STN: Little Rock preview

STN Entries Flood I-30 Speedway Office

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 4, 2007) -- Just three more weeks. That's the official count before the final event of the season for the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series fires off with biggest event of the year, I-30 Speedway's 20th Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires in Little Rock, AR.

This year's edition of the Short Track Nationals offers up the most lucrative payout in event history, with $20,000 to the winner and $2,000 just to start the Short Track Nationals championship feature event that concludes the three nights of action over October 25-27.

Throw in another possible $25,000 in the form of the COMP Cams Challenge, and one driver could walk away from I-30 Speedway with over $45,000 in winnings by racing from the tail of the field to take the win.

With so much at stake, drivers from throughout the nation have responded with 56 entries already submitted for the blockbuster event. Those entries have come from 17 different states, ranging from California to Florida to New York and all points in between, as well as from the Canadian province of Ontario.

At the same time last year (October 4), just 16 entries had been submitted for the event that ultimately attracted a record number of 99 competitors.

Among the early entries is defending race winner Jason Johnson of Eunice, LA, who will vie to become just the second back-to-back winner since the STN became the nation's showcase 360-ci event in 1993. Gary Wright, a four-time STN champion and the only driver to claim more than one STN title since 1993, pulled off back-to-back wins in 2003 and 2004.

Johnson, currently ranked third in O'Reilly ASCoT National points after earning National Driver of the Year honors in 2006, is joined by a throng of heavy hitters among the early entrants including other past STN champions Jason Sides, Wayne Johnson and Terry Gray.

Several track and series champions have submitted entries including Knoxville Raceway champion Brian Brown, NCRA champion Garry Lee Maier, Riverside Speedway champion Dale Howard, MASS champ Jerrod Hull, Eagle (NE) Raceway champion Mike Boston, Lake Ozark Speedway champion Eric Schrock and Southern Ontario Sprints (SOS) champion Glenn Styres.

Other top contenders among the early entries include Florida's Danny Martin, Jr., Illinois' Robbie Standridge, Minnesota's Scott Winters, Nebraska's Don Droud, Jr., New York's 14-year-old Coleman Gulick, Ohio's Dale Blaney, Mike Dussel and Mike Brecht, Oklahoma's Wayne Johnson, Nick Smith and Brian McClelland and Texans Johnny Miller, Eric Baldaccini and Claud Estes.

A half dozen drivers that have taken in all or most of the 2007 World of Outlaws schedule have entered as well, including Daryn Pittman, Tim Shaffer, Jason Sides, Tony Bruce, Jr., Sam Hafertepe, Jr., and Zach Chappell.

Ontario, Canada's Glenn Styres beat the STN entry rush, submitting the first entry for the event in June. Styres claimed his second SOS title in 2007.

Seven of the drivers already entered made the cut for the 2006 Short Track Nationals 21-car finale among a field of 99 entries, including defending race winner Jason Johnson, runner-up Brian Brown, Dale Howard (who posted his fourth STN top-ten by finishing sixth), Nick Smith (who posted a third consecutive STN top-ten by finishing seventh), Terry Gray (finished eighth to record his eighth STN top-ten finish), Robbie Standridge and Dale Blaney.

Pertinent Short Track Nationals Information:

What: 20th Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR). I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander).

When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 25-27, 2007. $20,000 to win the STN finale on October 27, with $2,000 to start the STN championship feature. Rain date is November 1-3. There will also be a Test 'N Tune on Wednesday, October 24, with free admission at the front gate.

Past Winners: Jason Johnson (2006), Tim Montgomery (2005), Gary Wright (2004, 2003, 1999 and 1995), Paul McMahan (2002), Jason Sides (2001), Mike Ward (2000), Tim Crawley (1998), Wayne Johnson (1997), Pete Butler (1996), Terry Gray (1994), John Gerloff (1993), Steve Kinser (1991, '89 and '88) and Sammy Swindell (1990). 1992 finale was rained out.

The Entries: Entries postmarked by October 14 are just $200. Entries after the October 14 deadline are $250. Entry forms are available at http://www.i-30speedway.com/driverentry.htm or by calling the track at 501-455-4567.

Current Entries:

#0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken, ONT)

#00 Danny Martin, Jr. (Sarasota, FL)

#1x Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE)

#01 TBA

#01x TBA

#2m Bryce Vowan (Forrest City, AR)

#B4 Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX)

#4x Jan Howard (Byhalia, MS)

#5ma Mallory Armfield (St. Joseph, MO)

#5$ Danny Smith (Sapulpa, OK)

#6 Mike Dussel (Rising Sun, OH)

#6b Dale Blaney (Fowler, OH)

#7s Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN)

#8 Jeff Wingate (Centertown, MO)

#8s Steve Short (Farmington, MO)

#8x Chris Williams (Memphis, TN)

#10 Terry Gray (Bartlett, TN)

#11x Garry Lee Maier (Cimarron, KS)

#12 Jerrod Hull (Sikeston, MO)

#12x Robbie Standridge (Springfield, IL)

