9/5/2018
Tyler Courtney
Courtney Geared Up for Big Week after Adding 11th Win of the Year
Lonnie Wheatley, INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 5, 2018) – Tyler Courtney geared up for what could be one of the biggest racing weeks of the year in Indiana by adding his 11th overall win of the season over the course of last weekend’s set of action.
Now, “Sunshine” looks to add more beginning with the Inaugural USAC Midget “BC 39” that christens the new Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday and Thursday.
After vying for his second USAC National Midget score of the season aboard the Clauson-Marshall Racing Driven2SaveLives/Indiana Donor Network No. 7bc entry, action shifts back to the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car ranks at Gas City I-69 Speedway on Friday and then the conclusion of the Kokomo Sprint Car Smackdown on Sunday.
Courtney enters Sunday’s Smackdown VII finale atop the event point charts after finishes of first and second in preliminary action and will be the top seed in the Pole Shuffle.
“There’s a lot of money on the line this weekend, hopefully we can get some wins and get our share,” Courtney commented.
“Sunshine” did his part last weekend driving the Clauson-Marshall-Newman Racing Priority Aviation No. 7bc Sprint Car to USAC National Sprint Car victory lane for the ninth time on Friday night before posting a fourth-place finish on Saturday night. Then, on Sunday evening, Courtney was within a handful of laps of winning the USAC Silver Crown “Ted Horn 100” before has fuel cell ran dry.
Last weekend’s triple began with Courtney timing in fourth-quick in Friday’s USAC Sprint Car card at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL, to earn the fourth starting position for the feature.
Courtney was out front in short order, taking the lead by the tenth round. While Courtney led the rest of the way, he had his hands full en route to collecting his 11th overall win of the year.
“The lapped cars didn’t want to go a lap down,” Courtney recalled. “They’re racing and doing their job, it’s part of it. You have to get around them and just hope that you get around them at the right time and hope the guy behind you is going to struggle as well. This time, that wasn’t the case.”
Courtney prevailed though and carried that momentum into Saturday’s USAC Sprint Car debut at Pevely, Missouri’s Federated Auto Parts I-55 Raceway. After setting quick time in qualifying and establishing a new track record of 12.440-seconds, Courtney was in the lead mix throughout the wild 30-lapper before settling for fourth at the stripe.
Shifting to the big cars at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds on Sunday, Courtney timed in 11th aboard the Hans Lein No. 97 and worked the top side of the Illinois one-mile dirt oval towards the front. Courtney made his way into the lead on the 88th round of the “Ted Horn 100” only to run short of fuel just five laps shy of the checkered flag.
Up to 11 wins on the season, Courtney looks to add more during this week’s action in the Hoosier State.
2018 Quick Stats: 57 races, 11 wins, 34 top-fives, 42 top-tens.
Up Next: USAC Midgets “BC 39” at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday an Thursday; USAC National Sprint Cars at Gas City (IN) I-69 Speedway on Friday and Kokomo Speedway on Sunday.
Keep Track: Keep track of Tyler Courtney’s on-track action including schedule and results at www.tylercourtney.com.
If you would like Tyler Courtney Racing press releases e-mailed directly to you, send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
(Rich Forman Photo)
Article Credit: Lonnie Wheatley
