Forler sweeps ASCS Frontier at Big Sky
Andrew Kunas, Stagg Motor Sports PR
Photo credit: Jeff Quinn, speedmax.tv
BILLINGS, Mont. – Former series champion Logan Forler returned to Montana and made his presence known, as he swept and dominated Friday’s ASCS Frontier Region sprint car program at Big Sky Speedway.
The Boise, Idaho driver, who won the 2021 series title, won every time he hit the track, including leading all 25 laps of the main event. Forler has won the last five times he has raced at Big Sky Speedway, including four wins in 2022.
Forler started on the pole after winning a dash race that was held instead of the traditional redraw. On an open track early on and in the final laps, Forler was almost untouchable aboard his No. 2L Fisher-powered Maxim. Slower traffic slowed him on occasion, allowing defending series champion Trever Kirkland to close in some, but Forler would put lapped cars between himself and his pursuers and then a timely yellow flag would clear the track in front of him.
After struggling in his heat race, Kirkland started eighth in the feature but rocketed to the fourth position in just two laps, and eventually moved his way to the runner-up spot. Kirkland was unable to chase down Forler, but still finished second aboard the Kirkland Racing No. 37 Shark-powered Triple X for his fourth Top 5 finish in five starts this season.
Phil Dietz finished third aboard the Dietz Racing No. 72 Rodgers-powered Maxim. Kory Wermling finished fourth ahead of Texas visitor Channin Tankersley.
Points leader Kelly Miller of Lethbridge, Alberta had won all four ASCS Frontier Region races this season before Friday but had an eventful evening that saw his winning streak end. Miller had a fuel pump problem in his heat race and did not finish. That resulted in him starting 14th in the main event. Miller, however, earned the hard charger nod when he moved up to finish sixth in the main event. Though Kirkland closed in with his runner-up finish, Miller still has a 48-point lead unofficially after Friday’s race.
Josh Ostermiller, who started on the outside of the front row, eventually finished seventh. Jordan Milne, Joe Perry and Kyle Evans rounded out the Top 10.
Heat races earlier in the evening were won by Dietz and Forler. Instead of redrawing for their main event starting positions, the top six in heat race points instead drew for their starting positions in a six-lap dash, the finish of which would determine how they lined up for the feature. Forler, high points in heat race action, immediately drew the 1 and went on to win that dash.
The series races at Big Sky Speedway again on Saturday night. Racing begins at 7:00. Adults are in for $20 while kids under 60 inches tall are in for free. Super stocks, street stocks, Legends and wingless limited sprint cars are also on the card.
More information on the Brodix Frontier Region of the American Sprint Car Series, as well as the American Sprint Car Series National Tour and other ASCS regional series can be found online at www.ascsracing.com. Stagg Motor Sports, the promoting company of the ASCS Frontier Region, can be found at www.staggmotorsports.com.
Big Sky 360 Showdown
Billings, MT
July 7, 2023
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Heat 1 (8 laps): 1. 72 Phil Dietz, 2. 3 Jordan Milne, 3. 9k Kory Wermling, 4. 0J Jeremy McCune, 5. 37 Trever Kirkland, 6. 2n Shad Petersen, 7. 28 Joe Perry, 8. 2jr Kelly Miller.
Heat 2 (8 laps): 1. 2L Logan Forler, 2. 12 Josh Ostermiller, 3. 35m Cody Masse, 4. 12h Channin Tankersley, 5. 2 Kyle Evans, 6. 01 Rich Bailey, DNS – 38b Bryan Brown.
Dash (6 laps): 1. 2L Logan Forler, 2. 12 Josh Ostermiller, 3. 9k Kory Wermling, 4. 72 Phil Dietz, 5. 3 Jordan Milne, 6. 0J Jeremy McCune.
Feature (25 laps): 1. 2L Logan Forler, 2. 37 Trever Kirkland, 3. 72 Phil Dietz, 4. 9k Kory Wermling, 5. 12h Channin Tankersley, 6. 2jr Kelly Miller, 7. 12 Josh Ostermiller, 8. 3 Jordan Milne, 9. 28 Joe Perry, 10. 2 Kyle Evans, 11. 2N Shad Petersen, 12. 35m Cody Masse, 13. 01 Rich Bailey, 14. 0J Jeremy McCune, DNS – 38b Bryan Brown.
Lap leaders: Logan Forler 1-25
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Upcoming ASCS Frontier Region events
July 8 – Big Sky Speedway – Billings, MT
August 4 – Gallatin Speedway – Belgrade, MT
July 22-29 – *non-points* WST Speedweek North in Oregon and Washington
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2023 ASCS Frontier Region winners
May 19 – Kelly Miller at Big Sky Speedway
May 20 – Kelly Miller at Big Sky Speedway
May 26 – Rained out at Electric City Speedway
May 27 – Rained out at Electric City Speedway
June 9 – Postponed at Gallatin Speedway
June 10 – Postponed at Big Sky Speedway
June 16 – Kelly Miller at Gallatin Speedway
June 17 – Kelly Miller at Big Sky Speedway
July 7 – Logan Forler at BIg Sky Speedway
ASCS Frontier – Stagg Motor Sports
www.staggmotorsports.com
American Sprint Car Series
www.ascsracing.com
