7/21/2017
Aaron Reutzel
Reutzel Ready for Knoxville Double-Duty after Rushmore Rumble Triumph
Lonnie Wheatley, CLUTE, Texas (July 21, 2017) – Aaron Reutzel had been close plenty of times before at Black Hills Speedway, only to fall just a position or two shy of victory lane.
The Clute, TX, racer finally put the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/BC Fundz No. 87 Triple-X Sprint Car in Black Hills Speedway victory lane by topping last Saturday night’s Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour “Rushmore Rumble” at the Rapid City, SD, track.
Reutzel’s fifth win of the year aboard the Wren Motorsports/Momentum Racing Suspensions machine followed on the heels of a runner-up finish in Friday night’s preliminary feature.
“It was about time,” a relieved Reutzel said. “I think we’ve led laps every time there, then always had something go wrong. This time we finally put it all together, it felt good to finally get one there.”
With another “W” in the books and the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour points lead well within striking distance, Reutzel and the Nattress Construction/Wings Unlimited team will gear up for the upcoming events in Knoxville, IA, by pulling double-duty in both the 410-ci and 360-ci ranks at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday night.
“This is the first time we have tried double-duty with our own equipment,” Reutzel says of Saturday’s endeavor. “Now that I have two full-time crew guys, I think we can make it happen.”
Last weekend’s ASCS double at Black Hills once again found the black No. 87 among the fastest cars over the entire weekend at a track where he has finished no lower than fourth since 2015.
“Friday I felt like we had the fastest car,” Reutzel recalls. “It was rubber racing, you can only do so much.”
Reutzel made a run at the lead, but was unable to make it stick.
“Sam (Hafertepe) left the bottom open so I dove in there, but I couldn’t stop it in the rubber,” Reutzel says. “He never left the bottom open again so we rode the rest of the way in second.”
Saturday’s finale offered up different track conditions with Reutzel gridding the Wright Way Logistics/Walker Performance entry outside the front row.
“It was a racy track on Saturday night, it had a top and a bottom,” Reutzel says.
In the early going, Reutzel chased leader Matt Covington for the point.
“He was setting a good pace,” Reutzel says. “You get to lapped traffic there in about five laps, so I knew I just had to wait for traffic.”
Traffic ultimately worked to Reutzel’s advantage, as he moved the familiar, black No. 87 Sprint Car into the lead midway through the 25-lapper en route to victory lane.
“He made a mistake in traffic that allowed us to get by,” Reutzel recalls. “Then we just took off from there.”
With his first Black Hills score in the books, Reutzel turns his attention to Knoxville Raceway on Saturday night as he tunes up for the upcoming 360 Nationals and Knoxville Nationals.
2017 Quick Stats: 46 races, 5 wins, 18 top-fives, 25 top-tens.
Up Next: 410-ci and 360-ci action on Saturday night at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway.
Keep Track: Keep track of Aaron Reutzel’s on-track action including schedule and results at http://www.aaronreutzelracing.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aaron-Reutzel-Racing/117666254913127 or on Twitter at @AaronReutzel. You can also e-mail Aaron at aaronreutzel@yahoo.com.
If you would like Aaron Reutzel Racing press releases e-mailed directly to you, send your e-mail address to Lonnie Wheatley at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
Penning the recurring series of “The Wheatley Chronicles” articles on www.sprintcarmania.com, Lonnie Wheatley provides media, public relations and more for select tracks, drivers and events. For more information, Wheatley may be contacted at lonniewheatley@gmail.com.
Article Credit: Lonnie Wheatley