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(Photo by Steve Eichelberger)

Inside Line Promotions – ELDON, Mo. (Sept. 5, 2017) – Tony Bruce Jr. capped the 8th annual 360 Nationals at Lake Ozark Speedway with a top-five result last Sunday.

Bruce Jr. and the Smith Family No. 86 team opened the ASCS Warrior Region doubleheader on Saturday by finishing fourth in a heat race. That relegated the team to the B Main, which Bruce Jr. won to advance into the 17th starting position for the main event.

“The track conditions this weekend were completely different from what they’d been all year,” he said. “It had been really dry and slick. This weekend it started off really heavy and stayed heavy. We had to change our game plan up a bit and try some other stuff.

“We got our engine running to its full capacity. On the first night we had to feel out what we needed to do to the car since we have the motor running good. Running the B Main let us dial the car in better. The track was so much different than we were used to so it helped us make the right decisions.”

Bruce Jr. rallied from 17th to a 10th-place result in the main event.

“We kept trying to move forward,” he said. “We picked them off one by one and tried not to make any mistakes. The cushion was so tall and hard to run. The track was really technical. It was a solid night for us. It was a good run and something to build off.”

The team returned to the bullring on Sunday for the event finale. This time Bruce Jr. drew a low number to start on the outside of the front row in a heat race, which he won. That lined him up fifth for the A Main.

“I felt like we had a really good car,” he said. “We ran fourth for most of the entire A Main. Starting position definitely helps, but you have to have a good car up there as well. I stayed behind (Derek) Hagar by about three car lengths most of the race. At the end the bottom came in and I was up top so I lost a spot.”

Bruce Jr. scored a fifth-place finish, which was his seventh top five of the season.

The team will be off the next two weeks before returning to action Sept. 21-23 at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., for the 7th annual Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.

QUICK RESULTS –

Sept. 2 – Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. – Heat race: 4 (4); B Main: 1 (2); Feature: 10 (17).

Sept. 3 – Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. – Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 5 (5).

SEASON STATS –

19 races, 0 wins, 7 top fives, 13 top 10s, 18 top 15s, 19 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Sept. 21-23 at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., for the 7th annual Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr

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 Briley Trucking, Lubbock Wrecker Service, 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, Pressure Tek, Tiger Towing (Dave and Paula Debates), Sorrels Auto and Truck Parts (Mitchell Sorrels), Melvin Plumbing (Billy Melvin), Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Wulff Pumps, Miller Auto Supply and Jeff Smith Racing Engines 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 by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.