WATERTOWN, Conn. — Oct. 23, 2013— Big events traditionally dot the calendar during the last few weeks of the sprint car season. Last weekend, it was the Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway in California, taking the spotlight and this weekend, the COMP Cams Short Track Nationals will be front and center at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. David Gravel made a strong statement in his debut at the Trophy Cup, coming home second in a photo finish with Tim Kaeding in the opener and was 10th in the finale, with a field of over 80 cars in attendance. This week, the native of Watertown, Conn., heads to Little Rock, to compete against a field that has surpassed the 90 entry mark for the event sanctioned by the Lucas Oil ASCS Presented by MAVTV American Real.
Gravel will pilot the No. 82 Buffalo Wild Wings machine for the Blazin Racing team, owned by Todd and Susan LaHaise. He hits the track for the first time tonight in the inaugural Short Track Nationals Open. Gravel then will return to the action on the second preliminary night on Friday, Oct. 25. The $15,000-to-win finale of the Short Track Nationals is set for Saturday, Oct. 26.
“Little Rock (I-30 Speedway) is a small track and you definitely have to be up on the wheel,” said Gravel. “The track changes a lot and you have to really stay on top of it. I made the feature the first time I went down there a few years ago, so I know what it takes, I just have to have things go my way a little bit.”
Gravel made his first trip to the Short Track Nationals in 2010. He finished 12th on the final night of the event, with a field of over 80 cars in attendance. He opened the night by finishing second in the sixth qualifier. Gravel kicked-off his maiden voyage to the Short Track Nationals by competing on the first preliminary night, where he finished 18th in the main event. The 21-year-old began that night by finishing third in the third qualifier, which earned him a spot in the preliminary feature.
“It’s all about passing cars at the Short Track Nationals,” he shared. “There will be a lot of cars and a lot of good cars. Hot laps will be important each night, especially being in the (No.) 82 car for the first time. I was able to get up to speed pretty quick in a new car at the Trophy Cup last weekend, so hopefully that will be the case again this week.”
Gravel, who is the leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, has won twice this year with the series. He was victorious at I-94 Speedway in Minnesota, in the spring, and also made a trip to the winner’s circle at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, on the opening night of the Knoxville Nationals.
Gravel has raced on a number of bullrings in 2013, similar to the quarter-mile of I-30 Speedway. Along with finishing second last weekend at Thunderbowl Raceway, a one-third-mile, he also earned a runner-up finish with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at the quarter-mile Tri-State Speedway in Indiana, in April.
“It was great last weekend to have two strong nights and that definitely gives me a confidence boost heading to Little Rock,” said Gravel. “Keeping your nose clean is pretty important in the Short Track Nationals and we’ll try to pass as many cars as we can every time we are on the track to get as many points as we can. It’s a great opportunity to race this week and I’m looking to make the most of it.”
Keep up-to-date with David Gravel and DDR Motorsports by visiting www.DavidGravel89.com. Follow David on Twitter@davidgravel89g and like David on Facebook.
