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Rilat Comes Up Short at 26th annual Short Track Nationals

Inside Line Promotions - LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Oct. 28, 2013) - The ever-potent duo of Travis Rilat and car owner Richard Saumure didn't have the Short Track Nationals performance they expected last weekend.

Rilat crashed in his qualifier and spun out in a B Main during his qualifying night at the 26th annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals Presented by Hoosier Tires last Thursday, which buried him at the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event at I-30 Speedway.

"We were a victim of circumstances somewhat," Rilat said. "Short Track Nationals are tough; a lot of cars for a few spots."

Rilat opened the weekend with the inaugural Short Track Nationals Open on Wednesday at the bullring. He charged from sixth to third place in his heat race, but with 95 competitors it was only good enough for a B Main starting spot. Rilat placed second in the consolation to transfer to the feature, which he finished 19th.

"We just missed it a little bit," he said. "We were a little too tight. That made it hard to run the bottom and it was tough to run the cushion with the way it was."

Rilat returned to the quarter-mile oval on Thursday for his preliminary night, which began by leading all 10 laps of his heat race. That started him fifth in a qualifier. However, it ended early when the front end of his race car was knocked out while battling with another driver for the bottom lane.

"That's what screwed the rest of the weekend right there," Rilat said. "It went downhill from there. He didn't run over me. He was coming in there and I wasn't going to let him have it."

After placing ninth in the qualifier, Rilat was relegated to a B Main. He was competing for a transfer position to the feature when he spun out entering turn three.

"I was just trying a little too hard," he said. "I thought I was going to enter higher to get a good run off turn four and it didn't work out."

Rilat restarted at the back and finished 10th in the consolation race. Based on points accrued from preliminary action, Rilat started Saturday's $15,000-to-win event eighth in a D Main. He advanced to fourth to pick up a transfer to a C Main, which he charged from 16th to sixth. However, he missed a transfer to a B Main by two positions.

"We had the car going pretty well," he said. "It's tough to jump from that far back with the track the way it was."

Rilat and Saumure are set to tackle El Paso Speedway Park in El Paso, Texas, this Friday and Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., on Saturday with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.

QUICK RESULTS -

Oct. 23 - I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. - Heat race: 3 (6); B Main: 2 (1); Feature: 19 (22).

Oct. 24 - I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. - Heat race: 1 (1); Qualifier: 9 (5); B Main: 10 (6).

Oct. 26 - I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. - D Main: 4 (8); C Main: 6 (16).

SEASON STATS -

37 races, 5 wins, 16 top fives, 22 top 10s, 23 top 15s, 32 top 20s

UP NEXT -

Friday at El Paso Speedway Park in El Paso, Texas, and Saturday at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour

VIDEO -

Here is a highlight video by Nathan Prince of Rilat's Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour victory at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash., on July 12: http://youtu.be/Md1evWDAl30

Here's a video by Nathan Prince of Rilat's ASCS Northwest Region Speedweek win at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash., on June 28: http://youtu.be/NAeXAJn8nS0

MEDIA LINKS -

Website: http://www.TravisRilat.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TravisRilat29

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Shark Racing Engines

Located in Sedro-Woolley, Wash., Shark Racing Engines has been building high-performance racing engines for almost 25 years. For more information, visit http://www.SharkRacingEngines.com.

"It's kind of funny how I met (Shark owner) Marc Huson when I went up there to Washington for an ASCS National Tour race and Triple X Race Co. was next door," Rilat said. "I was wandering around talking on my cell phone and saw a sprint car next door. I walked over, looked around and introduced myself.

"He's been a great friend. He was instrumental with a support group for me and my family when I was in the hospital up there. He and his wife helped us out in a hard time. As far as his engine skills go, he's one of the best in the country. There's only a handful of great engine builders across the country and I consider him one of the best."

Rilat would also like to thank Xtreme Oilfield Technology, Carlan Services, Northern Provincial Pipelines, Matt's Oilfield Services, TriJet Manufacturing Services, Northern Lights Welding, Camex VP, Rob Wright Building Supplies, Scott Safety, Max Fuel, Jaron Water Hauling, Maxim, Factory Kahne, HRP, Ti22, Weld Wheels, Ben Cook Racing and Smiley's Racing Products among others for their continued support on Richard Saumure's No. 39c Maxim.

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 http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.

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