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Tuesday, October 06, 2020

Crockett Posts Podium Performance During Short Track Nationals

 


Inside Line Promotions - LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Oct. 5, 2020) - The Short Track Nationals was a tale of two very different nights for Roger Crockett, who was in contention to win the marquee event at I-30 Speedway last Saturday.

The opening night of the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour's 33rd annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires got off to a rough start on Friday. Crockett finished fourth in a heat race and eighth in a qualifier before he advanced from 10th to sixth in a B Main.


"The first night was frustrating," Crockett said. "We started in a bad spot in the first heat race again. I swear that's the story of our year. We drew in a bad spot and it wasn't the place to start and the track was so wet. In the qualifier we started eighth and a car half spun going into turn one. We had to lift and fell to ninth. The track started getting a little wider as the race went on in the B Main and we were able to get a few cars. It was a tough B Main and it was extremely hard to pass. Our lap times were right there and the car felt good, but just the circumstances didn't pan out for us."

It was the first ASCS National Tour A Main this season that Crockett didn't participate in - not counting the 360 Knoxville Nationals finale that doesn't pay points. However, Saturday's event finale presented a new opportunity for Crockett and the 75-plus competitors. Crockett charged from eighth to second place in a heat race and from sixth to second place in a qualifier to garner the most points.

"Brandi drew the second day," Crockett said in reference to his wife. "She's had a couple times where she draws a high number, but in a great heat race. The track was racy. We were able to get into second in the heat race. We made a few changes in the qualifier and got the car a hair better. We were able to move to second in a really tough qualifier."

Crockett placed second in a dash to line up on the outside of the front row for the 30-lap main event.

"For the feature the track was starting to take rubber so they shortened the race 11 laps," he said. "We set up for it getting locked down rubber. At the beginning of the race the car took off. Traffic ultimately was the demise of our race. We got underneath a local car three or four times. He'd literally chop me into the infield. It cost me momentum and Sam (Hafertepe Jr.) was able to sneak by. We were all over Sam a couple of times. With a few laps to go he got fouled up off of turn four. I was there and went to go around him in turn one. We were side by side. A lapped car went up the race track so it prevented me from going by both of them and I got in the marbles. Then I went into turn three and my car didn't stick. (Derek) Hagar was able to get me and that cost us second. I knew there weren't a lot of laps left and I saw an opportunity that was possibly the last opportunity I had to win the race. Going for the win cost us second, but you don't get very many opportunities to win these big races."

Crockett, who led the first 14 laps, finished third. It was his second career podium performance at the track and his fourth podium overall this season.

"It was good, especially after the first night," he said. "We passed the most cars throughout the night in the heat and the qualifier. So that's always good and gives you confidence. I thought it'd be really hard to get the jump on the start and get the lead, but I was able to get the lead on the first lap. We had a comfortable lead until traffic. It's frustrating because our car was plenty good enough to win."

Crockett plans on taking this weekend off before wrapping up the ASCS National Tour season on Oct. 16-17 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, during the 47th annual Winter Nationals. He enters the event ranked second in the championship standings.

QUICK RESULTS -

Oct. 2 - I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. - Heat race: 4 (5); Qualifier: 8 (8); B Main: 6 (10).

Oct. 3 - I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. - Heat race: 2 (8); Qualifier: 2 (6); Dash: 2 (2); Feature: 3 (2).

SEASON STATS -


27 races, 0 wins, 7 top fives, 15 top 10s, 19 top 15s, 21 top 20s

UP NEXT -


Oct. 16-17 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, for the 47 th annual Winter Nationals with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour


MEDIA LINKS -

Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_Rocket_11

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roger.crockett.11/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therocket11/

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - BC Motorsports


BC Motorsports is owned and operated by Brian Crockett, who is a veteran in the sport. Crockett amassed numerous wins and championships during his storied career. He has helped many young drivers rising through the ranks and has worked as a series director and in charge of track maintenance to name a few duties he's held during his career.

"Without having my dad, who owns BC Motorsports, with his connections it'd make it tough for us to race," Roger Crockett said. "He's able to get everything we need and he really helps our team."

Crockett would also like to thank Tracker Native Tobacco, FK Rod Ends, Rocket Designs, Olson Custom Designs, Champion Racing Oil, Maxim Chassis, Factory Kahne, Smith Titanium, Indy Race Parts, Bell Helmets, AL Driveline, Newlin Bar Service, Rider Racing Engines and KSE Racing Products for their continued support.


INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS -

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com . For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

*PHOTO BY B YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY* 

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