For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
March 7, 2016

Rodney Sanders Takes Pair of USMTS Wins at Southern Oklahoma

Happy, Texas (03/07/16) – Rodney Sanders doubled his pleasure over the weekend in his Swan Energy #20 MB Customs/Geddes Racing Engine Open Wheel Modified by winning a pair of United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) events at Southern Oklahoma Speedway.

Making the trip to Southern Oklahoma Speedway (Ardmore, Oklahoma), Rodney Sanders and fifty-seven cars were signed in on Thursday night for round four of the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) Winter Speedweeks. Coming from 4th in his heat, Rodney captured a heat race win, giving him the pole position for the feature. Paying $2,000 to the winner of the 35-lap A-Main, Sanders slipped to a 3rd place finish behind Ryan Gustin and Jason Hughes with Cade Dillard and Stormy Scott rounding out the top five.

Friday evening found Rodney coming from the 8th-starting spot in his heat race to score a runner-up finish behind Stormy Scott. Earning a 7th-starting position for the A-Main, Sanders made his way to the front by the second lap. Holding off a late-race charge from Stormy Scott, Rodney Sanders grabbed his second USMTS victory of the season with Stormy Scott, Austin Arneson, Jason Hughes, and Zack VanderBeek trailing him across the finish line.

Wrapping up the USMTS Winter Speedweeks on Saturday evening, Rodney Sanders stormed to a heat race victory from the 8th-starting spot. Earning a 6th place, starting position for the main event, Rodney wheeled into 3rd after the first two circuits. Working his way into the lead on lap 10, Rodney Sanders held on for the remaining 40 laps, capturing his third victory of the season with Jason Hughes, Cade Dillard, Johnny Scott, and Ryan Gustin rounding out the top five. Sanders reeled in $7,000 over the weekend with his $4,000 payday on Saturday night.

“What a great weekend it was for our team,” said Sanders. “I’m not sure when was the last time I had to work so hard for a win. Scott and Hughes really pushed me hard. There’s so many good drivers out here that to win any night is a big deal, much less two.”

Rodney’s plans for the upcoming weekend are still up in the air due to weather. Extremely wet conditions are forecasted across the South. If he races anywhere it will be either the 6th Annual Pelican 100 at Ark-La-Tex Speedway (Vivian, Louisiana) or the Topless Outlaw Modified Series (TOMS) events at Red River Speedway (Wichita Falls, Texas). Keep your browsers pointed to www.RodneySandersRacing.net for the latest schedule update.

Rodney Sanders would like to thank all of his sponsors including Wichita Tank Racing, Swan Energy, Kimrad Transport, DriveWFX.com, S&S Fishing and Rental, Krohn Farms, STSI, Mars Race Cars, MB Customs, KBC Graphics, Bergman Tax and Accounting, Geddes Race Engines, Deatherage Opticians, VP Race Fuels, C&R Incorporated, Beyea Headers, CMD Race Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Race Shocks, Eibach, Wilwood Brakes, Palmer Painting, D&G Contracting, Driven Oil, 87 Automotive, FK Rod Ends, Allstar Performance, Fikes Transmission, QA1 Driveshafts, Performance Bodies, Day Motorsports, 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 7, 2016

Tony Jackson Jr. Tops Toilet Bowl for $5k; Springfield Next

Lebanon, Missouri (03/07/16) – There was no new-car blues over the weekend for Tony Jackson Jr. as he powered his Odell Trucking LLC #56 Smith Creek Moonshine/Cornett Racing Engine Super Late Model to the $5,000 triumph in the Tuckasee Toilet Bowl finale at Clarksville Speedway.

“We obviously have a lot to learn about this new car, so to be so fast out of the box is pretty awesome” said Jackson. “If you told me before the weekend started that we would get a win and a second place finish in this new Longhorn by Weaver, I would’ve definitely taken it. It feels incredible to get such a great start to the year.”

Making his 2016 season debut, Tony Jackson Jr. traveled to Clarksville Speedway (Clarksville, Tennessee) on Friday night for the opening round of the MARS DIRTcar Series, Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic. After posting the fastest time out of twenty-nine Super Late Models, Jackson Jr. scored a heat-race win setting him up with the 3rd-starting spot for the main event. Paying $3,000 to the winner, Tony notched a runner-up finish behind race winner, Dennis Erb Jr. with Brian Shirley, Tanner English, and Clayton Miller rounding out the top five.

