6/19/2018
ASCS
Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series Brings Tight Points Battle To Dirt Cup
(Image Credit: Casey Cochran)
Bryan Hulbert – ALGER, Wash. (June 19, 2018) The 47th running of the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by the Skagit Casino Resort fires off this Thursday, June 21 with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by Sawblade.com in association with the Summer Thunder Sprint Series and Northwest Focus Midgets.
Running through Saturday, June 23, the winner of this year’s event will pocket $15,000 with the final feature starter making $1,000.
A full point’s paying event for the drivers of the American Sprint Car Series, the race for the top spot in the 2018 driver standings is tighter than ever with the top three drivers separated by 10 markers.
Following a DNF at Salina Speedway this past Saturday, Sam Hafertepe, Jr.’s slim lead is nearly anorexic as Seth Bergman and Blake Hahn are tied for the runner-up spot. Tight as it may be, Hafertepe is rolling into a track with a long history of the Sunnyvale, Texas native topping the podium. The sight of Sam’s first World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series win in 2011, the driver of the Hills Racing Team No. 15h has topped the last two Dirt Cup features.
Among the tracks that Seth Bergman cut his teeth at, Dirt Cup would be a dream win for the Washington native. Prelim night winner in 2015, Seth finished eighth in last year’s event.
Without victory at the three-tenths-mile oval, Blake Hahn has plenty of speed. Coming off a very successful Speedweek run, Hahn will look to better his fifth-place finish from one year ago.
While the top-three are separated by a thin margin, the remainder of the top-five is not to be discounted. Two of the most experienced drivers on the tour, Wayne Johnson is only 26 points from the lead with Johnny Herrera at 123 markers behind. The two finished nose to tail at Dirt Cup in 2017; Herrera in ninth and Johnson 10th.
Matt Covington holds sixth with Scott Bogucki, Skylar Gee, Roger Crockett, and Jamie Ball to make the top-ten. For Bogucki and Ball, this will be the first time either has turned a lap at Skagit. Roger Crockett finished third one year ago with Covington sixth and Gee crossing 15th.
June 21, 22, and 23 at Skagit Speedway get underway at 7:00 P.M. (PDT) each night. Tickets are on sale now by calling (360) 724-3567. Ticket prices are as follows:
Three Day Pass (June 21, 22, & 23):
Adult (18-61) $80
Junior (7-17) / Senior (62+) / Military: $65
Child: $10
Individual Night Tickets:
Thursday: Adult $25 • Jr/Sr/ Military $20 • Child N/C
Friday: Adult $25 • Jr/Sr/ Military $20 • Child N/C
Saturday: Adult $30 • Jr/Sr/ Military $25 • Child $10
Reserved Seating with Three Day Pass ONLY
(Rain Date is June 24)
Skagit Speedway is located at 1796 Old Hwy. 99 in Alger, Wash. Take I-5 Exit 236 at Bow Hill, head east to Old Hwy. 99 North, then head north to Skagit Speedway. For more information on Skagit Speedway, log onto http://www.skagitspeedway.com or call (360) 724-3567.
For other news, notes, and information on the American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to any of the Regional Tours that make up the over 150 across the ASCS Nation in 2018, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com, follow on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter (@LucasOilASCS).
Quick Breakdown:
Who: Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by Sawblade.com
What: 47th Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by the Skagit Casino Resort
When: June 21, 22, and 23, 2018
Where: Skagit Speedway (Alger, Wash.)
Pits Open: 12:00 P.M. (PDT)
Grandstands Open: 5:30 P.M.
Driver’s Meeting: 5:45 P.M.
Opening Ceremonies: 7:00 P.M.
Muffler Rule: ASCS Schoenfeld Required
Dirt Cup format can be found at https://www.ascsracing.com/news/?i=61049&clk=featureNews
Track Contact:
Phone: (360) 724-3567
Email: skagitspeedway7@hotmail.com
Address: 4796 Old Highway 99 North, Alger, WA 98233
Social Media: http://facebook.com/skagitspeedway
Website: http://www.skagitspeedway.com
2018 ASCS National Driver Points (Top 15): 1. Sam Hafertepe, Jr, 1,791; 2. Seth Bergman 1,781; Blake Hahn 1,781; 4. Wayne Johnson 1,765; 5. Johnny Herrera 1,668; 6. Matt Covington 1,605; 7. Scott Bogucki 1,584; 8. Roger Crockett 1,524; 9. Skylar Gee 1,520; 10. Jamie Ball 1,449; 11. Harli White 1,446; 12. Sammy Swindell 1,410; 13. Chris Martin 1,407; 14. Travis Rilat 1,295; 15. Alex Hill 1,238;
2018 ASCS National Tour Wins: Sammy Swindell - 3 (6/9 – Route 66 Motor Speedway; 6/14 – Creek County Speedway; 6/16 – Salina Speedway);Seth Bergman – 2 (4/6 – Texas Motor Speedway; 5/10 – Lakeside Speedway); Sam Hafertepe, Jr. - 2 (5/12 – I-30 Speedway; 6/8 – West Texas Raceway); Wayne Johnson - 2 (5/9 – Humboldt Speedway; 6/13 – Lawton Speedway); Roger Crockett - 1 (3/16 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway); Brady Bacon - 1 (4/7 – Texas Motor Speedway); Matt Covington – 1 (4/27 - Paducah International Raceway); Greg Hodnett - 1 (5/4 – Williams Grove Speedway) ; Blake Heimbach - 1 (5/5 – Selinsgrove Speedway); Scott Bogucki - 1 (6/12 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway);
ASCS Online:
American Sprint Car Series: http://www.ascsracing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lucasoilascs
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lucasoilascs (@lucasoilascs)
Instagram: LucasOilASCS
Audio Broadcast: http://www.racinboys.com
Live Scoring (Where Applicable): Race Monitor and MRP Live
ASCS National Tour Drivers Online:
Jamie Ball (Knoxville, IA): http://www.jamieball.com/default.aspx?i=false
Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA.): http://www.sethbergmanracing.com
Scott Bogucki (McLaren Vale, S. Aust.): https://www.facebook.com/ScottBogucki89
Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK): http://www.mattcovingtonracing.com
Roger Crockett (Medford, OR): http://www.rocketdesignsllc.com
Skylar Gee (Leduc, Alberta, Can.): https://twitter.com/SkylarGee99
Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX): http://www.sam15.com
Alex Hill (Six Nations, Ontario, Can.): https://twitter.com/alexhill77x
Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK): http://www.blakehahnracing.com
Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, N.M.): http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com
Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK): https://www.facebook.com/WayneJohnsonRacing?fref=ts
Chris Martin (Ankeny, IA): https://twitter.com/cmr_44?lang=en
Robbie Price (Cobble Hill, BC, Can.): http://www.bdsmotorsportsllc.com
Travis Rilat (Forney, TX): http://www.bdsmotorsportsllc.com
Harli White (Lindsay, OK): http://www.harliwhiteracing.net
ASCS Sponsors:
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. Sawblade.com is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto http://www.sawblade.com for more information and follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sawblade.com_
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented Sawblade.com include Hoosier Racing Tire, CP-Carrillo Pistons, EMI, and Brodix. All Heat Races are brought to you by ButlerBuilt Professional Seating Systems. All B-Features are presented by BMRS.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, Geico, Sawblade.com, MAVTV Motorsports Network, LucasOilRacing.tv, and General Tire.
Communications for the American Sprint Car Series is provided by Racing Electronics. All events are broadcast online at http://www.racinboys.com.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by K&N Filters, BMRS, SpeedMart, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, MyRacePass.com, Weld Wheels, Maxwell Industries, Simpson, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley's Racing Products, and Speedway Motors.
Submitted By: Bryan Hulbert