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LITTLE ROCK, AK (October 26, 2010) – Ol’ 108 will be only a memory, as the previous Short Track Nationals record number of competitors will in all likelihood be blown to smithereens this weekend. With Wednesday night’s Test ‘N Tune session at Little Rock’s I-30 Speedway little more than 24 hours away, the entry count for the 23rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires has climbed to an unprecedented total of 126, with several more expected. Drivers from 21 different states as well as Australia are set to battle it out in the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National event, with Saturday night’s 40-lap STN championship finale winner pocketing $15,000. All Saturday night main event starters will collect a minimum of $2,300. All three nights of competition atop the high-banked, ¼-mile I-30 Speedway clay oval will be taped for later broadcast on the VERSUS Network.
The STN Field:
#0 Jason Martin (Liberal, KS) #0c Preston Peebles II (Lubbock, TX) #01 Danny Lasoski (Higginsville, MO) #1b Tim Law (White Hall, AR) #1g Cody Gardner (Benton, AR) #1h Nic Jenkins (Bryant, AR) #1m Sean McClelland (Tulsa, OK) #1p Curtis Evans (Norborne, MO) #1s Sammy Swindell (Bartlett, TN) #1x Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) #03 Joe Wood, Jr. (Oklahoma City, OK) #3a A.G. Rains (West Memphis, AR) #3g Darren Long (Elida, OH) #3m Mark Shirshekan (Farmington, MO) #3s John Carney II (El Paso, TX) #3x Brooke Tatnell (Sans Souci, NSW) #4b Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) #4s Tommy Snellgrove (Little Rock, AR) #c4 Casey Rowland (Nesbit, MS) #5g Dave Glennon (Casselton, ND) #5l Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD) #5m Miranda Arnold (Sedalia, MO) #5r Jerod Roller (Olive Branch, MS) #6h Kyle Hirst (Loomis, CA) #6k Chad Kemenah (Findlay, OH) #7h Lewis Jenkins, Jr. (Bryant, AR) #7hx Chris Morgan (Topeka, KS) #7s Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN) #7tw Brandon Wimmer (Fairmount, IN) #7w Wade Human (Marion, AR) #7y Don Young (Bartlett, TN) #8h Joey Moughan (Springfield, IL) #8tw Kent Lewis, Jr. (Willis, TX) #8x Chris Williams (Memphis, TN) #8z Zach Pringle (Alexander, AR) #9h Derek Hagar (Marion, AR) #9s Justin Sturch (Benton, AR) #9w Lane Whittington (Denham Springs, LA) #9x Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) #10a Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR) #11c Dakota Carroll (La Monte, MO) #11m Justin Melton (Flower Mound, TX) #11x Chad Corken (Highlands Ranch, CO) #11xx Garry Lee Maier (Dodge City, KS) #12d Dalton Davis (Memphis, TN) #12h Jerrod Hull (Sikeston, MO) #12t Joe Young (Benton, AR) #14e Tommy Bryant (Conroe, TX) #14k Kyle Bellm (Nixa, MO) #14m Jordon Mallett (Greenbrier, AR) #14z Jessica Zemken (Sprakers, NY) #15 Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX) #16 Koty Adams (Doyline, LA) #17b Ryan Bickett (Ramona, SD) #17bb Brad Bowden (Hernando, MS) #17g Bruce Griffith, Jr. (Highlands, TX) #17w Brad Welborn (Princeton, TX) #18b Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) #18h Mike Hess (Springfield, IL) #19 Klint Angelette (Thibodaux, LA) #w20 Greg Wilson (Benton Ridge, OH) #21b Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO) #21t Ray Allen Kulhanek (Conroe, TX) #21tx