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(Photo by Ron Gilson/GilsonPhoto)

Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Nov. 13, 2017) – Tony Bruce Jr. wrapped up the 2017 season last weekend in the desert, where he made the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour A Main during all three nights at Cocopah Speedway.

“I want to thank Mike Hayashi for the opportunity to drive for him and the rest of the guys for working hard all weekend,” he said. “We didn’t have the results we were looking for, but we had really good speed in the race car.”

The action began on Thursday when Bruce Jr. maneuvered from ninth to fourth place in a heat race. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish a qualifier and was relegated to a B Main, which he won to transfer into the main event.

Misfortune struck the team in the A Main and Bruce Jr. was involved in a race-ending crash.

The team returned to the 3/8-mile oval on Friday and advanced from eighth to seventh place in a heat race before a DNF in a qualifier sent them to a B Main. Bruce Jr. rallied from sixth to second place to earn a transfer into the A Main. He finished with a 20th-place result.

The weekend concluded on Saturday with Bruce Jr. advancing from fourth to third place in a last chance qualifier and from third to second place in the B Main to lock into the main event. He picked up a position in the A Main to end 17th.

“In the A Main I felt like we had a good car toward the end of the race and I was able to move around and find a different line that worked for me,” he said. “There wasn’t a lot of passing. Everyone was pretty fast and it was one lane around the top so we took what we could.”

While his sprint car season is finished, Bruce Jr. will compete in the Junior Knepper 55 on Dec. 16 at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Ill., with the USAC National Midget Series.

QUICK RESULTS –

Nov. 9 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 4 (9); Qualifier: DNF (6); B Main: 1 (2); Feature: 22 (17).

Nov. 10 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 7 (8); Qualifier: 9 (9); B Main: 2 (6); Feature: 20 (19).

Nov. 11 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – LCQ: 3 (4); B Main: 2 (3); Feature: 17 (18).

SEASON STATS –

30 races, 1 win, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s, 25 top 15s, 28 top 20s

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.