This message was edited on
May 01, 2018 at
02:54:03 PM by TravisPhilo
TOP 10 AT SPRINT CAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FOR TRAVIS PHILO & PHILO MOTORSPORTS
https://travisphiloracing.com/2018/05/01/top-10-at-sprint-car-world-championship-for-travis-philo-philo-motorsports/
Bowling Green, OH (May 1, 2018) – Travis Philo and the Philo Motorsports team picked up a top 10 finish while competing in one of the biggest sprint car races in the country this past weekend. The team traveled to nearby Mansfield Motor Speedway in Mansfield, OH for the $100,000 to win Sprint Car World Championship which featured nearly (80) cars that included some of the best drivers in the country.
The team had to overcome some obstacles to start the weekend before earning their top 10 finish. During their practice night on Thursday the team experienced a driveline issue that forced them to pull their fresh Kistler engine as a precaution and put in a spare. “We decided not to take any chances and switched motors Thursday night. It set us back a bit because we only were able to run one session of hot laps, but I knew we’d be fine because it was the same motor we used here last year with the All Stars,” Philo said.
On Friday evening the team drew a #91 pill out of 100 that would set the qualifying order putting them at the tail end of the field. A late afternoon shower delayed the night’s racing program a few hours and ended up being a positive for the Interior Supply/Tire-Slick backed No.5T as they were able to qualify 28thoverall out of nearly (80) cars. This would put the 5T on the pole of the 2nd heat race and Travis was able to comfortably pick up the heat race win, transferring into the 1st of (2) preliminary night feature events. The Control Design Solutions/Banshee Graphics sponsored No. 5T would start from the 6th position by virtue of an (8) car redraw for the 30 lap A-main event. Travis was able to get a great start and was up to the 3rd position in the first few laps, but hit a rut in the track the wrong way and nearly came to a stop in turns 1 & 2, falling to the 6thposition. Philo would battle with both Kerry Madsen and Joey Saldana in the later stage of the race, but would eventually cross the line finishing 9th.
With the unique Sprint Car World Championship format the team’s results from Friday would line the Classic Ink USA/Kistler Engines No. 5T on the outside pole of heat race #2 for Saturday night, with only the winner advancing to the $100,000 to win main event. Travis wasn’t able to get the jump on the start and would wind up finishing 2nd which would mean a pole starting position for B-main #2. The No. 5T was able to get a great start and went on to win the B main over Dave Blaney & Lance Dewease to transfer into the main event. Philo would line up from the 16th starting position for the 50 lap A-main. Travis was able to get a great start and would battle inside the top 10 for a majority of the race. During the fuel stop at half way, crew chief Jim Roby and the rest of the crew made some great changes to the car and would propel them to a 10th place finish at the conclusion of the 50 lap feature.
“All in all we are very satisfied with our 10th place run after the way our weekend started. I have a great team behind me (Jim Roby, Bryan Darling, & Robby Bohm) and we never gave up after facing some mechanical issues on Thursday night. It was an accomplishment in itself to just make the show and we are looking forward to getting back after it this weekend,” Philo said.
Philo Motorsports would like to thank all of their marketing partners for all of their support: Control Design Solutions, Interior Supply, Banshee Graphics, Tire-Slick, Classic Ink USA, Bohmer Rentals, Kistler Engines, Kistler Racing Products, PAC Racing Springs, Advanced Industrial Services, SprintFun Photos, Slade Shock Technology, & Smith Titanium.
Link to photos from Saturday night courtesy of SprintFun Photos: https://travisphiloracing.com/2018/05/01/mansfields-sprint-car-world-championship-4-28-photos/
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