For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
January 21st, 2015

Rodney Sanders Snags Wins and Championship in the Desert

Happy, Texas (01/21/15) – Rodney Sanders found the second half of the 9th Annual Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout to be as good as the first half. While pulling double duty between the Super Late Model and USRA Modified ranks Rodney bagged two more wins in the USRA Modified and won the miniseries point title in the Super Late Model division.

The Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout was back underway on Friday night at USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona) with a $1,000-to-win, Open Wheel Modified event. Sanders started his outing with a fifth to second charge in heat race action, earning him the second starting spot on the feature grid. In the 25 lap finale, Sanders rocketed to the lead at the onset of the event and never looked back as he drove his #20 Swan Energy/Kimrad Transport/MB Customs Open Wheel Modified to his victory of the weekend. Rodney took the checkered flag in dominating fashion ahead of Ryan Gustin, Grant Junghans, Jake Gallardo and Mike Stearns.

In the Super Late Model ranks, Sanders went into battle against a stout field of fifty-two competitors. He raced to the win from his third starting spot in his heat race, which positioned him starting fifth in the $3,000-to-win feature. Sanders battled amongst the top for much of the event, and used a last lap pass on Ronny Lee Hollingsworth to secure a third place finish behind race winner, Darrell Lanigan and Billy Moyer. Hollingsworth and Ryan Gustin rounded out the top five finishers.

Rodney Sanders claimed his second Open Wheel Modified victory in as many nights on Saturday evening. A strong field of twenty-nine entries were on hand for the program, and Sanders would see his night start much like it had all week. A convincing heat race win from the third starting spot earned Rodney the fifth starting position on the feature grid. When the race went green, Sanders quickly marched forward and took control of the second spot just as Jake Gallardo assumed the lead on lap four.

Sanders would make his first attempt at the top spot on lap ten only to be denied by Gallardo. The duo continued to race side-by-side with Sanders using a slider in turn four to take the lead on lap thirteen. Gallardo would return the favor entering turn one on lap fourteen but, slip over the cushion allowing Sanders regain control down the backstretch. From there, Sanders went on to take the checkered flag and the $1,000 payday ahead of Ricky Thornton Jr., Gallardo, Mike Stearns and Fito Gallardo.

Fifty-two Super Late Models registered for the $3,000-to-win event, and Sanders would rocket from his ninth starting spot to finish fifth in his heat race, locking him into the fifteenth starting position for the 30 lap feature. During the course of the finale, Rodney drove past eight other competitors in route to a solid eighth place finish in the final rundown.

The miniseries drew to a close on Sunday evening with Sanders once again competing in both the Open Wheel Modified and Super Late Model ranks. Twenty-four Open Wheel Modified warriors registered for battle, and an eighth to fourth run in his heat race positioned him starting second in the $1,000-to-win finale. At the drop of the green, pole-sitter Ricky Thornton Jr. lead the way with Sanders trailing in second. Sanders waged a fierce battle at the front of the pack lap-after-lap before ultimately settling into the runner-up spot behind race winner, Ryan Gustin. Jake Gallardo, Mike Stearns and Fito Gallardo rounded out the top five finishers.

A $10,000 winner's check was posted for Super Late Models as fifty entries registered for battle. A heat race win positioned Rodney starting eighth in the 50 lap finale. Sanders battled amongst the top ten throughout the duration of the feature before crossing the finish line in sixth behind race winner, Jimmy Owens, Jimmy Mars, Chris Simpson, Jason Papich and Tony Jackson Jr.

In addition to a trio of victories over the course of the week-long miniseries, Sanders was also crowned the Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout Super Late Model champion. Finishing just two points ahead of Jason Papich in the championship standings, and earning $2,000 for efforts.

“It was a great week for our team in both divisions, and definitely gives us some momentum to start the season,” said Sanders. “I’m really excited about the potential that this season holds for us.”

Complete results from the event are available at www.RaceUSARaceway.com .

The team now turns its attention to the Georgia and Florida Speedweeks. Rodney is tentatively scheduled to compete in the 5th Annual Winter Freeze at Screven Motor Speedway (Screven, Georgia) on February 5th-7th with a trio of events that includes a $5,000-to-win, unsanctioned event on Thursday night before a pair of $10,000-to-win, World of Outlaws Late Model Series events will be held on Friday and Saturday. From there the team plans to move onto Florida for a full schedule of racing over the course of the next two weeks at Bubba Raceway Park (Ocala, Florida) and Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, Florida). For more information on the events, please visit www.WoOLMS.com .

