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(Photo by Scott Frazier)

Inside Line Promotions – MESQUITE, Texas (April 20, 2014) – The biggest piece to improve for Tony Bruce Jr. is qualifying following his 410ci season debut last weekend at the Texas Outlaw Nationals.

“The qualifying thing is definitely something I need to get back in the rhythm of,” he said. “That was really our only downfall all weekend. We qualified so bad we always had to start in the back.”

Competing at Devil’s Bowl Speedway with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series for the first time this season, Bruce Jr. timed in 24th on Friday and 16th on Saturday.

His qualifying time lined him up on the outside of the fourth row for Friday’s heat race. However, Bruce Jr. made a quick move on the start to pick up a trio of positions and rally to the fifth-place result, which locked him into the feature.

“We had a real fast car,” he said. “I had a really good start and beat everybody in turns one and two and then fell in line to get a transfer.”

Bruce Jr. started the 25-lap main event on the outside of the 11th row, but maneuvered toward the top 10 throughout the first half of the race.

“The way the track was you had to be on the bottom in turns one and two,” he said. “We had a late double-file restart and I just didn’t get to the bottom going into turn one and lost a whole bunch of spots. That was the biggest bummer of the weekend. I gave back a lot of spots on that restart.”

After losing those handful of positions in the final 10 laps, Bruce Jr. held on for the 17th-place finish.

He returned to the half-mile oval on Saturday and after improving on his qualifying results, Bruce Jr. started his heat race on the outside of the third row.

“We had a couple of initial starts that were called back,” he said. “The final one that stood we didn’t get a good enough start. I didn’t have the car set up the way it should be.”

Bruce Jr. placed seventh in his heat race to miss a lock-in position by only one spot. That started him on the pole of the Last Chance Showdown, which Bruce Jr. led all 12 laps to pick up the win and transfer.

“Any time you get out front and get clean air the car seems to handle a lot better,” he said. “You don’t even have to be spot on with the setup.”

Bruce Jr. started the $20,000-to-win Ted Johnson Memorial main event in 16th.

“I felt like it could have gone a lot better,” he said. “We were 14th on one of the restarts and I hit the top in turns one and two. When I came out of turn two I ran out of room. I had a good run and ended up coming off the back straightway and lost a bunch of spots. Soon after it took rubber and we were all in line from there.”

Bruce Jr. ended with an 18th-place result.

He is scheduled to compete this Friday at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla., with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.

“Get a good qualifying lap,” Bruce Jr. said of what he learned from last weekend. “Try to cut a decent lap and start up front in clean air. Hopefully next weekend we can qualify better.”

QUICK RESULTS –

April 18 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas – Qualifying: 24; Heat race: 5 (8); Feature: 17 (22).

April 19 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas – Qualifying: 16; Heat race: 7 (6); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 18 (16).

SEASON STATS –

11 races, 1 win, 2 top fives, 6 top 10s, 7 top 15s, 10 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla., with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series

LIVE COVERAGE –

To keep up to speed with Bruce Jr. at every Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event, visit http://www.RacinBoys.com for free, live audio. Additionally, RacinBoys will provide live Pay-Per-View video at select races.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr

VIDEO –

Click on the link for a video by Thriller Productions that highlights Bruce Jr.’s Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour triumph at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on March 21: http://vimeo.com/89899519

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Wheeler Metals

Established in 1968, Wheeler Metals is a sheet metal business that offers a variety of products for professional and amateur builders. Wheeler Metals has three locations in Muskogee, Okla., Rogers, Ark., and Springfield, Mo. For more information, visit http://www.WheelerMetals.com.

“When I moved to the Tulsa area a few years back we built a brand new shop,” Bruce Jr. said. “We always strive as a race team to find the best products for the situation and that was no different selecting the company to build our building. Wheeler Metals was the perfect fit for our needs. From 10x10 pole barns to 100x100 full metal buildings, they have it all. I challenge anyone to find a building company that will work the customers’ needs like they do.”

Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Lubbock Wrecker Service, Briley Trucking, The Oil Medics, Hinchman Racewear, Eagle Motorsports, Smiley’s Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, Moss Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfeld Headers, Hoosier Racing Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape and Pressure Tek for their continued support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.