Reutzel Gains Momentum with Runner-Up Bronco Run
CLUTE, Texas (March 31, 2016) – Second place isn’t typically what Aaron Reutzel and the Shark-powered Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/BC Fundz No. 87 Triple-X Sprint Car team are looking for.
But, after a rough start to his Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour title defense in the opening three events, Saturday’s runner-up finish at Bronco Raceway Park in Cleveland, TX, was just what the team needed.
“We needed a good run, we’ll take it,” Reutzel commented.
Saturday’s runner-up finish for the Wren Motorsports/Momentum Racing Suspensions team came after a 13th place run on Friday night at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, TX. The Saturday run also propelled the team to seventh in ASCS National points, little more than 70 points out of the lead.
With this Saturday’s ASCS National Tour event at West Memphis already a victim of rain, Reutzel and the Danny Sander Construction/ButlerBuilt team will take to the Gator Motorplex in Willis, TX, for Saturday night’s ASCS Gulf South Nolan Wren Memorial event.
“We’ll see if we can make it four in a row, we’ve never lost at that event yet,” Reutzel said of this coming weekend’s action.
Reutzel started quickly in last Friday’s card at Cotton Bowl Speedway, racing from eighth to third in heat race action in short order aboard the Wright Way Logistics/Walker Performance Filtration entry. But a restart with two laps to go proved costly.
“We got slid big-time and had to check up big-time,” Reutzel explains. “That cost us three positions and put us deep in the feature.”
Reutzel started the feature in 13th and finished 13th.
“We’re still trying to figure this car out,” Reutzel says. “Anytime I try to tighten it up a little, it gets way too tight. We just couldn’t go anywhere on Friday.”
Reutzel showed good speed again on Saturday at Bronco Raceway Park, racing through his heat race field not once, but twice.
“We went ninth to third, I rear-ended a car and the front bumper came off, so they put me to the tail,” Reutzel explains.
The defending series champion rallied back through the field to finish fourth, landing a spot in the redraw. And this time, Reutzel drew the front row outside.
Reutzel knew the feature start would be critical.
“It was one of those races, whoever got the lead first was going to win it,” Reutzel says.
And the initial start looked promising with Reutzel gunning into the lead. However, the caution flew before the completion of the first lap, setting up a restart.
Josh Baughman got the jump on the restart with Reutzel chasing in second.
“We got to him when he started struggling with traffic, I think we may have had a shot at him,” Reutzel recalls.
But a caution flew just as Reutzel was poised to make a move. And a red flag effectively dashed Reutzel’s victory hopes.
“We tried to tighten it just a little and it ruined the car,” Reutzel relates.
Reutzel was able ride out Bronco over the final laps to get a much-needed runner-up finish.
“I felt like we got a little momentum, I was looking forward to going to Riverside this weekend,” Reutzel said. “With that rained out, I guess we’ll try to go get some Gulf South money.”
Up Next: ASCS Gulf South “Nolan Wren Memorial” at the Gator Motorplex in Willis, TX, on Saturday.
Keep Track: Keep track of Aaron Reutzel’s on-track action including schedule and results at http://www.aaronreutzelracing.
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Penning the recurring series of “The Wheatley Chronicles” articles on www.sprintcarmania.com, Lonnie Wheatley provides media, public relations and more for select tracks, drivers and events. For more information, Wheatley may be contacted at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
Sources: Lonnie Wheatley/Aaron Reutzel PR