Reutzel Closed Out 2019 Season with a Change of Pace – Australia Up Next

Lonnie Wheatley, CLUTE, Texas (December 5, 2019) – After racing to a second consecutive All Star Circuit of Champions title and leading the nation in winged 410-ci Sprint Car wins board the Baughman-Reutzel Motorsports No. 87, Aaron Reutzel closed out his 2019 campaign with a change of scenery.

Reutzel closed out the season taking in the USAC National Midget series’ set of events in California including Placerville Speedway’s “Hangtown 100” on November 19-20, Bakersfield Speedway on November 23 and the prestigious Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway last Friday.

On the heels of racking up 18 Sprint Car wins and a second All Star title, Reutzel joined forces with the Tucker/Boat Motorsports team for California Midget action.

And Reutzel wasted little time making the adjustment, racing into the Hangtown 100 preliminary feature and then climbing from 17th to post a tenth-place finish in the main event.

“I got pretty comfortable with it by feature time and we were able to go forward to tenth,” Reutzel says.

Earning the fourth starting position for the $20,000-to-win “Hangtown 100” finale on November 20, Reutzel charge into the lead on the third round of the 100-lapper.

“We were so good early in a race that long, I knew we were in trouble,” Reutzel recalls.

Reutzel paced the field for the next 15 circuits before surrendering the point and stayed in the mix near the front until getting collected in an incident before ultimately recovering to finish 12th.

‘We got caught up in someone else’s mess,” Reutzel says.

Moving on to Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday, November 23, Reutzel timed in second quickest among his group and then won the “B” Main to secure the seventh starting position for the feature event that he was forced to exit early.

“We bent a right front shock,” Reutzel recalls.  “I knew something was wrong but I wasn’t sure what, so I pulled off.”

The California swing wrapped up with last Friday night’s Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway that was postponed from Thursday night due to heavy rain.

The excessive rain made for a rough surface that mired Reutzel deep in the field after qualifying.

“We qualified bad,” Reutzel says.  “And with that format, it’s hard to dig out of that hole.”

Reutzel made his way though his qualifying race and was within one position of the final transfer in the “B” Main only to get collected in another incident that brought the evening to an early end.

“Overall it was good,” Reutzel said of the Midget outings in California.  “We started out pretty decent then just ran into a couple of problems after that.”

With the 2019 North American season in the books, Reutzel is already preparing for the 2020 campaign before making his way to Australia later in the month for more racing action over the Holidays.

2019 Quick Stats:  94 races, 18 wins, 47 top-fives, 61 top-tens.

Next Up:  Sprint Cars in Australa.

Keep Track:  Keep track of Aaron Reutzel’s on-track action including schedule and results at http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aaron-Reutzel-Racing/117666254913127 or on Twitter at @AaronReutzel.  You can also e-mail Aaron at aaronreutzel@yahoo.com.

If you would like Aaron Reutzel Racing press releases e-mailed directly to you, send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.

Penning the recurring series of “The Wheatley Chronicles” articles on www.sprintcarmania.com, Lonnie Wheatley provides media, public relations and more for select tracks, drivers and events.  For more information, Wheatley may be contacted at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.

Cannon McIntosh Finishes Off Western Swing with Runner-Up Turkey Night Grand Prix Finish

Lonnie Wheatley, BIXBY, Okla. (December 5, 2019) – Cannon McIntosh finished out the recent USAC National Midget west coast swing in strong form with a runner-up finish in the prestigious Turkey Night Grand Prix at California’s Ventura Raceway last Friday night aboard the Dave Mac Motorsports Toyota-TRD Spike No. 08 Midget.

After leading 67 of the event’s 98 laps, the 16-year-old from Bixby OK, ultimately settled for runner-up honors behind NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series star Kyle Larson.  McIntosh also earned the Rookie of the Race award.

Locking into the feature event with a qualifying time of 12.645 seconds earlier in the night that put him eighth amongst the field of 68, McIntosh wasted little time working forward in the main event.

McIntosh was up to second within the opening 20 laps and took command on a lap 21 restart.  McIntosh controlled the pace for the next 67 circuits before surrendering the point to Larson with just 11 laps to go.

“One of the radius rods on the right rear stripped the threads out of the birdcage,” McIntosh says. 

