Bryan races in Vegas (Matt Hill Photo)
(Bill W) March 7, 2016 – Another solid weekend with the World of Outlaws saw a ninth place finish in Friday’s finale at The Dirt Track in Las Vegas for the Matt Wood Racing #17w and Bryan Clauson. After winning in USAC West Coast action at Las Vegas and with the USAC/CRA in Perris, California, Bryan returned to the wheel of the #17w Sunday at Arizona Speedway near Queens Creek, registering sixth quick in time trials and 13th in the feature at a track he had never competed at. The team will compete with the Outlaws at the Tulare Thunderbowl in California this Friday and Saturday.
In Thursday’s opener at Las Vegas a tough qualifying effort set the team back a bit. The Noblesville, Indiana driver would register a 19th place finish. In Friday’s finale, he would time in fourth quick. “We got off to a little bit better start Friday,” says Bryan. “Especially with the new Outlaw format, qualifying is so important. That put us on the front row of the heat.”
Fourth quick meant starting on the pole of the fourth heat. “We had a little bit of a stumble on takeoff, but luckily we were able to settle into second,” says Bryan. “We had a really good car. We were right there with Brad (Sweet). Unfortunately, the difference between winning and second was starting fourth or eighth in the Dash.”
Bryan would start eighth in the Dash. “We had good speed,” he says. “We were rolling along well and we kind of got into a gaggle of cars in turn four. We brushed the wall on exit and flattened the tire. That ended things prematurely.”
Starting eighth in the feature, he would battle for a top ten finish. “We kind of started in the wrong lane,” says Bryan. “We struggled at the start, but I think we got as far up as seventh at one point. I kind of made a couple of wrong decisions late. I lost a spot or two and we ended up ninth. Overall, it was another strong run for us.”
On Sunday at Queens Creek, a new track for most, Bryan set the sixth quick time of the night. “We were really happy with our qualifying,” he says. “We were pretty much last in hot laps. We came in and changed a whole lot of things on the car. We were able to go the right way and we qualified sixth.”
He would start on the pole of the third heat. “We didn’t keep up with the racetrack too well,” says Bryan. “We went the wrong direction a little bit and fell back to fourth. It wasn’t what we were looking for, but we ended up starting twelfth in the feature.”
Bryan would checker 13th. “We just never really got going,” he says. “We weren’t bad, but we weren’t great either. I think we lost a spot on one restart and fell in line. I think we had a little more speed than where we ran, but it wasn’t maneuverable enough to make the moves we needed to.”
In addition to racing with the Outlaws at Tulare, Bryan will be performing double duty with the USAC West Coast Series.
Matt Wood Racing would like to thank: Elk Grove Ford, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Jonathan Byrd’s Hospitality and Restaurant Group, America’s Best Value Inn, Quick Lane and Impact Signs, Awnings & Wraps!
To follow the Matt Wood Racing’s progress online, visit www.ColeWoodRacing.com!
Photo: Bryan races in Vegas (Matt Hill Photo)
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