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Slide Job Filled Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup Opener Goes To Aaron Reutzel

(Image Credit: Lisa Dynes)

ALGER, Wash. (June 22, 2017) The slide jobs were fierce to open up the 46th running of the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by the Skagit Casino and Resort with Aaron Reutzel topping the battle over Seth Bergman for his first career victory at the three-tenths mile Skagit Speedway.

Giving chase to the Corridor Electric No. 23 who started outside the front row, Aaron never let the Washington native get out of reach.

“I knew it was going to be really tough to beat Seth on the start. He had the top to take off on and he led me there. He really left me with nothing to do, so he did a good job, but I saw I was keeping up with him pretty good there just before we got into traffic and I knew if I could eliminate my mistakes, because I kept making a bunch of them, that I could probably get him,” said Aaron who picked up his fourth win of the 2017 National Tour.

Exchanging several slide jobs starting at the race’s half-way point, a few moves nearly ended with both drivers in the wall as the pair weaved through traffic as well.

“He didn’t leave me much room, so I went in and did the same thing. I did kind of use him up a little bit, but Seth’s a racer. He knows how it is and gave me a thumbs up after the race. That’s a true racer.”

Taking over the top spot on Lap 15, Aaron was able to keep Bergman at bay the remainder of the 25 lap preliminary feature event with the margin of victory 0.868 seconds. Putting a second Washington native on the podium, Trey Starks placed third in the family owned No. 55.

Jason Solwold, who topped Dirt Cup in 2015, raced to a fourth place finish from sixth with Roger Crockett fifth. Colton Heath sixth was followed by Matt Covington who advanced to seventh after starting tenth. Johnny Herrera, Garen Linder, and Blake Hahn completed the top-ten.

A field of 46 drivers assembled at the Skagit Speedway for the first night of the 46th Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by the Skagit Casino and Resort. Cumulative points throughout the night shows Aaron Reutzel earning 391 markers ahead of Seth Bergman (386), Trey Starks (376), Jason Solwold (371), and Roger Crockett (369).

The 2017 Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by the Skagit Casino and Resort continues on Friday, June 23, 2017 with all drivers again taking part with event points again accrued with the Top 16 in overall points locking into Saturday’s $15,000 to win A-Feature. For ticket prices, directions, and other updates, log onto http://www.skagitspeedway.com.

For continued updates on the American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to any of the seven regions that make up the over 150 races across the ASCS Nation in 2017, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.

Race Results:

Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
Skagit Speedway - Alger, Wash.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
46th Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup - Night 1

Car Count: 47

Heat Races: (Top 30 in Passing Points advance to Qualifiers)

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 23-Seth Bergman, [2]; 2. 7N-Roger Crockett, [3]; 3. 21P-Robbie Price, [6]; 4. 17-Cameron (Cam) Smith, [4]; 5. 57-Bud Ashe, [5]; 6. 33A-Lucas Ashe, [8]; 7. 29W-Steven James, [7]; 8. (DNF) 9A-Luke Didiuk, [1]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [2]; 2. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [3]; 3. 18-Jason Solwold, [5]; 4. 91-Chase Goetz, [6]; 5. 5-Brian Boswell, [1]; 6. 4B-Cale Brooke, [4]; (DNS) 15-Jeff Dunlap, ; (DNS) 10L-Brock Lemley,

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 52-Blake Hahn, [4]; 2. 51F-Jared Peterson, [1]; 3. 59-Eric Fisher, [6]; 4. 17W-Harli White, [2]; 5. 97R-Jason Reed, [5]; 6. (DNF) 22X-Trevor Cook, [8]; 7. (DNF) 37-Trever Kirkland, [3]; 8. (DNF) 96-Greg Hamilton, [7]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 55-Trey Starks, [3]; 2. 95-Matt Covington, [2]; 3. 22-Garen Linder, [5]; 4. 57C-Chris Schmelzle, [7]; 5. 8RC-Chance Crum, [6]; 6. 57X-James Bundy, [4]; 7. (DNF) 98-Matt Jensen, [1]; (DNS) 12-Jared Ridge,

Heat 5 (8 Laps): 1. 99-Skylar Gee, [1]; 2. 8R-Austen Wheatley, [2]; 3. 39C-Travis Rilat, [6]; 4. 45X-Johnny Herrera, [7]; 5. 29-Brandon Harkness, [5]; 6. 22M-Brett McGhie, [4]; 7. (DNF) 3-J.J. Hickle, [3]

Heat 6 (8 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [4]; 2. 2L-Logan Forler, [1]; 3. 33-Colton Heath, [5]; 4. 9R-Reece Goetz, [3]; 5. 33S-Lance Sargent, [7]; 6. 5R-Steve Reeves, [6]; (DQ) 1-Craig Dollansky, [2]

Hoosier Tire Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points advance to the A-Feature)

Qualifier 1 (8 Laps): 1. 45X-Johnny Herrera, [1]; 2. 7N-Roger Crockett, [3]; 3. 23-Seth Bergman, [5]; 4. 22-Garen Linder, [2]; 5. 52-Blake Hahn, [6]; 6. 59-Eric Fisher, [4]; 7. 51F-Jared Peterson, [7]; 8. 8RC-Chance Crum, [9]; 9. 33S-Lance Sargent, [8]; 10. 22X-Trevor Cook, [10]

Qualifier 2 (8 Laps): 1. 33-Colton Heath, [2]; 2. 95-Matt Covington, [1]; 3. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [3]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [6]; 5. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [5]; 6. 2L-Logan Forler, [7]; 7. 39C-Travis Rilat, [4]; 8. 17W-Harli White, [9]; 9. 57-Bud Ashe, [10]; 10. 17-Cameron (Cam) Smith, [8]

Qualifier 3 (8 Laps): 1. 8R-Austen Wheatley, [1]; 2. 18-Jason Solwold, [3]; 3. 57C-Chris Schmelzle, [2]; 4. 55-Trey Starks, [6]; 5. 99-Skylar Gee, [4]; 6. 9R-Reece Goetz, [8]; 7. 21P-Robbie Price, [5]; 8. 91-Chase Goetz, [7]; 9. 33A-Lucas Ashe, [9]; 10. 97R-Jason Reed, [10]

BMRS B-Features (Top 3 from each advance to the A-Feature)

B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 2L-Logan Forler, [1]; 2. 39C-Travis Rilat, [2]; 3. 8RC-Chance Crum, [4]; 4. 51F-Jared Peterson, [3]; 5. 33A-Lucas Ashe, [6]; 6. 33S-Lance Sargent, [5]; 7. 5R-Steve Reeves, [9]; 8. 9A-Luke Didiuk, [12]; 9. 57X-James Bundy, [10]; 10. 29W-Steven James, [11]; 11. (DNF) 22X-Trevor Cook, [7]; 12. (DNF) 29-Brandon Harkness, [8]; (DNS) 3-J.J. Hickle, ; (DNS) 96-Greg Hamilton, ; (DNS) 10L-Brock Lemley,

B Feature 2 (12 Laps): 1. 9R-Reece Goetz, [2]; 2. 21P-Robbie Price, [1]; 3. 17W-Harli White, [4]; 4. 1-Craig Dollansky, [12]; 5. 17-Cameron (Cam) Smith, [6]; 6. 91-Chase Goetz, [3]; 7. 37-Trever Kirkland, [11]; 8. 97R-Jason Reed, [7]; 9. 57-Bud Ashe, [5]; 10. 22M-Brett McGhie, [10]; 11. 4B-Cale Brooke, [9]; 12. 98-Matt Jensen, [14]; 13. (DNF) 5-Brian Boswell, [8]; (DNS) 12-Jared Ridge, ; (DNS) 15-Jeff Dunlap,

Protect the Harvest A-Feature:

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [1]; 2. 23-Seth Bergman, [2]; 3. 55-Trey Starks, [4]; 4. 18-Jason Solwold, [6]; 5. 7N-Roger Crockett, [5]; 6. 33-Colton Heath, [3]; 7. 95-Matt Covington, [10]; 8. 45X-Johnny Herrera, [7]; 9. 22-Garen Linder, [14]; 10. 52-Blake Hahn, [9]; 11. 9R-Reece Goetz, [18]; 12. 21P-Robbie Price, [20]; 13. 99-Skylar Gee, [15]; 14. 2C-Wayne Johnson, [11]; 15. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, [13]; 16. 17W-Harli White, [22]; 17. 39C-Travis Rilat, [19]; 18. 57C-Chris Schmelzle, [12]; 19. 59-Eric Fisher, [16]; 20. 2L-Logan Forler, [17]; 21. 8RC-Chance Crum, [21]; 22. 8R-Austen Wheatley, [8]

Lap Leader(s): Seth Bergman 1-14; Aaron Reutzel 15-25
CP-Carrillo Hard Charger: Robbie Price +8
FSR High Point Driver: Aaron Reutzel
Provisional(s): N/A