Brandon Schure (El Paso, TX) #21v Taylor Velasquez (Turpin, OK) #22h Randy Hannagan (San Jose, CA) #22s Robbie Standridge (Springfield, IL) #22y Dennis Yoakam (Lima, OH) #23 Darryl Wills (Deer Park, TX) #24 Justin Carver (Millington, TN) #26m Marshall Skinner (West Memphis, AR) #26s Jon Stinson (Memphis, TN) #27 Andy Shouse (Oklahoma City, OK) #28 Jonathan Cornell (Sedalia, MO) #29 Tim Kaeding (San Jose, CA) #30 Brandon Corn (Hearne, TX) #31 Brandon Berryman (Missouri City, TX) #32 Justin Barger (Montrose, NY) #33 Mark Huddleston (Mesquite, TX) #36 Jonathan Beason (Broken Arrow, OK) #38 Rick Pringle (Benton, AR) #40a Ernie Ainsworth (Memphis, TN) #40j Junior Jenkins (Greenville, TX) #41 Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) #46 Jan Howard (Byhalia, MS) #49 Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA) #50z Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) #51b Beau Smith (Texas City, TX) #51L Lee Sowell (Nesbit, MS) #53d Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) #53j Justin Jackson (Bryant, AR) #55c Donnie Ray Crawford (Broken Arrow, OK) #55s Jason Solwold (Burlington, WA) #56 Davey Heskin (St. Michael, MN) #57 Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) #58f Gary Floyd (San Angelo, TX) #58x Wade Oliver (Southaven, MS) #59 Marty Stanford (McKinney, TX) #60 Eric Sandage (Alexander, AR) #69 Larry Howery (Hearne, TX) #71 Channin Tankersley (Highlands, TX) #72 Sherman Davis (Sand Springs, OK) #74e Claud Estes (Godley, TX) #75b Tyler Blank (California, MO) #75L Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, CA) #76 John Ricketts (Burleson, TX) #77x Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) #83 Tim Shaffer (Aliquippa, PA) #84 Ben Wagoner (Emden, IL) #85 Jerry Bell (Garland, TX) #87a Andrew Marshala (Shawnee, OK) #87b Kent Buckley (Farmington, MO) #87m Brian McClelland (Broken Arrow, OK) #87r Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX) #88 Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) #89g David Gravel (Middlebury, CT) #90 Jeff Swindell (Memphis, TN) #91 Darren Stewart (Bixby, OK) #93m Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) #93s Chris Sweeney (Channelview, TX) #94 Danny Wood (Norman, OK) #95 Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK) #97b Aaron Berryhill (Broken Arrow, OK) #99 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) #141 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (Olive Branch, MS) #165 Haley Arnold (Sedalia, MO)
Entry Notes: Past Winners – The number of past STN winners entered is seven, including two-time and defending STN champion Tony Bruce, Jr., four-time event winner Gary Wright and one-timers Jason Johnson, Jason Sides, Wayne Johnson, Tim Crawley and Sammy Swindell. Tony Bruce, Jr., vies to become the first driver in event history to make it three wins in a row. Currently ranked sixth in Lucas Oil ASCS National points, the Liberal, KS, shoe has posted finishes of fifth, third and fifth in three series events at I-30 Speedway this year. States – Twenty-one different states are represented among the current entries in addition to Australia. The Lone Star state leads the way with 27 entries, followed by the host state of Arkansas and neighboring Oklahoma with 18 apiece. The breakdown: Texas 27, Arkansas 18, Oklahoma 