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Bruce Jr. Optimistic Entering Knoxville Nationals Following Solid Weekend in Iowa

(Photo by Joe Orth Photos)

Inside Line Promotions – OSKALOOSA, Iowa (Aug. 5, 2014) – Tony Bruce Jr. is riding the momentum from one of his most consistent weekends in Iowa entering the 54th annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s General Stores this week.

Bruce Jr., whose Knoxville Nationals qualifying night is this Wednesday to kick off the four-day event at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, opened last weekend with a podium result on Thursday during his preliminary night at the 24th annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals.

“We actually went out pretty late and laid the eighth quickest lap in qualifying,” he said. “We made it through the heat race and that’s what sets you up for the whole week. In the A Main we got to fourth on the start and tracked the guy down for third. I felt we had something for the leaders, but we had to get into traffic because the track was so fast.”

After qualifying eighth quickest, advancing from fifth to third place in his heat race and maneuvering from sixth to third in the main event, Bruce Jr. ranked fifth in overall points following the two preliminary nights that included 103 competitors. That lined him up on the inside of the third row for the $10,000-to-win feature on Saturday.

“I was kinda nervous about getting out there because we ran the weekly show the week before and the track was wet and it was also wet during our qualifying night,” he said. “Come Saturday night the track finally widened out and blew off. We were good. I just didn’t get the setup right and the car tight enough.”

Bruce Jr. maintained a top 10 for most of the race before ending with an 11th-place result.

“I just needed to have the car a lot tighter and we probably would have been ok,” he said. “I just didn’t know how far to go mainly because the two races we’ve been at Knoxville this year have been on wet race tracks.”

The One 8 Motorsports team returned to Knoxville Raceway on Sunday with a 410ci engine in the car for the Capitani Classic, which featured 71 drivers.

“We timed in early and that definitely helped us get in the (heat race) inversion,” Bruce Jr. said. “We were able to put ourselves in a position to get out of the heat race. We got a bad start and Ian (Madsen) was able to get around us. He went to the bottom and I went to the middle of the race track to pass him for the lead. It was a really entertaining race.”

Bruce Jr. came out on top after the duo exchanged the lead a handful of times. His heat race victory locked the car into the main event.

“We had a really good start in the feature and were able to get inside the top 10,” he said. “Then the bottom went away and my car went away. It was another situation where I didn’t tighten it up enough. We definitely wrote down some notes for what we need to do come Knoxville Nationals.”

Following a 14th-place finish at the Capitani Classic, the One 8 Motorsports team tackled the Front Row Challenge on Monday with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour at Southern Iowa Speedway.

Bruce Jr. finished where he started – second – in his heat race, which earned him a trip into the feature redraw. He pulled the No. 5, but moved up a row when the polesitter elected to take the challenge by starting at the back.

“The track was really weird because one end was really heavy and only one lane and the other end was slick up to the fence,” Bruce Jr. said. “It was a tricky race track because you almost needed a different setup for each corner.”

Bruce Jr. spent most of the race inside the top five, but he was forced to pull off the track with approximately 10 laps remaining when something broke on the right front of his sprint car. He was credited with a 17th-place result.

QUICK RESULTS –

July 31 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 3 (5); Feature: 3 (6).

Aug. 2 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Feature: 11 (5).

Aug. 3 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 29; Heat race: 1 (2); Feature: 14 (13).

Aug. 4 – Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa – Heat race: 2 (2); Feature: 17 (3).

SEASON STATS –

41 races, 3 wins, 9 top fives, 22 top 10s, 28 top 15s, 39 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the 54th annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s General Stores

LIVE COVERAGE –

To keep up to speed with Bruce Jr. at every Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event, visit http://www.RacinBoys.com for free, live audio. Additionally, RacinBoys will provide live Pay-Per-View video at select races.

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr

VIDEO –

Click on the link for a video by Thriller Productions that highlights Bruce Jr.’s Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour triumph at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on March 21: http://vimeo.com/89899519

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Lubbock Wrecker Service

With locations in Lubbock and Synder, Texas, Lubbock Wrecker Service has more than 50 years of combined experience providing heavy duty, medium duty and light vehicle towing. For more information, visit http://www.LubbockWrecker.com.

“It’s an honor to be associated with Scott Brown and Lubbock Wrecker Service,” Bruce Jr. said. “They have been involved with racing for a long time and we are fortunate to have them on our team for the 2014 season.”

Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Wheeler Metals, Briley Trucking, Hinchman Racewear, The Oil Medics, Eagle Motorsports, Smiley’s Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, Moss Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfeld Headers, Hoosier Racing Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape and Pressure Tek for their continued support.

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 and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

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