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Drivers Using Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown Wins to Springboard into Early Success

(Photo by Joe Orth Photos)

Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (April 23, 2015) – The five drivers who scored a victory during the inaugural Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown last January have used the offseason event at Cocopah Speedway to springboard themselves into the 2015 season.

Event champion Danny Lasoski, Paul McMahan, Aaron Reutzel, Steve Kinser and Kyle Larson have since combined to earn seven feature wins during the rain-plagued first part of the year.

Reutzel has captured five triumphs since making his first career start and recording his first win with a 410ci engine during the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown. He currently leads the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour championship standings.

“It definitely gave us a lot of confidence going down there and running that good,” he said. “Confidence is everything in racing. Everyone’s stuff is so equal it comes down to confidence and a little luck.

“Being at such a phenomenal race track like (Cocopah Speedway) makes it pretty awesome. I’m definitely looking forward to going back.”

While Reutzel wrapped up the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown by garnering a monumental win, veteran Paul McMahan opened the event by dominating the first race. He has since powered to one win and nine top fives in 17 races on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series circuit.

NASCAR star Kyle Larson, who claimed Night 2 of the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown in thrilling fashion, has recorded a trio of top 10s in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition while Steve Kinser, who won the midweek Winter Heat race, has earned a World of Outlaws podium result and a top 10 during the inaugural National Sprint League race.

Lasoski, who used a last-lap pass to pick up the victory during the fourth Winter Heat race, has also produced great results following the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown. He won an NCRA race, has three top-five finishes in six World of Outlaws races, placed sixth during the National Sprint League opener and maneuvered to four runner-up results.

“The Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown gave me the opportunity to stay sharp throughout the offseason,” he said. “It definitely bridged the gap between the end of the 2014 season and 2015. I think the event was a huge success and will continue to grow each year.”

The second edition of the 410ci sprint car event will be held at Cocopah Speedway on Jan. 1-2, Jan. 5 and Jan. 8-9, 2016, and will feature the same purse of approximately $250,000. The four weekend races pay $12,000 to win and $1,000 to start with the midweek race providing $5,000 to the winner.

For more information, visit http://www.CocopahSpeedway.com.

2016 WINTER HEAT SPRINT CAR SHOWDOWN –

Dates: Jan. 1-2, Jan. 5 and Jan. 8-9, 2016

Track: Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz.

Prize: $12,000-to-win, $1,000-to-start each night (Jan. 1-2, 8-9); $5,000-to-win (Jan. 5); approximately $250,000 total prize money

Type: 410ci sprint cars

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.CocopahSpeedway.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CocopahShowdown

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WinterHeatSprintCarShowdown

THE EVENT –

The 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown will showcase the top sprint car drivers in the world in sunny Southwest Arizona during the first two weeks of January in 2016. The four weekend races pay $12,000 to the winner and at least $1,000 to every driver who advances to the main event with the midweek show paying $5,000 to win.

COCOPAH SPEEDWAY –

Cocopah Speedway is a semi-banked, 3/8-mile dirt track located in Somerton, Ariz. It has a concrete wall perimeter, television-quality lighting and the pits are located outside turns three and four. There is also dry camping free of charge on the property. For more information, visit http://www.CocopahSpeedway.com.

COMETIC GASKET –

Cometic Gasket, Inc., is a leading worldwide supplier of shelf stock, custom and short-run gaskets for the performance aftermarket, original equipment and motor sports industries. The company, which is located in Concord, Ohio, was created in 1989 and ships out more than 5,000 types of gaskets to customers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.Cometic.com.

JE PISTONS –

JE Pistons is the leader in high performance forged pistons. Based in Irvine, Calif., the company has more than 60 years of experience and has a history of manufacturing the highest quality pistons and components that professional engine builders, race teams and high-performance enthusiasts trust and rely on. For more information, visit http://www.JEPistons.com.

K1 TECHNOLOGIES –

K1 Technologies, which is located in Mentor, Ohio, has many years in the field of designing, engineering and manufacturing connecting rods and crankshafts. For more information, visit http://www.K1Technologies.com.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

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