Inside Line Promotions – HANFORD, Calif. (Sept. 9, 2024) – Big Game Motorsports posted a pair of fifth-place finishes last weekend during the opening doubleheader of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series California Swing.
The two top fives gives David Gravel 35 top-five finishes during World of Outlaws competition this season.
“We left the weekend happy and proud of our performances on tracks that typically I’m not the best at,” he said. “I felt we easily could have run seventh each night. To finish strong with top fives and end the features going forward felt good.”
The weekend began on Friday at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, where Gravel qualified second quickest. He then won a heat race to advance into the dash. Unfortunately, he pulled the third-highest number – six – on a track that was tough to pass on. Gravel placed sixth in the dash and picked up one position in the Stockton Showdown A Main.
“It was tough, but I knew early on with the fuel load the car would be tippy, like want to bike up,” he said. “As we burned the fuel load off we could be more aggressive. We were able to do that and pick off a couple of guys at the end.”
Kings Speedway hosted the Tom Tarlton Classic on Saturday. Gravel was fifth quickest in qualifying. A third-place result in a heat race lined him up on the outside of the fourth row in the main event. Gravel clawed forward a trio of positions to secure the top five.
“It was a bummer we didn’t make the dash through the heat race, but we were a little off and there was another car that did a good job,” he said. “We started that feature going backwards and fell to 10th. I was able to pick guys off one by one. (Tim Kaeding) got in a wreck and came across the track. I knew that was close and thought we were going to get cleaned out. We missed it and were able to gain that spot and then get by Gio (Scelzi) at the end to run fifth.”
Gravel continues to hold a 110-point lead in the World of Outlaws championship standings entering the ‘Nashville West’ Showdown this Friday at Bakersfield Speedway in Bakersfield, Calif. Merced Speedway in Merced, Calif., hosts the Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown on Saturday.
Gravel’s best outing at Bakersfield Speedway was a third-place result in 2016. He won a World of Outlaws race at Merced Speedway in 2014.
“It’s two wild cards,” he said. “We’ve only been to Merced one time since the high-banked configuration. And the last time we were at Bakersfield in the No. 2 car we were really good, but got into a crash and broke the steering. I’m excited to go back as it’s one of the tracks I’m more looking forward to on the West Coast.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Sept. 6 – Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif. – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 6 (6); Feature: 5 (6).
Sept. 7 – Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif. – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 3 (2); Feature: 5 (8).
SEASON STATS –
57 races, 14 wins, 37 top fives, 51 top 10s, 55 top 15s, 55 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday at Bakersfield Speedway in Bakersfield, Calif., for the ‘Nashville West’ Showdown and Saturday at Merced Speedway in Merced, Calif., for the Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series
MEDIA LINKS –
X: https://twitter.com/BigGameMotorspt
HUSET’S SPEEDWAY –
Huset’s Speedway is a dirt oval located in Brandon, S.D. The track opened in 1954 and has undergone a large renovation within the last few years, making it a premier destination for both marquee racing events and weekly programs. For more information, visit http://www.HusetsSpeedway.com .
JACKSON MOTORPLEX –
Jackson Motorplex is a 4/10-mile dirt oval located in Jackson, Minn. It hosts special events from May through August, including races with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Midwest Power Series, Midwest Sprint Touring Series and more. For more information, visit http://www.JacksonMotorplex.com .
TICKET LINK –
To purchase online tickets for events at either Huset’s Speedway or at Jackson Motorplex, visit http://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=JKMV_PL_MPV&orgid=55369#/?view=list&includePackages=true .
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.
*PHOTO BY TRENT GOWER PHOTOGRAPHY/WORLD OF OUTLAWS*
