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Rustad Positive After First Sprint Car Start in Four Years

Inside Line Promotions – BRANDON, S.D. (May 19, 2021) – Tony Rustad is satisfied with his return to 410ci sprint car competition following a four-year hiatus.

Rustad ventured to Huset’s Speedway last Sunday night when minor mechanical woes prevented him from logging some much-needed laps during the Northern Outlaw Sprint Association event.

“The car was lightning fast,” he said. “I’m excited about its power and speed. It took off down the straightaway and went through the corner like it’s supposed to. Now it’s just up to the driver to get better. Unfortunately, a couple of issues kept us from getting many laps in.”

His return to the track got off to a good start when he was second quickest in his flight during hot laps.

“My first lap during time trials was 11.5 seconds, which I thought was decent for my first time on the track in years,” he said. “I think the second lap would’ve been quite a bit quicker, but the car broke before I completed it. The left rear torsion stop stripped out of the spline, which was pretty unusual since they were steel and brand new. We got it fixed for the heat race.

“After just a lap or two in the heat race, the right rear stop did the same thing. The car rolled over on the right side and I was probably lucky I didn’t hang it in the fence. We put on a different one from a different brand for the B Main and sent the stripped ones back to the manufacturer later.”

Unfortunately, Rustad’s fortune didn’t improve in the B Main.

“We started in the back and I spun out after a few laps,” he said. “I pushed off and restarted again, but I looped it once again on the restart. We later discovered that a huge mud clod had caused a big hole in the radiator. I had spun out twice due to the leaking fluid I was driving in.”

While the pair of DNFs on the evening were frustrating, Rustad found some solace from the causes being minor problems.

“I guess the good thing was that while they tore up a lot of cars Sunday night, ours wasn’t one of them and I’m happy it’s in one piece,” he said. “I was also fortunate those part failures didn’t happen in a turn or it could’ve been much worse.”

Rustad is unsure when his next race will be.

“Right now it’s kind of 50-50 if we race this week,” he said. “I have a lot of non-racing stuff going on for about the next month or so. I’m hoping I can be at Huset’s on a regular basis by the first of July and possibly race multiple nights weekly once we get our 360 car finished.”

QUICK RESULTS –

May 16 – Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D. – Qualifying: 16; Heat race: DNF (8); B Main: DNF (10).

UP NEXT –

TBD

MEDIA LINKS –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyRustad

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2Xtreme-Racing-243238039097395

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Tim Rustad Construction

Tim Rustad Construction is a concrete contractor in Pipestone, Minn., offering residential and commercial concrete services as well as snow removal. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Tim-Rustad-Construction-1246538062160134.

“My brother, Tim, was one of the first people to approach me about sponsoring our car,” Rustad said. “I really appreciate his support in helping us to get our 410 racing program started.”

Rustad would also like to thank Olsen Electric, Christoffels Hair Restoration, Bill Habben Construction, KISD 98.7 FM, Bang Energy Drink and The Barrel House

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.

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