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Wheatley Nets World of Outlaws Hard Charger Award at Calistoga

(Photo by Lisa Dynes Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – CALISTOGA, Calif. (Sept. 18, 2017) – Austen Wheatley capped last weekend’s Wine Country Outlaw Showdown at Calistoga Speedway by earning the Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars during the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series show.

“We hadn’t raced on a half-mile track in our family car for two years or so,” he said. “We had a lot to gain on it, which I think we did throughout the weekend.”

The doubleheader began on Friday when Wheatley qualified third quickest.

“We had really good single-car speed, but racing-wise when the pace slows down we seemed to struggle,” he said. “We had a lot to gain in that aspect.”

Wheatley started on the pole of his heat race, but faded to a seventh-place finish.

“I watched the heat before me and Brad Sweet started on the pole,” he said. “He slid himself like you do at Knoxville and it worked. I did the same thing and came out of turn two in fourth. People pounce on you when you mess up on the exit of a corner. I was sixth coming back to finish one lap.”

Wheatley then won the Last Chance Showdown, which transferred him into the 19th starting position for the main event.

“I just couldn’t get ahold of anything,” he said. “I felt like I was on ice the whole time.”

Wheatley, who ended 19th, said the team made wholesale changes prior to and throughout Saturday’s event. The adjustments worked as he qualified 14th quickest, placed eighth in a heat race and finished fourth in the Last Chance Showdown to lock into the 22nd starting position for the main event.

“It went pretty good,” he said. “I probably had 22 good laps and eight ones I could improve on. For the most part the car was better and I did a decent job as we worked our way through there.”

Wheatley advanced from 22nd to a 14th-place finish to garner the Hard Charger Award and create some momentum during his final World of Outlaws start of the season.

QUICK RESULTS –

Sept. 15 – Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif. – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 7 (1); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 19 (19).

Sept. 16 – Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif. – Qualifying: 14; Heat race: 8 (5); B Main: 4 (2); Feature: 14 (22).

SEASON STATS –

31 races, 3 wins, 4 top fives, 11 top 10s, 17 top 15s, 23 top 20s

UP NEXT –

TBD

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.AustenWheatley.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustenWheatley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DownForceDesigns?fref=ts

APPAREL –

Wheatley will have t-shirts and hoodies for sale at every race he competes at this season. For his schedule of races, visit http://www.AustenWheatley.com.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Redlined Welding & Construction

Redlined Welding & Construction performs welding and construction for fishing boats and processors. Based out of Lake Stevens, Wash., Redlined Welding & Construction is owned and operated by Austen’s father, Shannon Wheatley.

“Redlined Welding & Construction is a family business and we race with a family team so without Redlined Welding & Construction I wouldn’t be able to race,” Austen Wheatley said. “It is the heart and soul of this team.”

Wheatley would also like to thank Downforce Designs, Astro Titanium, Fire-Down Graphics, SpeedMart, Bell and King 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.

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