by Bryan Hulbert
El Paso, TX | Nov. 1, 2013 - A cool evening in El Paso, Texas yielded the season’s fourth Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real first time winner as Christopher Bell led flag-to-flag at the El Paso Speedway Park.
“I just can’t say enough about my guys that work on this car. It really showed tonight. The thing pretty much drove itself around the racetrack” commented Bell of his victory. “We made a small change on that open red on the start and it really brought the car to life, and like I said, it really drove itself around the track.”
The second consecutive year a first time winner has been crowned at the west Texas oval; Bell drew the front row alongside Kolt Walker.
Caution the first start for the spun No. 74b of John Carney II and No. 12 of James Mosher, the second attempt sent cars flying into the catch fence, ending the night for Travis Rilat and Josh Baughman. Also involved, Johnny Herrera entered the work area where several crews went to work exchanging both front and rear suspensions as well as wings to get the MVT No. 45x back on the track while El Paso track crews completed repairs to the catch fence.
The third time did it as the field raced non-stop until Lap 25 when David Gravel spun his No. 82 off the top of turns three and four. Leaving the field in his wake, Christopher Bell completed lapping into the top ten just prior to the caution being displayed.
Back underway with four slower cars between Bell and second running Jeff Swindell, the Baytown Ford No. 31b went uncontested to victory.
Jeff Swindell crossed second; earning his first fifteenth podium finish of the season. Asked about the importance of a solid finish going into the season final swing, Swindell replied, “Podium finishes is the first key. We got luck of the draw tonight and started up front on a Heat. Then the feature, Asa [Swindell] drew good there too and got us starting third so that meant a lot.”
Kolt Walker ran in the runner up spot until Lap 15 when contact with a slower car sent the No. 12m flying into the infield. Re-entering the racing surface fourth, Walker worked past Matt Covington in the final laps to claim his first podium finish in Lucas Oil ASCS National competition. “As fast as this track was, if you slow down for just a second, you’d lose nine-to-ten spots so I just thought well; I’ll just get back on and see what I can make up.”
Matt Covington crossed fourth after starting ninth with Aaron Retuzel coming from fifteenth to complete the top five in the BC Funds No. 21a.
Jason Johnson climbed from eighteenth to sixth to earn the PitStopUSA.com Hard Charger of the Night with Logan Forler, passing an equal number of cars coming from nineteenth to seventh. Danny Lasoski powered the Bob Miller owned No. 21 to eighth from thirteenth with Seth Bergman ninth. The top ten finished up with Johnny Herrera charging from twentieth.
Provisionals were utilized by Tony Bruce, Jr. who had to swap engines under the bonnet of the No. 18 between the B-Main and A-Main. The provisional was a full point bonus earned during the season. Kraig Kinser was given a Promoter’s Provisional and only earned B-Main points.
Heat Races numbered four with 34 drivers checking in. Seth Bergman, Christopher Bell, John Carney II, and Jeff Swindell garnered Heat Race win. A single B-Feature went to David Gravel.
The Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real returns to competition on Saturday, November 2 at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M. Gates open at 4:00 P.M. (MDT) with races slated for 6:30 P.M.
Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real
El Paso Speedway Park - El Paso, Texas
Friday, November 1, 2013
Car Count: 34
Wesmar Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 23-Seth Bergman[1]; 2. 12M-Kolt Walker[2]; 3. 21-Danny Lasoski[3]; 4. 20Z-Rick Ziehl[6]; 5. 29-Brandon Hahn[4]; 6. 18W-Lorne Wofford[7]; 7. 17H-Harli White[5]; 8. 17-Blake Hahn[9]; 9. 198-Jerry Gonzalez[8]
Ti22 Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 31B-Christopher Bell[6]; 2. 9-Ryan Linder[1]; 3. 22-Jesse Baker[8]; 4. 17J-Josh Baughman[3]; 5. 21A-Aaron Reutzel[7]; 6. 41-Jason Johnson[9]; 7. 93-Dustin Morgan[5]; 8. (DNF) 21TX-Brandon Schure[4]; 9. 41X-Cody Mansfield[2]
Rod End Supply Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 74B-John Carney II[1]; 2. 1H-Jan Howard[2]; 3. 17W-Cole Wood[3]; 4. 39C-Travis Rilat[6]; 5. 2L-Logan Forler[5]; 6. 05-Brad Loyet[7]; 7. 41W-Joshua Williams[4]; 8. 131-Royal Jones[8]
BMRS Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 94-Jeff Swindell[2]; 2. 95-Matt Covington[1]; 3. 12-James Mosher[4]; 4. 82-David Gravel[3]; 5. 45X-Johnny Herrera[6]; 6. 111-Kraig Kinser[7]; 7. 18-Tony Bruce Jr[5]; 8. 74X-Gary Taylor[8]
DMI B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 82-David Gravel[2]; 2. 17J-Josh Baughman[1]; 3. 2L-Logan Forler[4]; 4. 45X-Johnny Herrera[3]; 5. 18W-Lorne Wofford[6]; 6. 05-Brad Loyet[7]; 7. 111-Kraig Kinser[8]; 8. 17H-Harli White[10]; 9. 131-Royal Jones[14]; 10. 93-Dustin Morgan[11]; 11. 74X-Gary Taylor[15]; 12. 17-Blake Hahn[9]; 13. 41W-Joshua Williams[13]; 14. 41X-Cody Mansfield[18]; 15. (DNF) 29-Brandon Hahn[5]; 16. (DNF) 18-Tony Bruce Jr[12]; DNS 21TX-Brandon Schure; DNS 198-Jerry Gonzalez
Protect the Harvest A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 31B-Christopher Bell[2]; 2. 94-Jeff Swindell[3]; 3. 12M-Kolt Walker[1]; 4. 95-Matt Covington[9]; 5. 21A-Aaron Reutzel[15]; 6. 41-Jason Johnson[16]; 7. 2L-Logan Forler[19]; 8. 21-Danny Lasoski[13]; 9. 23-Seth Bergman[8]; 10. 45X-Johnny Herrera[20]; 11. 05-Brad Loyet[22]; 12. 74B-John Carney II[7]; 13. 111-Kraig Kinser[24]; 14. 17W-Cole Wood[14]; 15. 9-Ryan Linder[6]; 16. (DNF) 18-Tony Bruce Jr[23]; 17. (DNF) 82-David Gravel[17]; 18. (DNF) 22-Jesse Baker[5]; 19. (DNF) 1H-Jan Howard[4]; 20. (DNF) 18W-Lorne Wofford[21]; 21. (DNF) 12-James Mosher[10]; 22. (DNF) 20Z-Rick Ziehl[11]; 23. (DNF) 39C-Travis Rilat[12]; 24. (DNF) 17J-Josh Baughman[18]
Lap Leader(s): Christopher Bell (1-30)
PitstopUSA.com Hard Charger: Jason Johnson+12
Hawk Performance Products Fastest Lap of the Night: N/A
Provisionals: Tony Bruce, Jr. (BP1), Kraig Kinser (Prom.)
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