Rodney Sanders would like to thank all of his sponsors including Swan Energy, Kimrad Transport, S&S Fishing and Rental, 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, Charter Oak Production Company, Palmer Painting, Beyea Headers, Five Star Shop Service, McDonald Oil Field Services, KBC Graphics, D&G Contracting, FK Rod Ends, Fike's Transmissions, Krohn Farms, Mars Race Cars, K&N Filters, Club 29 Race Cars, Real Racing Wheels, 87 Automotive, Wichita Tank Racing, Wehrs Machine, All-Star Performance, Wilwood Breaks, Driven Race Oils, CMD Race Shocks, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 21, 2015

Randy Weaver to Start 2015 Season in Bama Bash; Tabs Grant Pearl as Part-Time Driver

(CROSSVILLE, TENNESSEE) Fresh off a tremendous 2014 racing season in which he reached victory lane on eleven different occasions including in the Coors Light 'Fall Classic' at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, Mississippi to pocket a career-high $15,000 payday, Randy Weaver announced today that he will likely start his 2015 campaign in the 'Bama Bash' at East Alabama Motor Speedway on February 27-28. The Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series (SAS) will preside over the 18th Annual 'Bama Bash' at the historic Phenix City, Alabama facility and a $15,000 top prize will be on the line.

Randy has also added the opening weekend of the Old Man's Garage Spring Nationals tour to his 2015 schedule of events. The Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tennessee will host a pair of Super Late Model specials on March 13-14. A $5,000 winner's check will be up for grabs on that Friday night, while the doubleheader finale boasts a $10,000 windfall on Saturday. You can view Randy's plans for the season all year long by pointing your web browser to www.RandyWeaverRacing.com.

"We have just been swamped at the shop building Longhorn cars for a select few customers and there is no way we could be ready to race during Speedweeks," quoted Weaver recently. "In fact, we are still six or seven cars behind right now and we will be pushing being prepared for the Bama Bash, but I think we can make it for that race. I have to thank everyone associated with our Outlaw Racing Southeast team - especially my crew and everyone here at the shop, as well as Stone Land Clearing & Excavating, A.F. Stone Professional Medical Services, Mission Transport, The Bailey Company, Longhorn Chassis, Cornett Racing Engines, and all of our great product supporters!"

In other news coming out of Outlaw Racing Southeast today, Randy has tabbed Anniston, Alabama native Grant Pearl as a part-time driver of the #116. Grant, who has helped wrench on Randy's race cars for the past three seasons, has several years of Crate Late Model experience and finished sixth - in his own equipment - in this year's Crate portion of the 'Ice Bowl' at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama. The 25 year old up-and-comer is slated to make his first appearance behind the wheel of an Outlaw Racing Southeast-prepped car on January 31 in the $3,000 to win 'Cabin Fever 40' at Boyd's Speedway in Ringgold, Georgia.

"I am very excited to announce that Grant (Pearl) will drive one of our cars in select races this season," Weaver went on to say. "He gave up his racing career to come work for us and I want to reward him for that hard work and dedication by getting his feet wet in the Super Late Model division. We will just pick and choose several races throughout the year for him and I think he will do a great job in the seat. With what I went through with the passing of my dad at the end of last year, I realize that I am not going to be able to do this forever. I want to give back and start preparing for the future a little bit, while still trying to win races myself in the present."

Randy Weaver would like to thank all of his marketing partners for 2015 including: Outlaw Racing Southeast, Stone Land Clearing & Excavating, A.F. Stone Professional Medical Services, Mission Transport, The Bailey Company, Longhorn Chassis, Cornett Racing Engines, Slicker Graphics, Gunter Drywall, Glenn's Auto Parts, Fuel Safe Racing Cells, Hoosier Racing Tire South, VP Racing Fuels, Allstar Performance, Keizer Wheels, Will Kinzer Foundation for Autism Research, PPM Racing Products, Bert Transmission, Sweet Mfg., Stealth Carburetors, Performance Rod & Custom (PRC), Delph Communications, FK Rod Ends, Schaeffer Racing Oil, Shy Suspensions, Bulldog Rear Ends, Ohlins Shocks, AR Bodies, and Quarter Master.

The latest news and information concerning the Outlaw Racing Southeast team can be found 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online at www.RandyWeaverRacing.com.

Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com

Florida on the Horizon as Reutzel Collects First 410 Win

Lonnie Wheatley, CLUTE, Texas (January 21, 2015) – No question about it, he had already made his presence known.  Those on hand for Cocopah Speedway’s inaugural Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown in Yuma, AZ, had taken notice of Aaron Reutzel.

All that was lacking was the end results.

That changed with the January 10 Winter Heat Finale as Reutzel finally shook off the gremlins to pick up his first career 410-ci Sprint Car victory and the $12,000 winner’s share that went along with it, the biggest win of his career thus far.

Oh, and it came in just the fifth career 410-ci Sprint Car start for the Clute, TX, racer.

“It’s a dream come true,” the driver of the BC Fundz/Basic One Services No. 87 Triple X Sprint Car said afterward.  “To not only race with but to beat guys like Kinser, Lasoski, Saldana, McMahan, it’s unreal.”

But it is real.  And after earning front row starting berths in each of his first two times out among the 410 ranks in the Wren Motorsports/Momentum Racing Suspensions machine, the victory wasn’t necessarily an unexpected one for the 2015 Lucas Oil ASCS National championship hopeful.

