(Lakeside, CA, September 15, 2018) The two-pronged Sexton/Gatlin Racing Team managed seventh and 12th place finishes when the USAC/California Lightning Sprint Car Series visited the Bakersfield Speedway on September 8th. It was family patriarch Brent in the seventh spot in the 20-lapper with his 14-year-old son Grant 12th.
Missing from the race was oldest son Dalton, who had a high school football game. With him busy on the gridiron, Brent decided to shake down the new engine in Dalton’s #18 car rather than pilot his familiar #44. As always, Grant steered the #44G.
Brent qualified fastest of the family duo when he stopped the clocks at 13.839. That was 10th fastest time in the 24-car field. Grant was 18th fastest with a lap of 14.070. The qualifying was followed by heat races and Brent ended up fourth in the first heat and Grant was seventh in the third prelim.
For the main event on the track known as “The West’s Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval,” Brent, lined up on the inside of the third row and Grant was inside row nine. Brent advanced forward to third in the race before slipping back to seventh at the finish. After the race, the crew discovered the reason for him falling back was a forgotten cable adjustment that had the #18 running at less than half throttle throughout the 20-lapper.
Youngster Grant came forward in the main event moving from his 17th starting spot to finish 12th.
Both drivers held their spots in the championship standings going into this Friday and Saturday’s events at the Placerville Speedway. Brent remained third in the title hunt and is only eight points out of second. Grant stayed in ninth in the title chase and already has one hand on the “Rookie of the Year” trophy.
To keep up with all the exploits of the Sexton/Gatlin Racing Team, be sure to visit it’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Sexton-Gatlin-Racing-1173560279445564/
Sexton/Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2018 season possible. Sexton Fire Protection, Scotty and Jimmy Keys, BK Wings, Victory Graphics, Henchcraft, Sam Coe Performance and Swift Powdercoat. If you or your company would like to be a part of the Sexton/Gatlin team for the 2018 campaign, please call (619) 454-6945 or E-mail sextonfire@cox.net
SEXTON/GATLIN 2018 CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SERIES RACING SCHEDULE
March 31 – Placerville Speedway – BCRA – Brent 2nd – Grant 14th – Dalton 17th
April 14 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National – Brent 5th – Grant 7th – Dalton DNS
April 21 – Bakersfield Speedway – USAC National – Brent 7th – Dalton 9th – Grant 18th
May 5 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National – Brent 2nd – Dalton 10th – Grant 12th
May 19th – Barona Speedway – Jim Squire Memorial – Brent 4th – Dalton 8th – Grant 18th
May 26 – Perris Auto Speedway – USAC National – Salute to Indy – Brent 11th – Dalton 12th – Grant 16th
June 16 – Bakersfield Speedway – Civil War vs BCRA – Brent 6th – Grant 12th – Dalton 21st
July 7 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National – Grant 7th – Dalton 11th – Brent 19th
July 21 – Santa Maria Raceway – Civil War vs BCRA – Grant 17th – Dalton 18th – Brent 19th
August 1 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National – Ventura County Fair – Brent 2nd – Grant 14th
August 11 – Merced Speedway – BCRA – Brent 8th – Grant 13th
August 18 – Perris Auto Speedway – USAC National – Grant 4th – Brent 5th – Dalton 11th
August 25 – Barona Speedway – Brent 5th – Dalton 12th – Grant 13th
September 8 – Bakersfield Speedway – USAC National – Brent 7th – Grant 12th
September 21 – Placerville Speedway – Civil War vs BCRA
September 22 – Placerville Speedway – Civil War vs BCRA
October 6 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National
October 20th – Barona Speedway
October 27 – Ventura Raceway – USAC National
November 17- Bakersfield Speedway USAC National with USAC National and Western Midgets
December – River City Expo Center – Tulsa, Oklahoma
