Racking Up the Frequent Flyer Miles
Austin will be back in the Dave Reed Racing #14 Toyota Camry, with Craig Raudman serving as Crew Chief. The combination had an extremely strong run at the All-Star Showdown, battling Jack Wood for what would eventually be the third position. Contact between the two, with two laps to go, relegated Reed to a ninth-place finish, as the final lead-lap car.
“The last few laps of the race, Jack Wood and I were having a great race, battling for the fourth position,” Austin recalled. “With two laps to go, he was able to slide in front of me, coming out of Turn 2. While he ran the bottom, in Turn 1&2, he didn’t have as much momentum down the backstretch. Talking to him after the race, he spun the tires as well. Having a run on the top, I misjudged how fast I would get to him. When I went to turn under him, I caught his rear bumper, that led to driving over his LR (Left Rear). Looking back, it was primarily my fault, and a racing deal. But ultimately, it took away the chance of an excellent finish for our team, and everyone a part of it.”
Reed will be looking for a similar effort at the Winter Showdown, with a slightly different result. He will be looking for a potential $15,000 payday at the end of 200 laps of competition. The 2019 winner of the PASS National Championship Super Late Model “Commonwealth Classic 75”, from Richmond Raceway is supported by Dave Reed Racing, Approved Memory, Lucas Oil, Ringers Gloves, Peters Racing Engines, FLUIDYNE High Performance, K&N Filters, Eibach, JDA BRE, Coleman Powersports and Bubba’s Rear Ends.
The 2020 Winter Showdown, from Kern County Raceway, is entering its sixth season of competition. The previous winners of the event include Bubba Pollard Fan Page (2015, 2016), Derek Thorn (2017), Kyle Busch (2018) and Ty Majeski (2019). The previous Feature Events have included several formats, with distances of 250 laps (2015 – 2017), 300 laps (2018 – 2019) and this year’s 200-lap version. 2020 will feature a halfway break, where half of the purse money will be awarded based on its result. The completion of 200 laps will wholly determine the final championship event finish, with the second half of the purse payout. Drivers eligible for the Spears Manufacturing Frequent Flyer Program will receive a minimum of $1,400 to start the feature. If required, eligible drivers who do not transfer from the Last Chance Qualifier will receive $1,000.
The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Super Late Models will be joined by the Spears Modified Series, as well as the Kern County Raceway Super Stocks. The SPEARS Modifieds will be racing for $4,000-to-win.
Celebrating its twentieth season in 2020, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
