7k Krohn Farms/MB Customs/Pro Power Racing Engine Super Late Model during the P&W Sales SUPR Late Model Series program on Saturday.  After drawing this sixth starting spot for his heat race and advancing to third, Rodney was locked into the eighth spot for the $3,500-to-win main event.  During the course of the 40 lap feature, Sanders drove to a solid fifth place finish behind race winner Morgan Bagley, Chris Brown, Ryan Gustin, and Jon Mitchell.

Sanders now turns his attention to a full slate of United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) competition this weekend, March 14th-16th.  On Friday and Saturday night action opens at Humboldt Speedway (Humboldt, Kansas) with a pair of tune-ups for the upcoming King of America Nationals before moving to West Siloam Speedway (Colcord, Oklahoma) on Sunday evening.  For more information on the events, please visit www.USMTS.com .

Full results from all three divisions is available at www.texasmotorspeedway.com Rodney Sanders would like to thank all of his sponsors including Swan Energy, Kimrad Transport, Special Care, Outreachers Sustainable Solutions, Swan Racing, Geddes Race Engines, MB Customs, Alaron Energy, B&L Satellite Rental, STSI, Integra Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, C&R Radiators, Eibach Springs, All Star Custom Graphics, Charter Oak Production Company, Palmer Painting, D&G Contracting, FK Rod Ends, Fike's Transmissions, Krohn Farms, Mars Race Cars, K&N Filters, Real Racing Wheels, 87 Automotive, Wichita Tank Racing, Hooker Harness, CMD Race Shocks, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For more information on Rodney Sanders, please visit www.RodneySandersRacing.net .


For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
March 8th, 2014

Riley Hickman Races to MARS Checkers in Opener at Clarksville

Cleveland, Tennessee (03/08/14) –After a couple weekends of bad luck for Riley Hickman, the Cleveland, Tennessee driver bounced back for a $3,000 victory in Friday night's Mid America Racing Series (MARS) DIRTCar Series opener at Clarksville Speedway (Clarksville, Tennessee) in his #R1 BIF Motorsports/Hickman Manufacturing Company/CVR Super Late Model.

Thirty-five entries highlighted the Super Late Model Portion of the annual Tuckassee Toilet Bowl in round #1 of the doubleheader weekend.  Riley posted the quickest lap in his respective group during time trials and went on to win his heat race, locking him into the outside pole position for the main event.  During the shortened 20 lap feature, Hickman jumped into the top spot and opened a comfortable lead early.  A hard-charging Brian Shirley was able to close on the leader during the late stages of the race but it was all Hickman at the finish line, picking up his second win of the season over Shirley, Justin Asplin, Jason Riggs, and Walker Arthur.

Saturday night's finale drew twenty-seven competitors for the $5,000-to-event, and Hickman started the night off by winning his heat race, which locked him into the third starting spot for the 40 lap main event. Unfortunately, the night came to an early end when heavy rain moved into the area during the feature with just nine laps complete. The event was not rescheduled and Hickman was credited with a third place finish.

Full results are available at www.MarsRacingSeries.com

This weekend, March 15th-16th, will see Riley entering a pair of events in Tennessee and Georgia.  On Saturday night the final 41 laps of last Saturday night's preempted feature will be completed at Clarksville Speedway.  The unsanctioned race pays $2,500-to-win.  On Sunday afternoon the team will travel to Lavonia Speedway (Lavonia, Georgia) for a $5,000-to-win program with the Ultimate Super Late Model tour.  For more information on Riley's scheduled events please visit www.ClarksvilleSpeedway.com and www.UltimateSupers.com .

Riley Hickman would like to thank all of his sponsors including Hickman Manufacturing Company, American Billet, RH Designs, CVR Race Cars, Austin Trucking, A-1 Towing and Recovery, Competition Racing Equipment, MRC Racing Components, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Performance Masters Inc., All-Star Graphix, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Hoosier Racing Tires, JRI Shocks, VP Race Fuels, Comp Cams, Weld Wheels, FSR Racing Products, Design 500, Fel-Pro, KRC Power Steering, Wiles Racing Drive Shafts, Old Mans Garage, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For the latest information on Riley Hickman, please visit www.RileyHickman.com .


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
March 8th, 2014

Dale McDowell Tops Tennessee Tipoff in NDRL Action at Smoky Mountain

Welcome, North Carolina (03/08/14) – Team Dillon Racing with Super Late Model pilot Dale McDowell traveled to Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tennessee over the weekend for a pair of National Dirt Racing League (NDRL) events.  It would prove to be a successful weekend for McDowell as he parked his the #17m TDR/Warrior/ECR Racing Engine Super Late Model in victory lane on Friday evening, where he received a $7,500 check.

