7/28/2015
Cole Wood
MWR/Bryan Clauson – Mr. Consistent!
MWR/Bryan Clauson – Mr. Consistent!
(Bill W) July 28, 2015 – After reeling off quick time at the King’s Royal, Bryan Clauson and the Matt Wood Racing #17w showed their consistency during FVP National Sprint League “Fair Speedweek”. A third, two fourths and a sixth place finish have the team second in owner points, and despite missing a race for the Indy 500, Bryan sits seventh in the driver standings. This week, the team plans on running the 1st Annual “Road to Knoxville” at I-80 Speedway near Greenwood, Nebraska Thursday and Friday. With the ASCS also competing, Cole Wood plans on bringing out the 360 for the first time this year as well. Bryan will compete in a midget tonight in Beloit, Kansas and at the Belleville Nationals in Belleville, Kansas on Saturday as well.
Bryan reeled off quick time at the July 18 King’s Royal at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio (he was fifth quick in the prelim). “We’ve put an emphasis the last month on getting better earlier in the night with our qualifying,” he says. “Obviously, that culminated into quick time at the King’s Royal. It was really cool. It’s one of those events that is a crown jewel, and everyone is bringing their best stuff. That was a huge step for our team and a proud moment.”
After several hours of rain delays, he would finish 13th in the finale in the wee hours of Sunday morning. “It was definitely one of the longer races of the year,” says Bryan. “It was the first time for me running the big (fuel) tank, and we struggled to get going early on. We barely got caught one lap down there early before a caution. From there, it was tough. We felt we had a car that could run in the top ten at the end of the race. Donny (Schatz) was just so fast early on and trapped us there.”
This week the team registered solid finishes with the NSL. “We felt we’ve been as consistent as anyone in the NSL over the last couple months,” says Bryan. “We’re still looking for that win, but everyone has been working hard at getting our program better. We had a new car this week, and it really worked well. We were strong every night.”
One highlight was the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa Tuesday. Bryan timed in second quick and went from seventh to fourth in the feature. “The corners were so tight, that was something that helped me early on in qualifying,” he says of backing the car into the corners reminiscent of his non-wing experience. “When we go to new places for everyone like that, it helps me, because everywhere is new to me with this series.”
At Jackson Speedway in Minnesota on Thursday, he rode second until a late caution. He shot to the high side in a gamble for the lead, but ended up third. “We had a shot at Jackson,” says Bryan. “We took a shot at the win on the restart there late, but it didn’t pan out. We felt we were fast enough. We were working the bottom pretty well. We feel like we’re on the cusp of a win.”
At Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, South Dakota Sunday, Bryan timed in fourth and made another run from seventh to fourth in the feature. “It’s probably been our best track over the course of this year,” he says. “We’ve made big gains there, and late in the races, we’ve had a shot to do something. Sometimes you find places that fit your style, and that’s one of them. It’s a really fun track and probably my favorite on the tour so far.”
Matt Wood Racing would like to thank: Elk Grove Ford, Quick Lane, Fuel Safe, Schoenfeld and Vortex Wings!
To follow the Matt Wood Racing’s progress online, visit www.ColeWoodRacing.com!
Follow Bryan Clauson online at www.BryanClauson.com!
Photo: Bryan sets quick time at the King’s Royal (Mike Campbell Photo – www.CampbellPhoto.com)
Bill W Media
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Monroe, IA USA
Submitted By: Bill Wright