On Saturday night in a field of twenty-six cars, Jackson Jr. reeled in another heat race victory, setting him up with a front row starting spot for the A-Main. With $5,000 on the line, Tony led all 50 laps to cruised to his first victory of the 2016 season with Tanner English, Josh Putnam, Clayton Miller, and Payton Looney trailing him across the finish line.

Tony jumped out in front in the MARS points standings after his solid weekend. Full results from the weekend as well as the latest standings are available at www.MARSRacingSeries.com .

Tony will not race anywhere this weekend before returning to action with the MARS competitors at Springfield Raceway (Springfield, Missouri) on March 19th in a $3,000-to-win event. For more information on the event, please visit www.MARSRacingSeries.com .

Tony Jackson Jr. would to like to thank all of his marketing partners, which include Odell Trucking LLC, Lindsay Chevrolet, Smith Creek Moonshine, Merrill Bonding, RaceNote, Budweiser, Cornett Race Engines, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Hyperco, Longhorn by Weaver, Tony Jackson Jr. Motorsports, Bill Frye Motorsports, R2C Performance, Longacre Racing Products, Champion Oil, Supermoon Graphics, Midwest Sheet Metal, Willard Quarries, Fast Shafts, AFCO Brake Systems, Simpson Race Products, Off Axis Paint, VP Heartland Fuels, Hoosier Tire Midwest, Performance Bodies, Butlerbuilt, KRC Power Steering, Lone Oak Printing, and MSR Mafia Marketing Services.

For more information on Tony Jackson Jr. Motorsports, please visit his official internet home at www.TonyJacksonJr.com as well as the team's Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Tony-Jackson-Jr/497367940564 .

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
March 7, 2016

Ashley Newman Flushes the Competition in Toilet Bowl Finale

Ripley, Tennessee (03/07/16) – Ashley Newman wired the UMP Pro Late Model field on Saturday night at Clarksville Speedway in his Upton Motorsports #73 Greg’s Sawmill/ Longhorn entry to claim the Tuckasee Toilet Bowl victory.

The Upton Motorsports team headed to Clarksville Speedway (Clarksville, Tennessee) on Friday night with Ashley Newman powering the #73 Crate Late Model and Jeff Wells Jr. wheeling the #1W Crate for the two-day, Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic. Timing in 10th quick in time trials, Newman earned a 14th place starting position for the feature after placing 5th in his heat, while Jeff was slated to start 10th after a 4th place heat finish. Advancing seven spots in the A-Main, Ashley notched a 7th place outing while Wells Jr. improved five spots recording a 5th place finish.

The following night after posting the 2nd quickest time in qualifying, Newman scored a heat race victory from the pole position. Jeff Wells Jr. landed a runner-up finish in his heat behind Charles Zimmerman. Gaining three spots in the main event, Wells Jr. captured a 3rd place finish. Starting on the front row of the feature, Ashley Newman cruised to his first victory of the 2016 season with Gavin Schmidt, Jeff Wells Sr., Ronnie Cooper, and Roben Hoffman rounding out the top five. The win was worth $1,000.

“I’ve won some memorable trophies over the year, but this one may take the cake,” Newman said as he referred to the traditional graphics-wrapped toilet that the winner receives. “All jokes aside I want to once again thank the Upton family for the opportunity to drive this hot rod, and I also want to thank my family, my crew, and my sponsors for their never-ending support.”

Complete results from the weekend can be found at www.ClarksvilleSpeedway.com .

Next on tap for Newman is a trip to Duck River Raceway Park (Wheel, Tennessee) for the opening round of the 2016 campaign for the United Crate Racing Alliance (UCRA). The $2,500-to-win, Crate Late Model event will take place on Saturday, March 12th. A year ago Ashley took the checkered flag in the inaugural event. For more information, please visit www.UCRARacing.com .

