Owens, Scott kick off 2015 campaign this weekend at Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout

TUCSON, Ariz. (Jan. 7)-Jimmy Owens and Stormy Scott will make their first starts of the 2015 season as the Rowland Racing team treks to the USA Raceway for the Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout at the USA Raceway in Tucson, Ariz.

The week-long event begins this Friday, Jan. 9, with an open practice from 6-9 p.m., followed by the opening night of racing action on Saturday, Jan. 10. The annual mini-series runs through Sunday, Jan. 18, with as much as $27,000 to win possible over six nights of competition.

For Owens, it will be his first time behind the wheel of a dirt late model with a new car owner in nearly a decade. Earlier last month it was announced that a partnership had been forged with the three-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Champion and Rowland Racing.

In addition to his trio of LOLMDS titles and three runner-up finishes in the series points over the last six years, Owens has more than 500 career victories in dirt late models and modifieds. The 42-year-old from Newport, Tenn., was a four-time UMP Modified National Champion between 1998-2002 before turning his attention to the dirt late models.

Scott has been a dominant force in the United States Modified Touring Series since capturing the USMTS Rookie of the Year honors in 2012. In his three full-time campaigns with the series, the 25-year-old from Las Cruces, N.M., has amassed 32 main event victories while capturing three regional crowns and finishing among the top four in the final points each season.

Both drivers will pilot Black Diamond/Club 29 Race Cars for the Woodward, Okla.-based team with Widow Wax Premium Car Care Products on board as primary sponsor.

To learn more about the Keyser Manufacturing wild West Shootout, log on to www.RaceUSARaceway.com or call 520-664-2074.

For fans unable to make the trip to Tucson, DirtonDirt.com will be broadcasting live from the event every day. Order your pay-per-view package today by visiting www.dirtondirt.com/liveEvents.php and catch Owens and Scott in action all week.

ABOUT ROWLAND RACING
Headquartered in Woodward, Okla., Rowland Racing, LLC, fields super dirt late models on Black Diamond/Club 29 Race Cars chassis and dirt modifieds crafted with LG2 by Road Runner chassis beautified by Widow Wax Premium Car Care Products.

In addition to these incredible partners, Rowland Racing is made possible by support from VP Racing Fuels, AFCO Brakes, CPD Racing Tools, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, Hypercoils, Keyser Manufacturing, Performance Bodies, Peterson Jewelry, Pro Power Racing, Road Runner Trucking, Road Runner Crane, Specketer Farms and Sybesma Graphics.

For more information about Rowland Racing, visit www.rowlandracing.net online, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RowlandRacing and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RowlandRacing.
For more information about Jimmy Owens, visit his website at www.jimmyowens20.com.

ABOUT WIDOW WAX
Widow Wax is made using a ThinFilm technology that leaves a hard, glass-like finish on all painted surfaces. Widow Wax dries clear in cracks and crevices, and is guaranteed to not leave behind a dusty chalky residue. The foundation for the original Widow Wax Brazilian Carnauba Wax & Cleaner is a wax/polymer mix formulation that has been used by professional detailers for unmatched results. Easy-On Easy-Off application erases fine scratches and swirl marks, and is perfect for dark colors, including black. This unique formula utilizes high-tech cross-linking polymers and advanced resins to form a layer of protection that resists repeated washings and the hazards of the environment.

Also try Widow Wax Luxury Leather & Vinyl Protectant, Widow Wax Instant Spray Wax, Widow Wax Non-Toxic All Purpose Power Cleaner, Widow Wax Extra Long-Lasting Tire Shine and Widow Wax Non-Toxic Wash & Wax to beautify and extend the life of your finish.

Reutzel on the Verge of Victory at Winter Heat

Lonnie Wheatley, CLUTE, Texas (January 8, 2015) – Oh, so close.  That’s been the theme for Aaron Reutzel through the opening three legs of the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown at Cocopah Speedway near Yuma, AZ.

The 2015 Lucas Oil ASCS National championship hopeful has shown plenty of speed in the initial three 410-ci Sprint Car events of his career.  So much so in fact, that he has earned a front row starting position in two of three events and led the way in two of the features.

The Clute, TX, racer has lacked any semblance of luck, however, with a variety of misfortunes forcing him pitside early in all three events.

“We’ve had no problem finding speed, we’re just having a problem keeping it until the end,” Reutzel laments.

Reutzel made his 410-ci debut on Friday night and promptly raced his way into a front row outside starting position for the 30-lap feature aboard the BC Fundz/Basic One Services No. 87 Triple X Sprint Car.
Reutzel jumped into the early lead only to cut a tire just a couple of laps into the going.

Fast forward to Saturday night and Reutzel actually improved upon his Friday debut by earning the pole starting position for the feature after winning both his heat race and qualifying race in the Wren Motorsports/Momentum Racing Suspensions machine.

Reutzel gunned into the lead at the outset of Saturday’s main event and had the Danny Sander Construction/ButlerBuilt machine well in command of the $12,000-to-win race.  A mid-race restart proved to be his undoing though, as the front mounts of the top wing broke entering turn one and sent the No. 87 into the wall.

“It was just a freak deal, we’ve never had anything like that break,” Reutzel explained of the likely win that got away.

With Reutzel sidelined, NASCAR star Kyle Larson went on to take the victory.  “Even Kyle said he didn’t have anything for me.  I would go hard for a couple laps then just kind of ride around, the car was that good.”

Starting eighth in Tuesday night’s feature event, Reutzel had the Lone Star Hydro Maintenance/Wright Way Logistics machine among the top five in short order, battling with Logan Schuchart for fourth and closing in on eventual race winner Steve Kinser when a cut right rear tire ended another potential victory drive just a dozen laps into the 30-lapper.

“We ran over Jacob Allen’s rear end cover in turn two, it cut mine and Larson’s and (David) Gravel’s all about the same time,” Reutzel said of the debris that brought a premature end to another strong run.
“The car was getting better and better the further we got into the race, I really would have liked to see what we could have done,” Reutzel said of the Tuesday night feature event.

While three consecutive nights of misfortune are certainly frustrating, the seamless transition to the 410 ranks and obvious speed through the initial three events makes for plenty of reason to be optimistic going into this weekend’s final pair of Winter Heat events on Friday and Saturday.

“It feels great,” Reutzel said of the team’s competitiveness against a stellar Winter Heat field.  “It’s good to know that we’re not chasing the setup or just trying to learn how to drive the car.  We came here initially just hoping we could make the features, now we know we can compete and have a chance at a win.”
While Reutzel has made the transition from 360 to 410 look easy, the difference between driving the two is noticeable.

“The 410 is so much less stable, they jump around much more too,” Reutzel explains of the significant horsepower-to-weight ratio change.

With the initial three nights of Winter Heat in the books and obvious speed for the No. 87 team, Reutzel will try to finish off the five-race series with a victory in at least one of this weekend’s $12,000-to-win main events.

“I know we can do it if we can just finish the night,” Reutzel says.  “The car is working great, we’ve just gotta finish.”

2015 Quick Stats:  3 races, two front-row feature starts.
Up Next: “Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown” Winged 410-ci Sprint Car action at Cocopah Speedway near Yuma, AZ, this Friday and Saturday, January 9-10.

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.