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Bruce Jr. Earns Podium Finish in Rare Action at Port City

(Photo by Tim's Racing Photos)

Inside Line Promotions – TULSA, Okla. (March 22, 2015) – Tony Bruce Jr. took advantage of a rainout in Texas last weekend to compete closer to home.

After the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour doubleheader at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, was cancelled because of weather, Bruce Jr. drove his midget and a nonwing micro sprint for Rodney Bippus on Friday and Saturday at Port City Raceway.

“It was definitely fun to do something that was completely out of my element,” he said. “It’s something that I don’t get to do often. It was a different experience and one that I enjoyed.”

Bruce Jr. battled more than 60 cars during the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series Turnpike Challenge, which he kicked off by advancing from seventh to fourth place in a heat race on Friday. That started him on the outside of the fourth row of a qualifier, which transferred the top seven to the main event.

“We had a good car in the heat race and in the qualifier, but a bit of bad luck took us out of the show,” he said. “At one point we were in a transfer spot to go to the A Main, but a guy in front of us spun out. I had nowhere to go and had to stall the car out. It was unfortunate, but is part of racing.”

Bruce Jr. finished ninth in the qualifier to miss a transfer by only two positions.

In micro sprint duty on Friday, Bruce Jr. finished where he started – second – in a heat race to lock into the feature starting 12th. Unfortunately, he was caught up in a crash on the opening lap.

“I felt like we had a good shot at making our way into the top five, but we got involved in an early accident and weren’t able to continue,” he said.

Bruce Jr. returned to the bullring on Saturday, when he advanced from sixth to fifth place in a midget heat race. That relegated him to a B Main, which he won to transfer into the 14th starting position of a qualifier. Bruce Jr. then maneuvered to a ninth-place result, which was only two spots shy of a transfer for the second straight night.

“Saturday night’s track was a lot different,” he said. “On Friday it was wide and slick through the middle. On Saturday it was really heavy with a thick curb. It made the racing line really difficult to run and it made it really hard to pass. I couldn’t figure out turns three and four that well.”

Bruce Jr. fared better in micro sprint action as he charged from seventh to second place in a heat race to garner the third starting position for the main event.

“I made a lot of mistakes at the beginning of the race and fell back a few spots,” he said. “I couldn’t get turns three and four figured out no matter what I was driving for a long time. However, I was coming on the leaders at the end. It was unfortunate that we didn’t get a win, but it was a solid run. I want to thank Rodney for the opportunity and I hope we can race together again in the future.”

Bruce Jr. ended with a third-place result.

He will return to sprint car competition this Saturday at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., with the NCRA. The 5th annual Air Capital Shootout pays an NCRA-record $6,000 to win.

“We’ve always been fast in Wichita,” he said. “I grew up racing in Kansas and got to race there a number of times. We won an NCRA race there a few years ago. I’m really looking forward to going up there and seeing what we can do.”

QUICK RESULTS –

March 20 – Port City Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. (Midget) – Heat race: 4 (7); Qualifier: 9 (8).

March 20 – Port City Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. (Micro Sprint) – Heat race: 2 (2); Feature: 20 (12).

March 21 – Port City Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. (Midget) – Heat race: 5 (6); B Main: 1 (1); Qualifier: 9 (14).

March 21 – Port City Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. (Micro Sprint) – Heat race: 2 (7); Feature: 3 (3).

SEASON STATS –

8 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 3 top 10s, 4 top 15s, 5 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Saturday at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., for the 5th annual Air Capital Shootout with the NCRA

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr

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.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Lubbock Wrecker Service

With locations in Lubbock and Synder, Texas, Lubbock Wrecker Service has more than 50 years of combined experience providing heavy duty, medium duty and light vehicle towing. For more information, visit http://www.LubbockWrecker.com.

“It’s an honor to be associated with Scott Brown and Lubbock Wrecker Service,” Bruce Jr. said. “They have been involved with racing for a long time and we are fortunate to have them on our team for the 2015 season.”

Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Wheeler Metals, 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 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.

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