 The National Dirt Racing League sanctioned the 'Tennessee Tipoff,' and forty drivers signed in for the $7,500 opening event on Friday night.   Dale started the night off by turning the third quickest lap in Group A of time trials and won his heat race, sending him to the redraw for the main event.  McDowell drew the outside pole position for the 40 lap feature and went on to lead flag-to-flag to claim the convincing victory over Chris Madden, Ray Cook, Billy Ogle Jr., and Kent Robinson.  The triumph was his first of the 2014 season.

The weekend drew to a close with Saturday night's $12,500-to-win finale.  Thirty-eight drivers were registered for battle at the ½ mile oval.  Dale qualified second in his group and later won his preliminary heat race to again transfer to the redraw.  In the redraw, McDowell drew the fourth starting spot for the 60 lap main event.  During the course of the feature he raced in around the top five for much of the event before crossing the finish line in sixth.

Full results are available at www.TheNDRL.com .

The team isn’t currently sure, when it will next return to action, so please keep your browsers locked to www.TeamDillonRacing.com as new dates are added.

Team Dillon Racing would like to thank all of their sponsors marketing partners including Warrior Race Cars, ECR Engines-Chevrolet, Xinergy Corp., National Boiler Service, WTW Enterprises, www.youarehollywood.com, Ferris Commercial Mowers, Bad Boy Buggies, University of Northwestern Ohio, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Bass Pro Shops, Cometic Gaskets, BigDog Motorsports, DOW, Mark Martin Chevrolet, FK Rod Ends, Mastersbilt Race Cars, Integra Shocks, Schoenfeld Headers, Keyser Manufacturing, TWM, All Star Performance, Turbo Start, FSR racing supplies (Level 3-product)  Brinn Transmissions, Hoosier Tire, Wiles Driveshafts, Weld Racing Wheels, ButlerBuilt Seats, GW Performance, Mark IV ATV's, Racing Optics, Winters Rearends, QuarterMaster, Sweet Manufacturing, Peterson Fluid Systems, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For the latest information on Team Dillon Racing please visit www.TeamDillonRacing.com .


For Immediate Release
Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
March 8th, 2014

Morgan Bagley Conquers Texas Dirt Track World Championship

Longview, Texas (03/08/14) – A rare appearance in his home state of Texas found Morgan Bagley overcoming adversity to pilot his #14m P&W Sales/Rocket By R.E. Consulting/Clements Super Late Model to a $3,500 victory on Saturday evening in the Texas Dirt Track World Championship.

After a discouraging start to the weekend, Morgan Bagley recovered from a crash in Thursday night's practice session to score a very satisfying victory in Saturday's Port-A-Cool Texas World Dirt Track Championship at Texas Motor Speedway (Justin, Texas).  During Thursday night's practice session, Morgan made contact with his teammate, Zach McMillan of Kilgore, Texas. When McMillan spun out it left Bagley with nowhere to go and the end result was heavy right-side damage to his #14m P&W Sales/Rocket/Clements Super Late Model. The crew hustled back to their headquarters, in what was nearly a five-hour round trip, to piece Morgan's mangled machine back together before race day.

Thirty-seven entries were on hand for the Super Late Model portion of the event, all ready to battle for the $3,500 prize and the coveted cowboy hat trophy.  Morgan drew the outside pole of the fourth heat race and went on to claim the win over Chris Brown, locking him into the third starting spot for the main event. Bagley jumped out to the early lead in the 40 lap feature with Brown in tow. Brown would take over the top spot on lap 13 and show the way before Bagley motored by again on lap 26.  Despite Brown's efforts to re-assume command in the final ten circuits, Bagley continued to pull away and grab his first victory of the 2014 season.  Brown settled for a distant second, some 2.8 seconds behind the winner, followed by Ryan Gustin, Jon Mitchell, and Rodney Sanders rounding out the top five.

"This is a prestigious event for us to win," said Bagley.  "Being that I'm from Texas and the race is here in Texas. It's nice to come here and be able do this. I've raced Modifieds here before I got the Late Model and we've come here every year and had some decent runs, but made some mistakes or had luck not go our way. It seemed like we were snake bit.  Tonight we were finally able to put that all behind us!"

Full results are available at www.texasmotorspeedway.com

Bagley now looks with anticipation to the upcoming weekend’s 4th Annual Pelican 100 at Ark-La-Tex Speedway (Vivian, Louisiana).  The $10,000 top prize and the coveted “Bird” trophy is a pair of accolades that Morgan would love to add to his trophy case.  Action opens on Thursday evening with an Open Practice Session before seeing time trials and heat race action contested on Friday evening.  Saturday night’s program will include b-main competition as well as the 100 lap finale.  For more information on the event please visit www.ArkLaTexSpeedway.com .

