WATERTOWN, Conn. — Nov. 3, 2013— David Gravel had won in the past with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions, the United Racing Company (URC) and the NRA Sprint Invaders. The 21-year-old can now add the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) presented by MAVTV American Real to the list of sanctioning bodies that he has visited Victory Lane with, after a convincing triumph at Southern New Mexico Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Gravel lined up on the outside of the front row for the 30-lap main event in the Buffalo Wild Wings No. 82 and took the top spot on the second circuit. He would pace the remainder of the distance, opening a four-plus second lead at one point as the laps wound down. For Gravel, it was his third overall win of the season to go along with a pair of victories with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Series.
“Coming into the weekend, I felt like we had a good shot at winning,” said Gravel. “We were fast right off the bat at Little Rock (I-30 Speedway) last weekend and just didn’t have luck on our side. Obviously, we had some more bad luck at El Paso (Speedway Park) on Friday night and winning at Las Cruces (Southern Oregon Speedway) made up for that. The crew did a great job all weekend. Thanks to Todd and Susan (LaHaise) for the opportunity to drive their car and to everyone involved with the team. It feels great to get a win for them.”
The start of the race took four attempts, following a red flag on the initial start and two cautions on the ensuing complete restarts. Gravel used the high groove to power his way around pole sitter John Carney II on the second lap coming off turn four. A couple of more cautions followed, before the first long green flag stretch of the night, which saw Gravel hit lapped traffic by just the ninth go-around.
The native of Watertown, Conn., continued to work traffic until the caution flag came back out with five laps remaining. Gravel used a strong restart to remain out front, with the last caution flag of the night waving on lap-27. On the final restart, Gravel again pulled away en route to the win at the 5/16th-mile oval.
“I don’t know if it just got cleaned off or started taking a little bit of rubber there in the center, but I was definitely getting tight,” he shared. “I didn’t know where to run, high, low, middle, but it was definitely getting tricky there at the end.”
Earlier in the night, Gravel powered his way from the fourth starting spot in the second, eight-lap heat race to finish second. With the passing points earned, that would put him on the outside of the front row for the A-Feature.
At El Paso Speedway Park in Texas, on Friday, Nov. 1, Gravel lost the power steering on his machine late in the race, which caused him to spin, and that led to a flat left rear tire, ending his night, five laps from the finish. He lined up 17th for the 30-lap main event and was credited with finishing in that same position.
Earlier in the night, Gravel hit the semi-banked three-eighths-mile in the third heat race. He started third and finished fourth, which put him in the B-main. He lined up on the outside of the front row for that 12-lapper and was victorious to earn a spot in the A-Feature, which was his second start of the season at El Paso Speedway Park.
Gravel looks to return to action in the World Finals with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series this week, Nov. 7–9, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C.
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.
