Seth Bergman Focused On 2016 Lucas Oil ASCS National Title Run

TULSA, Okla. (February 10, 2016) One name that has become synonymous with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network is Washington's Seth Bergman.

Coming off a banner year that included 13 overall wins, Seth continues to climb the ladder of success as he looks to add the 2016 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Championship to his resume.

"We're committed 100 percent to try to see this championship through," said Seth in looking at the 2016 season. "I'm not going to lie, I will be disappointed if we don't win the championship this year. I feel like we've been here long enough, and I've grown enough as an individual and a racecar driver. Last year, we had the speed to be a championship contender, and I feel like we've put all the tools in place."

Reflecting on 2015 and where the team can improve, Seth commented, "Looking back at last year, there's some things we can be proud of. We won some big races as far as 360cid competition goes, and we were in the hunt for a lot more. I can look back and pinpoint why we lost them and looking back, we are happy, but looking to this year we want to improve on that, look at the areas we struggled, and improve on those and make sure we don't have those problems this year."

A part of the Lucas Oil ASCS presented the MAVTV Motorsports Network since 2009, the familiar No. 23 will again utilize EMI for their Chassis needs, with the biggest change coming between the pipes as Scott Baylor Racing Engines has taken over all of the B&M Motorsport's horsepower needs.

A large part of Seth's success in 2015 is Crew Chief, Tyler Tessemaker, who will again join Seth on the road in 2016.

"Last year in Florida was mine and Tyler's first race together, and it's just been us ever since, and I think for a driver and crew chief combo to go out and win 13 races, and be a championship contender in their first year with so many variables no solid or going in the right direction, the numbers we put up together shows what we are capable of doing."

Continuing the partnership with Dennis Marshala and Oil Field Equipment and Manufacturing, Seth can't thank Dennis as well as his family enough for their continued support in making his dream of racing on the road a reality. Seth would like to thank his sponsors Corridor Electric, Oil Field Equipment and Manufacturing, SpeedMart, Scott Baylor Racing Engines, EMI, Young Tool Co., and would like to welcome Speedy Auto Service to the list of sponsors in 2016.

Anyone wishing to keep up with Seth Bergman in 2016 can do so at http://www.sethbergmanracing.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter (@BergmanRacing).

The 2016 season is the 25th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing across the United States for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network. For continued updates, and to see the full lineup of events for American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to the Regional Tours, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.

ASCS Online:

American Sprint Car Series: http://www.ascsracing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lucasoilascs
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lucasoilascs (@lucasoilascs)
Instagram: ASCSRACING
Audio Broadcast: http://www.racinboys.com
Live Scoring (Where Applicable): http://www.ascsracing.com/live and the Race Monitor App

Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV Motorsports Network is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.

Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network include: Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix. All Heat Races are brought to you by ButlerBuilt Professional Seating Systems. All B-Features are presented by BMRS.

Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, LucasOilRacing.tv, and General Tire.

Communications for the American Sprint Car Series is provided by Racing Electronics. All events are broadcast online at http://www.racinboys.com.


Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, KSE Racing Products, Fuel Safe, DMI Rear Ends, BMRS, SpeedMart, Competition Suspension, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Maxwell Industries, Simpson, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley's Racing Products, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

By Lyndal Scranton

Wheatland, MO (February 10, 2016) -  Jason Utter's 2015 dirt Late Model season was rock solid, with a dozen top-five finishes and 16 top-10s in 31 starts.

That consistency led to a career-best third-place finish in the Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association standings. Certainly it was a year that many gladly would have embraced.

But as a new season nears, the Iowa corn farmer is willing to trade some of that consistency for celebratory trips to victory lane.

"We're gonna try and win more races instead of trying to run for points," Utter said earlier this week from his home in Columbus Junction, Iowa.

Utter said "we came out all right" in evaluating last season, but said he became a bit too conservative.

"I kind of got caught up in that points deal and I was content with running second, third or fifth when I probably should have moved up the track and got up on the cushion and let it hang out," Utter added. "So I think we'll go for more wins this year."

Utter, 36, will be busy over the new couple of months. There's a racing season to prepare for, with the Lucas Oil MLRA Spring Meltdown at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, set to kick it off April 1-2.

There's also corn to plant. Utter and his father, Bob Utter, own farms in eastern Iowa and keep a close eye on the commodities market.

These days, Jason Utter will quickly tell you, corn is cheap. That might be good for the grocery shopper, but not so much for the farmer who depends on his crop sales to make a decent living.

And when you have a race team? The market price of corn can determine a season's schedule and whether it's feasible to chase a series from track to track.

"It's pretty expensive to run up and down the road," Utter said. "If the corn prices will go up a little bit, we'd commit to (MLRA). But at the moment, the corn is down and the financial part is a stickler with us. But hopefully, it works out."

Utter is eager to battle the likes of reigning MLRA champ Terry Phillips, along with Jesse Stovall, Jake O'Neil and Chad Simpson for victories. Utter often found himself content for decent finishes in 2015 as those drivers celebrated.

Year two in a Black Diamond Race Car figures to be better. He settled into the hottest brand in Late Model racing a year ago after a long stretch in a Mastersbilt chassis.

"We went through the notes during the winter and picked out the pages that were good," Utter said. "We'll try and use those."

Racing and farming always has been a family affair for the Utters. Jason began racing go-karts at his dad's Spring Run Speedway as an 8-year-old.  Now the two coordinate the racing and farming with Bob Utter serving as his son's crew chief when they aren't spraying crops or driving  combines.

"I'm fortunate in that my dad allows me to help him put the crops in and then go racing in the summer," Utter said. "It works out pretty good where in the summer he overlooks the farming operation. Then come the fall, I'm back on the combine."

Utter heads into the new racing season with sponsors Bug Soother, Beckman's Oasis, Cox Metal Fabrication and Louisa Gold Farms.

Winning races - along with running for an MLRA championship - would be his ideal scenario.

For more on Jason Utter, visit the team's website at UtterMotorsports.com.

For all of the latest news and information fans are encouraged to visit the series website at www.MLRARacing.com.

Fans may also "like" the Lucas Oil MLRA Facebook page by clicking www.Facebook.com/lucasoilmlra or follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/MLRA.