5/5/2015
Cole Wood
MWR/Bryan Clauson – Pevely Outlaws Set Up Big NSL Weekend!
MWR/Bryan Clauson – Pevely Outlaws Set Up Big NSL Weekend!
(Bill W) May 5, 2015 – Like a lot of Midwest teams, unfortunately, Mother Nature has dominated the racing schedule for that Matt Wood Racing #17w team and driver Bryan Clauson. Knoxville Raceway has failed to get any of its three shows in, and even a trip to St. Francois County Raceway in Farmington, Missouri on April 25 was washed out. Last weekend, the team thrust back into action at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri with the World of Outlaws. Despite having almost a month off, the team jelled well on the high banks. They are looking forward to getting back into action with the FVP National Sprint League at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska on Friday and Knoxville on Saturday.
At Pevely, Bryan timed in ninth quick. “It was a good qualifying effort, and obviously…with the Outlaws…that’s the important part of the night,” he says. “That’s something we kind of struggled with out west with them. That started the night off right. We were lucky enough to go out early. The track slowed down a little as it went on.”
That meant a starting spot in the front row of the heat. Heat winners make the Dash with the Outlaws, but Bryan would finish second. “We kind of hurt ourselves there,” he says. “We were able to start on the outside of the front row. The bottom was just a little bit better on the start, and Sammy (Swindell) got the jump on us. I felt we had a good car, we just didn’t have enough to get by him.”
Still, the qualifying effort meant a starting spot outside of row five for the feature. “I think we were a little too good early on,” says Bryan. “The track was kind of a guessing game as far as how long it would stay good. We were able to get to seventh or so at one time. From there, we just kind of hung in there.”
It was the Noblesville, Indiana driver’s first teaming with crew chief Shane Bowers and the rest of the crew for a World of Outlaws race. “It was our first Outlaw race together,” says Bryan. “It was also our first 40-lap feature, so there’s going to be some learning that goes on there. Overall, we would have liked a little better result, but it was a great team builder for us to run as competitively as we did all night.”
This weekend’s NSL events at Eagle and Knoxville feature a $20,000 bonus for winning both races compliments of Durst Motorplex. “We’re looking forward to getting back to the NSL after a month,” says Bryan. “Not only are we running two great racetracks in Eagle and Knoxville, but there’s a lot of money up for grabs if somebody can win them both.”
Matt Wood Racing would like to thank: Elk Grove Ford, Quick Lane, Fuel Safe, Schoenfeld, Curb Records and Vortex Wings!
Link to Mark Robinson’s story on Bryan at IndyCar.com
http://www.indycar.com/News/2015/05/5-3-USAC-champion-Clauson-returns-to-Indy-500-lineup
To follow the Matt Wood Racing’s progress online, visit www.ColeWoodRacing.com!
Follow Bryan Clauson online at www.BryanClauson.com!
Photo: (Steve Lafond – Tear-Off Heaven Fotos)
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