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(Photo by Jones Sports Media)

Inside Line Promotions – LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Oct. 9, 2018) – Tony Bruce Jr. was on pace for a pair of top-10 results during the 31st annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals before misfortune struck in the finale of the ASCS Mid-South Region event at I-30 Speedway on Saturday.

“It was a great weekend other than the DNF on Saturday,” he said. “We started out strong and we raced well all weekend. Any time there are 80 cars in the pits and you can compete for top fives and top 10s it’s a good showing.”

The action began on Friday with Bruce Jr. guiding the Smith Family No. 86 sprint car from third to win a heat race. He then gained a position in a qualifier to finish second, which ranked him fourth in overall points.

“We pretty much ran fourth the whole race until the very end,” he said. “The track took rubber in spots and we got worse the more rubber that was laid down.”

Bruce Jr. hung on for a sixth-place finish, which was his 16th top 10 of the season.

The team started the finale just as strong as Bruce Jr. maneuvered from fourth to second place in a heat race and from third to second in a qualifier. That ranked him sixth overall and lined him up on the outside of the third row for the main event.

“We were running around sixth or seventh when we had a mag issue,” he said. “The car died and then when we went to be pushed off it just wouldn’t run so that was it. While it wasn’t the end result we wanted, it was great to have the speed and handling we needed to be able to contend for two top 10s.

“I want to thank the Smith Family for the opportunity. Short Track Nationals was our final event of the season together and I’m glad we could go out with a solid performance.”

Next up, Bruce Jr. will pilot a sprint car owned by Mike Hayashi on Oct. 19-20 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, during the 45th annual Winter Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by SawBlade.com.

QUICK RESULTS –

Oct. 5 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – Heat race: 1 (3); Qualifier: 2 (3); Feature: 6 (4).

Oct. 6 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – Heat race: 2 (4); Qualifier: 2 (3); Feature: 19 (6).

SEASON STATS –

29 races, 0 wins, 7 top fives, 16 top 10s, 20 top 15s, 23 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Oct. 19-20 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, for the 45th annual Winter 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 – The Oil Medics

Located in Fort Worth, Texas, The Oil Medics services diesel trucks and distributes racing oil for sprint car engines and rear ends. For more information, visit http://www.TheOilMedics.com.

“Bill and the entire Jewell family have been more than just a great sponsor, but also great friends,” Bruce Jr. said. “They specialize in truck maintenance and fuel economy, which has saved us hundreds of dollars the past few years in diesel fuel.”

Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Briley Trucking, Lubbock Wrecker Service, Wheeler Metals, Eagle Motorsports, Hinchman Racewear, 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.