4/20/2016
Andrew Deal
Oakes Motorsports picks up two top ten finishes in POWRi West competition
Dupo, IL (April 19, 2016) After a rough start to the season at Port City Raceway a few weeks ago, Oakes Motorsports and driver, Andrew Deal, were focused on rebounding this weekend at two very different race tracks. On Friday night, the Lucas Oil POWRi West midgets invaded the beautiful Outlaw Motor Speedway facility in Oktaha, Oklahoma. Seventeen cars were on hand to battle it out on one of the biggest tracks that POWRi West visits each year. Saturday night, the cars and stars of the POWRi West headed across the border to make their first appearance at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas.
In 2015, the Oakes Motorsports #52 found its way to a second place finish at Outlaw Motor Speedway during the inaugural POWRi West race there. This year, new driver Andrew Deal was ready to take on the fast 3/8 mile track in both the Oakes #52 and his own two-barrel sprint car. In heat race action, Andrew lined up third in heat race number two. Unfortunately midway through the eight lap event, a water hose broke and sent Andrew to the pit area. The team was able to make repairs and headed back out to start 17th in the 20-lap A-main. On a big, fast track where it doesn’t take long for the competition to get spread out, Andrew went to work moving through the field. At the end of 20 laps, Andrew gained eight spots and finished in seventh; earning the Racebumper.com Hard Charger Award and also the Mud-X sponsored Lucky 7 Award. It was a great rebound after the heat race struggles.
On Saturday night, the team pulled into a very wet I-30 Speedway after a morning of heavy rain. Track crews were hard at work lining out the track, the infield, and the pit area so that the race could proceed as scheduled. In heat race action, Andrew lined up seventh in the first heat race, giving him plenty of opportunity to earn passing points. He quickly moved forward and was able to pick up a third place finish and be the second highest passing points earner of the night. Saturday was a special night and an extra sponsor had put up the money for a four lap, winner take all, dash for cash. Starting outside the front row, Andrew jumped out to an early lead, but eventual feature winner Steven Shebester was able to get by and collect the $250 bonus from CIMCO. Based on his second place finish in the dash, Andrew lined the #52 Oakes Motorsports midget up outside the front row of the 25-lap A-main event. When the green flag waived, Shebester jumped out to the lead and would never look back. Deal raced comfortably in the top five until late race misfortune struck when the left rear came off the #52 car and went sailing into the turn three trees. Deal and the car would escape unhurt, but it did end the night for the team. The team was officially credited with a ninth place finish.
Although this may not be the results the team was hoping for, they were able to come away with two top ten finishes and they have continued to improve since the first night out a few weeks ago. Up next for Oakes Motorsports will be a return to Texas racing when the POWRi West make its way down to RPM Speedway on Friday, April 29th and Superbowl Speedway on Saturday, April 30th. Be sure to follow Oakes Motorsports and Andrew Deal Racing on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the team as they go through the 2016 season.
Oakes Motorsports would like to thank Sage Fruit and Burk Oil for their support this season. The team would also like to say thank you to all of its fans for the support during the offseason and as they build the team with driver, Andrew Deal.
Facebook - Oakes Motorsports and Andrew Deal Racing
Twitter - @Oakes52midget
www.oakesmotorsports.com
Photo credit - Kristy McDougal
Four in the Fluff Motorsports Marketing & Promotions
Article Credit: Four in the Fluff Motorsports Marketing and Promot
Submitted By: Andrew Deal
