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Big Game Motorsports and Gravel Rally in Rubber for Late-Race Pass at River Cities

(Photo by Trent Gower Photography)

Inside Line Promotions – OGILVIE, Minn. (June 5, 2023) – David Gravel posted his fifth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory of the season last Friday at River Cities Speedway.

The Big Game Motorsports driver ran second for the majority of the race before he found a lower lane of rubber, which catapulted him into the lead with five laps remaining. He then held onto the top spot in traffic to win the Gerdau Presents the 1st Leg of the Northern Tour feature by approximately a quarter of a second.

It was another stellar night for Gravel, who qualified second quickest overall. He then won a heat race from the pole position and capitalized on drawing the No. 2 during the dash draw, winning the race to earn the pole position for the main event.

Gravel led the opening lap before running second to Brad Sweet early. Traffic opened the door for Gravel to reclaim the lead, but the top spot quickly changed hands. As Gravel went low, James McFadden drove around both him and Sweet to take the lead. Gravel then chased McFadden for nearly the remainder of the race. He stayed within striking distance until pouncing on Lap 36.

“The track was getting real black, one lane around the top,” he said. “I was able to search for a lap or two before. I felt like it was coming. It really rubbered up. (McFadden) didn’t have an idea and I was able to sneak by. I think Brad found it a lap before me. I’m sure the slower guys were down there. I was down two laps before it really latched up and was locked down. It’s one of those things you have to search. When it gets that black it’s going to take rubber at some point.

“That’s how racing goes sometimes. You’re happy to be on the right side of racing deals like that. As you can see with the next night racing comes back around and can give you a hard time.”

The weekend concluded on Saturday at Ogilvie Raceway, which hosted the World of Outlaws Big ‘O’ Showdown. Gravel timed in sixth quickest and won a heat race. A sixth-place result in the dash started him on the outside of the third row in the A Main.

Gravel quickly worked into a podium position. Unfortunately, he was collected in a crash in turns one and two near the midpoint of the feature. Gravel was trapped in the work area under caution, but fortunately another caution was called before a lap was completed and he returned to the track. Gravel rallied from the back of the lead-lap cars to salvage an 11th-place finish.

“(The lapped driver) got crossed up and was going to spin out,” he said. “Logan (Schuchart) finished him off and I hit him and bounced off him. Brad ended up landing on him. It got our right front torsion tube a little, but mostly a nose wing.

“It was a very frustrating night. I felt we got to third fast from starting sixth and thought we were going to have a good run. Finishing 11th is not good, but it could have been worse as well. Realistically we could have DNFed with how everything transpired. We got a lucky break and were able to fight back for 11th.”

This weekend presents a doubleheader at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, where Gravel has 10 career 410ci winged sprint car wins.

“It’s always good going to Knoxville,” he said. “We lost two races there earlier in the year. It seems like the track is always different this go-around than Nationals time. It’s a good time to shake down our car and see what engine we like to run there. We’ll get a baseline, but we’ll dstill come open-minded when you get to Nationals.”

QUICK RESULTS –

June 2 – River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. – Qualifying: 2; Heat race: 1 (1); Dash: 1 (2); Feature: 1 (1).

June 3 – Ogilvie Raceway in Ogilvie, Minn. – Qualifying: 6; Heat race: 1 (2); Dash: 6 (4); Feature: 11 (6).

SEASON STATS –

29 races, 5 wins, 20 top fives, 25 top 10s, 27 top 15s, 27 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday and Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series

MEDIA LINKS –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigGameMotorspt

HUSET’S SPEEDWAY –

Huset’s Speedway is a dirt oval located in Brandon, S.D. The track opened in 1954 and has undergone a large renovation within the last few years, making it a premier destination for both marquee racing events and weekly programs. For more information, visit http://www.HusetsSpeedway.com.

JACKSON MOTORPLEX –

Jackson Motorplex is a 4/10-mile dirt oval located in Jackson, Minn. It hosts special events from May through August, including races with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Midwest Power Series, Midwest Sprint Touring Series and more. For more information, visit http://www.JacksonMotorplex.com.

TICKET LINK –

To purchase online tickets for events at either Huset’s Speedway or at Jackson Motorplex, visit http://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=JKMV_PL_MPV&orgid=55369#/?view=list&includePackages=true.

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 by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

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