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Cody Morris, TULSA,OK (3-29-2011) - In what has perenially become a marquee event on the Lucas Oil American Small Car Series calendar, the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw, Non Wing, and Restricted divisions will once again headline the Ryan Craighead Memorial this coming weekend at the lightning fast I-44 Speedway.
Also signaling the start of I-44 Speedway's 2011 racing season, the Ryan Craighead Memorial will mark the 1st of three scheduled weekend stops for the Lucas Oil American Small Car Series and, as the past has often indicated, go quite far in shaping up the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Championship race.
Each division could claim many favorites, ranging from past Golden Drillers to prior Ryan Craighead Memorial, Lucas Oil ASCS2, and I-44 Speedway honors. Indeed, an exceptionally accomplished field will descend upon southwest Oklahoma City this Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd.
A trio of talented drivers each took top prizes in the 2010 Ryan Craighead Memorial with Norman, Oklahoma sensation Christopher Bell beginning his 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing title push, with West Plains Missouri's Interstate Bandit Logan Martin topping the Restricted ranks, and Bixby, Oklahoma's 2009 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion Kevin Bayer acing the Outlaw main event.
But achievers of the highest goal cannot be overlooked. As the aforementioned Christopher Bell's Ryan Craighead Memorial victory marked the first of many 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing triumphs. Bell hit his marks proper down the stretch to comfortably claim the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing Championship over such talented competitors as Steven Shebester, Shelby Byrd, Trey Marcham, and Matt Ward.
Logan Martin's 2010 Ryan Craighead Memorial victory marked a surge for the young Missourian, as by mid season he had built a point lead in excess of 130 points. However, a late season onslaught by Hulbert, Oklahoma's Karley Kay Dobson proved 3 points too good for Martin's ultimate goal.
Indeed the brilliant 17 year old has shown her tenacity at nearly level. Whether it be compiling wins at regional racetracks or staging one of the most brilliant comebacks in recent memory en route to her 2011 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted Championship, the extremely talented and versatile young lady is also a threat on the wrestling mat as well. An extremely powerful threat will likely emerge this coming weekend as Dobson has moved up to the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing ranks.
As impressive the feats are of his predecessors, one could hardly fathom the past year of Sapulpa, Oklahoma's Blake Hahn. Engaged in a heated duel with fellow Outlaw star Christopher Bell throughout the length of the 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw campaign, it was only in the final laps of the final event of the season at Cowtown Speedway that Hahn emerged victorious as the 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion.
However, the young star's accolades does not come close to ending there, as Hahn stormed to the top of the Outlaw scene with a 2010 I-44 Speedway Mini Sprint Nationals triumph followed by the aforementioned Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw crown, as well as his first career Lucas Oil ASCS2 Midget victory.
As one of the most gracious and polite drivers that can be found at any racing venue accepted his 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Championship trophy, scarcely anyone could have expected the stunning accomplishment he had in mind next. The racing community would not have long to wait to witness it - as Blake Hahn mastered Quik Trip Center clay to the tune of an incredible sweep of both the Winged AND Non Winged Outlaw divisions at the 26th Annual Tulsa Shootout.
Although the season is young, Hahn finds himself in unfamiliar territory at the moment, sitting outside of the top 10 in Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw points. Hahn certainly aims to alter that during the 2011 Ryan Craighead Memorial.
The favorites cannot stop with the success of last year. A fresh trio of regional racing warriors have already announced their 2011 intentions with victories in the Lucas Oil 2011 season opener in February at "The Big Chill" at Kennedale, Texas' Cowtown Speedway.
El Reno, Oklahoma's Kyle Keeler ascended to the top of the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted ranks in convincing fashion at Cowtown Speedway, while Lindsay, Oklahoma's Harli White pulled off an upset win in the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw division over Longview, Texas native Tyson Hall, who had absolutely dominated ASCS2 Outlaw action in Texas over the 2010 season.
Former ASCS regional sprint car champion and Fort Worth native Kevin Ramey bested the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing ranks for his first career Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing triumph. Unfortunately for Ryan Craighead Memorial spectators, Ramey will likely be pitside at Waco, Texas and Lufkin, Texas for a pair of ASCS Gulf South sprint car outings.
However, each of the aforementioned drivers are expected to converge upon I-44 Speedway with many other top regional mini sprint drivers in tow.
The 2011 Ryan Craighead Memorial will be two complete shows with friday night's top 4 locking in to saturday's feature finale. Heat races begin at 8pm both Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd.
For further inquiry regarding the Lucas Oil American Small Car Series, please contact ASCS headquarters at 918.838.3777
For further inquiry regarding I-44 Speedway, please visit www.i44speedway.com or call 405.417.0640
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