12/27/2010
Tulsa Shootout
26th Annual Tulsa Shootout this Weekend!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 27, 2010) – Revelers and race fans can usher out 2010 and bring in 2011 in style with the running of the 26th Annual Tulsa Shootout at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway this weekend.
And, this isn’t exactly your father’s Tulsa Shootout anymore, as this will be the first all open-wheel edition of the Shootout with six classes of Micro Sprint Cars along with the 1200cc Mini Sprints and the Chevy ECOTech Midgets.
A prelude to the upcoming 25th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, the current Tulsa Shootout entry count stands at approximately 600 from 22 different states as well as Canada and New Zealand, with the final number expected to be approximately 700. The Outlaw, “A” Class and Non-Wing divisions each have in excess of 100 entries with the Outlaw Non-Wing and Restricted “A” Class divisions pushing the century mark.
Following practice on Thursday, the Non-Wing Outlaw and “A” Class divisions will take to the 1/5-mile clay oval for heat race action beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. The remaining six divisions will take to the track for heat races on Friday beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Semi-mains in all classes get under way at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, with the championship feature events set for Saturday night at approximately 6:45 p.m.
Among the current entries is reigning Outlaw Micro Sprint winner Ryan Reeves of Visalia, CA, who will try to become the first back-to-back winner in the headline Outlaw class since Pete Frazier accomplished the feat in 1993 and 1994. In fact, since Frazier won again in 1998, only Indiana’s Rodney Stealy has repeated in the Outlaw class with wins in 2004 and 2006. Other recent Outlaw class winners include Kevin Bayer (2009), Brady Bacon (2008) and Jerrod Wilson (2007), each of whom are set to vie for another Golden Driller this weekend.
Also set to defend Tulsa Shootout titles are Donnie Ray Crawford (“A” Class) and Chris Andrews (Non-Wing). Last year’s Restricted “A” Class winner Darien Roberts of Broken Arrow moves up to the Outlaw, Outlaw Non-Wing, “A” and Non-Wing classes while Jr. Sprint winner Josiah Ribeiro of Tulare, CA, graduates to the Restricted “A” Class.
Kevin Bayer won the inaugural Chevy ECOTech Midget main event at last year’s Tulsa Shootout, with approximately 20 entrants set to battle it out for top Midget honors this weekend. This weekend’s Shootout also includes the introduction of the Non-Wing Outlaw class and the 1200cc Mini Sprints.
Among the weekend’s expected 700 entries are at least a dozen past Tulsa Shootout champions with Broken Arrow’s Donnie Ray Crawford leading the way with a collection of Golden Drillers that numbers a half dozen. Four of Crawford’s Shootout triumphs have come in the Non-Wing ranks with the two most recent wins in the “A” Class. Crawford is one of at least a dozen drivers pulling quadruple duty by competing in the Outlaw, Outlaw Non-Wing, “A” Class and Non-Wing divisions.
Some other past Tulsa Shootout champions looking to add another Golden Driller or two to the mantel include four-time winner Jerrod Wilson, three-time winner Kevin Bayer, two-time winner Brady Bacon and single-time winners Ryan Reeves, Jake Mosley, Chris Andrews, Riley Adair, Andrew Peters, Gary Taylor, Scott Sawyer and Jonathan Beason.
Grandstand tickets are available for Friday’s action for $15, with Saturday’s grandstands tickets just $20. Children ages 6-11 are just $5 each day. After Thursday night’s Non-Wing Outlaw and “A” Class heat races, approximately 80-90 more heat races and qualifiers on Friday will set the stage for Saturday’s semi-mains and main events.
For more information, contact the Tulsa Shootout at 918-838-3777 or check on-line at www.tulsashootout.com.
Submitted By: Admin Account