18, Missouri 12, Tennessee 9, Mississippi 7, California 5, Illinois 4, Kansas 4, Louisiana 4, Ohio 4, New York 2, South Dakota 2, Washington 2, Colorado 1, Connecticut 1, Indiana 1, Minnesota 1, Nebraska 1, North Dakota 1, Pennsylvania 1. Add in an Aussie (Brooke Tatnell) for good measure to make it 125. Rookies – There are currently a total of 29 different drivers gearing up for their first taste of the Short Track Nationals. STN Rookie Contenders: Klint Angelette, Miranda Arnold, Jonathan Beason, Dakota Carroll, Justin Carver, Gary Floyd, Dave Glennon, David Gravel, Randy Hannagan, Davey Heskin, Mike Hess, Kyle Hirst, Justin Jackson, Nic Jenkins, Tim Law, Jordon Mallett, John Ricketts, Jerod Roller, Casey Rowland, Beau Smith, Tommy Snellgrove, Jason Solwold, Jon Stinson, Taylor Velasquez, Ben Wagoner, Darryl Wills, Brandon Wimmer, Dennis Yoakam, Jessica Zemken. Been There, Done That… – A total of 47 drivers among the current entries have reached the STN finale on at least one previous occasions, with four-time event winner Gary Wright leading the way with 17 starts even though his stretch of making the STN finale 15 times in as many tries since 1993 came to a halt last year. Past STN Feature Starts: Gary Wright 17, Tim Crawley 15, Wayne Johnson 13, Lewis Jenkins, Jr. 9, Garry Lee Maier 9, Shane Stewart 7, Sammy Swindell 7, Jan Howard 6, Jason Sides 6, Darren Stewart 6, Jason Johnson 5, Eric Sandage 5, Danny Wood 5, Brian Brown 4, Jerrod Hull 4, A.G. Rains 4, Marshall Skinner 4, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 4, Jeff Swindell 4, Ernie Ainsworth 3, Zach Chappell 3, Justin Sturch 3, Tony Bruce, Jr. 2, Tommy Bryant 2, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 2, Chad Kemenah 2, Ricky Logan 2, Wade Oliver 2, Tim Shaffer 2, Brady Bacon 1, Aaron Berryhill 1, Donnie Ray Crawford 1, Jack Dover 1, Claud Estes 1, Cody Gardner 1, Derek Hagar 1, Tim Kaeding 1, Sean McClelland 1, Dustin Morgan 1, Joey Moughan 1, Danny Lasoski 1, Zach Pringle 1, Robbie Standridge 1, Brad Sweet 1, Brooke Tatnell 1, Greg Wilson 1, Joe Wood, Jr. 1. Mini Streak – Currently, no driver has an active stretch of consecutive STN feature starts of more than two in a row. Five entered drivers made the cut for both the 2008 and 2009 STN finales, including Tony Bruce, Jr. (winner of both), Tim Crawley, Wayne Johnson, Jeff Swindell and Justin Sturch. Sturch used the I-30 Speedway track champion provisional on both occasions. Zach Pringle will have that luxury this year, if needed. Show Makers – Since the event switched to ASCS specs in 1993, of drivers with five or more STN attempts there are only two that have made it the feature event 100% of the time. Shane Stewart is seven-for-seven while brother Darren is six-for-six. After making his first STN start in 1993, Shane has been in the STN finale six times in the last eight years with four top-five finishes. Victory lane has proven painfully elusive in the finale though for the defending Lucas Oil ASCS National champion. Younger brother Darren Stewart made the STN finale six years in a row from 2002 through 2007 while teamed with car owner Bobby Sparks, who won the STN in back-to-back years with Wayne Johnson (1997) and Tim Crawley (1998). Stewart is back aboard Sparks No. 91 machine for the first time since 2007.
