8/4/2017
RacinBoys
Ironman 55 this weekend at Pevely
By World of Outlaws PR (Pevely, MO) -- Drivers and teams look to be the strongest of them all when the Ironman 55 is all said and done. A two-night event on Friday and Saturday, August 4 and 5 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Missouri is the longest Feature event of the year on the 90-plus events schedule for the World of Outlaws Craftsman庐 Sprint Car Series.
Although the Series has been running at the tough bullring since 1987, it was in 2009 that a new challenge at the Pevely, MO track was born: a 55-lap feature event called the Ironman 55, a race that is longer in distance than all other Sprint car races on the schedule.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a long race for a Sprint car,鈥� said Rico Abreu, who won last year鈥檚 Ironman 55. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to it. I was really fast [at I-55] last year. The thing is, you have to put yourself in position to win the Ironman, starting up front and saving your stuff until the last ten laps. It鈥檚 so difficult to win these Outlaw races in the last ten laps; that鈥檚 what makes it really crucial to start up front.鈥�
The third-mile oval is one of the highest-banked tracks on the circuits. With cars turning laps in the 10-second bracket, and the extended Feature laps, it鈥檚 no wonder it鈥檚 one of the most physically challenging tracks on the circuit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 bullring racing, so you鈥檙e always on the go, you鈥檙e never slowing down, your heartrate is always up, so I just work on my breathing and staying focused the entire race,鈥� added Abreu. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy getting caught up racing other cars, and we catch traffic and don鈥檛 know what direction to go.鈥�
In addition to the extra laps on Saturday鈥檚 Feature, the event carries the 鈥淢onth of Money鈥� into early-August, with an $8,000-to-win Night before the Ironman on Friday and $20,000-to-win Ironman 55 on Saturday鈥檚 finale. It sure would be a nice little padding in the pocket as teams head into Knoxville for the 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals the following week.
Larson Marks Racing driver Shane Stewart knows what it鈥檚 like winning at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. Stewart lifted the dumbbell trophy in Victory Lane in 2015.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a fun race. It鈥檚 one of those races that鈥檚 in the 鈥楳onth of Money鈥� and pay well,鈥� said Shane Stewart. 鈥淏eing a previous winner of that race, once you get that feeling you want to get that feeling again.
One of the special features of the weekend is the fan interaction with the drivers. Just prior to Saturday Night鈥檚 Feature event, all 24 Feature drivers take a walking parade lap for driver intros around the third-mile oval, stopping and signing autographs along the way.
鈥淭he atmosphere is really cool how they do the driver introductions,鈥� added Stewart. 鈥淚 kind of wish we could do more of that at some of our biggest shows.鈥�
Who will be the strongest in 2017? Join us for a great weekend of racing to find out. For tickets visit WoOSprint.com/Tickets or call 844-DIRT-TIX.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott