Jason Meyers Joins STN Field as Entry Count Bulges

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Jason Meyers Joins STN Field as Entry Count Bulges to 94

 

Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 23, 2006) – Hold up on those STN office pools for just a moment, as a few more names worthy of consideration have been added to the official entry list for this weekend's 19th Annual Short Track National presented by Hoosier Tires at Little Rock's I-30 Speedway.

 

Among the latest to join the stoutest field in STN history, now numbering 94 pre-entries, is Clovis, CA, hotshoe Jason Meyers, who will take over the #d12 entry owned by Imperial, MO, racer Doc Sloan. It will mark Meyers' first attempt at the $15,000-to-win event, with $1,900 to all Saturday night championship feature event starters. Preliminary action fires off with full cards on Thursday and Friday night.

 

Meyers, a fourth place finisher in NST points, isn't the only big gun to be added to the field today, as four-time STN winner Gary Wright of Hooks, TX, has submitted his entry. Fresh off his third consecutive ASCS National championship, this one worth $50,000, Wright ranks as the only driver to capture more than one STN triumph since the event became the nation's 360-ci Sprint Car showcase in 1993.

 

Also joining the field are 2000 STN champion Mike Ward of Memphis, TN, former ASCS National champion Travis Rilat of Forney, TX, and 2006 ASCS Mid-South Region champion Darren Stewart of Bixby, OK.

 

Mississippi's Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., a fifth-place finisher in last year's STN finale, has joined the field, as has 2006 IRA champion Travis Whitney of Worthington, MN, and ASCS Mid-South points runner up Bryce Vowan of Forrest City, AR.

 

Other new entries include 16-year-old Nebraska racer Jack Dover (ASCS Midwest Region runner-up), 2004 STN championship finale starter Kenny Coke, Brian McClelland (fourth in ASCS Sooner Region points), Minnesota's Scott Winters (eighth in ASCS Northern Plains Region points), Jon Corbin (eighth in Knoxville Raceway 360 points), Derek Hagar, Brad Bowden, Sean Walden, Ryan Anderson and Eric Sandage.

 

The current 94 entries for the 19th Annual Short Track Nationals represent 19 different states and have combined for nearly 260 overall "A" Feature wins in 2006.

 

Advance discount tickets for the 19th Annual Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, which will attract a field of approximately 100 entries, will be on sale through Wednesday. After that, tickets may be purchased at the gate on race day. Each night of racing action fires off at 7:30 p.m.

 

Additional Short Track Nationals Information:

 

What: 19th Annual Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

 

Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR).

 

When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 26-28, 2006. $15,000 to win the STN finale on October 28, with $1,900 to start the STN championship feature. Rain date is November 2-4. Full program of heats, last chance races, qualifiers and feature on each night, with the top three finishers from Thursday and Friday features locked into Saturday's championship finale.

 

Past Winners: Tim Montgomery (2005), Gary Wright (2004, 2003, 1999 and 1995), Paul McMahan (2002), Jason Sides (2001), Mike Ward (2000), Tim Crawley (1998), Wayne Johnson (1997), Pete Butler (1996), Terry Gray (1994), John Gerloff (1993), Steve Kinser (1991, ’89 and ‘88) and Sammy Swindell (1990). 1992 finale was rained out.

 

Entry Info: The pre-entry deadline of October 20 has passed. Entries are still accepted until race day at $250. Entries received via mail that are postmarked October 20 or earlier will still be honored at the $150 pre-entry fee. Entry forms may be obtained at http://www.i-30speedway.com/driverentry.htm or by calling the track at 501-455-4567.

 

The Entries: Ninety-four drivers from 19 different states have already entered. Represented states include Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

 

At least eleven different 2006 champions have already entered, including Gary Wright (ASCS National), Jason Johnson (ASCS Speedweek and Southern Iowa Speedweek), Chuck Swenson (ASCS Northern Plains Region), Garry Lee Maier (NCRA), Jesse Hockett (Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing), Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (ASCS Sooner Region), Travis Whitney (IRA), Justin Sturch (I-30 Speedway), Mitch Runge (Huset's Speedway – Brandon, SD), Joey Montgomery (St. Francois County Raceway – Farmington, MO), and Jeff Day (Cowtown Speedway – Kennedale, TX).

 

The field has combined for nearly 260 feature wins in 2006, with seven entered drivers posting double-digit feature wins this year, including Jason Johnson (21), Brian Brown (15), Tim Kaeding (15), Tim Crawley (13), Jesse Hockett (11), Kevin Ramey (11) and Chuck Swenson (10).

 

Entries by state, listed in order of 2006 feature wins (feature wins in parenthesis):

 

Arkansas: 87-Tim Crawley (13), 3-A.G. Rains (6), 26-Marshall Skinner (5), 1g-Cody Gardner (1), 4T-Justin Sturch (1), 2m-Bryce Vowan, 5k-Jerry Kamer, 9JR-Derek Hagar, 12T-Joe Young, 14v-Sean Walden, 42-Nathan Brown, 42s-Josh Baker, 60-Eric Sandage.

 

California: 01-Tim Kaeding (15), 77-Brad Sweet (4), d12-Jason Meyers (3), 94-Steven Tiner.

 

Florida: 00-Danny Martin, Jr. (7).

 

Illinois: 12x-Robbie Standridge (5), 44g-Kaley Gharst (2), 44-A.J. Bruns.

 

Indiana: 71s-Jake Simmons.

 

Iowa: k9-Jody Rosenboom (4), 10-Jeff Mitrisin (4), 13F-Larry Pinegar II (1), 53-Joe Beaver, 71b-Robert Bell, 71R-Ryan Anderson.

 

Kansas: 11x-Garry Lee Maier (7), 7c-Chris Morgan (1), 85s-Forrest Sutherland.

 

Louisiana: 41-Jason Johnson (21).

 

Michigan: 00-Ryan Grubaugh (2).

 

Minnesota: R19-Scott Winters (3), 27-Travis Whitney (3).

 

Mississippi: 40R-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (7), 4x-Jan Howard (1), 21-Raymond Stull (1), 47-Dale Howard (1), 51-Lee Sowell (1), 12m-Greg Merritt, 15b-Brad Bowden, 24w-Kenny Coke, 44h-Donny Howard, 44r-Ronny Howard, 45-Josh Howard, 86-Buster Dickerson.

 

Missouri: 21-Brian Brown (15), 75-Jesse Hockett (11), 21c-Joey Montgomery (3), 33-Jon Corbin (2), 11-Tim Montgomery (1), 1*-Kent Buckley, 2-Ryan Marsch, 07-Rob Hartman, 8-Steve Short, 86-Eric Schrock.

 

Nebraska: 53-Jack Dover (2), 2d-Rodney Droud.

 

New York: 32-Justin Barger (5).

 

Ohio: 6b-Dale Blaney (4), 35r-Ron Blair.

 

Oklahoma: 15s-Nick Smith (5), 1-Sean McClelland (4), 35b-Brad Best (2), 91-Darren Stewart (2), 11f-Foster Landon (1), 4am-Travis Jenkins, 10-Brian McClelland, 59-Dex Eaton.

 

South Dakota: X-Chuck Swenson (10), 28-Mitch Runge (7), 5-Eric Lutz (2), 20-Dusty Wasmund (1), 40g-Clint Garner (1).

 

Tennessee: 10-Terry Gray (5), 88-Mike Ward (5), 40-Ernie Ainsworth (4), 23-Brian Bell.

 

Texas: 7m-Kevin Ramey (11), 9-Gary Wright (9), 29-Travis Rilat (9), 95-Jeff Day (7), 17-Brad Welborn (4), 15-Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (3), 74-Claud Estes (3), 44x-Preston Peebles II (1), b4-Eric Baldaccini, 12m-Tommy Bryant, 21T-Kent Lewis, Jr., 41m-Scottie McDonald, 65-Skip Wilson, 71-Channin Tankersley, 99-Justin Melton.

 

Format: The Short Track Nationals is all about racing. The racers earn everything they get and the fans are the ultimate winners as they watch three nights of unrivaled on-track action unfold.

 

A version of the Sprint Bandits popular format of heats and qualifying races will be in place for all three nights of competition, with all drivers eligible to compete each night (unless getting locked in through Thursday night's feature). Drivers will battle through a full set of Heat Races, Last Chance Races and Qualifying Races to set the feature lineups each night, with the top three finishers from the Thursday and Friday preliminary main events locked into Saturday's $15,000-to-win, $1,900-to-start main event.

 

The balance of The Short Track Nationals championship feature will be filled through another full card of Heats, Last Chance Races and Qualifiers on Saturday night, with the night's top twelve points earners filling spots seven through 18 in the feature starting grid. Positions 19 and 20 will be awarded to the two drivers who have accumulated the most points over the three nights but have not landed in the first 18 spots. A 21st position could be awarded to Justin Sturch, who earned a provisional starting position by claiming the I-30 Speedway track championship.

 

Drivers must compete in either Thursday’s prelim or Friday’s prelim to be eligible for passing points on Saturday. Drivers that show up for Saturday only will start tailback in their Heat Race and receive no passing points all night.

 

The Dash, consisting of the top three feature finishers from both Thursday and Friday night, will be aligned by a pill draw conducted in “Cheater’s Day” fashion. The finishing order of Saturday’s “Pack’s Dash for Cash” will then determine the starting lineup for the front three rows of the $15,000-to-win finale.

 

Trade Show: This year’s rendition of the Short Track Nationals will also include the Second Annual Short Track Nationals Trade Show & Midway. Fans, drivers & crews will have the opportunity to visit vendor displays, which will be open each day.

 

Tickets: Advance tickets are on sale through Wednesday, October 25, no advance sales after that. Those ordering in advance by credit card receive a discount, with all three nights just $44. There is a discount for purchasing with cash in advance as well. Day of show cash prices are $12 on Thursday and Friday, and $25 on Saturday. To order tickets in advance or for more information, call the track at 501-455-4567.

 

STN on the Net: Those unable to attend the biggest Sprint Car racing event of the year can listen to all the action live at www.americandirtnetwork.com.

 

For more information regarding the 19th Annual Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, contact I-30 Speedway at 501-455-4567.