With the radius rod disconnected, tricky track conditions became that much trickier in the closing laps.  “It was making all the bumps twice as violent as they already had been,” McIntosh continues.  “At the time I didn’t think it affected the car all that much.  But after watching video of it, I could see how much it changed up how we were able to get through the corners.  If that hadn’t come off, I don’t think Kyle could have driven by us on the outside like that.”

The runner-up finish marked McIntosh’s eighth overall second-place finish of the season and second in USAC National Midget action to go along with a win in March’s Shamrock Classic.

It wrapped up a California trip that included Placerville Speedway’s Inaugural Hangtown 100 on November 19-20 and then Bakersfield Speedway on November 23.

McIntosh raced his way into the Hangtown 100 preliminary feature amongst a stout field of 57 only to get gathered up in an incident.  “We just got caught up in some other people’s crash,” McIntosh recalls.

In the Wednesday night Hangtown 100 finale, McIntosh was in position for a transfer from “B” Main action before missing it by just two positions.  “We got up to third and then we caught a caution that we didn’t need,” McIntosh explains.

McIntosh secured a position in the November 23 feature at Bakersfield as well only to have the run cut short by a broken break fitting.

With the outdoor portion of McIntosh’s Midget season in the books, the team sets its sights on the Gateway Dirt Nationals at “The Dome at America’s Center” in St. Louis on December 19-21.

Along with Toyota-TRD, other marketing partners making the 2019 Cannon McIntosh slate of events possible includes Sanders and Associates, Car and Fleet, Mobil 1, Speedway Engine Development, Best Graphics, Fieldhouse Gear, Precision Inspection, Panels by Smoke, Walker Performance, Sanders Wheels, American Discount Brake and Muffler, D&N Fabrication, Darling Ingredients, PJ’s and Hinds Family.

2019 Quick Stats (Midget): Races 52, Wins 1, Top Fives 19, Top Tens 27.

Up Next:  Gateway Dirt Nationals at “The Dome at America’s Center” in St. Louis, MO, on December 19-21.

Keep Track:  Keep track of Cannon McIntosh’s on-track action including schedule and results at https://www.facebook.com/cmacracing/.

If you would like Cannon McIntosh Racing press releases e-mailed directly to you, send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.

Drydene to Sponsor Rookie of the Year Weiss on 2020 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series Tour

CONCORD, NC – Dec. 5, 2019 – Canada’s favorite Dirt Late Model sensation will be back and bigger than ever in 2020.

Drydene Performance Products, the leader in high-performance oils and lubricants, announced today their newest sponsorship with Ricky Weiss, the 2019 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series Rookie of the Year.

The Weiss Racing team will hit the road as part of the full-time World of Outlaws roster for its second consecutive season, this time donning a brand-new graphics scheme featuring Weiss’ signature black base and the traditional Drydene red-and-white.

“We’re pretty excited to be able to be one of those guys who are labeled as the Drydene car. Hopefully, we can get them in Victory Lane at the new track,” said Weiss, of Headingley, Manitoba.

He’ll have his first chance to do exactly that in just 29 days, when the Outlaws head to New Mexico’s Vado Speedway Park for the inaugural Battle at the Border – another new track to Weiss, which will also be new to almost all competitors. But he’s done his homework and will be ready for the first points race on Jan. 3.

“We’re more than excited,” Weiss said. “We watched some footage from the races that they’ve had there, and it looked to be a lot like a track that will suit my driving style and my car.”

Since becoming the Official Motor Oil and DEF of the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Racing last year, Drydene has made tremendous strides in the motorsports industry, highlighted by a title sponsorship deal made with the Xtreme DIRTcar Series in November. In 2020, Drydene and Weiss will take aim at World of Outlaws Victory Lane on the Late Model side together, as Weiss looks score a number of big checks as the newest member of Team Drydene.

“It’s awesome to see what Drydene’s putting into the sport,” Weiss said. “I think it’s phenomenal how much they can provide. They’re definitely getting their name out there. People definitely know, and if they don’t know, they’re going to know this year who Drydene is and what their goal is.”

Drydene unveiled its line of racing oil, Drydene Racing Formulas (DRF), last month during the Can-Am World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Weiss believes it will propel him to a World of Outlaws victory for the first time in his career.

“I’m excited to get to use the products,” Weiss said. “I know it’s proven, but we’re definitely going to put it to the test. They’re not lacking on anything, and they’re not cutting corners, so I know it’s going to be top-of-the-line.”