Strong Chili Bowl Showing for Clauson-Marshall Racing

Lonnie Wheatley, NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (January 20, 2017) – Bryan Clauson envisioned a “Dream Team” for the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

That’s exactly what Clauson-Marshall Racing delivered at the Tulsa Expo Raceway last week, picking off a pair of preliminary feature wins and landing four of six entries into the 55-lap Chili Bowl championship feature event with the other two missing the cut by just one position apiece.

“I’ve never had a group of racecar drivers work together and be so excited for each other’s successes,” Tim Clauson commented.  “Bryan’s vision was spot on.”

Justin Grant led the CMR stable in Saturday’s finale with a podium finish of third with Tyler Courtney also among the top ten in sixth.  Shane Golobic was credited with 15th with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., in 16th while Donny Schatz and Jason Johnson both fell just feet short of transferring from “B” Main action among the record field of 365 competitors.

After winning the recent Junior Knepper 55 at Du Quoin’s Southern Illinois Center in the initial race under the CMR banner, Tyler Courtney set the early tone for the week with a near-perfect Tuesday night qualifying effort.

“Sunshine” earned the pole position for Tuesday’s 25-lap preliminary feature and battled into the lead after a handful of laps en route to taking the win and locking into his first career Chili Bowl championship feature event.

“Honestly, I think I’m still in shock, I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” Courtney said in victory lane.  “This is really cool with a new team, on the ‘Dream Team’ that Bryan wanted to put together.  Bryan was the guy that gave me my first opportunity seven years ago.”

Courtney went on to finish out the week sixth in Saturday’s finale.

After getting some laps in the Tuesday Race of Champions, World of Outlaws kingpin Donny Schatz made his first career Midget start on Wednesday and didn’t disappoint.  After a late caution denied what looked to be a qualifying race win, Schatz rallied from 15th in Wednesday’s feature to finish eighth.

Schatz then battled among the transfers in Saturday night’s “B” Main action only to get nipped at the line by inches for the sixth and final transfer.  A seventh-place finish was still enough for Schatz to earn Chili Bowl Nationals “Rookie of the Year”.

“What an incredible opportunity,” Schatz said. “We came here with high expectations.  We wanted to make the show first and foremost and, unfortunately, we came up one spot short.  Racing in the Chili Bowl was something I wasn’t sure I’d ever do, but I’m thrilled I had the chance to do it.”

Thursday night brought double-duty for CMR with Shane Golobic and Knoxville Nationals champion Jason Johnson both taking to the indoor ¼-mile clay oval.

Golobic missed a lock-in position by finishing fourth in preliminary feature action with Johnson close behind in seventh.  Golobic raced into the Saturday finale via “B” Main action while Johnson’s “B” Main run mirrored Schatz’, getting edged at the line for the final transfer.

While both Schatz and Johnson missed the cut by one spot, both impressed with their runs outside of their familiar element of winged Sprint Cars.

“The way they worked and took advice from the young guys was really cool,” Tim Clauson commented afterwards.

The week’s prelim action rounded on Friday with NASCAR star Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and late CRM addition Justin Grant taking to the track.

Stenhouse, Jr., matched Golobic’s prelim run with a fourth-place finish while Ione, CA, native Grant finished out a near perfect night by wiring the field in Friday’s 25-lap feature for the second CMR win of the week.

“I can’t even try to put it into word,” Grant said after the triumph.  “But I’m not going to say I’m carrying on Bryan’s legacy at all.  That would be not even a chance.”

While Stenhouse, Jr., raced through Saturday “B” Main action into the final and finished 16th, Grant ultimately led the way for CMR with a podium finish of third in the 55-lap finale.

It was most certainly a week for Bryan to be proud of.

For additional information regarding Clauson-Marshall Racing, be sure to check http://www.clausonmarshallracing.com/.

Contact: Shawn Miller

Inside Line Promotions

Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com | (541) 510-3663

Smith Puts New Team Together to Take on All Stars in 2017

Inside Line Promotions - KUNKLETOWN, Pa. (Jan. 20, 2017) - Ryan Smith will return to the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions tour in 2017 with a new team concept.

Smith has been hard at work throughout the winter putting a team together to challenge for the All Star title. Smith campaigned with the traveling series in 2015, when he finished seventh in the championship standings after earning three feature wins along the way.

"This will be a partnership with Tom and Sherry Leidig and Rob Warko and me," he said. "This will give us the resources to be successful. We're going to start in Florida with Tom and Sherry Leidig's No. 59 and run the eight races down there. Rob Warko and The Warko Group will be on the car. Rob will be a huge part in this operation.

"Tom and Sherry are fantastic people who love this sport and Rob has been steadfast in his support for me since Day 1. I will work hard to make them proud and give them the results they deserve. The All Star tour works perfectly for us as all the races are pretty close to our home. There are some new tracks on the schedule that I'm excited to get to."

Smith said the team plans to run the marquee sprint car events like the Williams Grove National Open, the Knoxville Nationals, the World Finals and the Kings Royal just to name a few.

"With Tom and Sherry and Rob all on board we have the resources available to compete for wins and that has me very pumped up," he said.

Smith's season will begin with the All Stars at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla., Feb. 9-11 before shifting to Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., Feb. 15-16 followed by the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series tripleheader at Volusia Speedway Park Feb. 17-19.

UP NEXT -

Feb. 9-11 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla., with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions

MEDIA LINKS -

Website: http://www.RyanSmithRacing.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanSmithRacing

Twitter Race Updates: https://twitter.com/DeniseS_SS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanSmith.TheKunkletownKid

Instagram: https://instagram.com/denises_ss

APPAREL -

Visit http://www.RyanSmithRacing.com to view the latest apparel options, which include t-shirts and hoodies.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Leidig Motorsports and The Warko Group

Tom and Sherry Leidig have owned a sprint car for many years, having some of the sprint car racing's best drivers behind the wheel.

The Warko Group has experience in all aspects of the construction industry including commercial, industrial, institutional, medical, educational, and multi-family housing. They offer contractor services, such as roofing, architectural sheet metal, heating-ventilation-air conditioning, ductwork, mechanical, process piping, plumbing, plant maintenance, and H.V.A.C. Service. The Warko Group's contracts vary from plan and specifications, negotiated contracts, public projects, design build, service agreements, and private work. For more information, visit http://www.TheWarkoGroup.com.

"Thanks to Tom and Sherry and Rob Warko working together with me I have the resources to compete for an All Star championship and be in the hunt for wins every night," Smith said. "I wouldn't be in this great opportunity if it wasn't for Rob Warko and The Warko Group. They have believed and supported me from Day 1 and for them to continue in this new program … I'm so appreciative."

Smith would also like to thank G.L.T. Electrical, CnB Chubby, Fighting Angels Foundation, S&S Speedways, Quality Roofing Supply, Armbruster Racing Photos, Thunder on the Hill Racing Series, HP Engines, X-1 Race Cars, GME Steering and Vahlco Racing Wheels for their continued support.