This message was edited on
June 13, 2011 at
09:12:26 AM by KOP
TRANQUILITY OF
SILENCE BECOME SOUNDS OF THUNDER AS OCRS SPRINT CARS STORM INTO THE SALINA
HIGHBANKS
John Lemon
OCRS Public Relations
Tulsa Oklahoma (June
13, 2011)- A few years ago, one of Oklahoma’s favorite dirt tracks fell
victim to the sound of chains and locks clanking onto iron gates. Race fans and
race teams alike anxiously waited for the chains to fall the following season,
but intact they stayed. Now, five years later, the Salina Highbanks Speedway
has new gatekeepers in Keith Sanders and Bob Goins and with it, a new future in
the auto sports world.
This
Saturday night, the hilltop track with a lakeside view will host the debut
return of the Oil Capital Racing Series winged sprint cars on its ultra banked,
ultra fast three eighth’s mile clay surface for the first time since September
1st 2006. Stillwell Oklahoma’s Rafe Essary was victorious on that
Labor Day weekend and he will lead a contingent of lightning rods that look
forward to strike a pose in victory lane at nights end. Essary, eyeing that
initial win of 2011, sits fourth in the chase for the 2011 “Harold Leep
Championship” trophy only 72 points behind current leader, Whit “Gasman”
Gastineau. The Gasman has bankrolled three OCRS main event wins for his spot at
the top of the points chart. Sean McClelland of Tulsa has two feature triumphs
for a third place position while Owasso Oklahoma’s Matt Sherrell, who is also
looking for that first win on the 2011 tour, sits in the runner up seat only 27
points behind Gastineau.
For the
first time at the Highbanks, the OCRS warriors will be fully dressed out in
Goodyear rubber as the series made the change during the past off-season. “I
saw many of our teams at the World Of Outlaw race in Salina a few weeks ago”
said series president Barry Grabel. “ While our cars differ between the two
series, many of our teams were there to not only see a great event, but to see
how the Goodyear’s performed on Salina’s surface and they liked the feedback
they received from the WoO teams and the Goodyear engineers.” As for what the
fans can expect, Grabel chimed; “This is going to be an amazing show. The
speeds at which they will achieve while racing just a few inches apart will
make it very exciting for the fans. Thanks to our partnership with Goodyear and
the increased annual point fund we have established with their involvement, the
overall depth of the quality of our teams is by far the best it has ever been
in our history. This translates to competition the fans will thoroughly find
entertaining.”
Three time
defending champion Jamie Passmore of Rose, Oklahoma will be seeking his first
win of the 2011 season this Saturday night. Passmore is an area fan favorite,
as his family owns the G.A.P. Roofing business located just minuets from the
track. Other former OCRS main event winners expected to tackle the challenge of
the Highbanks include: Travis “Hollywood” Jenkins along with his teammate and
2005 OCRS champion, Mike Goodman. The duo of Sapulpa Oklahoma, Danny Smith and
Kenneth Walker, are also former OCRS winners who will look to wage battle
amongst their peers.
As
with each OCRS event, the female gender race fans in attendance will have a
couple of special racers to cheer for in the way of the “Gals of the OCRS”.
There’s the go-getter style of Tulsa’s ‘Krazee Kacee’ Frazier and from Oklahoma
City area comes “The Princess”, Miss Shayla Waddell. These women have become
favorites of many fans of the OCRS series and they compete very well with the
men. Like a few of their counterparts, neither of the young ladies have turned
a lap on the highbanks in OCRS competition and their determination to succeed
will be required for the challenge at hand.
Other
OCRS gunners that are anticipated for the return to the Highbanks include: Tim
and Johnny Kent, Casey Wills, Kyle Clark, Fred Mattox, Andrew Deal and Terry
Easum just to name a few. The action produced on the Highbanks makes this a
must see event for any race fan. The track is easy to locate as it sits
directly on Highway 20 between Pryor and Salina with Lake Hudson gleaming in
the background.
Gates
open at 5pm with racing set to ignite at 7pm.
OCRS
teams are to register and draw upon arrival.
Track
Phone: (918) 434-RACE
Track
website is: www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com
Additional information on the OCRS series can be viewed
at: www.ocrsracing.com
~~~~ CAN YOU HEAR THE THUNDER? ~~~~
|