Reutzel Begins 2017 Effort at Bubba Raceway Park

Lonnie Wheatley, CLUTE, Texas (February 8, 2017) – Another full season of racing is about to fire off for Aaron Reutzel as the Clute, TX, racer is set to take on the All Star Circuit of Champions in this weekend’s trio of events at Ocala, Florida’s Bubba Raceway Park.

While Reutzel and the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/BC Fundz No. 87 Triple-X Sprint Car team set sights on a second Lucas Oil ASCS National Championship in three years after capturing the 2015 title, a full dose of Florida action is on tap first as Reutzel embarks on an ambitious schedule of more than 80 events.

“We’ve always got around there pretty good, we just haven’t always had the greatest luck,” Reutzel relates.  “We won an ASCS race there a couple of years ago and were leading one All Star race when we had engine problems.  Hopefully we can have a little luck on our side and get 2017 off to a good start.”

Following this weekend’s All Star Circuit of Champions triple, action shifts to Barberville’s Volusia Speedway Park for five nights of Winter Nationals competition on February 15-19 including the opening three nights of World of Outlaws action before shifting to Tampa’s East Bay Raceway Park for the $10,000-to-win “King of 360’s” Ronald Laney Memorial on February 23-25.

Another pair of World of Outlaws weekends in Texas and Las Vegas will then await the Wren Motorsports/Momentum Racing Suspensions team before the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour campaign swings into action at Devil’s Bowl Speedway near Dallas, TX, on March 17-18.

While Reutzel and the Nattress Construction/Wings Unlimited team fire into action after a 2016 season that included eight overall feature wins, Reutzel has already seen some on-track action in 2017 with last month’s 31st Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Raceway.

“It was a last minute deal,” Reutzel said of the pairing aboard Tyson Hall’s Midget, whom he formerly competed against in the Micro Sprint Car ranks.

Reutzel made the most of his first full Midget outing after his rookie Chili Bowl effort in 2016 was plagued by mechanical problems.

This time, Reutzel took on a field of more than 90 entries in the Tuesday, January 10, Chili Bowl qualifier and raced from 18th to 12th in the “A” Main after topping one of the twin “B” Mains.  Among the field of 365 entries, Reutzel raced from a Chili Bowl “C” Main in the Saturday championship finale and then had a transfer position within sight in “B” Main action before getting collected in a late tangle.

“When we got up to ninth, I really thought we had a shot of making it to the feature,” Reutzel said.  “For a last-minute deal, it went really well.”

Now, Reutzel and the Wright Way Logistics/Walker Performance Filtration team are set to take on the All Stars at Ocala.  The uniquely-shaped track is one that Reutzel has enjoyed success at before with some strong 410-ci outings to go along with an ASCS triumph in 2015.

He’ll try to add to the win column beginning on Thursday night.

2017 Quick Stats:  2 races (2016 stats: 99 races, 8 wins, 33 top-fives, 50 top-tens)

Up Next: All Star Circuit of Champions at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 9-11.

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 www.sprintcarmania.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.


Media Contact: Trenton Berry
trenton@racindirt.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Wheatland, Missouri (February 9, 2017) - It has been a little bit of a different offseason for Grandview, Missouri's Austin Siebert compared to previous years. During the final night of the 2016 Lucas Oil MLRA season at Lucas Oil Speedway, Siebert knocked front wheels with another competitor and it jerked the steering wheel out of his hands. He didn't think much about it at the time and the contact didn't even cause a yellow.

He had pain in his right wrist the following days, which would not subside. He visited the doctor and it was determined he would need surgery to repair his injured wrist. Austin underwent an operation last week, and is now on the mend.

When reached by phone to talk about the upcoming season, spirits were high, and he was at work, anticipating the upcoming season. Siebert hopes to be ready to race when the season starts but realistically, thinks it will be closer to May before he jumps back behind the wheel. His particular surgery typically comes with a three month recovery period.

"It's the first time I've ever been hurt racing," said Siebert. "The Late Model steering is so fast and the tires are so big, it doesn't take much contact and wheel just jerks out of your hand. It's not uncommon for it to spin two full times over before you really even have time to react."

Once he returns to the pilot's seat, he plans to pick up the remainder of the Lucas Oil MLRA tour and build on a good foundation established last season. The Kenny's Tile operation will feature the same Capital Race Car to begin the season as was campaigned last year.

"It took me awhile to get comfortable in it," said Siebert. "Their recommended things to try just really don't fit with the hard tires we race on. I kind of went on my own with shocks, late in the year, and really had a better feel for the car. I plan to start out a little more on my own deal and hope to learn some more."

Siebert plans a new car sometime around mid season, but doesn't have any particular brand he is leaning towards right now. He will also run a Modified quite bit. The team has a pair of MB Customs in the stable as well as a GRT.

This coming season marks his third in Late Models. A pavement crossover, Siebert got his start in Super Trucks at I-70 Speedway. The Odessa, Missouri track's decline ran nearly parallel to the transformation of Wheatland Raceway into Lucas Oil Speedway and they opted to give dirt racing a shot.

"I'm so glad it worked out like it did," Austin further elaborated. "I love dirt racing. You show up at five or so and run the race, and if you are close to home you can be home by midnight a lot of times. It seems like when we pavement raced, we tested and practiced all the time, actual racing was such a small part of it."

The first weekend of racing for the Lucas Oil MLRA is just under two months away. It will again originate from the Kosiski family's I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, March 31, and April 1. The Spring Meltdown will pay $2,000 and $3,000 to win respectively.
   
For all of the latest news and information fans are encouraged to visit the series website at www.MLRARacing.com.
  

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