Inside Line Promotions - ALGER, Wash. (May 13, 2013) - It was a solid season debut for Travis Rilat last Saturday in Richard and Lana Saumure's sprint car.
With only a half-dozen events this season in his own car, Rilat flew to the Northwest for the first race of the Summer Thunder Series presented by SpeedMart on Saturday at Skagit Speedway, where he recorded a season-best second-place finish.
"We didn't get the result we wanted," Rilat said. "We could have won, but just didn't have as good a handle on the car. We did what we could."
Of the 31 entries, Rilat qualified sixth quickest. With the heat races inverted by four, Rilat started - and finished - in third place to advance to the 30-lap feature. Two drivers who qualified quicker than Rilat failed to advance through their heats and with the feature inverted by four, Rilat began on the pole.
"The preferred line would have been the top on the start," he said. "It was just better up on the top."
Travis Jacobson, a former track champion who has won almost every big event at Skagit Speedway the past couple of years, rocketed to the lead on the start from outside the front row. Rilat remained in striking distance for the first seven laps before Chad Hillier advanced to the runner-up position on Lap 8.
Rilat returned the favor to regain second place with five laps remaining, but was unable to maneuver around Jacobson for the victory.
"He's got a pretty good setup figured out," Rilat said of Jacobson. "We were close. We weren't far off. "
Rilat will return to his car on Saturday for a Smiley's Racing Products ASCS Lone Star Region event at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas. He claimed a B Main and charged from 17th to fifth at the half mile earlier this season with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
QUICK RESULTS -
May 11 - Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. - Qualifying: 6; Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 2 (1).
SEASON STATS -
7 races, 0 wins, 3 top fives, 4 top 10s, 4 top 15s, 7 top 20s
UP NEXT -
Saturday at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, with the Smiley's Racing Products ASCS Lone Star Region
MEDIA LINKS -
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TravisRilat
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Shop the BOSS
Located in Dallas, Shop the BOSS offers a large selection of hardwood flooring products below closeout prices for retail customers. For more information, visit ShoptheBOSS.com
"Shop the BOSS was created Richard Bell, who has been a really good friend," Rilat said. "He's got a pretty unique deal going on. As his business has grown and expanded, he's been able to do a lot more."
Additionally, Rilat thanks Triple X Race Co., Shark, Weld Wheels, Smiley's Racing Products, KSE Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Hoosier Racing Tire, HRP Wings, Goodrich, Penske Racing Shocks, All Star Auto Reconditioning and everyone who has partnered with his No. 29 Triple X.
Rilat would also like to thank Xtreme Oilfield Technology, Carlan Services, TriJet Manufacturing Services, Scott Safety, Mat's Oilfield Services, Weld Wheels, Factory Kahne, Shark, Northern Provincial Pipelines, Smiley's Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers and Goodrich among others for their continued support on Richard and Lana Saumure's No. 39c Maxim.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS -
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors' return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.