Back to Hammer Hill – Several top contenders make a return to Little Rock’s I-30 Speedway, with Australian native Brooke Tatnell breaking the longest hiatus with his first STN since an eight-place run in 1997. Tatnell takes the seat of the Zierolf No. 3x entry wheeled by Michael Dupuy to a top-ten finish in the recent Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals. Zierolf’s presence brings the number of teams and/or drivers based out of Louisiana (along with Jason Johnson, Lane Whittington, Koty Adams and Klint Angelette), assuring a strong supply of jambalaya and crawfish for the weekend. Ohio’s Chad Kemenah makes his first STN appearance since 2004, Tim Kaeding and Brad Sweet are both back after making the 2006 feature, Jason Sides is back for the first time since 2007 and Danny Lasoski jumps back in the Donnie Cooper No. 01 that he drove to fifth in 2008. Brian Brown also returns after missing the 2009 version to get hitched. The Usual Suspects – All 14 full-time Lucas Oil ASCS National teams will be on hand including current series points leader Jason Johnson. With just show-up points in effect for the weekend, the teams don’t have to sweat points and can just make a run for the money. Johnson is currently holding off Okies Brady Bacon and Shane Stewart in the $60,000 championship chase, with other Lucas Oil ASCS contenders including Tim Crawley, Jack Dover, Tony Bruce, Jr., Zach Chappell, Kyle Hirst, Danny Wood, Ricky Logan, Matt Covington, Darren Long, Dustin Morgan and Channin Tankersley. After missing the North by Northwest Swing, Gary Wright is back up to 15th in driver points and can make the move from 16th to 15th in owner points this weekend. Regional Reps – All variety of ASCS Regional shoes are among the entries, including a handful of 2010 champions (or soon-to-be champions). Ray Allen Kulhanek (ASCS Gulf South), Eric Lutz (ASCS Midwest) and Jason Solwold (ASCS Northwest) have already earned championships, while Eric Baldaccini (ASCS Lone Star) and Sean McClelland (ASCS Sooner) will finish off championship campaigns over the ensuing couple of weekends. More than 2,300 miles from his Burlington, WA, home, Solwold is among this year’s STN rookie crop. The Ladies – Four ladies take to I-30’s high banks, including the sister duo of Haley and Miranda Arnold out of Sedalia, MO, fellow Show-Me Stater Dakota Carroll of La Monte and New York’s Jessica Zemken. All but Haley Arnold, who tested STN waters last year, are event rookies. From Sprakers, NY, Zemken brings in a solid resume with a handful of ESS wins during the 2010 campaign. Zemken also ranks as the only female to ever win an ASCS feature event after scoring an ASCS Patriot victory at Brockville Ontario Speedway in June of 2007. New Yorkers – On the topic of New Yorkers, Zemken is joined be fellow Empire State rep Justin Barger of Montrose. Barger ranked second in ESS points and picked off the ASCS Patriot Fall Nationals win (worth $5,000) at Dundee, New York’s Black Rock Speedway on September 11. The Constitution State – David Gravel may well be the first driver in STN history to hail from the state of Connecticut. The 18-year-old from Middlebury, ranked third in 2010 All Star points, got a taste of Lucas Oil ASCS National action in the latter portion of August with finishes of 12th at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL, and then 11th at I-30. The I-30 Edge – Three drivers picked up Lucas Oil ASCS National wins at I-30 Speedway during the 2010 season including Oklahoma shoes Brady Bacon and Zach Chappell along with local ace Tim Crawley. Crawley also used his ASCS powerplant to best the 410-ci Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless main event in May. Track champion Zach Pringle won I-30 Speedway’s Ralph Henson Memorial in September, while mighty Joe Young topped the most recent Sprint Car feature on September 25. JJR Times Two – Jason Johnson, the 2006 STN champion and current Lucas Oil ASCS points leader, is doubling his chances of 2010 STN glory by putting Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., in a second JJR entry. Stenhouse, currently the second-ranked rookie with the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has made it to three STN finales. His most recent was a seventh-place finish in 2007. Champs – In addition to a handful of ASCS Regional champions, a number of other track and series champions are among the field including Tim Shaffer (50th Annual Knoxville Nationals winner and All Star champ), Brian Brown (Knoxville Raceway), Kyle Larson (Golden State