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Lady Luck Speedway
Thursday, July 1, 2004
Wright passes through Tech for fourth O’Reilly ASCS triumph of ‘04
by Race AuthorLUBBOCK, Texas -- Gary Wright made a textbook perfect move through lapped traffic on the 23rd round to advance from third to first en route to winning Thursday night’s 30-lap O’Reilly American Sprint Car Series National Tour presented by Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores and Classic Trailers feature at Tech Motor Speedway.
Wright charged past Darren Stewart and race-long leader Jason Martin when the lead pair hesitated momentarily behind a lapped car, then raced to his 85th career ASCS National Tour victory with a 0.692-second advantage over current series point leader Travis Rilat.
Gary Wright of Hooks, Texas, notched his fourth O'Reilly ASCS National Tour presented by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores and Classic Trailers feature victory of the season by topping Thursday night's 30-lap feature at Lubbock's Tech Motor Speedway. |
“Wow, that was a tough race,” Wright stated in victory lane. “It was a lot of fun too. They got hung up behind that lapped car for just a little bit and I found an opening. My hands are sore, I was hanging on to the steering wheel so tight fighting that cushion, it was a good fast track tonight for sure.”
While Wright gridded the Salina-powered Southwest Express/The Shop/Richwood Construction No. 9 Maxim in sixth, Stewart and Martin led the feature field to the green flag. Martin jumped into the early lead from the front row outside, only to have action interrupted after one round for a five-car melee in turn one that eliminated Joe McCarthy and Kolt Walker from further competition. Quick repairs were made to allow Zach Chappell, Garry Lee Maier and Tony Bruce Jr., to rejoin the chase at the tail.
Martin led Stewart on the restart, with Wright battling past Rilat for third on the ninth round. Martin worked through lapped traffic with Stewart and Wright nipping at his heels, with Rilat not far behind.
Martin successfully navigated traffic until he approached Toby Brown in the final ten rounds. Martin hesitated briefly, with Wright taking advantage to race by both Stewart and Martin to take command. Rilat took advantage as well, racing into second by the 25th round as Martin fell to fourth behind Stewart.
Wright in action Thursday night. |
Rilat tried to mount a charge for the lead but fell several car-lengths short as the checkered flag flew on Wright, who closed to within two points of Rilat in the championship points chase. Stewart snared the show position, with Martin settling for fourth.
Travis Rilat finished second Thursday night to cling to a slim two-point lead over Wright. |
Brodix Rookie of the Year candidate Sam Hafertepe Jr., posted his second top-five finish of the year by rounding out the top five, with Maier recovering from the early incident to claim sixth. Natalie Sather crossed the stripe seventh, with Chappell, Brown and Tony Bruce Jr., completing the top ten.
Heat race victories were claimed by Rilat, Martin and Hafertepe.
Leading Rookie of the Year contender A.G. Rains was sidelined from action after suffering engine woes in hot laps.
The O’Reilly ASCS National Tour resumes action as the feature class in Friday and Saturday night’s Open Wheel Extravaganza at Hollywood Hills Speedway near Albuquerque.
RESULTS
FIRST HEAT (8 laps): 1. Travis Rilat, 2. Gary Wright, 3. Toby Brown, 4. Gary Appel, 5. Kolt Walker. DNS: Jimmy Taylor.
SECOND HEAT (8 laps): 1. Jason Martin, 2. Darren Stewart, 3. Joe McCarthy, 4. Garry Lee Maier, 5. Tony Bruce Jr., 6. Leighton Crouch.
THIRD HEAT (8 laps): 1. Sam Hafertepe Jr., 2. Natalie Sather, 3. Derek Drown, 4. Zach Chappell, 5. Scott Pace; DNS - A.G. Rains.
FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Gary Wright, 2. Travis Rilat, 3. Darren Stewart, 4. Jason Martin, 5. Sam Hafertepe Jr., 6. Garry Lee Maier, 7. Natalie Sather, 8. Zach Chappell, 9. Toby Brown, 10. Tony Bruce Jr., 11. Leighton Crouch, 12. Derek Drown, 13. Scott Pace, 14. Gary Appel, 15. Joe McCarthy, 16. Kolt Walker, 17. Jimmy Taylor; DNS - A.G. Rains.
O’Reilly ASCS National Tour points standings (top 15): 1. Travis Rilat 1,698, 2. Gary Wright 1,696, 3. Zach Chappell 1,642, 4. Darren Stewart 1,626, 5. Garry Lee Maier 1,598, 6. A.G. Rains 1,474, 7. Toby Brown 1,409, 8. Jimmy Taylor 1,278, 9. Sam Hafertepe Jr. 1,155, 10. Natalie Sather 1,105, 11. Cody Branchcomb 1,032, 12. Chuck Swenson 944, 13. Shane Stewart 820, 14. Tony Bruce Jr. 775, 15. Derek Drown 622.
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