Reutzel to Miss Speedweek Opener after Bob Miller’s Passing
CLUTE, Texas (June 11, 2015) – Getting tangled up in lapped traffic while leading last Saturday night’s Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour feature at Oklahoma’s Salina Highbanks could have been described as a heartbreaker for Aaron Reutzel at the time.
Things were put into perspective for all late on Tuesday night though when long-time sponsor and family friend Bob Miller passed away.
With the unexpected turn of events, Reutzel will miss Saturday’s Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Speedweek opener at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX, to attend services for Miller after driving the 305-ci Sprint Car that Miller owned in Friday’s card at El Paso Speedway Park.
“We’re going to El Paso this weekend to pay our respects to Bob,” Reutzel said.
Reutzel, currently atop the $60,000 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour championship points chase with a 49-point advantage, will rejoin the tour when Speedweek resumes with Round Two next Wednesday night, June 17, at Lawton Speedway.
The driver of the Shark-powered BC Fundz/Basic One Services No. 87 Triple X Sprint Car comes off a Saturday night in Salina, OK, that could have easily resulted in victory.
“It was good until I stepped on it,” Reutzel commented.
The night started with a strong run in a strong heat race aboard the Wren Motorsports/Momentum Racing Suspensions machine.
“The heat race went good, we drew the back of an all-star heat race and went eighth to third so we knew we were gonna have a good chance in the feature,” Reutzel said.
Starting the feature position outside the second row, Reutzel needed just four laps to take command in the Dissolvealloy Frac Ball Revolution entry.
“We got the lead, then after a restart we took off and I knew I was pretty quick,” Reutzel explained.
Indeed he was, until running into trouble in lapped traffic on the 12th round.
“I came up on two cars, one had been running the low line and the other was up top,” Reutzel describes.
“When I got to them, they were side by side,” Reutzel continues. “I tried to roll one lane above the car on the bottom, but the car up top came down then and we touched and it turned me around. I tried to keep it going, but it backed up on the berm and that killed it.”
Reutzel wasn’t done though, rallying from the tail of the field over the last half of the race to salvage a tenth-place finish aboard the Danny Sander Construction/ButlerBuilt machine.
“It wasn’t all bad, we at least got back up to tenth, just two spots behind Johnny (Herrera) so we didn’t lose much in points,” Reutzel says.
Even after that, Reutzel and the Lone Star Hydro Maintenance/Wright Way Logistics team still left Salina with a 49-point series points lead.
It’s a lead that will likely disappear on Saturday night.
But, sometimes, there are more important things to tend to than one night of racing.
R.I.P. Bob Miller.
2015 Quick Stats: 28 races, 6 wins, 15 top-fives, 18 top-tens.
Up Next: A Friday night card aboard Bob Miller’s 305-ci Sprint Car at El Paso Speedway Park before rejoining the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Speedweek for Round Two at Lawton (OK) Speedway on Wednesday with ensuing rounds at Creek County Speedway on Thursday (June 18), Salina (KS) Speedway on Friday (June 19) and Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday (June 20).
Keep Track: Keep track of Aaron Reutzel’s on-track action including schedule and results at http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aaron-Reutzel-Racing/117666254913127 or on Twitter at @AaronReutzel. You can also e-mail Aaron at aaronreutzel@yahoo.com.
If you would like Aaron Reutzel Racing press releases e-mailed directly to you, send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
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