(Photo by Lisa Dynes Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – ELMA, Wash. (July 10, 2017) – Austen Wheatley was on pace to capture his third feature victory of the season last Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway before a power steering problem relegated him to a runner-up result.
Wheatley and the Doug Rutz owned team debuted a new car, but were met by a u-joint problem prior to the scramble that opened the mid-season championship night at the 3/8-mile oval. Once the team fixed it Wheatley won the scramble from the pole to garner the pole position for the 25-lap main event.
“We took off and built a good lead, but about five laps in our power steering was gone,” he said. “When you don’t have power steering it’s not like you can just muscle it the rest of the way. When you let off the gas the pump locks up the steering wheel so the car doesn’t turn at all. The line was on the top and I couldn’t run the top. I was just trying to hang on. I was contemplating pulling in and saw it was Lap 21 and I was still leading.”
Shortly after Wheatley was passed for the top spot. He was able to hang on to the runner-up result, which marked his third podium finish of the season.
Wheatley and Rutz will return to action this week during the final four Western Sprint Tour Speedweek races – Wednesday at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore.; Thursday at Sunset Speedway in Banks, Ore.; and Friday and Saturday at Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore.
It will be his debut at Sunset Speedway.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 8 – Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. – Scramble: 1 (1); Feature: 2 (1).
SEASON STATS –
12 races, 2 wins, 3 top fives, 6 top 10s, 8 top 15s, 9 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore.; Thursday at Sunset Speedway in Banks, Ore.; and Friday and Saturday at Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore., with the Western Sprint Tour Speedweek
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.AustenWheatley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustenWheatley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DownForceDesigns?fref=ts
APPAREL –
Wheatley will have t-shirts and hoodies for sale at every race he competes at this season. For his schedule of races, visit http://www.AustenWheatley.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Downforce Designs
Downforce Designs is an apparel company established and operated by Austen Wheatley. For information on apparel options, prices, clientele and more, visit http://www.DownforceDesigns.com.
“It’s good to have a fresh take on apparel in the sport,” Wheatley said. “My goal is to provide something unique and diverse, and I think I know what a driver wants to see on his or her apparel. It’s a racer helping racers.”
Wheatley would also like to thank Redlined Welding & Construction, Astro Titanium, Fire-Down Graphics, SpeedMart, Bell and King Racing Products for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.