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Sprint Bandits Little Rock preview
Stenhouse Ready to Take on O'Reilly Sprint Bandits at Little Rock TULSA, Okla. (May 12, 2004) -- Most 16-year-olds couldn't even imagine the possibility of racing wheel-to-wheel with the likes of Sammy Swindell, Gary Wright, Travis Rilat, Shane ...
Published: May 13, 2004, 4:58 PM
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Stenhouse Ready to Take on O'Reilly Sprint Bandits at Little Rock
TULSA, Okla. (May 12, 2004) -- Most 16-year-olds couldn't even imagine the possibility of racing wheel-to-wheel with the likes of Sammy Swindell, Gary Wright, Travis Rilat, Shane Stewart and Aaron Berryhill among others, much less fathom the possibility of beating such established veteran Sprint Car shoes. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., isn't your typical 16-year-old however.
A week after opening the eyes of the wingless Sprint Car world, the second generation driver is set to take on the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits in this weekend's double header at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway on Friday and Saturday night.
After collecting National 360 Sprint Car Rookie of the Year honors at the tender age of 15 in 2003, Stenhouse made his first wingless outing in last Friday's O'Reilly Sprint Bandits vs. USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series Wingless Challenge at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Stenhouse didn't disappoint either, timing in fourth-quick among a stout 45-car field that included the nation's top wingless chauffeurs. Stenhouse went on to battle among the top five for much of the feature before settling for an impressive seventh place finish aboard Shorty Chambliss' No. 40r DynoTech-powered South Tire J&J as the checkered flag flew.
Even more impressive is the fact that the young Olive Branch, MS, native spotted his rivals a horsepower advantage, hustling his 360-ci powered sprinter around the quarter-mile gumbo oval against the nation's top 410-ci wingless machines.
While Stenhouse hopes to have his Sprint Bandits 410-ci powerplant ready in time for this weekend's I-30 Speedway double, he'll plug in his 360 if necessary and make a run for the win against many of the nation's top drivers.
If the 360 is in place, Stenhouse will aim for the best finish possible along with the $500 bonus offered to the top finishing 360 each night.
If the 410 is in place, don't count the talented young shoe out of the running for Sprint Bandits victory honors against a tough field of drivers that will include Sprint Car legend Sammy Swindell, nine-time NCRA Outlaw Sprint Car champion Gary Wright and defending ASCS National champion Travis Rilat.
Other top guns expected for this weekend's action, which offers a Short Track Nationals provisional to Saturday night's winner, include 2003 ASCS Speedweek and Southern Iowa Speedweek champion Shane Stewart, three-time NCRA Outlaw Sprint Car points runner-up Aaron Berryhill, 2001 ASCS National champion Zach Chappell, 2002 ASCS Sooner Region champion Danny Jennings, Jerrod Hull (who posted 14 feature wins in 2003), current ASCS Sooner Region point leader Jason Martin, Jan and Dale Howard, St. Francois County Speedway hotshoe Tim Montgomery and many more.
A number of 360's are expected to battle the 410's atop the quarter-mile clay oval as well, including three-time ASCS National champion Tim Crawley, defending I-30 Speedway track champion Pete Butler and other track regulars including Lewis Jenkins, Jr., Bryce Vowan and Justin Sturch.
I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (County Line Road). Tickets for Friday night are just $10 for adults, with children 6-12 just $1 when accompanied by an adult. Tickets for the Saturday night finale are only $20, with children 6-12 just $4 when accompanied by an adult.
Additional information is available by calling the track at 501-455-4567.
Additional information regarding the O'Reilly Sprint Bandits is available at www.sprintbandits.com.
-lw-
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