(Image Credit: Lonnie Wheatley)
Bryan Hulbert – PRYOR, Okla. (August 26, 2023) Five different leaders over 25 laps at the Salina Highbanks Speedway Saturday night, and it was Jason Martin who led the one that counts with the American Sprint Car Series presented by RacinDirt.com at the Oklahoma oval.
A bit of a bounce back point-wise for Martin following a ninth-place finish Friday to Matt Covington’s win; the two are now separated by 49-points.
“It’s a long schedule. Right now, it’s hot, and everyone’s intensity is pretty high, but you just have to keep going as hard as you can every night. Last night, we didn’t have the best of nights. Just didn’t have some things go our way, but I woke up this morning to a new day.”
Taking the green from fourth, Martin chased until Lap 19. Jeremy Campbell went to the point on the opening lap, with the second revolution going the way of Jordon Mallett. Holding through Lap 4, Chance Morton was able to charge to the point on Lap 5.
Using a restart to his advantage, Blake Hahn shot fourth to second in an instant, and began his pursuit of the No. 7m. Taking over on Lap 14, Hahn looked to be on his way to victory, but a rare mistake saw the No. 52 slide through the cushion in the third and fourth turns, resulting in Blake sliding off the backside of the fourth turn and into the grass. Keeping the car upright and rolling, Blake was able to continue.
Having worked to second a lap earlier, Jason Martin took over the point. Caution with two laps to run, Martin was able to keep pace for his eighth victory of the season with the National Tour, and 11th overall this year between ASCS and Nebraska 360s.
Chance Morton crossed second but, unfortunately, bypassed the scales and was disqualified. That moved Jordon Mallett to second, and Wayne Johnson to third. Matt Covington picked up three spots to fourth, with Jeremy Campbell ending up fifth.
Landon Britt, Kyler Johnson, Chistopher Townsend, Jeffrey Newell, and Blake Hahn completed the top ten.
The field Saturday consisted of 22 drivers with Blake Hahn topping The Driver’s Project Qualifying at 13.353-seconds. The first time the tour has qualified at the Salina Highbanks, Hahn’s time is the 360cid track record. AR Dyno Specialty Heat Race wins went to Jeremy Campbell, Wayne Johnson, and Jason Martin. Fighting a fueling issue that relegated him to last in the A-Feature lineup, Howard Moore picked up nine spots to earn the KSE Hard Charger.
The American Sprint Car Series presented by RacinDirt.com is back in Oklahoma for Labor Day Weekend, the series will debut at Arrowhead Speedway on Colcord, Okla. on Friday, September 1 for $4,000 to win, then return to Longdale Speedway on Saturday, September 2 for $5,000 to win.
The 2023 season will mark the 32nd year of competition for the American Sprint Car Series. Spearheaded by the American Sprint Car Series National Tour, the ASCS Nation includes Regional Tours that encompass both wing and non-wing competition.
Live coverage of the American Sprint Car Series can be found at http://www.racindirt.com. Fans can choose to subscribe for $32.99 a month or $199.99 a year. RacinDirt.com broadcasts can be viewed on your Smart TV, Mobile Devices, and your Laptop or Computer. New subscribers can receive 25% off when they use promo code ASCS2023 at checkout.
For other news, notes, and information on any of the tours under the ASCS banner, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com, follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ascsracing).
American Sprint Car Series
