3/22/2017
ASCS
Carney II Snags Top Five Run With Lucas Oil ASCS At Devil’s Bowl Spring Nationals
(Image Credit: TeeJay Crawford)
EL PASO, Texas (March 21, 2017) Getting his season rolling this past weekend with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, El Paso’s John Carney II had a weekend of highs and lows with a fourth place finish during Friday’s program, only to have a chance at a win snatched away the following night.
Grabbing the win in his Heat Race in Friday’s opener, Carney followed that up with a fifth in his Qualifier to position the Lubbock Wrecker Service No. 11x tenth in the feature lineup.
“I was a little worried starting 10th, but we made the best of it,” commented Carney. “ On the start there, a bunch of those guys kind of got hung out in the center, and with our car being free and able to rotate the corner we were able to really just follow Herrera up through there to get to fourth.”
Challenged late in the race for the final transfer into Saturday’s feature event, Carney traded passes with Seth Bergman for about a lap before gaining the upper hand, “I had a little bit of a stumble on a restart that let [Seth] Bergman work on us a little bit, but once that thing got air out, it was pretty good.”
Returning Saturday, the redraw put John starting front row, outside with Herrera getting the advantage from the pole.
“I though Johnny was going to run the top, so I started to turn low just as he did so that let Henderson slip by me,” said Carney of the start. “The car was a tick snug, at the start. I guess we were about eight laps into the race and I was able to pull the wing back and it really came to life and was able to get to the lead.”
Taking the field into slower traffic, the challenge was not the car, but the dirty air. Planting the car on the right rear allowed Hafertepe to close the gap and eventually take over the top spot.
“When Hafertepe went by me, I could start to feel the right rear going down. I was hoping it would last, but it finally just gave up. Tread wise, the tire was perfect so we must have just run over something. We use the Swindell Bleeders, so there was no way a Bleeder could have stuck.”
Assessing the damage, the flat was more than costly as everything in the drivetrain has been replaced in preparation for this weekend’s $15,000 to win NCRA Air Capital Shootout at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan.
“I’m looking forward to this weekend. The plan is to race at 81 Speedway then head over to Randolph County Raceway on Sunday for the ASCS National show.”
For continued updates on John Carney II, fans can follow along on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=570728686284547&fref=ts.
Season So Far:
Events: 5; Wins: 0; Top 5: 1; Top 10: 1; Top 15: 1; Top 20: 2
Up Next:
March 23-25, 2017 – 81 Speedway (Park City, Kan) – NCRA Park City Cup / Air Capital Shootout
March 26, 2017 – Randolph County Raceway (Moberly, Mo.) – Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
2017 Results:
- 1/1/2017 – Tulsa Shootout: 14th (600cc NW - LCQ)
- 1/13/2017 – Chili Bowl Nationals: 8th (Midget - B-Main)
- 1/14/2017 – Chili Bowl Nationals: 14th (Midget – E-Main 2)
- 3/17/2017 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway: 4th (ASCS Nat.)
- 3/18/2017 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway: 16th (ASCS Nat.)
John Carney Online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnCarneyRacing/?fref=ts
Sprint Source: http://www.sprintsource.com/profile/?r=1329&rt=driver
Sponsors:
Lubbock Wrecker Service, Dirt Collective, David Brown Power Center of Amarillo, Briley Trucking, Steward Builders, Arm Concrete, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Challenger Drilling, Rider Graphics, MSD Ignition, Momentum Suspension Systems, Eagle Motorsports, Al Parker Racing Engines.
Submitted By: Bryan Hulbert