Five nights racing preview

ASCS Ready for Big Week of Racing

TULSA, Okla. (August 2, 2005) -- The American Sprint Car Series kicks off five big nights of racing action as Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway kicks off the busy stretch on Wednesday night.

After Wednesday's combined National Tour/Midwest Region go at I-80 Speedway, four nights of racing at Knoxville Raceway, including Knoxville's 360 Nationals and the Brodix Tournament of Champions, awaits the series.

Defending O'Reilly ASCS National Tour presented by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores champion and current point leader Gary Wright enters the big week riding a series-record five-race winning streak.

Wright currently holds a 110 point advantage over 2005 COMP Cams ASCS Speedweek champion Darren Stewart in the series championship points race. Leading Brodix Rookie of the Year contender Tony Bruce, Jr., of Liberal, KS, is just ahead of Sunnyvale, TX, racer Sam Hafertepe, Jr., in a tight battle for third, with Toby Brown rounding out the current top five.

Wright has posted victories at both I-80 Speedway and Knoxville Raceway, although it has been a while at both venues. Wright scored an I-80 victory in 1996 and topped Knoxville's 360 Nationals in 1998.

A strong field of approximately 50 cars is expected for Wednesday night's card atop the semi-banked 4/10-mile I-80 Speedway dirt oval.

Approximately 120 entries have been received for Thursday and Friday's 360 Nationals at Knoxville Raceway, which offers $10,000 to win. Lincoln's Billy Alley reigns as defending champion of Knoxville's 360 Nationals.

Then on Saturday and Sunday, the Brodix Tournament of Champions takes center stage with 91 drivers from 19 different sanctions receiving invitations. The ASCS National Tour reigns as the defending team champion of the TOC, while Wissota runner Loren Langerud topped last year's 30-car, 30-lap feature.

Wednesday's racing action at Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway is slated to get under way at 7:15 p.m. The track is located between Lincoln and Omaha off I-80 Exit 420. For more information, contact the track at 402-342-3453.

Knoxville Raceway is located at the north edge of Knoxville, IA, off State Road 14 at the Fairgrounds. For more information, contact the track at 641-842-5431.

In total, including the O'Reilly ASCS National Tour, the Southern Tour and the Sooner, Gulf South, Rocky Mountain and Midwest Regions, the American Sprint Car Series will sanction more than 100 nights of racing in 2005 at approximately 50 different racetracks throughout at least 18 different states.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

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