Upton Motorsports would like to thank all of their sponsors including Greg's Sawmill, 45 Race Shop, Best One Tire & Service, Gary Beard Trucking, Bob Pierce Race Cars, Rod End Supply, AR Bodies, Jeff Burns Racing Engines, Schoenfeld Headers, Real Racing Wheels, Ace Sign Company, PPM Racing Products, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For more information on Ashley Newman and Upton Motorsports, please visit www.AshleyNewman73.com and www.UptonMotorsports.com .

Contact: Shawn Miller

Inside Line Promotions

Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com | (541) 510-3663

Big Game Motorsports and Lasoski Land Podium Finish at Arizona Speedway

Inside Line Promotions - QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (March 7, 2016) - Big Game Motorsports picked up its first podium finish of the season on Sunday at Arizona Speedway.

Danny Lasoski qualified third quickest and he won a World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series heat race to lock the Muddy backed team into the dash draw at the NAPA Desert Shootout. The top four cars were inverted, which placed Lasoski on the outside of the front row for the dash.

"We just missed it a tick in the dash and were way too loose," he said. "We came back in and knew how to fix it. In the feature the racing was really good from about second through fifth. We got to second late in the race and I made a driver error. I got hung in the corner and ended third. We're not happy to run third, but it's a whole lot better than it could have been."

Lasoski's third-place result was a highlight following a pair of frustrating finishes during the FVP Outlaw Showdown in Las Vegas last weekend prior to the race at Arizona Speedway.

"The Muddy guys have worked their tails off," he said. "We came out and were in the game qualifying both nights in Las Vegas, but each night we had tire issues."

Lasoski timed in seventh quickest during qualifying last Thursday at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas. He then advanced from fourth to third place in a heat race and was closing in on a top-five finish in the main event when the first tire issue occurred.

"The first night we were going to be right there in the top five and we had a hole in the tire," he said. "I lost about 10 spots on a restart. We finished, but I just rolled around after that."

Lasoski was credited with a 16th-place result.

The Muddy sponsored team returned to the half-mile oval on Friday. Lasoski qualified second quickest and was leading a heat race when a tire issue doomed him on a late restart. Lasoski was hit from behind and when the caution was waved he headed to the work area. The team replaced the right rear tire, which allowed Lasoski to return to the track. He then rallied from the back to finish fifth to lock into the 18th starting position in the main event.

"If we had hung on to win the heat race we would have been locked into the dash," he said. "That's how quick it can change. Then when you get behind the eight ball it's just an uphill battle. Last year it seemed like we had luck on our side. This year so far Lady Luck hasn't shined on us, but good teams will prevail."

Lasoski ended the night with a 19th-place result.

Big Game Motorsports is scheduled to return to competition on April 9 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, with the National Sprint League.

QUICK RESULTS -

March 3 - The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas - Qualifying: 7; Heat race: 3 (4); Feature: 16 (9).

March 4 - The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas - Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 5 (1); Feature: 19 (18).

March 6 - Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. - Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 5 (2); Feature: 3 (5).

SEASON STATS -

8 races, 0 wins, 2 top fives, 2 top 10s, 2 top 15s, 6 top 20s

UP NEXT -

April 9 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, with the National Sprint League

Contact: Shawn Miller

Inside Line Promotions

Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com | (541) 510-3663

Starks Plagued by Problems throughout Weekend in the Desert

Inside Line Promotions - QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (March 7, 2016) - Trey Starks is ready to put last weekend behind him.

Starks and his team were plagued by a variety of problems during three races with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.

"It definitely didn't meet our expectations," he said. "We fought some issues all weekend. We had some engine issues at Las Vegas and a few other things go wrong. The new tire rule, trying to figure out what our best combination is, was another challenge.

"Some of the positives we can take away is that we didn't tear anything up and we know where we stand going into these next couple of weekends."

Last weekend began with the FVP Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas on Thursday when Starks timed in 38th quickest during qualifying because of mechanical woes. He then rallied from 10th to seventh place in a heat race, which relegated him into the back of the Last Chance Showdown.

"We got better in the heat and were really, really good in the Last Chance Showdown," he said. "The car was really nice. Cautions were what we needed at the end of the race and we didn't get any. We were happy with ending the night like that."

Starks charged from 18th to seventh in the consolation race to miss a transfer by only three positions.

His team made a lot of adjustments prior to Friday's race at the half-mile oval. Starks qualified 16th quickest, but an engine stumble at the start of a heat race dropped him to eighth in the heat. However, Starks rebounded in the Last Chance Showdown to finish second and garner a transfer into the main event.