It was really just a matter of avoiding the gremlins that had haunted the team in previous Winter Heat rounds.  Like failed wing mounts.  Or cut tires.

And after a broken universal joint brought an early end to the Winter Heat Round Four event on Friday, January 9, the ultimate victory drive the following night was in peril as well with nose wing and then brake issues.

But first, Reutzel had to get in position to get the win.  And he did that by earning another front row starting position, this time alongside NASCAR star Kasey Kahne.

“We had noticed the tires were getting a little worn so we went with an ASCS right rear, we knew we could abuse it a little more and then try to take care of it later in the race,” Reutzel explained.

“I was worried about getting the jump on Kasey and getting out front,” Reutzel said.  He did so successfully though and the race was on with Reutzel out front for all but one lap along the way.

After briefly falling behind Craig Dollansky, Reutzel responded by driving back to the front through the middle of the track.  And then the nose wing collapsed.

“It took me about three laps to figure out what to do after that, I had to move the top wing around and drive it a little different,” Reutzel explained.

And then the brakes went out.  All the way out.

“I couldn’t believe it, I was wondering what was next,” Reutzel says.

Fortunately, nothing else was next and Reutzel held on to the finish line for the $12,000 score in the Danny Sander Construction/ButlerBuilt machine.

“We got to Yuma just hoping to just make the features to begin with, then after the first night we figured maybe we could run top five,” Reutzel explains.  “Then we felt like we might have a shot to win after the first couple of races, but I really didn’t think we’d get it.”

He got it though, kicking off the 2015 season in style aboard the Lone Star Hydro Maintenance/Wright Way Logistics entry.

“It was definitely a lot of fun,” Reutzel said of his first handful of 410-ci Sprint Car events.  “If you’re a better driver, the 410 benefits you more.  The more you keep your tires hooked up, the better off you are.”

As for the rash of parts issues, Reutzel was only left to guess that, “Either the 410 is more demanding on equipment or it was just a coincidence that all those things happened at the same time.”

Either way, Reutzel is busily prepping for three more nights of 410-ci Sprint Car action at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL, on February 5-7 before the opening pair of ASCS National weekends at Tampa’s East Bay Raceway Park on February 19-21 and then Bubba Raceway Park on February 27-28.

2015 Quick Stats:  5 races, one win, three front-row feature starts.

Up Next: Winged 410-ci Sprint Car action at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL, on February 5-7.

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.

Kyle Bellm Set to Tackle ASCS National Tour

Lonnie Wheatley, NIXA, Mo. (January 21, 2015) – Kyle Bellm has known all along that he wanted to make a run at National points somewhere along the way. 

It was just a matter of when.

The time is now, as the accomplished 24-year-old Regional racer from Nixa, Missouri, will step up to take on the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour in 2015.  It will mark Bellm’s first run at the $60,000 ASCS National championship.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Bellm explained.

Newly married in November, Bellm felt the time was right for the family-owned No. 14k Sprint Car team to take to the road.

“We still have the freedom to do this right now, whereas several years down the road that may not be the case,” Bellm says. “If we’re as successful as we think we can be, we can build on it and see where it takes us.”

If past results are any indication, Bellm should be right in the mix of the ASCS National points chase in short order.

In fact, coming off his second runner-up ranking in ASCS Warrior Region points over the past three years, Bellm has already tasted success in limited ASCS National action with his first triumph coming in the 2013 edition of the storied Devil’s Bowl Speedway Spring Nationals in Mesquite, TX.

Along with several ASCS Regional wins in recent years, it’s something he looks to add to in his first full-time National effort this year.

Bellm comes off a 2014 season that netted ASCS Warrior Region points runner-up honors, his fifth top-four Regional ranking since 2008, all while splitting time among the family No. 14k entry, the Hockett Racing No. 77 and Smith Racing No. 86.

“I can’t thank those guys enough for the opportunity to drive their equipment,” Bellm says.  “Anytime someone ask you to drive their car, it’s an honor and fortunately we were able to win races with both of them along the way.  The extra seat time makes a world of difference.”

Now, it’s time for Bellm and the No. 14k to go all out on the National trail beginning with East Bay Raceway Park’s $10,000-to-win “King of the 360’s” Nationals near Tampa, FL, in just a few short weeks on February 19-21.

It’s an opening set of races on a Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour schedule that currently includes more than 40 nights of action at 25 different tracks in 14 different states from Florida to Washington and all points in between.  Bellm will fill in the schedule with occasional Regional events along the way.

While additional sponsorship would certainly help the cause, it’s a trail Bellm and the No. 14k team couldn’t begin to embark upon without current sponsors that include PPG Automotive Finishes, Colorvision, Schure Built Suspensions, Christian County Collision Repair, Bybee Lawn Care, Dynotech Racing Engines and www.racinboys.com.

For more information, check www.kylebellm.com.