2017 Lucas Oil ASCS A-Main Winner(s): Sam Hafertepe, Jr. – 7 (3/17 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway; 3/18 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway; 4/7 – Texas Motor Speedway; 4/8 – Texas Motor Speedway; 4/15 – Missouri State Fair Speedway; 6/13 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway; 6/14 – Lawton Speedway); Aaron Reutzel - 4 (5/11 – Lakeside Speedway; 6/15 – Creek County Speedway; 6/17 – Lucas Oil Speedway; 6/22 – Skagit Speedway); Jake Bubak - 1 (6/9 – West Texas Raceway); Kyle Bellm - 1(6/10 – Route 66 Motor Speedway); Brian Brown - 1 (6/16 – Randolph County Raceway);

2017 Lucas Oil ASCS Driver Standings (Top 10): 1. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 1,862; 2. Aaron Reutzel 1,747; 3. Johnny Herrera 1,706; 4. Matt Covington 1,655; 5. Seth Bergman 1,648; 6. Wayne Johnson 1,646; ; 7. Blake Hahn 1,507; 8. Justin Henderson 1,434; 9. Dustin Morgan 1,414; 10. Skylar Gee 1,398;

ASCS Online:

American Sprint Car Series: http://www.ascsracing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lucasoilascs
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lucasoilascs (@lucasoilascs)
Instagram: ASCSRACING
Audio Broadcast: http://www.racinboys.com
Live Scoring (Where Applicable): http://www.ascsracing.com/live and the Race Monitor App

ASCS National Tour Drivers Online:

Kyle Bellm (Nixa, Mo.): http://www.kylebellm.com
Seth Bergman (Snohomish, Wash.): http://www.sethbergmanracing.com
Matt Covington (Glenpool, Okla.): http://www.mattcovingtonracing.com
Skylar Gee (Leduc, Ont. Can.): https://twitter.com/SkylarGee99
Jake Greider (Haysville, Kan.): https://twitter.com/JakeGreider2013
Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, Texas): http://www.sam15.com
Justin Henderson (Sioux Falls, S.D.): http://www.bdsmotorsportsllc.com
Alex Hill (Six Nations, Ont. Can.): https://twitter.com/alexhill77x
Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, Okla.): http://www.blakehahnracing.com
Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, N.M.): http://www.johnnyherreraracing.com
Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, Okla.): https://www.facebook.com/WayneJohnsonRacing?fref=ts
Dustin Morgan (Owasso, Okla.): https://www.facebook.com/dustin.p.morgan?hc_ref=SEARCH
Aaron Reutzel (Clute, Texas): http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com
Harli White (Lindsay, Okla.): 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. MAVTV Motorsports Network is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.

Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network 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, Zotto Mattress, Spray Nine, LucasOilRacing.tv, Carlyle Tools, 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, KSE Racing Products, 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, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection.

2017 Dirt Cup Points (as of 6/22/2017)

1. 87-Aaron Reutzel-391
2. 23-Seth Bergman-386
3. 55-Trey Starks-376
4. 18-Jason Solwold-371
5. 7N-Roger Crockett-369
6. 33-Colton Heath-366
7. 95-Matt Covington-363
8. 45X-Johnny Herrera-357
9. 52-Blake Hahn-348
10. 22-Garen Linder-348
11. 2C-Wayne Johnson-343
12. 99-Skylar Gee-342
13. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr-338
14. 8R-Austen Wheatley-335
15. 9R-Reece Goetz-334
16. 21P-Robbie Price-332
17. 57C-Chris Schmelzle-329
18. 2L-Logan Forler-322
19. 39C-Travis Rilat-322
20. 59-Eric Fisher-321
21. 17W-Harli White-318
22. 51F-Jared Peterson-316
23. 8RC-Chance Crum-306
24. 91-Chase Goetz-305
25. 17-Cameron (Cam) Smith-300
26. 33S-Lance Sargent-299
27. 33A-Lucas Ashe-297
28. 57-Bud Ashe-296
29. 97R-Jason Reed-294
30. 22X-Trevor Cook-288
31. 1-Craig Dollansky-194
32. 5R-Steve Reeves-194
33. 57X-James Bundy-192
34. 29-Brandon Harkness-192
35. 5-Brian Boswell-191
36. 37-Trever Kirkland-191
37. 22M-Brett McGhie-191
38. 4B-Cale Brooke-190
39. 29W-Steven James-188
40. 9A-Luke Didiuk-187
41. 98-Matt Jensen-186
42. 3-J.J. Hickle-185
43. 15-Jeff Dunlap-183
44. 96-Greg Hamilton-181
45. 12-Jared Ridge-181
46. 10L-Brock Lemley-180

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