"We were pretty good in the Last Chance Showdown after we could get rolling," he said. "For the main event we tried one of the new tires and I just couldn't find any speed anywhere. I couldn't find a rhythm and didn't want to wear our equipment out so we pulled off early."

Starks was credited with a 23rd-place result.

The weekend wrapped up on Sunday at Arizona Speedway, where Starks made his debut during the NAPA Desert Shootout. He qualified 19th quickest and placed eighth in a heat race before winning the Last Chance Showdown. That lined him up on the inside of the 10th row for the main event.

"We really struggled on getting going on the opening laps," he said. "I just could not get going the first five laps of the main. I fell way back. I clawed my way back a couple of positions, but we got put down a lap fairly quick. After you go down a lap you can't get going and pass cars because you're trying to hold your line and stay out of the way of the leaders."

Starks ended with a 20th-place finish.

He is scheduled to compete this Friday and Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., with the World of Outlaws.

QUICK RESULTS -

March 3 - The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas - Qualifying: 38; Heat race: 7 (10); B Main: 7 (18).

March 4 - The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas - Qualifying: 16; Heat race: 8 (4); B Main: 2 (3); Feature: 23 (22).

March 6 - Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. - Qualifying: 19; Heat race: 8 (7); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 20 (19).

SEASON STATS -

8 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top 10, 1 top 15, 3 top 20s

UP NEXT -

Friday and Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series

Contact: Shawn Miller
Inside Line Promotions
Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com | (541) 510-3663

Wheatley Charges Forward during World of Outlaws Debut at Arizona Speedway

Inside Line Promotions - QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (March 7, 2016) - Austen Wheatley wrapped up his season-opening weekend with a strong finish at Arizona Speedway on Sunday during the NAPA Desert Shootout.

Wheatley overcame a slow start during his debut at the high-banked track as he rallied from the consolation race to post a 14th-place result in the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series main event.

"I liked that track," he said. "I thought it was a cool shape and in the feature the track was really racy. When the pace finally slowed down and it got to two grooves we came to life. I was ripping the curb the whole way and sliding people. I did a couple of slide jobs that didn't clear and had to slow up so that cost me a few positions. I should have had a top-10 finish."

Wheatley began the event by timing in 24th quickest during qualifying. He then finished where he started - eighth - in a heat race, which relegated him to the Last Chance Showdown. However, a fourth-place result earned a transfer into the 22nd starting position for the main event.

Wheatley then charged toward the top 10 before ending 14th. He passed the second-most cars in the main event.

The weekend began on Thursday at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas, where Wheatley qualified 28th quickest overall and placed sixth in a heat race to miss locking into the FVP Outlaw Showdown feature by only one spot.

"They switched the tires up this year," he said. "I got up to third place and then I sealed a tire up like on Lap 3. We had a restart and I had to maneuver around, but I didn't have any tire left."

Wheatley rebounded with a third-place finish in the Last Chance Showdown to transfer into the back of the main event. However, a lack of brakes forced Wheatley to pull into the pits early and he was credited with a 24th-place result.

He returned to the half-mile oval on Friday and qualified 15th quickest before again missing a lock-in to the feature by only one spot in a heat race.

"The track was a lot more predictable on Thursday than it was on Friday," he said. "I was running where I started in the heat when the motor started going sour about halfway."

The team quickly swapped engines before the Last Chance Showdown, but was unable to put a new setup on the car.

"We didn't have much time to make adjustments," he said. "I couldn't run the curb like I needed. We were too tight."

Wheatley placed seventh in the consolation race to miss a transfer by three spots.

He is slated to return to World of Outlaws competition this Friday and Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif.

QUICK RESULTS -

March 3 - The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas - Qualifying: 28; Heat race: 6 (5); B Main: 3 (2); Feature: 24 (23).

March 4 - The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas - Qualifying: 15; Heat race: 6 (4); B Main: 7 (2).

March 6 - Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. - Qualifying: 24; Heat race: 8 (8); B Main: 4 (6); Feature: 14 (22).

SEASON STATS -

3 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 1 top 15, 1 top 20

UP NEXT -

Friday and Saturday at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series