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Wheatley Forced to Play Catch Up at Knoxville Nationals

(Photo by DB3 Imaging)

Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 11, 2014) – A high draw put Austen Wheatley behind the eight ball before the first lap was turned during the 54th annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s General Stores.

Because of the high draw Wheatley was one of the final cars to qualify during his preliminary night last Friday at Knoxville Raceway, where he timed in 41st quickest – only three thousandths of a second out of the heat race inversion.

“I didn’t lay down a very good lap and missed the invert by a couple of thousandths,” he said. “You’re weekend isn’t gone, but you put yourself in a pretty big hole.”

Rather than start on the pole of a heat race, which he would have if he had been the blink of an eye quicker in qualifying, Wheatley had to start on the inside of the fifth row. He finished ninth in his heat race, which relegated him to the C Main. He then placed fifth in that event to end his night.

That sent him into the non-qualifier event that was held on Saturday morning. After ending sixth in his heat race on the one-groove track, Wheatley rallied from 10th to fourth in the first two laps of the B Main. However, a fuel line broke and Wheatley, who was being sprayed with fuel inside the cockpit, was forced into the pits early.

That lined him up on the outside of the eighth row for the E Main on Saturday night. After maneuvering from 16th to eighth on the opening lap Wheatley finished in that position to end his weekend.

“I need to get more laps here for sure,” he said. “Obviously we didn’t have some luck go our way, but you need to make your own luck. I need to do better on my part.”

Wheatley is slated to compete with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in a trio of events this weekend. He will race on Tuesday at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., on Friday at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., and on Sunday at Nodak Speedway in Minot, N.D.

QUICK RESULTS –

Aug. 8 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 41; Heat race: 9 (9); C Main: 5 (6).

Aug. 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa (Friday program) – Heat race: 6 (7); B Main: DNF (10).

Aug. 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – E Main: 8 (16).

SEASON STATS –

35 races, 1 win, 4 top fives, 6 top 10s, 7 top 15s, 11 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Tuesday at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.; Friday at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.; and Sunday at Nodak Speedway in Minot, N.D., with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.AustenWheatley.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustenWheatley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DownForceDesigns?fref=ts

APPAREL –

Wheatley will have t-shirts and hoodies for sale at every race he competes at this season. For his schedule of races, visit http://www.AustenWheatley.com.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Astro Titanium

Established in 1999, Astro Titanium manufactures quality titanium fasteners for sprint cars and midgets. Based out of Noti, Ore., owner Dave Sims has developed his business into a titanium leader on a national scale. For more information, visit http://www.AstroTitanium.com.

“Astro Titanium and Dave Sims have been with me since the beginning of my career,” Wheatley said. “Anytime we have a problem, we call Dave up and he helps. He’s a really personable guy and his products work great.”

Wheatley would also like to thank Redlined Welding & Construction, Downforce Designs, The Oil Medics, Fire-Down Graphics, SpeedMart, Bell and King Racing Products for their continued support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

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