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(Photo by Brandon Young Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Nov. 7, 2016) – Tony Bruce Jr. produced a solid outing last weekend during the 29th annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires at I-30 Speedway.

However, Bruce Jr. and the Smith Family owned team opened the action at the quarter-mile oval last Thursday on a rough note.

“Our weekend started off bad because I got upside down in the heat race,” Bruce Jr. said. “It was one of those racing deals. You have to erase it from your memory and move on to the task at hand.”

Bruce Jr., who was in a three-way battle for second place on the opening lap, was unable to restart the race after making contact in turn four. The flip relegated him to the back of a C Main, in which Bruce Jr. rallied from 11th to finish fourth – only one spot shy of a transfer to the back of a B Main.

Night 2 of the event was a different story for the team, which kicked off Friday’s race by winning a heat race before maneuvering from fourth to second place during a qualifier. That ranked Bruce Jr. fourth out of nearly 60 competitors and locked the team into the fourth starting position for the main event.

“Our car was rolling really nice,” he said. “We were able to advance into a good starting spot for the feature. I felt like we had a car that could get us in a top-three spot and locked into Saturday’s feature, but unfortunately the track took rubber early. Once the rubber came we were single file on the bottom.”

Bruce Jr. maintained fourth position throughout the feature. It marked his ninth top five of the season.

The event wrapped up on Saturday with Bruce Jr. advancing from eighth to fifth place in a heat race. That locked him into the 13th starting position for the 40-lap feature.

“It was a little disappointing because in the heat race we weren’t as good as we had been all week,” he said. “For some reason we weren’t very good. We were able to squeak in and make the show. Then in the A Main we weren’t as good as we had been all week either. We didn’t end how we wanted to, but to be as fast and as competitive as we were, I definitely feel like the weekend was a success. I want to thank the Smith Family for the opportunity.”

Bruce Jr. ended with a 12th-place result.

He will return to action on Dec. 17 at Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Ill., for the Junior Knepper 55 with the USAC Midget Racing Series.

QUICK RESULTS –

Nov. 3 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – Heat race: DNF (3); C Main: 4 (11).

Nov. 4 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – Heat race: 1 (2); Qualifier: 2 (4); Feature: 4 (4).

Nov. 5 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – Heat race: 5 (8); Feature: 12 (13).

SEASON STATS –

27 races, 1 win, 9 top fives, 15 top 10s, 23 top 15s, 23 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Dec. 17 at Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Ill., for the Junior Knepper 55 with the USAC Midget Racing Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.TonyBruceJr.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyBruceJr

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – The Oil Medics

Located in Fort Worth, Texas, The Oil Medics services diesel trucks and distributes racing oil for sprint car engines and rear ends. For more information, visit http://www.TheOilMedics.com.

“Bill and the entire Jewell family have been more than just a great sponsor, but also great friends,” Bruce Jr. said. “They specialize in truck maintenance and fuel economy, which has saved us hundreds of dollars the past few years in diesel fuel.”

Bruce Jr. would also like to thank Briley Trucking, Wheeler Metals, Lubbock Wrecker Service, Hinchman Racewear, Eagle Motorsports, Smiley’s Racing Products, SWE, Maxwell Industries, Moss Racing Engines, FK Rod Ends, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Factory Kahne Shocks, DriverWebsites.com, RacinBoys.com, Wilwood, Schoenfeld Headers, Hoosier Racing Tires, HRP, Kaeding Performance, Schaeffer Oil, Fuel Safe, Bell Helmets, Four Seasons Radiator, Southern Trailer Works, KSE, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Weld Wheels, ISC Racers Tape, Pressure Tek, Tiger Towing (Dave and Paula Debates), Sorrels Auto and Truck Parts (Mitchell Sorrels), Melvin Plumbing (Billy Melvin), Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Wulff Pumps, Miller Auto Supply and Jeff Smith Racing Engines 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.