TULSA, Okla. — The 37th Lucas Oil Tulsa Shootout kicked off on Wednesday with racing in four of the six classes competing in this year’s record-breaking event, as 118 races were run during the full day of action.
Twenty-two drivers earned multiple heat race triumph’s with Oregon hot shoe Ashton Torgerson the big winner, claiming victories in three classes — Outlaw, Outlaw Non-Wing, and A-Class.
Heat Race winners represented 11 states (Alabama, California, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington) with the highest win count going to California at four drivers collecting a combined eight victories.
Oklahoma, Indiana and Texas drivers followed with each state collecting six wins among three drivers.
Among the other heat race winners were two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, dirt late model standout Ricky Thornton Jr., ASCS sprint car champion Blake Hahn, midget ace Brent Crews, Gateway Dirt Nationals winner Jonathan Beason, rising USAC star Emerson Axsom, USAC veteran Kevin Thomas Jr., USAC East Coast champion Alex Bright, California hot shoe Michael Faccinto and perennial micro sprint winner Frank Flud.
NASCAR drivers Christopher Bell and Sheldon Creed are also among the many talented drivers participating in the 37thrunning of the event at Tulsa Expo Raceway.
Clicking off both Outlaw divisions, as well as Restricted A-Class and A-Class, action was to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday morning with race No. 119 and concluding the day with race 232.