Challenge), Zach Pringle (I-30 Speedway), Jeff Swindell (Riverside Speedway), Lane Whittington (Cajun Sprint Association), Mike Hess (Badger Midgets) and John Carney II (Renegade 305 Sprint Cars). Money Time – The $15,000-to-win STN marks the third of four Lucas Oil ASCS National races with a five-figure winner’s share. Jason Johnson collected $10,092 in the Fred Brownfield Memorial at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, WA, on July 17, while Shane Stewart pocketed $10,000 in the ASCS Knoxville Nationals on August 7. The 43rd Annual Western World Championships at Tucson’s USA Raceway offers up a $15,000 winner’s share as well. Lucas Oil ASCS Winners – A dozen different drivers have reached victory lane at least once in the 25 Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National feature events completed thus far in 2010, and all 12 are entered for this weekend’s STN action. Jason Johnson leads the way with five Lucas Oil ASCS National wins (to go along with a dozen more ASCS Regional wins), with Brady Bacon and Shane Stewart next with four apiece. Tim Crawley has claimed three wins, all since late August including a second Rock ‘N Roll 50 triumph at Riverside, with Zach Chappell taking two wins. Claiming one win apiece thus far have been Brian Brown, Tony Bruce, Jr., Matt Covington, Jack Dover, Jerrod Hull, Sammy Swindell and Danny Wood. The series most recent winner is 20-year-old Dover of Springfield, NE. After waltzing to victory lane in the Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals, “Dancin’ Jack” tries to back it up in the STN. Regional Winners – While a dozen of the entered drivers have already claimed at least one Lucas Oil ASCS National win in 2010, another 23 of the entries have picked off at least one ASCS Regional win in 2010. Among those with at least one Regional win and looking for that first National score of the year this weekend are Gary Wright, Darren Long, Sean McClelland, Andy Shouse, Jason Solwold, Tommy Bryant, Wayne Johnson, Tim Shaffer, Kyle Hirst, Dustin Morgan, Eric Baldaccini, Brandon Berryman, Ray Allen Kulhanek, Eric Lutz, Claud Estes, Brian McClelland, Joe Wood, Jr., Justin Melton, Gary Taylor, Justin Barger, Kent Lewis, Jr., Randy Hannagan and Chris Morgan. One to 400 – Gary Wright is one feature start away from becoming the first driver in Lucas Oil ASCS National history to start 400 feature events. After missing the feature during both nights of the Rock ‘N Roll 50 at Riverside, “The Texan” finished 11th in his 399th start in the Devil’s Bowl Winter Nationals prelim before missing the feature the second night. A dozen of Wright’s 126 career ASCS National wins have take place at I-30 Speedway. Tim Crawley is next in ASCS National wins at I-30 with his fifth win in August, with late entrant Garry Lee Maier next with four.
The Pertinent STN Info: The What: 23rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires. The Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR). I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road). The When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 28-30, 2010. $15,000 to win the STN finale on October 30, with $2,300 to start the STN championship feature. Race time is 7:30 p.m. each night. Rain date is November 4-6. Test 'N Tune session on Wednesday night, October 27. All three nights will be taped for later broadcast on VERSUS and MavTV. The Past Winners: Tony Bruce, Jr. (2009 and 2008), Jason Meyers (2007), Jason Johnson (2006), Tim Montgomery (2005), Gary Wright (2004, 2003, 1999 and 1995), Paul McMahan (2002), Jason Sides (2001), Mike Ward (2000), Tim Crawley (1998), Wayne Johnson (1997), Pete Butler (1996), Terry Gray (1994), John Gerloff (1993), Steve Kinser (1991, ’89 and ‘88) and Sammy Swindell (1990). 1992 finale was rained out. The Series: A premier stop on the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by K&N Filters National trail, Jason Johnson, Brady Bacon and Shane Stewart are currently locked in a torrid three-way duel for the series $60,000 championship chase, with Tim Crawley, Jack Dover and the ten other full-time Lucas Oil ASCS National teams vying for their share of the $250,000 points fund. After the STN the Lucas Oil Sprint Cars will finish out the year at Las Cruces’ Southern New Mexico Speedway (November 12-13), Tucson’s USA Raceway (November 18-20) and then Las Vegas Motor Speedway (November 26-27). Current top 20 in Lucas Oil Sprint Car points: 1. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 2,919, 2. Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) 2,847, 3. Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK) 2,780, 4. Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) 2,643, 5. Jack Dover (Springfield, NE) 2,622, 6. Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS) 2,573, 7. Zach Chappell (Talala, OK) 2,504, 8. Kyle Hirst (Loomis, CA) 2,397, 9. Danny Wood (Norman, OK) 2,379, 10. Ricky Logan (Little Rock, AR) 2,364, 11. Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK) 2,268, 12. Darren Long (Elida, OH) 2,103, 13. Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 2,095, 14. Channin Tankersley (Highlands, TX) 2,019, 15. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 1,690, 16. Justyn Cox (Clarksburg, CA) 1,513, 17. Austen Wheatley (Lake Stevens, WA) 1,344, 18. Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO) 1,290, 19. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 1,152, 20. Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) 873. The Format: Approximately half of the STN entrants will battle through Thursday's qualifying program, with the other half racing through Friday night's qualifying program. Both qualifying nights will include heat races followed by four qualifying races with an inversion based on heat race passing points, with the top 20 in combined passing/finishing points from the heats and qualifiers advancing to “A” Main action. The top three finishers from each qualifying night main event lock into Saturday’s $15,000-to-win, $2,300-to-start finale. Saturday's Odus Pack Building Materials Dash for Cash, which includes the top three finishers from the Thursday and Friday night preliminary features, will be aligned by a pill draw conducted in “Cheater’s Day” fashion. Thursday’s winning driver will draw the first pill then give that pill to the driver of his choice. Friday’s winner will draw the second pill and give that pill to one of the remaining drivers, and so on until the lineup is determined. The Dash finishing order will determine the alignment of the front three rows of Saturday night’s STN finale. Those not locked in will carry heat, qualifying and feature points over to Saturday night, where they draw in for heat race action that awards double passing/finishing points. Saturday heat race points are added to qualifying night points to set the lineups for seven last chance qualifying races. The top two from each of the seven last chance qualifying races advance to the 40-lap STN finale, with the qualifying race winners in positions 7-13 (lined up based on total points) and qualifying race runners-up in positions 14-20 (lined up based on total points). The Josh Howard Determination Award: Once again, Bossier City, Louisiana's Shed Road Auto Parts will present a top wing and nose wing courtesy of Lightning Wings to a driver that battles through adversity over the course of the intensely competitive weekend. Andy Lutz Art will also offer a custom painted helmet to the award winner. Derek Hagar won last year’s Josh Howard Determination Award after Eric Sandage took the inaugural award in 2008. The Trade Show & Midway: This year’s rendition of the Short Track Nationals will also include the Sixth Annual Short Track Nationals Trade Show & Midway. Fans, drivers & crews will have the opportunity to visit vendor displays, which opens at noon on Thursday and then at 9 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The Tickets: Advance tickets are on sale through Wednesday, October 27, no advance sales after that. Tickets ordered in advance are just $45 for all three nights. Day of show prices are $15 on Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday. To order tickets in advance or for more information, call the track at 501-455-4567 or e-mail orders to info@I-30speedway.com. Children's tickets will be available at the event for just $2 on both Thursday and Friday and then $5 on Saturday. There is a $1 per ticket surcharge for orders placed via credit/debit cards. Pit passes are $30 on both Thursday and Friday and $35 on Saturday. STN on TV: All three nights of action at the 23rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires will be taped for later broadcast on VERSUS and MavTV. Air dates, according to www.motorsportshour.com, are currently set for December 5 at 6:00 p.m. ET (October 28 event), December 11 at 6:00 p.m. ET (October 29 event) and December 12 at 6:00 p.m. ET (October 30 STN finale). For more information regarding the 23rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, contact I-30 Speedway at 501-455-4567.
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