6/28/2016
Inside Line Promotions
Rilat Flips while Battling for Lead during Dirt Cup Preliminary Feature
(Photo by Justin Brester)
Inside Line Promotions – ALGER, Wash. (June 28, 2016) – Travis Rilat put himself in contention to win the opening round of the 45th annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup last weekend at Skagit Speedway.
“It was self-inflicted the first night,” he said. “I got a little anxious and got into one of those ruts. The thing is those ruts were there all night long just like the wall and the infield. I screwed up and got into them.”
Following Thursday’s rain out Rilat and car owner Richard Saumure opened the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event on Friday by charging from seventh to second place in a heat race and from sixth to second in a qualifier. That gave him the most overall points and the pole position for the main event.
Rilat fell to second on the opening lap before a caution on Lap 2. During the restart he caught a rut the wrong way in turn one and it resulted in Rilat flipping. He was unable to finish the night and was credited with a 20th-place finish.
“If you’re gonna pass you have to go where they are not,” he said. “I just should have been more patient instead of pressing the issue that early.”
The team pulled the backup car down for Saturday’s finale, which began with Rilat maneuvering from fifth to third place in a heat race before he ended fourth in a qualifier. That relegated him to a B Main, which he won to transfer into the 17th starting position for the main event.
“The track conditions were a little bit different,” he said. “It wasn’t as rough, but the track was also pretty fast for everybody. I wasn’t able to maneuver like I needed to in order to gain enough positions. I backed up in the qualifier and that put us in the B Main. The track was really nice in the feature. Just starting 17th it’s tough to advance through the field that much.”
Rilat maneuvered to an 11th-place finish.
He is scheduled to return to Washington this weekend to drive for Saumure during the Fred Brownfield Classic on Friday and Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 24 – Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. – Heat race: 2 (7); Qualifier: 2 (6); Feature: 20 (1).
June 25 – Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. – Heat race: 3 (5); Qualifier: 4 (3); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 11 (17).
SEASON STATS –
19 races, 1 win, 4 top fives, 8 top 10s, 12 top 15s, 17 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash., for the Fred Brownfield Classic with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.TravisRilat.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TravisRilat29
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Xtreme Oilfield Technology
Located in St. Paul, Alberta, Canada, Xtreme Oilfield Technology began in 2000 by providing general and specialized tank cleaning (door pulls), fluid transfers, well loads and rig work. Xtreme Oilfield Technology has expanded to include body vac units, flushby units, combinations units (vacuum/steamer), water trucks and hydro vac units, and offers equipment rental. For more information, visit http://www.XtremeOilfield.ca.
“The people with Xtreme Oilfield Technology are very cool people to hang out with and we really appreciate their partnership,” Rilat said.
Rilat would also like to thank Carlan Services, Shark Racing Engines, 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 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.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