Morgan Bagley would like to thank all of his sponsors, which include P&W Sales (Oil Field Manufacturers Rep.), MSI (Pumps, Valves, & Manifolds), P&W Iron Works, GottaRace.com, RE Racing Consultants, Bert Transmission, Frankland Rear-End, Arizona Sports Shirts, Racing Optics, Sunoco Race Fuels, Barnes Systems, MSD, STP, Wiles Racing, Integra Shock, FK Rod Ends, JE Pistons, J&J Motorsports, Hypercoils, Outerwears Performance Products, Wilwood, Wix Filters, Armor All, COMP Cams, XS Power, Hoosier Tire Southwest, Wrisco Aluminum, TWM Racing Products, Day Motorsports, Quickcar Racing Products, Performance Race Engineering, Keyser Manufacturing, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For more information on Morgan Bagley and McMillan Motorsports, please visit the official team website at www.MorganBagley.com .


Reutzel Eyes West Texas 305 Loot!
Lonnie Wheatley, CLUTE, Texas (March 11, 2014) – There’s no better place than the Wild West to go chasing after some big money in true Outlaw style, which is exactly what Aaron Reutzel has in mind for this coming weekend.

Taking advantage of an idle weekend on the Lucas Oil ASCS National trail, the Clute, TX, racer is set to take the wheel of a Casey Minks entry for this weekend’s ASCS West Texas 305 double on Friday and Saturday.

With a $3,000 winner’s share on the line both nights, the weekend begins with El Paso Speedway Park’s 305 Smackdown on Friday night before shifting to Las Cruces’ Southern New Mexico Speedway for the 305 Shootout on Saturday night.

“There are no points on the line, we can just go out and have some fun this weekend,” Reutzel commented.  “And hopefully win a little extra money.”

With his familiar No. 87 Sprint Car ready for Lucas Oil ASCS National action at next weekend’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway Spring Nationals in Mesquite, TX, Reutzel joins forces for West Texas 305 action with Winter Challenge champion car owner Casey Minks.

“Casey’s definitely got some momentum going on right now so hopefully we can keep that going,” Reutzel commented.

It won’t be an easy task though with a stellar cast of contenders expected for both nights.  “It’s really like a true 305 Nationals, about all of the ASCS National guys will be there,” Reutzel explained of the field that is expected to include fellow ASCS National contenders Jason Johnson, Jeff Swindell, Johnny Herrera and Tony Bruce, Jr., among others along with USAC National title contender and Minks stablemate for the weekend Brady Bacon.

“The guys from down there are really tough too,” Reutzel stated.  “John Carney won the big race at Devil’s Bowl at the end of last year, Kyle McCutcheon won up at Eagle, these guys go other places and win so that tells you just how tough they are on their home turf.”

While Reutzel has spent the past six seasons in the 360-ci powered ASCS ranks, he has a handful of 305 starts to draw on as well.

“We should have won about every time out in Bob and Christie Miller’s car last year,” Reutzel explained.  “We had one win and several runner-up finishes and a couple of DNF’s due to minor problems, we were good each time out.”

There are subtle differences between driving a 360-ci powerplant versus a 305-ci engine as well, Reutzel explains.  “The 360’s are usually more about finesse, keeping your tires hooked up and under you.  The 305’s are all about momentum, you rarely let up.”

Reutzel enjoyed several strong runs in 305 action at El Paso Speedway Park and Southern New Mexico Speedway last season including a triumph at Las Cruces in August.

“I like both tracks, they’re both really racy when they’re right,” Reutzel explained.  “Casey is coming in with some momentum, I just want to keep that going and take some momentum of our own to Devil’s Bowl next weekend.”

2014 Quick Stats:  7 races, 7 “A” Main starts, 3 top-tens, 1 “B” Main win.
Up Next: The Devil’s Bowl Speedway Spring Nationals in Mesquite, TX, on March 21-22 is the next stop on the Lucas Oil ASCS National trail after this weekend’s ASCS West Texas 305 double in El Paso and Las Cruces.

Keep Track:  Keep track of Aaron Reutzel’s on track-action including schedule and results at http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aaron-Reutzel-Racing/117666254913127 or on Twitter at @AaronReutzel.  You can also e-mail Aaron at aaronreutzel@yahoo.com.
If you would like Aaron Reutzel Racing press releases e-mailed directly to you, send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
Penning the recurring series of “The Wheatley Chronicles” articles on racinboys.com, Lonnie Wheatley provides media, public relations and more for select tracks, drivers and events.  For more information, Wheatley may be contacted at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.