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(Photo by TeeJay Crawford)

Inside Line Promotions – PARK CITY, Kan. (April 2, 2018) – Tony Bruce Jr. recorded his first top-10 finish of the season last Saturday during the finale of the 8th annual Park City Cup/Air Capital Shootout at 81 Speedway.

Bruce Jr. and the Smith Family No. 86 team kicked off the NCRA Series doubleheader on Friday by placing sixth and fifth, respectively, in twin heat races.

“I hit a tractor tire on the start of the first heat and almost spun the car out,” he said. “We fell almost back to last. For us to salvage a decent finish was big. We needed to capitalize on the second heat. We got a good late-race restart and that put us in a good position to make the A Main.”

Bruce Jr. ranked 18th out of nearly 50 drivers and that locked him into the 18th starting position in the main event. Unfortunately, a mechanical problem sent Bruce Jr. to the pits early with a 20th-place result.

The event wrapped up on Saturday, when Bruce Jr. charged from ninth to fourth place in a heat race.

“We went from ninth to fourth and were another lap from getting third,” he said. “We hit the setup almost perfect. I felt like my driving was where I needed to be and I made the correct moves. We were able to pass a lot of cars.”

That locked Bruce Jr. into the seventh starting position for the A Main on a track that had already taken rubber, which made it difficult to pass.

“I got to fifth and then toward the end of the race I kept getting tighter and tighter,” he said. “I pushed out of the rubber one lap and Sammy (Swindell) was able to get by us. However, it was a solid finish and a solid night for us.

“The track didn’t lend itself for a lot of racing. There were conditions that were difficult with the track, but that comes back to us figuring out what we need to do to improve our chances. Friday didn’t quite go as I would have planned, but we kept after it and we ended up with a good finish on Saturday.”

Bruce Jr. will drive for Mike Hayashi this Friday and Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, during the Tony Stewart Presents the Vankor Texas Sprint Car Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by SawBlade.com.

QUICK RESULTS –

March 30 – 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan. – Heat race #1: 6 (5); Heat race #2: 5 (7); Feature: 20 (18).

March 31 – 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan. – Heat race: 4 (9); Feature: 6 (7).

SEASON STATS –

3 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top 10, 2 top 15s, 3 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday and Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Tony Stewart Presents the Vankor Texas Sprint Car Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by SawBlade.com

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.