8/15/2019
Inside Line Promotions
Price Rallies for Top 15 at Ultimate Challenge Before Making First-Ever Knoxville Nationals Attempt
(Photo by Wildlight Motorsports Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 15, 2019) – Robbie Price highlighted four nights of racing last week with a top-15 finish in the Sage Fruit Ultimate Challenge presented by Searsboro Telephone Co., which was hosted by Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
The Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour race began a busy week of racing that also saw the Cobble Hill, British Columbia, native attempt his first-ever Knoxville Nationals during the 59th annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores at Knoxville Raceway.
Price rolled into the Southern Iowa Speedway Tuesday night looking to use the track time and knowledge he gained during the previous night’s 410 sprint car show at the track for a solid run in ASCS action.
“We felt pretty good in hot laps, but we decided to make a gear change prior to the heat and the car just wasn’t getting up to speed quick enough,” said Price, who placed fifth in a heat race.
Price then ended eighth in the B Main and he was forced to use a series provisional to start the main event.
“I was in the last transfer spot and I missed my mark on a late green-white-checkered finish (in the B Main) and cost us a transfer spot,” he said. “It was just a frustrating night from start to finish.”
Price navigated two red flags and traffic to advance to a 15th-place result in the A Main. The eight positions gained were the second best in the field and good enough to give Price his 20th top 15 of the season.
“The track really rubbered up in the feature so I was just kind of biding my time in line,” he said. “I’d have felt better about the run if the provisional didn’t cost us so much points-wise. But I guess you could say it was a small victory.”
Price then ventured to Knoxville Raceway for his Knoxville Nationals preliminary night on Thursday. He began his night by laying down the 52nd quickest time in time trials with a lap of 16.640 seconds.
With 56 cars in competition, the time forced the team directly to the C Main. He was credited with charging from 11th to fifth place in the race.
“I struggled from the get-go not having speed,” he said. “I don’t run a ton of 410 races so I was really behind the eight ball before we ever started.”
The team returned to the track on Friday for Hard Knox Night. Price timed in 34th quickest in his group before he advanced to 11th in a heat race and sixth in the C Main.
“We really just wanted to get as many laps as possible,” he said. “We knew we were in trouble and I just need to get laps to get better in the 410. So we did our best and tried to learn a few things along the way.”
Price capped the event with a 16th-place finish in the D Main on Saturday. While the results were disappointing, Price was happy to be able to participate in the iconic race and he is looking to use the knowledge gained as he attempts to close out the rest of 2019 on a high note.
“The Saturday night deal is so hard because the track is so fast right away and it’s tough to pass,” he said. “I ran out of tear-offs and struggled to make much ground, but ultimately we learned a few things and we’ll hopefully be back next year more prepared.”
Next up on the schedule for Price will be a trip home to run a pavement NSRA Winged Sprint Car at Western Speedway in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, this Friday and Saturday in an attempt to bring home the coveted Daffodil Cup trophy.
Price last raced asphalt sprint cars regularly in 2015 and is hoping the trip home will be a nice refresher as well as serve as a fun break from regular Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour competition.
“I can’t even tell you how many races we have run lately,” he said. “It’s going to be nice to be home and to do something a little different and I think it can only make me better for the rest of the year.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 6 – Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa – Heat race: 5 (4); B Main: 8 (5); Feature: 15 (23).
Aug. 8 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 52; C Main: 5 (11).
Aug. 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 34; Heat race: 11 (12); C Main: 6 (10).
Aug. 10 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – D Main: 16 (16).
SEASON STATS –
41 races, 1 win, 3 top fives, 11 top 10s, 20 top 15s, 25 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Western Speedway in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, for the P&R Truck Centre Daffodil Cup
MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RPrice21
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rpracing21/
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Wildlight Motorsports Photography
Wildlight Motorsports Photography takes images throughout events in Western Canada and on the West Coast. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Wildlight-Motorsport-Photography-260251824183578/.
“Don is a really good guy who takes great photos,” Price said. “I really appreciate his help throughout the last few years. He’s turned into a good friend.”
Price would like to thank Millstone Heating & Sheet Metal, Shark Racing Engines, CARSTAR Leduc, Triple X Race Components, Skagit Speedway, Highline Performance and Champion Brands 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.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller
