The American Sprint Car Series annual Sizzlin’ Summer Speedweek often proves to be a major factor in the final outcome of the O’Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National championship by season’s end.
And with a mere three points separating the top three drivers in the series’ $50,000 championship points chase, the intensity level will be even higher when the 15th Annual ASCS Sizzlin’ Summer Speedweek kicks off this Saturday night atop Little Rock’s high-banked, ¼-mile I-30 Speedway clay oval.
As if a torrid championship battle between Gary Wright, Wayne Johnson and Jason Johnson resuming in the opening leg of the historically ultra-competitive Speedweek set of events atop an always exciting I-30 Speedway oval weren’t enough, Saturday’s event will also mark the 500th feature event in ASCS National Tour history.
After Saturday’s Speedweek opener at I-30 Speedway, Round Two takes place on Monday night, July 16 at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK, with the ASCS2 600cc Multis joining the card as well.
Following two days off, Round Three takes place at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX, on Thursday night, July 19, with Round Four at Oklahoma City’s State Fair Speedway on Friday night, July 20. The 15th Annual ASCS Sizzlin’ Summer Speedweek will then conclude at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, OK, on Saturday night, July 21.
In the series championship battle, Gary Wright of Hooks, TX, and Oklahoma City native Wayne Johnson enter Speedweek tied for the series lead, with Jason Johnson of Eunice, LA, just three points back in third after 23 nights of action for the ASCS National Tour.
Travis Rilat of Forney, TX, enters Speedweek ranked fourth, just 133 points off the lead pace, with leading Brodix Rookie of the Year contender Foster Landon of Collinsville, OK, rounding out the current top five.
Along with the O’Reilly ASCoT regulars, stout fields are expected with each leg of Speedweek, including many of the American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region regulars along with a number of other invaders from coast-to-coast.
Among the invaders will be Coleman Gulick, representing the East Coast, and Adam Main, who will represent the West Coast. Gulick, who celebrates his 14th birthday on July 29, hails from Binghamton, NY, while Grass Valley, California’s Main takes in Speedweek festivities for the first time.
While Gary Wright and Terry Gray traded off the opening eight Speedweek crowns with each driver taking honors four times apiece from 1993 to 2000, the past six years have featured a like number of champions.
Jason Johnson enters this year’s Speedweek as the reigning Speedweek champion after winning five of seven events last year. Darren Stewart edged Gary Wright for the 2005 Speedweek crown, with other recent winners including Tim Crawley (2004), Shane Stewart (2003), Gary Wright (2002) and Kevin Ramey (2001).
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