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Wood Challenges for First Victory of the Season Before Mechanical Woes Strike

Inside Line Promotions – KILLEEN, Texas (June 10, 2013) – What appeared to be Cole Wood’s best chance at his first victory of the season didn’t finish as well as hoped.

Opening an ASCS Gulf South Region doubleheader in Texas on Friday at Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Wood was one of the first drivers to capitalize on the late-developing high groove and he charged to the lead only to see mechanical issues force him to the pits in the closing laps.

“I think we were putting together a really good show,” he said. “Especially driving by (Kevin) Ramey down the straightaway, I felt like it was a guarantee deal.”

Wood, who led all eight laps to win his heat race and advance to the redraw, started third. With the bottom being the favored groove to begin the 25-lap feature, Wood fell to fourth before discovering an outside groove around the high-banked oval near Lap 8. Within a couple of laps he drove around the top three cars and into the lead.

“In the feature the car wasn’t especially good on the bottom,” he said. “I had to slow it down a lot. As soon as the top came in I got by all of those cars.”

After what appeared to be at least one full lap in first place, a caution waved around Lap 12 and it was ruled that Wood hadn’t completed a lap in the lead and Ramey was given the top spot. Following the lengthy caution, Wood again battled for the lead before a broken valve forced him pitside in the final laps.

“It lost oil pressure and it got worse and worse, so I decided to pull off,” Wood said after finishing 17th.

Saturday at Texas Thunder Speedway started off nearly as rough. The U-joint blew in the first corner of the opening lap of his hot-lap session. The team swapped the broken part and got him onto the track in time for his heat race, when Wood drove from fourth to finish third.

He missed the redraw by two positions and started the feature on the outside of the fifth row.

“I went from 10th to fifth early in the race,” Wood said.

He was competing for a top-five finish when a fellow driver mistimed a slide job and knocked Wood into the fence in turn four with approximately six laps remaining. Wood went to the work area and returned to the track, but was forced to restart last.

“I was able to get a few cars in the last couple of laps,” he said.

Wood finished 12th to record his 13th top-15 finish of the season.

He returns to the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour, where he ranks ninth in the standings and leads the Rookie of the Year chase, this weekend for the Sizzlin’ Summer Speedweek. The six-race event during a nine-day span begins on Friday at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, Texas. It continues on Saturday at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, and Sunday at Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., before the teams get two days off.

QUICK RESULTS –

June 7 – Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas – Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 17 (3).

June 8 – Texas Thunder Speedway in Killeen, Texas – Heat race: 3 (4); Feature: 12 (10).

SEASON STATS –

24 races, 0 wins, 4 top fives, 8 top 10s, 13 top 15s, 21 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Sizzlin’ Summer Speedway: Friday at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, Texas; Saturday at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas; Sunday at Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La.; Wednesday, June 19, at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, Okla.; Thursday, June 20, at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, Okla.; Saturday, June 22, at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo.

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: www.ColeWoodRacing.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wood17w

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cole-Wood-Racing/246046125428603?fref=ts

APPAREL –

Wood has t-shirts and hats available at his race car trailer at every race. For a schedule of events, visit ColeWoodRacing.com.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Elk Grove Ford

Elk Grove Ford is a leading Ford dealership located in Elk Grove, Calif. For more information about the business or how to purchase a vehicle from Elk Grove Ford, visit ElkGroveFord.com.

“Elk Grove Ford is one of my main supporters,” Wood said. “I wouldn’t be out here racing for victories without the support of Elk Grove Ford.”

Wood would also like to thank A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Roush Yates Racing Engines, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Wion’s Body Shop, Awesome Racewear, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems and The Joie of Seating for their continued support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.

To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.

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