#d12 Tim Shaffer (Aliquippa, PA)

#14 Coleman Gulick (Binghamton, NY)

#14T Tyler Brown (Vilonia, AR)

#15h Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX)

#15s Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK)#18T Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS)

#R19 Scott Winters (Butterfield, MN)

#20 Josh Howard (Byhalia, MS)

#21 Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO)

#21p Daryn Pittman (Owasso, OK)

#21T Kent Lewis, Jr. (Willis, TX)

#23 TBA

#23b Brian Bell (Cordova, TN)

#28 Jonathan Cornell (Sedalia, MO)

#35 Brad Best (Tulsa, OK)

#40 Ernie Ainsworth (Southaven, MS)

#41 Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA)

#47 Dale Howard (Byhalia, MS)

#50z Zach Chappell (Talala, OK)

#51 Lee Sowell (Nesbit, MS)

#51b Mike Boston (Crete, NE)

#58 Wade Oliver (Milan, TN)

#64J Johnny Miller (Burleson, TX)

#66 Kenny Taylor (Clinton, AR)

#71 Tim Simmons (Splendora, TX)

#71J John Jacob (Aurora, CO)

#74e Claud Estes (Godley, TX)

#76 Jay Russell (Elwood, KS)

#86s Eric Schrock (Lake Ozark, MO)

#87 Brian McClelland (Tulsa, OK)

#93 Bob Schaeffer (New Castle, CO)

#94 Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK)

#94T Steven Tiner (Elverta, CA)

#95 Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK)

#97 Mike Brecht (Leipsic, OH)

#98 Andrew Korte (Centertown, MO)

The Series: This year's edition of the Short Track Nationals will be the season-ending event for the O'Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National series. The 16th year of competition for the American Sprint Car Series will culminate with the champion, to be determined at the Short Track Nationals, receiving $50,000.

Current top ten in ASCS National points: 1. Gary Wright (Hooks, TX) 3,990, 2. Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) 3,922, 3. Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA) 3,876, 4. Travis Rilat (Forney, TX) 3,712, 5. Foster Landon (Collinsville, OK) 3,280, 6. Darren Stewart (Bixby, OK) 2,512, 7. Nick Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) 2,008, 8. Eric Baldaccini (Keller, TX) 1,701, 9. Andy Shouse (Oklahoma City, OK) 1,559, 10. Kenneth Walker (Sapulpa, OK) 1,485. The Format: A version of the popular Sprint Bandits format of heats and qualifying races will be in place for all three nights of competition.JEach night, Heat Races will be aligned according to the pre-race draw, with the passing points system in effect.

Approximately half of the STN entrants will battle through Thursday's qualifying program, with the other half racing through Friday night's qualifying program. Those not locked in after the first two nights (top three from each night) will race through a full card of Heats, Last Chance Races and Qualifying Races on Saturday night to fill out the October 27 STN championship finale.

Each qualifying night, the top 32 in passing points from Heat Race competition will be inverted in four Qualifying Races with the balance of each Qualifying Race lined straight up with 33rd in points on back filling out rows five and beyond. The top twenty in combined finishing/passing points from the Heats and Qualifying Races will set each preliminary night's feature lineup. The top three feature finishers from each qualifying feature are locked into Saturday's main event.

With six cars locked into Saturday's $20,000-to-win, $2,000-to-start main event, the top twelve drivers in combined passing points from Saturday's Heats, Qualifiers and Last Chance Races will fill positions seven through eighteen. The final two slots of the STN finale will be awarded to the two remaining drivers that have accumulated the most points through Heat, Qualifying, Last Chance and Feature racing action over their qualifying night and Saturday night.

Drivers must compete in either Thursday's prelim or Friday's prelim to be eligible for passing points on Saturday.The Dash will be aligned by a pill draw conducted in "Cheater's Day" fashion. Thursday's winning driver will draw the first pill then give that pill to the driver of his choice. Friday's winner will draw the second pill and give that pill to one of the remaining drivers, and so on until the lineup is determined.The drivers finishing first and second in the Dash will have the option to take the COMP Cams Challenge, with the first-place finisher getting first option. Any driver accepting the challenge will start at the tail of the field and has the opportunity to pocket an extra $25,000 by racing from the tail to win the race.

The race winner can also collect an additional $1,000 from Huggins Cams if a Huggins Cams decal is displayed on the car.

The Trade Show: This year's rendition of the Short Track Nationals will also include the Third Annual Short Track Nationals Trade Show & Midway. Fans, drivers & crews will have the opportunity to visit vendor displays, which will be open each day. The deadline for guaranteed vendor space is Monday, October 22.

The Tickets: Advance tickets are on sale through Wednesday, October 24, no advance sales after that. Those ordering in advance by credit card receive a discount, with all three nights just $45.

Two-day advance tickets are available as well at the same price as day of show. Day of show cash prices are $15 on Thursday and Friday and $27 on Saturday. To order tickets in advance or for more information, call the track at 501-455-4567.For more information regarding the 20th Annual O'Reilly Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, contact I-30 Speedway at 501-455-4567.

-credit: ascs