Series Short Track Nationals news 2009-10-01

Shed Road Auto Parts Sponsors STN's Josh Howard Determination Award as Entries Continue to Pour In!

Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 1, 2009) -- While entries for the upcoming 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires continue to flow into the I-30 Speedway track office, it was revealed today that Shed Road Auto Parts will sponsor the Second Annual Josh Howard Determination Award.

Based out of Bossier City, LA, Shed Road Auto Parts will present the winner of this year's Josh Howard Determination Award with a top wing and a nose wing from Lightning Wings.

Named in honor of Josh Howard, the Byhalia, MS, racer that suffered severe spinal injuries at the 2007 edition of the Short Track Nationals, the Determination Award is presented to a driver that battles through adversity over the course of the intensely competitive weekend.

Last year, Arkansas' Eric Sandage earned the inaugural Josh Howard Determination Award by picking up a Saturday night Last Chance Qualifying Race win after taking a qualifying night tumble.

The $15,000-to-win, $2,200-to-start 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires featuring the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars presented by K&N Filters is set for October 29-31 at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway. The winner could ultimately take away $20,000 by successfully taking the COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge.

With over 40 years of experience in the recycling industry, Shed Road Auto Parts offers a wide selection of all makes and models, foreign and domestic, for auto, light truck and vans. More information is available at http://www.shedroadautoparts.com/.

STN Entry Update:

Defending Short Track Nationals champion Tony Bruce, Jr., of Liberal, KS, is among the latest group of entries that also includes 2008 STN championship feature starters Tommy Bryant and Dustin Morgan and 2009 Lucas Oil Sprint Car Rookie of the Year contenders Jack Dover and Darren Long among others.

Bruce, who added a Nebraska Cup triumph at Eagle Raceway to an I-30 Speedway win during ASCS Speedweek earlier this season, bested last year's field of 95 Short Track Nationals competitors to become the 15th different winner of the prestigious event.

Bryant, currently vying for the ASCS Gulf South title, has battled his way into the last two STN championship features while Oklahoma's Morgan has made the transition to the winged Sprint Car ranks after making the STN championship feature cut last year.

Dover, the 19-year-old hailing from Springfield, NE, tries to work into his first STN championship feature after posting a $10,000 Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series triumph in the Steve King Memorial at the Jetmore (KS) Motorplex earlier this year.

Eric Baldaccini, the Keller, TX, shoe that is on track to rank as the most active ASCS competitor for the third year in a row, is set for his fourth STN attempt with other past event competitors ready for another round including three-time STN championship feature starter Marshall Skinner, El Paso's John Carney II, Riverside runner Raymond Stull, Mississippi's Lee Sowell and I-30 Speedway contender Jeremy Newkirk.

Ohio's Darren Long and ASCS Sooner shoe Sherman Davis both throw their hat into an STN Rookie pool that already includes New York's Jessica Zemken and the California duo of Randy Hannagan and Sean Becker.

Other previous entries include the likes of Lucas Oil title contender Shane Stewart, Ohio's Dale Blaney, 2008 STN Rookie of the Year Brady Bacon, Nebraska's Mike Boston, West Memphis' A.G. Rains, Texas' Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and Missouri's Curtis Evans.

Also, while his entry has not yet been officially submitted, confirmed reports indicate that two-time Golden State Challenge King of California champion Jonathan Allard of Chico, CA, will pilot Bobby Sparks' No. 91 entry at the 22nd Annual Short Track Nationals. Allard is slated to tune up for the STN by competing in the 36th Annual Devil's Bowl Winter Nationals on October 16-17.

Drivers planning on competing in the 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires are encouraged to submit their entries as soon as possible. Entries postmarked by October 17 are $150, with entries submitted after that $250. Entry forms are available at http://www.i-30speedway.com/stn.html or by calling the track at 501-455-4567.

Pertinent Short Track Nationals Information:

What: 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR). I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).

When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 29-31, 2009. $15,000 to win the STN finale on October 31, with $2,200 to start the STN championship feature. Race time is 7:30 p.m. each night. Rain date is November 5-7. Test 'N Tune session on Wednesday night, October 28.

Past Winners: Tony Bruce, Jr. (2008), Jason Meyers (2007), Jason Johnson (2006), Tim Montgomery (2005), Gary Wright (2004, 2003, 1999 and 1995), Paul McMahan (2002), Jason Sides (2001), Mike Ward (2000), Tim Crawley (1998), Wayne Johnson (1997), Pete Butler (1996), Terry Gray (1994), John Gerloff (1993), Steve Kinser (1991, '89 and '88) and Sammy Swindell (1990). 1992 finale was rained out.

The Series: The premier stop on the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters trail, Jason Johnson currently holds a 22-point edge over Shane Stewart in the $60,000 championship chase with just the Devil's Bowl Winter Nationals (October 16-17) still on the slate before the Short Track Nationals. The Lucas Oil Sprint Cars will then finish off the season with USA Raceway's 42nd Annual Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios in Tucson, AZ, on November 19-21.

Current top 20 in Lucas Oil Sprint Car points: 1. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 2,010, 2. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 1,988, 3. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,942, 4. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 1,861, 5. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 1,823, 6. Paul McMahan (Hendersonville, TN) 1,812, 7. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 1,799, 8. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 1,758, 9. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 1,747, 10. Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) 1,693, 11. Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK) 1,544, 12. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 1,382, 13. Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) 1,321, 14. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 1,311, 15. Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) 1,280, 16. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,247, 17. Gavin Punch (Collinsville, OK) 1,194, 18. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 1,008, 19. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 907, 20. Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 870.

The Format: A version of the popular Sprint Bandits format of heats and qualifying races will be in place for all three nights of competition.JEach night, Heat Races will be aligned according to the pre-race draw, with the 2009 passing points system in effect.

Approximately half of the STN entrants will battle through Thursday's qualifying program, with the other half racing through Friday night's qualifying program. Those not locked in after the first two nights (top three from each night) will race through a full card of Heats, Last Chance Races and Qualifying Races on Saturday night to fill out the October 31 STN championship finale.

With six cars locked into Saturday's $15,000-to-win, $2,200-to-start main event, the top twelve drivers in combined passing points from Saturday's Heats, Qualifiers and Last Chance Races will fill positions seven through eighteen. The final two slots of the STN finale will be awarded to the two remaining drivers that have accumulated the most points through Heat, Qualifying, Last Chance and Feature racing action over their qualifying night and Saturday night.

Drivers must compete in either Thursday's prelim or Friday's prelim to be eligible for passing points on Saturday.Saturday's Odus Pack Building Materials Dash for Cash will be aligned by a pill draw conducted in "Cheater's Day" fashion.JThursday's winning driver will draw the first pill then give that pill to the driver of his choice. Friday's winner will draw the second pill and give that pill to one of the remaining drivers, and so on until the lineup is determined.

The COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge: The COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge offers the pole sitter of the STN championship feature event the opportunity to pull a playing card that will grant a new starting position for the 40-lap finale. Upon accepting the Gambler's Challenge, the driver will draw the fourth, sixth, eighth or tenth starting position. If the driver can win from the starting position drawn, a $5,000 bonus will push the overall winner's take to $20,000.

If the pole sitter declines to draw a card, the outside front row starter will be presented with the same COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge.

The driver that takes the COMP Cams Gambler's Challenge is assured an extra $1,000 regardless of finishing position.

The Trade Show & Midway: This year's rendition of the Short Track Nationals will also include the Fifth Annual Short Track Nationals Trade Show & Midway. Fans, drivers & crews will have the opportunity to visit vendor displays, which opens at noon on Thursday and then at 9 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The deadline for guaranteed vendor space is Monday, October 26.

The Tickets: Advance tickets are on sale through Wednesday, October 28, no advance sales after that. Tickets ordered in advance are just $45 for all three nights. Day of show prices are $15 on Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday. To order tickets in advance or for more information, call the track at 501-455-4567 or e-mail orders to racing@I-30speedway.com. Children's tickets will be available at the event for just $2 on both Thursday and Friday and then $5 on Saturday.JThere is a $1 per ticket surcharge for orders placed via credit/debit cards. Pit passes are $30 on both Thursday and Friday and $35 on Saturday.

For more information regarding the 22nd Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, contact I-30 Speedway at 501-455-4567.

-credit: ascs